Endorsements

• "Shows the relevance of the Bible's vision of a future transformed creation to the present-day challenges of cultural discipleship."
-Richard Mouw, president, Fuller Theological Seminary

• Here is a book that corrects our nearsightedness ... with the kind of winsome and engaging language that matches the zesty and fulsome vision of heaven it describes."
-John Witvliet, director, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

• "Nathan Bierma [writes] with a depth of insight and a spiritual maturity rarely encountered in writers twice his age ... [This book] is exceptional."
-John Wilson, editor, Books&Culture

• "An engaging, provocative, and practical book on our responsibility to be agents of renewal in the world even while avoiding worldliness ... a must-read.
-Quentin Schultze, professor, Calvin College; author of Communicating for Life

Reviews

• "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 ... Bringing 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."
-Jeffrey DeKock, at Amazon.com

• 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.
-Wayne Brouwer, The Banner

• "We need to congratulate Nathan for a thoughtful and insightful elaboration of the thesis that, though we do not know the small details, we can understand the big picture, namely, that heaven will be more of a continuation of this earth than we usually suppose."
-Steve Van Der Weele, Neland News

• "A thrilling book, each chapter better than the one before. Time and again I found myself saying, 'Right on!'"
-Vern Boerman, Peace Notes

Mentions

• "A while back I attended a conference at which several speakers explained why no one is doing apologetics these days. ... If I were returning to that conference today, I’d take along copies of four books: Avery Dulles’ History of Apologetics (Ignatius), Debra Rienstra’s So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality (Jossey-Bass), Eric Mextaxas’ Everything You Always Wanted to Ask About God (But Were Afraid to Ask) (Waterbrook), and Nathan L. K. Bierma’s Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next (P&R)."
-John Wilson, First Things

• "Without a vivid sense of God's future, you're missing out on a great blessing of Christian life—and great opportunities to bless other lives. In his book Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: Connecting This Life to the Next, Nathan Bierma discusses the difference between small gospel and big gospel perspectives."
-Joan Huyser-Honig, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

• "[Christians'] eight to 10 hours a day—in marketing, teaching, or governing—is, Bierma points out, a means of preparing themselves and the world around them for the end of worldliness. They are, as they make their way to work each morning, to ask God to transform them and their surroundings "from people and places of worldly pride to people and places of godly goodness."
-Dick Doster, ByFaith Online

• "[Books such as this one] keep a wider horizon in view, a horizon that incorporates not only the emergent now of conversion, but also God's provision of "in the beginning" and eventual "unending shalom." They understand what it means to be church today in the context of an eternal kingdom (heaven on earth) that has already dawned in Jesus Christ."
-Bill Van Groningen, Christian Reformed Home Missions, "Interesting Stuff" newsletter

Responses

• "It's like a whole new room has been opened in my imagination, and my eyes have been opened to seeing bits (sometimes lots) of heaven every day. ... I am much, much richer for having read Bringing Heaven Down to Earth."
-Judy Congdon, Houghton College

• "Worship is always a balancing act between 'the already and the not yet.' ... We need what you present in your book: a living CONNECTION between the two realms. This connection both reveals where life on this earth has run off the rails AND gives us a better vision to shoot for."
-Rev. Scott Hoezee, Center for Excellence in Preaching at Calvin Theological Seminary

• [Not seeing the big picture] -- "it's like standing in front of a skyscraper and looking only at the 1st floor."
-Rev. Howard Vanderwell, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

• " I was really challenged by your book, Nathan. Thank you for your work in bringing such enlightening research and writing on such an important topic. ... As a pastor who just moved to the Chicago area two years ago, it was great to read all the Chicago stories, too. I feel like I know my new city better! ... Thank-you again for your book that will bring heaven "out of the clouds" for many people!"
-Rev. Tim Cox, Chicago

• "Thanks for your good work on this. Thanks for helping to put a stake in the ground to be firm that there is something quite important about the here and now, indeed, about this cosmos. What on earth is God doing?--through His people and in anticipation of the great fulfillment when the New Jerusalem descends from heaven to earth."
-Bob Crow, Calvin College

• Summary of discussion with Neland Avenue church book group

• Summary of discussion with Shawnee Park church book group

* All responses are posted with permission of the sender. To submit a response to appear at this page, e-mail me.

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