Is it real? This is a common question asked by skeptics, even if they’re hopeful, the answer is yes. And when it comes to heaven, there are few questions in life that carry the weight of this question.
In this week’s chapters from our companion book, The First Phone Call From Heaven, “Is it real?” is heavily debated, with most taking one side or the other. I’m betting that even the naysayers are hoping they’re wrong. Who doesn’t want heaven to be real?
Last week’s chapters ended with Amy Penn doing a short news report for Nine Action News of Alpena. Amy was hoping for a big break in her career. Working as a news reporter for a TV Station in Alpena, big stories didn’t happen very often. Amy was skeptical when her boss told her to go to Coldwater to cover a story about a woman claiming to have received a phone call from her dead sister. Amy wasn’t thinking that this story could be her big break.
After returning from Coldwater, Amy’s news story was posted on the Nine Action News website, as was the usual practice of the station. Ordinarily, a story might receive a dozen to a few hundred comments from viewers. But Amy’s story had thousands of comments. Her boss sent Amy back to Coldwater for more coverage.
Back in Coldwater, Amy does another on-camera interview with Katherine. “What do you talk about?” Amy asks. “She tells me about heaven, Katherine replies. “What does she say?” Katherine answers, “She says everyone you lose here, you find again there.”
Crowds gathered in front of Katherine’s home, hoping that these miracles were real and perhaps wishing that they too would hear from someone in heaven. Is this really Amy’s big break, or is Katherine’s miracle call just a scam? Is it genuine?
The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania operates a website, FactCheck.org. The staff that maintains the content for this website must be busier than ever, given the preponderance of conspiracy theories based on lies circulating. To make matters worse, our current president is fond of promoting theories that serve his position regardless of whether there is any factual content to support his assertions.
Definitions of “conspiracy theories” vary in their emphasis on whether they necessarily involve harmful or tragic events and influential organizations. But they all agree that they generally offer explanations that require improbable conspiracies in place of likely causation.
The European Commission identifies six key characteristics of conspiracy theories and provides guidance on evaluating the reliability of such claims. Conspiracy theories typically include: 1) An alleged, secret plot. 2) A group of conspirators. 3) “Evidence” that seems to support the conspiracy theory. 4) They falsely suggest that nothing happens by accident and that there are no coincidences; nothing is as it appears, and everything is connected. 5) They divide the world into good or bad. 6) They scapegoat people and groups.
They suggest that the story is unlikely to be a conspiracy theory if it comes from someone with recognized qualifications and credentials on the subject, and provides verifiable facts and evidence from scientific or academic research.
On the other hand, conspiracy theories often originate from self-proclaimed experts and are not affiliated with a reputable organization or institution.
Katherine was not the only one receiving calls from heaven, but not everyone wanted others to know about their calls. Amy befriended Katherine, offering her exclusive access to any new developments. As news about the miracles in Coldwater grew, so did Katherine’s popularity.
Another breakthrough. Amy is at Katherine’s house on a Friday when the phone rings. She quickly grabs her camera but runs into a chair as it slips from her grasp. Amy managed to capture only part of the call, and what she did record was shaky, which seemed to lend authenticity to it. Her unedited video went viral. Suddenly, searches for Coldwater, Michigan, topped the list of the most searched words.
Meanwhile, Father Carroll, Priest of the Catholic Church in Coldwater, discovers that Tess Rafferty also received a phone call from heaven. Her testimony was important, both because it corroborated the miracle, and her call came before Katherine’s first call. After all, reasoned Father Carroll, if God chose to allow such a miracle, then it seemed only right that God would start with a Catholic.
Ironically, Tess stopped attending services once she graduated from high school. She cited the judgment of the other attendees toward her mother, Ruth, a single mom.
Of course, other networks competed for exclusive content, and there would be ample opportunity for new developments to be seen by the rest of the world, waiting anxiously for news from Coldwater.
But for everyone who believed, there were one or more skeptics. One expert, Daniel Fromman, a scientist with Responsible Scientists International in Washington DC, said in an interview, “The contact these people are suggesting is not only impossible, it’s laughable. This just isn’t something people should take seriously.” The scientist emphasized that just because a call from heaven would comfort a person grieving the loss of a loved one, it doesn’t make it real.
But, is it real? After all, there are miracles reported in scripture that are just as profound.
Matthew tells us about a time when the disciples of Jesus were crossing the lake in a boat without Him. We’re told that the wind picked up and the boat was tossed about by the waves. It was dark out, between three and six o’clock in the morning.
Suddenly, they saw someone who appeared to be walking on the water. “It’s a ghost!” they screamed with terror and fear. The ghost they saw was Jesus, who shouted to them, “Courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid!”
Peter, still uncertain if he was willing to believe what he heard, replied, “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.”
“Is it real?” the disciples wondered. “Is it real?” Peter asked out loud.
“Come!” answered Jesus. So Peter climbs out of the boat and starts walking towards Jesus. Peter was actually walking on the water, we’re told. But this doesn’t seem impossible.
What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?
Matthew 14:22-33
Then, all of a sudden, reality sets in for Peter. It’s dark and the wind is strong. And, by the way, people don’t walk on water; they sink. Matthew tells us that fear took over, and Peter began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried. At once, Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of Peter, saying, “What little faith you have! Why did you doubt?”
Matthew finished his story by telling us that after Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. “Truly, you are the Son of God!” the disciples said to Jesus.
Now it’s our turn. “Was it real?” After all, I can barely get on top of the water on skis. I’ve never managed to walk on water. I sink like a rock.
Just like Peter, even the most faithful among us have doubts about one or more of the stories we’re told or read. Sometimes it’s healthy skepticism. Other times, unhelpful conspiracy theories crowd our minds.
Fortunately, Jesus is always with us, close enough to reach out and save us from sinking.
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Pastor Tommy
Our series was inspired by Mitch Albom. The First Phone Call from Heaven. New York: HarperCollins, 2014.
Kate Yandell. “RFK Jr. Denies Cuts to Scientific Research While Slashing Staff, Funding.” © Annenberg Public Policy Center, May 29, 2025. Retrieved from: link
“Identifying conspiracy theories.” © European Commission, 2025. Retrieved from: link