Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back

( 88 )

Overview

Imagine getting a glimpse of heaven, a preview of life in God's presence. Could life here ever be the same?

Capt. Dale Black has flown as a commercial pilot all over the world, but one flight changed his life forever--an amazing journey to heaven and back.

The only survivor of a horrific plane crash, Dale was hovering between life and death...

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Flight to Heaven: A Plane Crash...A Lone Survivor...A Journey to Heaven--and Back

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Overview

Imagine getting a glimpse of heaven, a preview of life in God's presence. Could life here ever be the same?

Capt. Dale Black has flown as a commercial pilot all over the world, but one flight changed his life forever--an amazing journey to heaven and back.

The only survivor of a horrific plane crash, Dale was hovering between life and death when he had a wondrous experience of heaven. What he saw, what he heard, and what he learned there continues to ripple through his life and touch others.

Against all odds, Dale miraculously recovered from his injuries and learned to fly again. Now, with his life as a testament, he shares his inspiring story--offering hope and encouragement for those dealing with serious injuries or the loss of a loved one, and those looking for assurance about this life and the next.

Experience a Life-Changing Vision of Heaven

"Dale Black's near-death experience took my breath away. Flight to Heaven is a spiritually rich reflection on the enormous love God has for His children and the lengths to which He will go to bring them safely home."
--Trudy Harris, author of Glimpses of Heaven

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780764207945
  • Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 5/1/2010
  • Pages: 192
  • Sales rank: 93752
  • Product dimensions: 8.48 (w) x 5.66 (h) x 0.47 (d)

Meet the Author

Capt. Dale Black has spent his life flying airplanes with more than 17,000 hours of professional pilot experience, from the Boeing 737 to corporate jets to small private planes. A retired airline pilot, Capt. Dale is still an active aviator and a certified flight instructor, and is co-owner of a real estate company. He has also been a Bible teacher, evangelist, and volunteer missionary pilot in over 30 countries. Dale and his wife, Paula, are parents of two grown children and live in Southern California.

Ken Gire is the award-winning author and co-author of many books, including Moments With the Savior, Windows of the Soul, The Divine Embrace, and When You Can't Come Back (with Dave and Jan Dravecky). A full-time writer, he holds a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, has coauthored study guides with Chuck Swindoll, and has studied screen writing. He lives near Colorado Springs.

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Read an Excerpt

Flight to Heaven

A Plane Crash ... A Lone Survivor ... A Journey to Heaven-and Back
By Dale Black Ken Gire

Bethany House Publishers

Copyright © 2010 Capt. Dale Black with Ken Gire
All right reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0794-5


Prologue

My life was forever changed after a plane crash.

I was the only survivor.

For days I remained in an intensive care unit, but not before taking an uncharted trip ... to heaven. What I experienced there, words cannot do justice. Even the best words pale before the indescribable. For many months following the crash, due to serious amnesia, I remembered nothing. Nothing of the crash, the first three days in the hospital, or my visit to heaven. At least, my mind did not remember. My heart? Well, that's a different story.

I was assigned to Dr. Homer Graham, best known as Evel Knievel's surgeon. My injuries were massive, but when I awoke in the ICU, I was a changed man. Yet I had no memory as to why. It seemed as if I had been given new eyes. I felt as though I were looking into another dimension. That was forty years ago.

What you're about to read is how my life was turned upside down by an airplane crash and why every major decision I've made since then has been a direct result of my journey to heaven. Those who know me may now understand why I've seemed like a bit of a misfit and why my life has often followed an offbeat path.

You'll learn why I've been emboldened and compelled to share the love of God with others. Why I volunteered on almost a thousand flights to more than fifty countries, building churches, orphanages, and medical clinics. And why I've trained lay ministers and medical personnel to help the needy worldwide, usually at my own expense.

Since that fateful day, I have shared my story about the crash and the amazing recovery many times. But I have never shared publicly about my journey to heaven, until now.

How could I keep this life-changing event a secret? There are several 1 reasons.

