On the Wings of Heaven [Paperback]

G W Hardin (Author), Joseph Crane (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2000

Take a journey where heaven and earth meet in the unexpected friendship between a man and an angel. Almost killed in the Vietnam War, Joe Crane survived the bombing of his ship by following a shouting voice directing him through a blinding inferno. Later, along with his fellow deckmates who had also followed the voice, Joe discovers no human source can be found to thank. For twelve years the voice intermittently continues its calling out of Joes name until the day he decides to answer back. From that point on, there unfolds a story that not only changes Joes life, but is likely to change the life of anyone who reads it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

G.W. Hardin, co-author of the national bestseller, The Messengers (seven weeks on in the New York Times top-thirty), has written another spiritual book with an even broader audience and a more powerful message.... This story is not only true but, by reading it, you may very well find your own life changed. Hardin carries a huge soul, speaks with a soft voice full of esoteric wisdom. It was a delight to review. -- Paege Culver, The Crystal Oasis

From the Publisher

If you like Hardins first book, The Messengers, you'll love this book. Like the first book, the reader will find On the Wings of Heaven inspiring, hope-filled, and hard to put down.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: DreamSpeaker Creations Inc.; 1 edition (September 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893641007
• ISBN-13: 978-1893641006
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting true story and uplifting spiritually, September 29, 1999

By 

John Hoffman Ph.D. (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Wings of Heaven (Paperback)

Do you believe in angels appearing to men in the 1990's? If not, suspend your disbelief long enough to hear and interesting tale.

Great gifts are being bestowed on humanity again, 2000 years after the time of Christ, thanks to heavenly intervention. "Now is the time to make things clear so God's plan can happen," says the angel.

Joseph Crane, a Vietnam veteran, first heard an unseen voice save his life as bombs were exploding on his aircraft carrier off the coast of Vietnam. Now later in life he is dumbfounded as a bright dot of intense light in his bedroom grows in size till it reveals an angel who wants to speak to him while his wife is sleeping in bed by his side. The angel, whose eyes are like those of a thousand lovers melted into one and whom his names Michael, appears to Joe many times between 1994-95 revealing messages giving a more correct understanding of what Christ taught while on earth. Churches, and even the original evangelist writers, sometimes skewed the message to suit their own purposes.

In particular, the angel goes through the Book of Revelation or Apocalypse from the New Testament and shows Joe the same visions John the Evangelist witnessed. He insists Joe write down what he saw and asks Joe to explain it, correcting him when the interpretation is wrong. He instructs Joe and his friend G.W. Hardin to publish it in a book and this is that book.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Heavenly Delight!, September 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: On the Wings of Heaven (Paperback)

Do you believe in angels? I am a spiritual person, and I was not sure if I believed in angels or not. Once I read best-selling author's G.W. Hardin's book, "On the Wings of Heaven," I believe there are angels. I believe there is something more for our community.

What was the most interesting in for me within the book's context were the beliefs about gay and lesbian spirituality. The angel shared:

"As long as humankind has walked the earth, there have been people who are gay - perfect, whole and complete just the way they are. You see, the more a religion gets accepted, the more self-righteous it becomes in good-versus-evil. When outside forces begin to let up, pressure begins building from within for conformity, beginning with the smallest number of members who act differently or think differently from the majority. The religion's actions become no better than those of its earlier persecutors. However, their persecution is now done in the name of God or Jesus or the Bible."

''Sex is a gift from God for you to give to the one you love as your gift of affection. There is nothing bad or wrong with what gender you give this gift to. It is up to you. However, it is the choice of the receiver to accept it or not. If you go whoring, you must understand that you are only wasting time."

The message throughout the book to me was: "God is a God only of love. God created me gay because he wants me to learn something different...something special for life."

I attended G.W. Hardin's book signing on August 31 at The Luminary. Hardin shared his following thoughts with the group:

"An African shaman-priest, named Malidoma Somé, once told me, `In my culture, we have no word for gay. In my village, we see no separation between the natural world and the supernatural world.' The point he continued to make was that in his tribal nation those that are gay are considered the sacred ones, the Gatekeepers, those who can move between this world and the Otherworld. They are accorded great respect and recognized as an integral part of village life. No one would even think of showing disrespect to these watchers of two worlds."

