Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next [Paperback]

Nathan L. K. Bierma (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2005

Heaven continues to be a neglected element of the Christian life. We profess it to be eternally important and then live as if it doesn’t exist. By taking a new look at the biblical picture of heaven, Nathan Bierma shows readers how heaven can be a relevant, meaningful, inspiring engine of Christian faith and kingdom service. With this new outlook on our eternal destiny, we can live with godly purpose in our vocation, citizenship, recreation, and worship.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Christians often dwell on a speculative future existence; we need more realism and seriousness regarding the earthiness of our created condition. Bierma probes the implications of Revelation-inspired visions of a new creation.
--The Banner

About the Author

Nathan Bierma is communications and research coordinator for the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, and contributing writer to the Chicago Tribune. His website is nbierma.com .

Product Details

• Paperback: 199 pages
• Publisher: P & R Publishing (October 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087552348X
• ISBN-13: 978-0875523484
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

see www.nbierma.com/about

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Refreshing Read, November 21, 2005

By 

Jeffrey Dekock (Manchester, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next (Paperback)

Nathan Bierma's book is a breath of fresh air about a topic as old as the ages but as pertinent as could possibly be in our world. Well written, humorous, and witty, Nathan Bierma has successfully transitioned from Chicago Tribune writer, to college professor, to talented author.

Bringing Heaven Down to Earth reminds us of the myriad of ways in which modern culture, so often running on an "engine of aimless ego," fills up our time and distracts us from our purpose here on earth. A purpose to serve the Lord and live forever with Him in Heaven. But if we believe that this is truly our final purpose, why then are we never talking about it? Why do we plan all our lives for retirement, but think little of what comes after it? This book gives us reasons to remember how history ends and what it means for our lives today.

With his pertinent perspective on modern culture Bierma weaves through its intricacies and help bring us out of the maze with a clearer vision of what is to come. As we fill our lives up with stuff, we lose sight of the fact that just because we don't know when eternity will arrive, that doesn't mean it won't. And when we are asked about the meaning of life many today feel they don't have the time to consider it. Bierma 's book is a quick and excellent read which brings a new life to these age-old, even if oft-ignored, questions.

Bring Heaven Down to Earth is a critical reflection on an important subject that leaves readers with a variety of things to ponder and restores a sense of hope to all those lost in the confusion of eschatology and the maze of modernity.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heaven on Earth, August 8, 2007

By 

Donna C. Maguire - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next (Paperback)

The author of Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next, Nathan L. K. Bierma, has written an excellent book, with his focus on living life here on earth with a Christian perspective, based on the idea that this life leads into the next, when the New Heaven will be on this earth. His ideas are soundly based on Scripture and give the reader an interesting vision of what the new heaven will be and where it will be. The book, which is a delight to read as it is so well written, raises thoughtful questions as to how Christians should be actively working in the world today, making their presence known and felt. Bierma discusses practical ways of living, and clearly connects our present actions to our future lving in God's presence. This is a truly worthwhile book to read.

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading this was Heaven on Earth, November 18, 2010

By 

Jeremy D. Myers "Writing at Till He Comes .org" (Westtown, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next (Paperback)

48. Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Nathan L. K. Bierma

I almost gave up on this book. I'm glad I didn't. Though I had trouble getting through the first 50 pages, after that, it really kept my attention.

Bierma's main point is that we're not just here on earth to wait for heaven, and heaven, when we "get there" will be a lot like earth. We're not going to sit around on clouds, playing harps. We're going to live on earth, enjoying life and community the way God intended.

I have thought this for a while, and was happy to find someone who has done some thinking and writing in this area.

But Bierma doesn't stop there. He argues convincingly that since our eternal life will be like this present life (only without all the negatives), we should live in this present life the way we will live in the eternal life, and that this is the message of the Kingdom and the Gospel. I wholeheartedly agree.

My favorite parts of the book (as with any book) is where he provides insight into tricky or controversial passages of Scripture. He spends a lot of time unpacking Isaiah 60, and also helped my understanding of 1 John 2:15 and Mark 13. I'm sure his insights will find their way into my future commentary writing.