Letters to Heaven: Reaching Across to the Great Beyond

by Calvin Miller, Jim Sanders (Narrator)

Inspiration to make your earthly experience more heavenly... Have you ever felt a sense of unfinished business with those who have preceded you into eternity? Ever wished you could have even a few minutes to articulate your love and appreciation for their impact on your life? In Letters to Heaven, best-selling author Calvin Miller inspires us all to say what we haven’t yet said to those who brought a brightness to our lives or challenged us to live more fully through their own. In these touching, provocative, and uplifting letters, he poignantly and personally remembers legends such as Johnny Cash, C. S. Lewis, and Farrah Fawcett, along with close friends, family members, and others who influenced him along the way. Even more, he offers timely perspective for each of us, showing us how to live and love now—-mindful that eternity is only a step away. These moving tributes are not only compelling reminders to speak our words of gratitude while there is still time. They also combine beautiful lessons for this life with uplifting promises for the next.

Genres: Christian, Christian Non Fiction

Audio CD

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Calvin Miller has written over 40 books of popular theology and inspiration. A former pastor, he is professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Joyce, have two grown children.

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rounded down.

The concept was nice but overall it was kind of boring and some of the letters to famous people were cheesy.

[Kristi Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This collection of beautifully written letters are Miller's attempt to find closure in the unfinished business of Earth. He writes to friends, family members, legends of his time, and one young girl he saw only once and to whom he never even spoke. The book inspired me to begin my own collection of letters to Heaven, but even if it doesn't speak to the writer in you, it is a feel-good collection of beautifully crafted messages.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Letters to Heaven” is a collection of letters written to different people in his life either that he met or that influenced him. Because of the format Calvin Miller is forced to make it personal and he does an excellent job. The emotion is real. I felt as through I was a part of the relationship between Miller and his corespondent. When He was at his brother’s funeral, I was there. I could see the coffins. Miller made it real. Well done!

[Sally Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Letters to Heaven is a sweet reach into the Great Beyond by pastor and professor Calvin Miller. In this book, he crafts beautiful brief vignettes to people he has known and who are now in Heaven. Some are famous, some are not named, and others are family or close friends.

Lovely thoughts and reflections on how people impacted his life and theology. I enjoyed this book very much.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great letters! Such an interesting and new way to think about eternity. Thank you, Calvin Miller!

[Monkeyface · Rating 1 out of 5]

Listened to Letters to Heaven Reaching Across to the Great Beyond by Calvin Miller. In these masterfully written letters to heaven, Calvin Miller thanks, lovingly reflects on and sometimes confesses his regrets to the departed influences in his life. Some are names familiar to us all (C. S. Lewis, Todd Beamer, Oscar Wilde others he knew well; and some he only admired from a distance. But all brought a brightness to his life or challenged him to live more fully in some way. Aware that eternity for any of us is only a step away, Miller has sought to complete the unfinished business of life by writing letters to the great beyond. This moving work will not only elicit a desire in readers to reconcile all things unfinished, but teach the living about the importance of people and the treasure of faith while holding out for us all the hope that awaits. I didn't like it I gave it less than 1 star and 1.

[Dottie Parish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letters to Heaven is a fascinating book. Calvin Miller writes to people who have preceded him in reaching eternity. Each person impacted his life. A number of the people he writes to are well known including C.S. Lewis, Todd Beamer, and Madeleine L’Engle. Many are unknown. The girl in the iron lung brings memories of polio, the most dreaded childhood disease in the 20th Century. Another letter is written to a man who died beside him on a flight. He includes a letter to his mother and one to a brother who died in childhood. Throughout Miller weaves his own experiences and share much wisdom.

Calvin Miller was a pastor, a professor and a writer. I previously read Life is Mostly Edges (a memoir) and Letters to Young Pastors (both excellent). I wanted to read this book because he replied kindly when I sent him a copy of my book, Changing Churches. Also, I knew he recently went on to eternity himself. He impacted my life in a small but meaningful way.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is interesting in how it is formatted as letters to people who have left this earth. The letters are sometimes serious, funny, and just different. This book is a nice read, nothing fancy or fabulous, just ok.

[Etna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok.

[Kate Berger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did as an audiobook and still got bored. I usually like this type of book.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book about letters the author wrote to people who have died. Very sweet but not very interesting.