Right after the crash my memory was like a jigsaw puzzle with only a few recognizable pieces. It would take eight months to start getting my memory back. And even longer for my injured mind and my transformed heart to get in sync.

As soon as my memory returned, I told my grandfather everything that had happened, but he cautioned me about telling others. "Dale," he said, "you can speak about your experience, or you can treat it as sacred and let your life be a reflection of your experience. By that I mean, if you really did see the other side, then live out whatever you believe you saw. Live what you believe you heard. Just live what you learned. Your life's actions will speak louder than your voice."

So I made a solemn promise to myself and to God not to share my experience with anyone until He made it clear to do so. At the time I figured God might want me to keep the secret for only a year or two.

Soon after the crash I attended a church service where a man claimed to have died, visited heaven, and come back to life. To me, the service was more self-serving than sacred. The very essence of heaven is God, yet the people were more interested in the sensation rather than the One who created it all and Whom heaven is all about. I was grieved by the event and my decision not to discuss my journey with anyone was further solidified.

It also wasn't hard to keep my secret because at times in my life, I have been truly disappointed in myself. Why couldn't I have lived an even better life? Since I had clearly seen heaven and was so changed by the experience, why did I fail again and again to be the man I truly wanted to be? Why did I fail often to be a reflection of what I had seen and heard and learned? I guess seeing heaven didn't change the fact that I'm human. Not only human—but also very flawed.

So why share my experience now? Personally, I was perfectly content to keep my silence longer still. But the Lord orchestrated a series of events that convinced me it is now His time to share about my journey to heaven and back. For four decades I did live my experience. Now I am compelled to tell how.

In some ways this story is about me. But it is not about me ultimately, nor should it be. It is about God. And it is about you. The two of you together, entwined in a story that, to me, is still breathtakingly sacred. My hope is that you will read not just with your mind but with an open heart. If you do, you may receive more than you bargained for.

My story begins as I pilot a jet on a volunteer missionary flight in the dark of night over Zambia, Africa ... at 41,000 feet. So please, fasten your seat belt, put your tray table in its upright and locked position, and hold on. It's quite a ride.

For the first time in forty years, here is my story.

—Capt. Dale Black

(Continues...)



Excerpted from Flight to Heaven by Dale Black Ken Gire Copyright © 2010 by Capt. Dale Black with Ken Gire. Excerpted by permission of Bethany House Publishers. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments 9

Prologue 11

1 Flight Into Eternity 15

2 Portal of the Folded Wings 28

3 At the Edge of Death 33

4 New Eyes for a New Dimension 37

5 Under His Wings 44

6 Shrine to Aviation 53

7 Destined for the Sky 59

8 Secret Place of the Most High 66

9 Fear and Memory Loss 72

10 A Future and a Hope 78

11 Surviving the Unsurvivable 82

12 Good News and Bad News 87

13 From Horrific to Heavenly 93

14 Journey to Heaven 97

15 Celestial Perfection 104

16 Ask and Receive 111

17 Losing Life to Find It 125

18 On Wings Like Eagles 130

19 Anniversary Surprise 142

20 Invisible City 146

21 Adventures of Faith 157

Afterword 166

How This Book Came About 182

About the Author 186

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4
( 88 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(52)

4 Star

(16)

3 Star

(7)

2 Star

(7)

1 Star

(6)
See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 88 Customer Reviews
  • Posted Sat Jul 03 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK!!!

    THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ!!! I've read several books on the subject of heaven - but Flight to Heaven is by far the best. "Flight to Heaven" is NOT just another book about heaven and the afterlife, you see. You will be taken on a journey - to heaven - and then back, but this is NOT the whole story. Capt. Black has written a true, validated and believable story that is a page-turner PLUS a faith-builder. How Capt. Dale was permanently affected by the traumatic experience in heaven is profoundly inspirational! Careful not to commercialize his sacred experience, the author told only his grandfather - for almost 40 years. The author tried to "live" his experience rather than talk about it. And for 40 years that's just what he did. And wow! Can't wait to learn what happens next. I'm sure there will be more books from this author.

