Dr. Anderson is a medical doctor in rural Tennessee. He had an encounter with God while in medical school that changed his entire life. He was raised in a Christian home and made the commitment to be a Christian at a young age. As a teenager, a horrible family tragedy occurred that caused him to turn his back on God. When he went to college, he claimed to be an atheist and lived a party lifestyle.
One night when camping alone, he read the entire book, “Mere Christianity” by C. S. Lewis. The author addressed many of the same questions Reggie had been struggling with. Next, he opened a Bible for the first time in years, and read the entire book of John. Afterwards he fell into a deep sleep where he awoke in the most beautiful meadow he had ever seen.
He saw his family members whose death had caused him to lose his faith. They told him not to blame God for their deaths. He meets Jesus who asks him to stop running from Him. Jesus tells Reggie He had a plan for him if he would quit running and trust Him. Jesus also reveals to Reggie who he will marry, how many children he will have and where he will practice medicine. Throughout it all, the scent of lilac and citrus was present.
Suddenly Reggie was back beside his tent and opening his eyes, but he had been completely changed. He was now a follower of Christ. By putting all his trust in Christ, everything Jesus told Reggie would happen came about-including something extra.
Reggie found that when he was with a person at the time of their death, he could actually feel a warmth come into a room, smell the faint scent of lilac and citrus, and see a glow above and to the right of the dying person. Just as suddenly as these things occurred, they would be gone. Dr. Anderson said this happened at the time of death of believers in Christ, and the doctor is certain this is a soul being escorted to Heaven.
He also relates the story of the death of a man, Eddie, who had been mean and violent to those around him. Although the doctor attempted to talk to him about his soul, Eddie didn’t want to hear it. At the time of Eddie’s death, instead of warmth, a bone-chilling cold entered the room. There was a smell of sulfur mixed with diesel, and the room became darker and shadowy. In the past deathbed instances, the doctor had observed the patients being calm and slipping into death easily. But in this case, Eddie fought for every last breath and died fighting death. The doctor hurried through the procedures done after a death so he could wash his hands and arms in the hottest water possible attempting to warm up from the bone chilling cold he had encountered there.
The doctor has continued to have these extraordinary incidents. Reggie still has questions about why terrible things happen to people, especially those who are serving God. However, he is certain believers in Christ will have nothing to fear from death. The many experiences he has had at the deathbed of his patients has convinced him of that.
This was a very unique story. It is unlike anything I have ever heard before. The doctor offers compelling evidence for his experiences and beliefs. Reading about his family tragedy was hard and disturbing. The rest of the book was very interesting because it covered Reggie’s life away from God, his coming back to God and the amazing incidents he has had at his patient’s bedsides. This is a compelling story, so I give it five stars.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through Tyndale Blog Network (Tyndale House Publishers) for the purpose of review. All opinions expressed are my own, and I have not been compensated in any other manner. Despite my receiving the book free, it has not influenced my judgment, and I have given an honest opinion.
Information: http://www.tyndale.com/10_Authors/author_bio.php?authorID=1545
Website: http://appointmentswithheaven.com/#
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reggie.anderson.3576
