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History/Biography

Bill Bright and Campus Crusade for Christ: The Renewal of Evangelicalism in Postwar America John G. Turner (University of North Carolina)

Our judges said:

"Turner's neutrality and great technical chops are exactly what this subject needed. Yet this is no dry account: He possesses both an unerring ear for the apt quote and a keen eye for the revealing scene. With these tools, Turner creates a fascinating window into the vibrant and angular culture of Crusade and the churning activism of (especially) 1960s and '70s American evangelicals."

Review: Campus Crusader for Christ | Bill Bright is a compelling, flawed figure in John Turner's historical analysis of postwar evangelicalism. (August 7, 2008)

AWARD OF MERIT:

God and Race in American Politics: A Short History
Mark A. Noll (Princeton)

Books & Culture: Liberation and Oppression, All Tangled Up | Mark Noll on race and religion in America. (September 22, 2008)

Christian History: From Uncle Tom's Cabin to "I Have a Dream" | Together, race and religion have been the driving forces in American political history.

Christian Living

Reconciling All Things: A Christian Vision for Justice, Peace and Healing Emmanuel Katongole, Chris Rice (InterVarsity)

Our judges said:

"I love this book for its range, the weave of the two writers' voices, its deep appreciation of process, and its combination of spiritual groundedness, accessibility, and ecclesial, psychological, and political awareness. It retrieves the term reconciliation from the buzzword bin, and offers hope and direction at the same time."

By Emmanuel Katongole: From Tower-Dwellers to Travelers | Ugandan-born theologian Emmanuel Katongole offers a new paradigm for missions. (July 3, 2007)

By Chris Rice: Editor's Bookshelf: Visible Man | Chris Rice speaks frankly about building cross-racial relationships. (December 1, 2002)

Interview: The Dick Staub Interview: Chris Rice | The author of Grace Matters talks about his friendship with racial reconciliation leader Spencer Perkins, his former coauthor and best friend. (November 1, 2002)

By Chris Rice: Why Tiger Woods Makes Us Feel Good | Is the best remedy for racism visible black achievement? (July 14, 1997)

AWARD OF MERIT:

Being Well When We're Ill: Wholeness and Hope in Spite of Infirmity
Marva J. Dawn (Augsburg Fortress)

Christianity and Culture

Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling Andy Crouch (InterVarsity)

Our judges said:

"An astonishing work that moves from sociological analysis to biblical theology (in story form) to their practical implications. Crouch's main contribution is to show how Christians can and should do cultural analysis but not stop there: They should proceed boldly and deliberately to creating culture itself. This is a book for the whole church."

Books & Culture: Making It New | Andy Crouch proposes a different way for Christians to engage culture. (September 1, 2008)

Interview: Cultivating Where We're Planted | Andy Crouch says there's no reason to get paralyzed by our 'culture making' mandate. (September 8, 2008)

About the book: Crouch and Culture | With one book off to the printer, Andy Crouch contemplates beginning another. (September 8, 2008)

By Andy Crouch: Creating Culture | Our best response to the world is to make something of it. (September 8, 2008)

AWARD OF MERIT:

Making the Best of It: Following Christ in the Real World
John G. Stackhouse Jr. (Oxford)

By John G. Stackhouse Jr.: A Variety of Evangelical Politics | A recent spate of books suggests we are more politically diverse than ever — and maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. (October 29, 2008)

Apologetics/Evangelism

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism Timothy Keller (Penguin/Dutton)

Our judges said:

"The best apologetics book of the new millennium. This powerful study by the charismatic pastor of New York's Redeemer Presbyterian Church synthesizes most of the strongest arguments for Christian faith, boldly answers the 'New Atheists,' and posits Christianity as the world's only hope for peace."

Books & Culture: 21st-Century Apologetics | Pastor Timothy Keller makes the case for faith. (March 31, 2008)

Interview: Tim Keller Reasons with America | The New York pastor explains why he's taking his ministry model on the road. (June 20, 2008)

By Tim Keller: The Advent of Humility | Jesus is the reason to stop concentrating on ourselves. (December 22, 2008)

AWARD OF MERIT:

To the Jew First The Case for Jewish Evangelism in Scripture and History
Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, Editors (Kregel Academic and Professional)

Biblical Studies

Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus Klyne R. Snodgrass (Eerdmans)

Our judges said:

"This is a superb culmination of career-long reflection on one of the most important genres in biblical literature. Readers will be deeply impressed by Snodgrass's exposition, his command of the relevant scholarship in the field, and the lucid quality of his analysis."

AWARD OF MERIT:

Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry and Writings
Tremper Longman III and Peter Enns, Editors (IVP Academic)

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Good article, It's to bad I can't spend much time reading any more but the subject matter is fine.

Sad that Claiborne's "Jesus For President" didn't get any awards. -- otherwise, in my continued love of everything associated with Eastern University, I'm very glad that a posthumous award goes to Paul Hiebert's book. I'm sure his family and friends would agree that the book is award-worthy. Now I need to pick up the rest of his writings...

Great decision on John Turner's book. Bill Bright was connected to so many different aspects of evangelicalism, and Turner demonstrates this with such clarity and fine analysis. His integrity as an historian is evident on every page. I hope teachers of 20th cent. evangelicalism will be wise enough assign this book.

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