New take on the death of Jesus Christ.
592330
I couldn't put it down once I started reading.  It was written in a way that made it seem it could have been in our day and time.
303804
Well done, with a difficult subject matter. As a Christian, I studied most of this in church. Author helped better understand many points in the life and death of Christ.
1660876
I loved reading this book. It gave me more of a feeling of what Jesus went through the last 24 hours of his life. Details of the Last Supper with His disciples and hours leading up to His capture.  How He was persecuted, tortured, hung on the cross, and died. It gave me more insight off the people that were around Him and involved in His crucifixion. And then it gave me more details of how his body was prepared for the grave.  I recommend this book to anyone that is studying or just interested in Jesus's last 24 hours.
370230
This is an enjoyable narrative on the events before and after the death and resurrection of JESUS. It seems to remain true to the scriptures throughout.
3497667
I like the idea of Judas doing the Will of God.  The read about him struggling with God's plan for his life the was we all struggle it was refreshing.
279944
Thought provoking . Learning new interpretations snd theories even with a degree in bible studies.
Puts a new perspective on the interrelationship of Judiasm,Christianity and Islam.
4604506
As we are coming upon the celebration of Easter, it is fitting to look at the words of Luke 23:39-43. Many know this passage to be the account of the thief on the cross. While there is not much said on this man, it is a beautiful picture of Gods forgiveness and saving grace to sinners. That is why I am excited to share with you Colin S. Smiths new book, Heaven, How I Got Here. Using his imagination while remaining biblically faithful, Colin writes the story of the thief on the cross from the perspective of the thief on the cross.

While one may be wary of reading a book that ties imagination to a Bible story, I can assure you there is nothing that hurts the witness of the authority of Scripture. What this book does do is it points you to Jesus as the only way to heaven. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Smith 44). It is intriguing the book is written from the perspective of the thief, allowing us all to relate to him in someway as we are sinners in need of a Savior. Even so, the morally good and morally bad both need Jesus because we fall short of Gods glory (Smith 55-56). This book is theologically sound on issues of Christs substitution, the reality of Gods wrath (chapter 6), and the call to respond to Jesus (Smith 89). The book is written in story form but still has nuggets of wisdom like, Behind every hatred lies a deeper hatred of God, (Colin 28) and there is a big difference between believing in God and fearing Him (Colin 32).

To drive the point home, Heaven, How I Got Here is a great book to give to an unbeliever to see there is hope and for the believer to see this truth of the cross in a new light. I warmly recommend it!

I received this book for free from Christian Focus Publications via Cross Focused Reviews for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own and are my honest review of the book.
3219724
A new way of looking at Jesus of Nazareth and of understanding the Christian faith. Most Christians are stuck in an outmoded view of Jesus and their faith.
2393583
A new, fresh look at an old story. Often brought tears to my eyes as I considered the wonder of Jesus and my part in the Story.
3898085
N.T. Wright gives a different perspective about the gospels than most of Christianity--the gospels connect to the whole story of God, both OT and NT and shows how God becomes king through Jesus Christ. Jesus' kingdom is for this world not in another "spiritual" reality. Jesus shows us a different way to walk and live.

I enjoyed reading this book, but it can get rather academic in places. It takes some thinking and studying to truly understand what he is trying to say.
2517912
I loved this take on the events of the Tribulation. It follows Revelations but it is a bit different from other books I have read about this period. That alone makes it great.  I was given a copy for an honest review. I am pleased to say I enjoyed it.
1749958
Well written. Gave a person a new take on faith and a lot of food for thought.
4918670
The possibility that Jesus could have survived the crucifixion and then traveled to India generally comes as a surprise, if not a complete shock, to most Christians.  So too it was for me when I first came across this belief. However, I have been exposed to this possibility for decades.  It began not with Jesus, but with the Apostle Thomas for me when I accidentally stumbled across the apostle's tomb in Chennai (Madras), Tamil Nadu, India in 1971.  This was news for me, although the Church has formally acknowledged Thomas' presence in India for centuries.  Many years later, I was alerted to Jesus' possible presence in India through Andreas Kaiser Faber's book.  This made me think that if it were possible for Thomas to have traveled to India, then why not Jesus?
There have been other books on the subject before and since Faber's book.  However, Mr. Salahuddin's book, "Saving the Savior", offers a fresh new perspective on the subject, as well as compelling new evidence to support this theory.
The book challenges many preconceived notions, which many of us have been brought up to believe.  Most critics, particularly those brought up with standard Christian beliefs, would say that the theory that Jesus could have survived the crucifixion is blasphemous, and an Islamic invention at best.  Further, they would point to the author being a Christian convert to Islam, and would therefore introduce bias into his examination of the subject.  Not so.  The author has been fair and objective in examining and presenting all known historical and archaeological evidence.  He cites evidence from both canonical and non-canonical Christian documentation, Islamic, Buddhist, Chinese and even Hindu documents.  He makes no hesitation in using the latest genetic research and other scientific research to back up his theories.
I hope that scholars, religious authorities, and lay people will examine the evidence with an open mind, and contribute even more to this growing body of evidence that Jesus not only survived the crucifixion, but also traveled to India.  I recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who wishes to examine the facts objectively.  I also recommend the authors website ... to examine even newer evidence as it comes to light.
278040
The book introduces various interpretation that we apply in our spiritual life. The dominant theology for meaning of cross and salvation is 'atonement theory' with St. Anselm. Whenever we saw the cross, there's a overlapping image for dying and bleeding male body miserably as an atonement offering to cleanse human sin. During the last thousand year, the culture and situation changed. Today's christians doesn't feel guilty as christians did in the middle age. This book indicates the meaning of cross in contemporary believers in various theories: reorientation, hospitality, divine justice, emancipation etc. One unique point in this book is to bring issues with some cases in fiction and non-fiction stories, mirroring our reality. What's wrong with today's humanity. and How Jesus saves us even today. It is good to have this book to link theology and media(film and novels).

"Cut the chain of violence" is the one of important concept from this book. I love this part, because this perspective gave me change my thought and gave clear answer for my ambiguous question: Why Jesus died like that. Jesus encourages us to forgive others in limitless of time. Jesus' non-violence reaction toward action of enemy is to cut the everlasting chain of violence. Not eye for eye, tooth for tooth. When the cycle of violence to the believers in Christ, the cycle becomes stop. And new life starts.
1109211
am looking forward to sometime reading the 2nd book.  People die and are resurrected.  Maybe 2nd book will tell the reason for it all.
825670
This book is recommended for the student of end times interest. The author provides theories that should be regarded by the Christian. Clearly we are in the season of Christ's return. Come King Jesus!
892164
Great snapshot blip of a story of Jesus's life in & around the time of his death.

Good quick read- worth your time