    Flight to Heaven will not only hold your interest, it will inspire and encourage you too. Certain to become a best seller, I have recommended this book to my church as well as all my family. If you are curious to know what Heaven is like, read this book. If you are curious about near-death experiences, read this book. If you want to learn how to deepen your relationship with God, read this book! If you want to learn about how God can do the miraculous, read this book!

    H. Mayer

    30 out of 31 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Wed Jul 14 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Experience a life changing vision of heaven?

    Imagine getting a glimpse of heaven, a preview of life in God's presence. Could life here ever be the same?

    Captain Dale Black has flown as a commercial pilot all over the world, but one flight changed his life forever - an amazing journey to heaven and back.

    The only survivor of a horrific plane crash, Dale was hovering between life and death when he had a wondrous experience of heaven. What he saw, what he heard, and what he learned there continues to ripple through his life and touch others.

    Against all odds, Dale miraculously recovered from his injuries and learned to fly again. Now with his life as a testament, he shares his inspiring story - offering hope and encouragement to those dealing with serious injuries or the loss of a loved one, and those looking for assurance about this life and the next. (excerpt from back cover).

    My Review:

    This is the true story documented with details from a horrific plane crash over Burbank airport in 1969 that killed two and left one person as the sole survivor of a crash deemed by the FAA as unsurvivable. What happened in those days where Dale Black lay in a coma in the hospital slowly begins to come back to him in small pieces over the years until one day he learned what lies in this life after we die.

    I truly found this story to be inspirational to the power of just what faith in God can do when applied correctly in our lives. Where others see hopelessness and failure, God restores hope and faith. This is a remarkable book to gain a slight glimpse into what awaits us in Dale's account of his trip to heaven. You'll have to read it for yourself.

    I was provided with Flight To Heaven by Capt. Dale Black compliments of Bethany House Publishers for my honest review. I would rate this book a 5 stars because we all need to have our faith restored from time to time and this book does just that.

    23 out of 23 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Jul 12 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    A Breathtakingly Sacred Book. Highly Recommended for Anyone

    Capt. Black hasn't sensationalized anything. His descriptions are beautiful and flow deep into the heart. Flight to Heaven IS breathtakingly sacred. The book has God all the way through it AND God pouring out of it. Inside these pages I found God's message, God's love, God's touch, God's rescue. For me, Flight to Heaven is about a loving, personal God. And what an incredible story! I wasn't sure what to expect but was drawn right in and unable to stop until the last page. Capt. Black introduces you to a personal caring God and you find yourself "feeling" his personal crisis and wanting to walk through it with him. His journey takes you from loneliness, anger, questioning and surrender. This is a precious book, by a precious author (although I've never met him), and is about a precious God. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

    12 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Aug 06 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Flight to Heaven

    With the words "A Plane Crash--A Lone Survivor...A Journey To Heaven--And Back" sprawled across the cover, readers expect a lot from this "Pilot's True Story." Black, along with the help of Ken Gire, accounts his story. He tells of what made him want to fly, how he obtained a pilot's licence, his crash, his time in heaven, and his life after the ephemeral journey. I've read other books on NDEs (Near Death Experiences) that are mostly slow with exception to the chapter or two that actually details heaven. Well, this book also denotes just a small portion to writing about heaven. However, readers keep turning the pages to read about Black. This isn't something any NDE author can do--although, who knows how much of this should be attributed to Gire's writing skills. Black writes about how and why he kept his vision secret for so long. He also writes of how he was spiritually changed. I won't ruin this for the reader, but I will say they will be touched. Scripture isn't quoted often, but, when it does, it is dead on. Also, the aeronautical detail is accurate, explanatory, and satisfactory. As an aeronautical engineer that is on fire for Christ, I loved this book.

