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Pastor Don Piper died January 18, 1989 when a semi-tractor truck crushed his car. Declared dead by the first rescue workers to arrive on the scene, Don’s body lay under a tarp for the next 90 minutes. Don’s soul, meanwhile, was experiencing love, joy, and life like he’d never known before. Don was in Heaven.
When another pastor’s prayers helped bring Don back to life, he became a living miracle! Yet this is one miracle Don wished never happened. Heaven’s bliss was replaced by excruciating pain and emotional turmoil. With the support and prayers of his beloved Eva, their three kids, and friends near and far, Don clings to his faith in God and fights to regain a semblance of his previous life. The Piper family’s incredible true story of perseverance and overcoming the challenges of life—and death—will bring hope and encouragement to all who see it.
"90 Minutes in Heaven" tells the story of Pastor Don Piper. On January 18, 1989, John was getting ready to head out for a drive to Houston where he would attend a church conference. He was thinking of starting up his own church. Before he leaves, he asks his wife to go along with him but she refuses because she is a school teacher and there are several new students in her class and she doesn't want them to have a substitute teacher so she stays behind.
The morning is a rainy one and the visibility is a bit rough. While driving across a bridge he gets hit head on by a semi-tractor truck and is pronounced dead at the scene. While the medics await the coroner to declare him dead traffic backs up a bit as people stop to see what has happened. When another pastor passing by decides to prayer for Don it some how brings him back to life. But Don's return to life isn't without its problems. For starters he was sustained very serious injuries that will require multiple surgeries and months of healing time. But the worse part of it all for Don is the fact that he went to heaven during those 90 minutes and he is angry and confused as to why God sent him back when he saw all of heaven's glory and he yearns to go back.
Of course Don's wife does not understand why he is acting the way he is, she wants him to start fighting so that he can begin to heal and go home but he has lost all his will to fight or live. Dealing with Don is only one problem his wife is facing. Besides having to work and take care of their three children the medical bills keep piling up and the hospital tells her they are going to have to transfer him because his insurance refuses to pay any more of his hospital bills. She then decides to call a lawyer and see if the can sue whoever owns the company whose truck hit her husband but she finds out it was a state owned prison truck that was being driven by an inmate. The inmate driving the truck was legal but since it was a state truck they would only pay up to $250,000 dollars and the insurance company would just take it anyway.
One day Don is paid a visit by another pastor who is filling in for him, the man gives Don a pep talk and tells him he needs to man up and get better for his family. The talk seemed to work because Don became more responsive and more willing to help himself get better. It wasn't long after that before he was home from the hospital with a new purpose in life.
"90 Minutes in Heaven" spends most of its time dealing with Don's hospital time and his struggles with his faith and will to live. I thought the film would spend more time about his visit to heaven but he really doesn't discuss it with anyone until later on in the movie. But I still enjoyed the film a lot because it sucked me into Don's and his families life. You really feel for him and his wife who is struggling to cope with all the problems.
Another amazing thing about the film was the acting. The entire cast did a great job but both Hayden Christensen and Kate Bosworth gave powerful performances as Don and his wife. I can only imagine how much both of these fine actors benefitted from being in such an spiritual and inspiring film. It had to have lasting affects on them both. And finally one of the first things I noticed about the film was how beautiful the film looked. The cinematography was top notch as was the sound and the way they re-created the 80's.
"90 Minutes in Heaven" is a Christian-based film and a true story that I highly recommend seeing. This film will send your faith meter soaring to new heights. It tells the story of one man's courage, strength and his will to live. Don Piper has since been traveling the world over sharing his experience with others and spreading the word of God. By doing so he has inspired many to have hope and faith.
"90 Minutes in Heaven" is playing now in theaters, you can find out where it is playing by visiting the film's Official site HERE. I urge everyone to run out and see this amazing true story today.
**** Out Of *****