"Imagine my shock when, writing my latest book, ON THE WINGS OF HEAVEN, this notion of the sacred ones once again came forth-only this time from the angelic realm. Any of you who have read my works know that I write true stories about the extraordinary. My new book is just such a story where a Vietnam Vet, by the name of Joseph Crane, barely survives the bombing of his ship during the Vietnam War. Just when he thinks he is going to die, a shouting voice directs him through a blinding inferno. Later, along with his fellow deckmates who had also followed the voice, Joe discovers no human source can be found to thank. For twelve years, the voice intermittently continues its calling out of Joe's name until the day he decides to answer back. From that point on, there unfolds a story that changes Joe's life. An angel appears in his bedroom while he is about to join his wife and four dogs in sleep. The angel charges Joe to find seven master souls who not only will represent the human condition in us all but will also speak on behalf of humanity as heaven presents us with an offer of returning to an Eden-like earth. And by the way, three of those seven masters will be gay. Joe almost chokes at hearing this, but over the space of two years finds the seven."

"What's so interesting is that the angel eventually reveals that much of Biblical book of Revelation has been misused and misinterpreted over the centuries. It is not a book about the end of the world, but about the end of hatred, fear and punishment. It's too detailed to go into here, but I would like to point out one particular passage and quote from my new book. The historical, Biblical translation from this corresponding section in the Book of Revelation goes like this:"

...and no one could learn the song except those hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the earth. These are they who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were purchased from among men, first-fruits unto God and unto the Lamb, and in their mouth there was found no lie: they are without blemish [Rev. 14:4-5].

"Now, I'd like to give you the exact translation as was given to Joe Crane by the angel. Pay close attention to how words were changed across history. The angel tells Joe this same passage as it was given from the one called I Am:"

"Then there were those that had the Father's and the Son's name written on them. No one could learn the new song but these. And they were those men that did not lay with women or women that did not lay with men. They have been chosen as the first fruits and are the spiritual teachers. They are blameless and speak the truth of God's love."

"Most gay men and women are deeply spiritual, and in an innate way. Just like the indigenous had recognized, we are actually spiritually oriented, not sexually oriented. Sexual orientation is an invention of modern day society. What a surprise from a cultural that sells sex on TV, in the movies, and in the newspapers as if nothing else mattered. Gay men and women's sexuality is simply a by-product of their spiritual orientation, not the other way around."

"We simply must end this arrogance where we pretend to speak for God. We must take a look at ourselves collectively and understand that we all have a place in the Divine Plan. And those who are blessed with the `first fruits' must give up their victimhood in favor of their sacred power. The time has come for the Gatekeepers to bring balance back to themselves and to life around them."

After the book signing, I spent time with G.W. Hardin and he said:

When you don't live who you are, it will eventually affect you physically. By embracing who I was, I overcame an incurable disease. When we live in our giftedness, we can offer healing to ourselves and others."

After reading "On the Wings of Heaven" and talking with G.W. Hardin, I knew it was time that I gave myself the freedom to define and understand God as I choose...to keep spirituality back into my life. For years, I denied myself spirituality because I felt as though I was sinning due to my sexuality. I realized God created me gay because he wanted me to learn something special about myself. God wanted me to take a different journey...a different path."

I whole-heartily recommend "On the Wings of Heaven" because it will take you on a spiritual journey. Perhaps you will ask yourself some questions. You will reflect on your life. Or the angel will inspire you when he concludes each conversation by saying, "Teach only love."

Julie L. Shaffer was homegrown in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and she has been recently transplanted in Seattle via a John Deere tractor. Apparently, Julie has a collection of wonderful implements. That's farm implements, you know.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On The Wings of Heaven, November 29, 1999

By 

Tina Markarian (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Wings of Heaven (Paperback)

This book has changed my life and has the power to change the world. It speaks of God's love and carries the message for all to hear. If you beleive in Angels and Miracles you must read this book and share it with the world. I will always be grateful to Mr. Crane and Mr. Hardin.