    8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Highly Recommended- check it out

    We had both 10 relatives die in the past 9 years since my Mom died in 2002, and most recently Uncle Joe; and I was in a serious car accident in 1979 in San Jose, CA.
    My accident was the feature story of Chaplain Fordice at Valley Med Center, and I was unconscious for two days after my car accident on San Thomas Expressway. I grew up in church, am a grad of Christian schools; and Dale's book tells of similiar events in my own car accident.
    Plus I worked at Defense contractor ESL in the 1980s, we did aerospace projects in the 1980s. Went to Stanford 1982-85, went on & moved to Texas & briefly worked at NASA in 1988.
    I believe Dale's story; and you can follow my testimony (to verify many emotional events like what happened to him) (my car was totalled, had a conclussion, stitches, etc) at Zion Bible College or thru Maranatha Min. (was a member of MM at SU), plus thru friends and family.
    [MAKES A DIFFERENCE BEING A CHRISTIAN, God delivers us; thru it, and He's still God]

    6 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Nov 06 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Annonomys

    This Book is a must read for all ! I could not put it down ...

    4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Mon Dec 26 00:00:00 EST 2011

    Amazing

    If u like this book, youll probably like heaven is for real, or 90 minutes in heaven.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Mon Jul 26 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    On July 18, 1969, nineteen year-old Dale Black boarded a Piper Navajo along with the pilot and co-pilot. Shortly after taking off, they crashed into the Portal of the Folded Wings' dome in Los Alamitos, California.

    On July 18, 1969, nineteen year-old Dale Black boarded a Piper Navajo along with the pilot and co-pilot. Shortly after taking off, they crashed into the Portal of the Folded Wings' dome in Los Alamitos, California. Both of the other men died shortly after impact but Dale survived. The doctors didn't think he'd pull through and during his year-long road to recovery he often wondered why he'd been spared when the others weren't. Dale's injuries were severe, including memory loss. Even today, his short term memory doesn't function. It wasn't until later that he began remembering things from that day. He remembers suddenly being in midair, looking at his body while doctors operate in the ER. He then traveled out of the hospital and found himself quickly speeding through a narrow pathway. He was escorted by two angels. "I was fast approaching a magnificent city, golden and gleaming among a myriad of resplendent colors. The light I saw was the purest I had ever seen. And the music was the most majestic, enchanting, and glorious I had ever heard." He describes the colors as being "alive" and light emanating from everything. At one point he encounters a group of people who he feels were there to greet him. "They came here for me. The looks on their faces, their excitement at seeing me, at welcoming me, was overwhelming. I felt so special, so loved. I had never felt such a deep sense of belonging. They radiated profound joy at seeing me. Everyone smiled, their eyes warm and kind; their hearts so filled with unconditional love that it spilled out of them onto me. No one was recognizable as an earthly acquaintance, but all seemed remarkably familiar. I didn't know these people, but somehow I knew they were my family - my spiritual family, my brothers, my sisters, spanning generations." He talks about feeling as though he was about to receive a gift and all of these people knew what it was. Before he could accept it, he was swept away.

    This encounter with heaven has colored Dale's perspective every since. He had been told he'd never walk again but he refused to believe it. On the one year anniversary of the crash, he flew back over the Folded Wings' dome. He overcame setback after setback, stumping the doctor who couldn't understand why Dale would seemingly need surgery one day and then as he was about to operate, find out he didn't need it after all. It wasn't until a few years later that Dr. Graham would give his life to Christ, finally believing in the God who had remarkably healed Dale. He now is a missionary pilot, having been to fifty-one countries and flown over 1,000 mission trips.

    This was an interesting read. I had thought there would be more than a chapter or two devoted to Dale's experience in heaven though his recovery consisted of miracle after miracle. The one moment that stood out to me was when he made his first anniversary flight and the dialogue between him and the tower:

    Dale: "Burbank Tower, this is Cherokee 37 November. One year ago today a Piper Navajo crashed into the air memorial Portal of the Folded Wings, just south of the airport. Two pilots were killed. I alone survived. I dedicate this anniversary flight to the glory of God."
    Tower: "37 November, two of us were on duty that day.we didn't think anyone survived.37 November, we're glad you made it! Congratulations!"
    Following his landing, the Tower had one more thing to say, "37 November, Burbank Tower. A very.big.congratulations to you.from all of us."

