Question and Answer of the Week: Is the Bible inerrant?

I believe in the inspiration and authority of Scripture, but I don't think this means I have to believe in inerrancy. The Bible isn't meant to be a textbook, and we don't need to believe in the details of the creation account, and the first man and woman in the garden, or about Jonah being swallowed by a whale. The Bible contains parables and metaphors. Do I really have believe it has to be correct in all the little details to be God's Word?

Usually when people say they believe the Bible contains errors, I ask ...

Giveaway of the Month: Money, Possessions, and Eternity audio book

This month we’re giving away three copies of the brand-new Money, Possessions, and Eternity audio book, which is being released July 15.

Who wants to settle for fleeting treasures on earth... when God offers everlasting treasures in Heaven?

It’s time to rethink our perspectives on money and possessions. In this thoroughly researched and extensively updated classic, Randy Alcorn shows us how to view them accurately—as God’s provision for our good, the good of others, and his glory. Also includes PDF study materials.

Here’s how to enter: Leave a comment on this post by Sunday, July ...

Summer and Grandkids

Matt Franklin turns five in November. Loves to hike with us in the "forest" near our house. A math prodigy and a wonderful kid.

Question and Answer of the Week: Looking Forward to Heaven?

With the deaths of several celebrities on the forefront of people's minds, I want to focus this week's question and answer on Heaven. Because the reality is, as human beings, we all have a terminal disease called mortality. The current death rate is 100 percent. Unless Christ returns soon, we’re all going to die. We don’t like to think about death; yet, worldwide, 3 people die every second, 180 every minute, and nearly 11,000 every hour. If the Bible is right about what happens to us after death, it means that more than 250,000 ...

Facebook and Twitter

For those who do Facebook and/or Twitter, I'm posting on both most days. Already over 2,000 access Facebook and over 500 follow on Twitter.

On Facebook you can find me at www.facebook.com/randyalcorn. I've enjoyed posting some short devotional thoughts and Scripture references on my wall and seeing the responses from readers. For instance, one day last week I posted this:

We should come to God's Word to examine truth-claims (Acts 17:11). If we're more eager to watch a sitcom, American Idol, a ball game, or the evening news than to ...

Announcing the Winners of the Fiction Book Giveaway

Here are the winners from June’s fiction book giveaway. Each of the three winners will receive one of Randy's fiction books of their choice.

The randomly drawn winners are:

1) Aidan
2) Nan H.
3) Leon Schoonens

It’s our privilege to also choose another winner:

Mr. Cheng Weng

All winners, please e-mail me at stephanie (at) epm.org with your mailing address and which fiction book you’d like to receive.

If you weren’t a winner this time around, check back on July 6 for the next book giveaway. Also, be sure to check out EPM ...

Counting the Cost of Sexual Immorality

South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford has joined a long line of leaders, both secular and Christian, who have committed adultery.

Someone suggested, in light of this, that I post about fleeing and resisting sexual temptation. First, consider this from God's Word:

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet ...

Question and Answer of the Week: How to Live Wisely Financially

This week's question is another one I answered on the Revive Our Hearts website:


I hear all kinds of financial advice in today's times. I've heard about investing and saving and preparing for the future (for example, saving for our children's education or retirement). What would you say would be the best financial advice for someone who is just starting out with marriage and children and really doesn't know what to do with their finances?

Thanks for this question. If you do just two things, you will have the cornerstones of living wisely financially.

Atheism and Christianity: Two Views on the Value of Life

Over the years my reading has included several bestselling books by atheists, who relentlessly condemn Christianity. The subtitle to God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens is "How Religion Poisons Everything." That's right: everything. (I guess that would include the life's work of Bach, among others.)

Despite some witch hunts and inquisitions, I'll take Christianity's track record against atheism's any day. (Lenin, Stalin, and Mao come to mind).

The atheists love to talk about how rotten Christianity makes people feel. If only Christianity weren't around, everything would be better.

Let me summarize the secular ...

A Very Moving Story

In light of my blog post some time ago with the Christian the lion video, our friend Diane Meyer sent us the following. It’s a somewhat similar story. But please, if you haven’t watched the lion video, do that first. Without it, you will not appreciate why Diane sent this one:

In 1986, Mikele Mebembe was on holiday in Kenya after graduating from Northwestern University. On a hike through the bush, he came across a young bull elephant standing with one leg raised in the air.

The elephant seemed distressed, so Mikele approached it very carefully. He got ...