Writing my eschatology book A New Heaven and a New Earth (Baker Academic, 2014) has been a labor of love. Like all my books, I’ve put my heart and soul into it. So seeing the book in print, and hearing of its impact on people’s thinking and lives, has been a great encouragement.
Best Biblical Studies Book—Word Guild Book Awards
To top it off, I just found out that A New Heaven and a New Earth won the World Guild Award for best book of 2014 in the Biblical Studies Category. I knew the book had been shortlisted (1 of 3) for the award by the World Guild (the primer Christian organization for Canadian writers). They had their annual Gala in Toronto tonight (June 13, 2015) and announced winners in various categories.
Best Overall Book—Word Guild Book Awards
The winner for general Academic book was Leonard Hjalmarson for No Home Like Place (The Urban Loft, 2014). Len also won the Grace Irwin prize for best overall book—quite an honor (or should I say honour).
I met Len in 2013 when he roomed with me to attend the Canadian Evangelical Theological Association (CETA) meeting in Victoria, BC. He presented a beautiful paper entitled “Recovering the Practice of Place: A Theology of Place,” which was based on the book he was writing.
I’m honoured to be in such company.
For some other awards the book has received, see my follow-up post.
CREATION to ESCHATON 
Congratulations! As someone who enjoys the old hymns I will miss ‘When We All Get to Heaven,’ etc. but will rejoice in being more skilled in incorporating the message of the Bible into my thinking and teaching. I look forward to reading your book.
Congrats Richard!
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