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2010

    Flight to Heaven is the most comprehensive description of heaven I've ever read. Very credible, well written, keept me on edge of my seat. Lots of adventure and a real tear jerker too.

    I was given an advance copy of Flight to Heaven by a friend, having read no less than fifty books about life after death, heaven and NDE (near death experiences). Without doubt Flight to Heaven by Capt. Dale Black is the most comprehensive description of heaven I've ever read. The book kept me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover but the concepts regarding heaven were a little deep for me at first. The story was very credible, even to my critical mind, but as such, I was not able to fully comprehend the magnitude of the heavenly experience without reading those chapters twice. I strongly encourage anyone searching to understand more about the God and life hereafter to read this book. In fact, you should read it twice.

    3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Jun 09 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    If you are looking for a description of heaven you will not find it here

    Very disapointed because it is mostly about his earthly experience and there is very little about his experience in heaven

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Jan 22 00:00:00 EST 2012

    Not what i expected based on the nook preview.

    While all NDE accounts are interesting this was a lot more about how his faith was applied. Not a bad book, but not what I expected from the preview. I was hoping for more of a detailed account.

    2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue May 17 00:00:00 EDT 2011

    Relationship , NOT religion

    "Flight To Heaven" by Captain Dale Black is a book which illustrates by TRUE experience, that faith is more than just following rules. This book shows everyone that those things that NON believers call coincidence, do indeed happen to all of us that want to be in service to God. God moments. It also shows each person that God does have a purpose for you and that He loves us all UNCONDITIONALLY. It is a relationship with God and Jesus Christ~ A relationship with interaction and connection to the heart. In this day and age...when there are so many bench warmers just hopeful that they themselves are going to heaven~ Dale shows that we still HEAR and act on promptings from God. For His purpiose and His GLORY. His kingdom and the people we love and strangers are our responsibility , as led by the promptings of the Lord. It is MUCH bigger than the selfish view of "I am going to heaven".

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Aug 24 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Very inspirational

    Tuesday, May 22 - 01:16 - 41,000 feet
    Somewhere over Zambia, Africa

    "All passengers and crew will be dead in twenty seven minutes if something drastic doesn't change. And I will be responsible."


    So begins the story of Capt Dale Black, an airplane pilot who has just found himself in the midst of a dire situation. His story is a chilling account of his traumatic accident and near death experience but it is also an uplifting story about his miraculous recovery, his glimpse of heaven and his message about God's love for us.

    For what it's worth, the book is very inspirational and would prove very useful to anyone coping with the loss of a loved one or someone who has undergone similar traumatic experiences. The main themes raised were that of Faith and Spirituality, reconnecting with God and questions about Heaven. The book is filled with great passages from the bible that serve to cement Paul's personal spiritual experiences that he makes along the way. After his accident, Paul also begins to spread the word of God and so the reader is exposed to this in the book.

    Additionally, it's hard to believe that a biography can read so much like fiction at times but this is exactly how some portions of the book was dealt with. The author wrote the book in third person which I thought was odd for a book that was meant (and which would probably make more sense) in first person narration. Paul was very candid and vivid with his descriptions throughout the entire book and where that seemed insufficient; pictures were used to further solidify the image that the reader should generate in their minds. Yet some of his writing felt a bit out of place and didn't really translate very well when being read. At times I found myself questioning some of the things that he raised in the book.

    On a lighter note I did enjoy the story being told in the format of a flash back; it begins with his present flight over Zambia and then to create some background, goes on to talk about his devastating accident when he was younger. It brought the reader full circle to a completely changed man. I also really appreciated the author sharing his glimpse of heaven with the readers. It's not really fair to judge or critique his description since I have not had the opportunity to be in a near death situation. However, if that is how heaven is going to look like, then I guess we have a lot to look forward to in the afterlife.

