I Want To Go To Heaven... But Not Yet

About the Book

This book is about the ups and downs of life and the good things and bad things we have to face as we go through life. But more than that, this book is about survival.

The author, Joe Wise, has survived seven near death experiences. In one of those experiences he had an “out of body” experience that continues to remain very vivid to him to this day.

This book also shares Joe’s long fight and struggle with the disease of alcoholism; and he vividly describes some of his awful experiences in a dual life of an alcoholic and a Christian Pastor. He describes how alcoholism affects innocent people like the family members, friends, and in Joe’s case church member Joe completes his book with a strong emphasis on recovery and living a sober life. He goes further to tell how he left the church ministry to develop a counseling ministry that he enjoys.

“I Want to go to Heaven ……….but Not Yet” is an honest look at the good and evil in life and how by faith evil can be turned into something very good and powerful. This book will make you laugh and it will make you cry. It is from the heart and it offers much inspiration to those who choose to read it.

About the Author

Rev. Joe Wise is currently working in a private counseling practice and is associated with Woodlands Family Institute. The practice is located in The Woodlands, Texas. Joe graduated from Landis High School, located in Landis, N. C., in 1978. He was married to Barbara Linn Goodnight in the same year and they have two sons, F. Christian Wise (Chris) and Andrew Luther Wise. Joe and Barbara have six grandchildren and one great grandchild. Joe received his B. A. in History and Religion from Catawba College in 1962. He attended Lancaster Theological Seminary from 1962 to 1965 and received his Bachelor of Divinity and Masters of Divinity degrees. Joe served as Assistant Pastor of Trinity UCC in Conover, N. C. from 1965 to 1966. He served as Pastor of Emmanel UCC in Hanover, Pa. from 1966 – 1972. He was called to Emanuel UCC in Manchester, Michigan in 1972 where he served as pastor until 1978. Joe was called to start a new church in The Woodlands, Texas in 1978. In 1986 Joe was called to serve Zion UCC in Lenoir, N. C. While in Lenoir Joe attended Appalachian State University and received a Masters degree in Agency Counseling in 1988. Joe and Barbara returned to The Woodlands, Texas in 1990 and Joe became a program developer of an Intensive Outpatient Treatment program for Laurelwood Psychiatric Hospital. While at Laurelwood he was invited by Dr. Stephen Parhamto join Woodlands Family Institute as an associate in private counseling practice. At the present time Joe continues his private practice with Woodlands Family Institute and specializes in Substance Abuse Counseling, Anger Management, and Teen Age Boy Counseling.