    All and all, spiritual readers and those of us who are looking to reconnect with god will enjoy this one.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Jul 25 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    What Will it be like in Heaven?

    Do you ever wonder what it will be like in Heaven? Where eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, no man has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.

    In this remarkable true story of a very courageous and wonderful pilot, Captain Dale Black gives us a brief glimpse of Heaven as we see written in 1 Corinthians, 2.9.

    A plane crash, an impossible recovery and a miraculous journey to Heaven, a place we just dream about - and back, leads Dale Black into a lifetime of ministry all over the world.

    This is a story of survival and extraordinary courage and I just could not put it down. This book is truly one of the most inspiring stories I have ever read!

    I give it 5 full stars!

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Jul 20 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    ***** Definitely 5 STARS for Flight to Heaven *****

    I purchased this book as a gift for my dad but soon after I returned home I discovered a real problem existed. I couldn't put it down. What an awesome read! I am going to order several copies of Flight to Heaven to distribute to our pastor and church members, as well as all around our area, at hospitals, airports, libraries, etc. My father and I are also airline pilots, though he is now retired. Both of us have finished reading the book and rate it easily as 5 stars. The aviation aspects of the book were professional and technically accurate, yet the emphasis throughout is on a loving God. Flight to Heaven speaks to readers on many levels and is why this book is at the top of our list.

    I have started to read Flight to Heaven for the second time. There is so much there, so much to draw you in, so many amazing tidbits. God is AMAZING and so awesome. We recommend the book to anyone looking for Truth.
    Capt. E. Layton
    La Jolla, CA

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Tue Jul 13 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    Could not put this one down!

    I perused the list of books available for review from Bethany House Publishers & 'Flight to Heaven' by Capt. Dale Black immediately caught my eye. It intrigued me, because of its title, and the discription: 'a journey to heaven--and back'. Of course, I was also excited to read about an encounter with heaven, what Christian doesn't wonder what heaven looks like?

    Captain Black does a wonderful job of describing his life prior to the crash. He was 19yrs old and accomplished the first part of his dream: he was a licensed pilot. Everything was falling into place, leading Capt Black on the path of his future. Everything was falling into place, that is, until that fateful day, when the Piper Navajo twin engine airplane crashed just seconds after taking off. There were 3 people on that plane, Capt Black was the lone survivor.

    This is not just another 'near death experience', 'here's what heaven looks like' book. Captain Black's candor in the inadequacy of words to describe what he saw is to be admired. The change in him is evident throughout the book, he becomes 'a doer of the Word', not just a hearer. The very first person he remembers is a nurse, who he felt great love for, not a human love, but a love for her heart, a concern for her soul. He recounts his renewed faith, his eagerness to really know God, his struggles, his pride, and his heartfelt cries out to God with vivid details. He shares the struggles as he recovered, both physically & spiritually.

    While God's will was for Captain Black to not only walk again but also to realize his dream to fly, we need to remember that our dream is not always what God has planned for us. I can see how some might become discouraged when their dream is not realized. Just as Captain Black finally surrendered his will for God's, we also must do this, with our entire being, whole heartedly, no matter the outcome, knowing that He has better plans than we can imagine.

    Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their Blogger Review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Thu May 13 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    A QUALITY MAN'S BOOK FOR MEN (and women too)

    Finally a man's book for men. But I recommend Flight to Heaven by Capt. Dale Black for both men AND women. Highly adventurous! It stirred a heart that hasn't been stirred for decades. MINE! I got a new glimpse of a God that I had sadly forgotten about for way too long. Flight to Heaven is an excellent book. It is well written and it has a message inside that only a few will understand. Recommended reading to anyone.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Sun Mar 14 00:00:00 EST 2010

    Unbelievable True Story of The Other Side

    In "Flight To Heaven", Captain Dale Black has put to paper one of the most incredile stories of survival, recovery and faith that you will ever read, and that's before he even tells you about heaven.

    As a young pilot in training, Dale was a passenger in a small jet with two other experienced pilots. Just after takeoff, the plane clipped a grove of trees which diverted its path and they slammed into a seven-story monument known as "The Portal of The Folded Wings," which ironically is a memorial to famous aviators who have passed away. The other two pilots died from the impact of the crash, but Dale somehow survived and was rescued and brought to the hospital. What follows in the book is a two-sided story: one of recovery from massive and brutal injuries, and one of a brief but mesmerizing view of Heaven.

    Being somewhat of a skeptical person, I have generally held a cynical view of claims people have made about going to heaven temporarily and returning back to earth. However, after having the pleasure of meeting Dale and then reading his book, I have no doubt that his story is true. The man is the definition of genuine, and to me the most striking part of his story is that he waited 40 years to tell anyone about it. While some people have attempted to cash in or commercialize their out-of-body experiences, Dale kept his a secret from everyone except his grandfather for four decades. Imagine having experienced Heaven and not telling anyone about it! But this particular aspect of the story made me truly believe.

    As far as Dale's descriptions of heaven, they are truly breathtaking. I won't try to do them justice here or recap them, but rest assured that you will be mesmerized and inspired by his experience with the afterlife. It's hard to know what to say after reading it; but you will come away with a sense of awe and wonder, and longing to hear more about it.

    The other half of Dale's incredible story has to do with his physical recovery after his Heavenly experience. His injuries were so severe that most would not have survived at all. Evel Knievel's doctor was called in due to the nature of the injuries, and he took on a challange that most would have given up on. The relationship that grows between Dale and the doctor is one of the most touching parts of the book, and the ending of that subhead is gratifying. What comes across very clearly in reading about the injuries and recovery process is the depth of Dale's faith, even as a young man. He refused to give up in the face of insurmountable odds; even with setback after setback. However, Dale's story is also one of human doubts, and his frustration with God and doubt through the recovery are there, and this makes him all the more real. Who wouldn't doubt God through such an arduous and painful process? But God continued to show his power and plan to Dale through his recovery; and this is extremely interestin to read about.

    The way this book is written is phenomenal considering the subject matter; and it is definitely very difficult to put down. The ending to the story is incredible, and I won't give it away here. But you will come away with amazement at Dale's life and story, and also at his faith and God's faithfulness to him. An incredible person and an incredible story.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Sep 22 00:00:00 EDT 2012

    Exceptional

    This is such an inspiring book. I really feel this was a true experience in his life. He does tell about the events but his Christian growth during and after the crash inspires the reader. I came away from reading the book to want to let God be in control and experience all that I am capable of during through Him.

    The book is so much more than what a person saw in heaven. It elevates the reader's thoughts to how God can make any situation better if allowed to do so.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted Fri Jul 23 00:00:00 EDT 2010

    more from this reviewer

    Flight To Heaven

    Flight to Heaven by Capt. Dale Black is his true life experience of being the only survivor in a horrific plane crash.
    The author starts his story out trying to land a commercial plane and experiencing some problems. He mind then flashes back to another flight, a crash actually where he was the only survivor.
    The year was 1969 and Capt. Black was just 19, and he had just gotten his pilots license. He is in a small plane with two other people, one his mentor and the other person a newly licensed pilot like him. This particular day he was just the passenger. Something went horribly wrong and they crash.
    The journey that Capt. Black takes us on in his book is one of faith and miracles. While he is in the emergency room he experiences an out of body feeling, floating above his body, he is in a coma for three days and when he wakes up he doesn't really remember a whole lot of what has happened to him. He wakes up with a new compassion for people. A new way of seeing the world, he was a changed man.
    This is a story of miracles faith and God's love for his children. The author gives us an up close and personal look at his struggles and triumphs in surviving this crash.
    I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House for review but in no way does it alter my opinion of this book.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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