Randy Alcorn - If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil

I couldnt have written If God Is Good without God graciously sending me many people whose insights and practical help proved vital.

Above all, Im grateful to Doreen Button, a skilled editor, staff member, and friend, who looked over every line, most of them multiple times, from the manuscripts early stages. Doreen, you were Gods gift to me in this project.

Shel Arensenmissionary, writer, editor, and friendbrought his own skills and insights to portions of the book. Thank you, my brother.

Steve Halliday skillfully edited the submitted draft, with keen eye and insight. Ken Petersen, Multnomahs publisher, believed in this book and also read through the entire manuscript, looking for areas to improve. Thank you, brothers, for your investment in this project.

Doug Gabbert originally encouraged me to write on this subject, and Brian Thomasson and Dudley Delffs were in on the early discussions. Sarah Thebarge and Tim Newcomb tracked down source material for me, and commented on portions of the manuscript. Wendy Jeffries edited some of the stories and Sandi Swanson combed through books for me. Thanks to Pam Shoup for carefully managing the manuscript, and Holly Briscoe for her detailed copyediting and fact-checking.

Many scholars and friends critiqued portions of the manuscript, including Andy Naselli, Justin Taylor, Chris Franklin, Wayne Grudem, Larry Waters, Larry Gadbaugh, Doug Gresham, Keith Krell, Roy Peterson, and Scott Lindsey. Thanks to all who were willing to see the manuscript at its worst in order to help bring it to its best. Im grateful to the men who spent a day with me discussing the problem of evil and suffering in a theological roundtable: Paul Metzger, John Terveen, Gerry Breshears, Steve Keels, and my sons-in-law Dan Stump and Dan Franklin. Gerry, Im also in your debt for your extensive comments on the manuscript.

I interviewed and exchanged correspondence with many people who shared their stories and perspectives, including these: Randy Butler, John and Patti Franklin, John Kohlenberger, Scott and Janet Willis, Georgene Rice, Joni Eareckson Tada, Erin Seymour, Dan Maust, Robert Rogers, Darrell Scott, Mona Krueger, Kimberly Smith, Jerry and Candis Bingham, Darryl Burkholder, Bob and Pam Tebow, Josef Tson, Ron and Carol Speer, David and Nancy Guthrie, Craig and Kristina Glazier, Jim Harrell, Claudia Burrows, Emmanuel Ndikumana, Minnie Broas, Penny Hunter, Jerry Tobias, Bryant Young, Greg Laurie, and Denny and Claire Hartford. Thanks also to Mark Crumley and Don Pape.

There are many with whom I discussed the books issues, and who gave me helpful input and stories, including my dear friends Steve Keels (some of whose insights were surprisingly good), Stu Weber, Tony Cimmarrusti, and Diane Meyer, as well as Chris Mitchell, Rick Campbell, Kirk Cameron, Doug Nichols, Todd DuBord, Jay Echternach, Jim Swanson, and Joe Gibbs.

Im grateful for my fellow novelists who are part of ChiLibris and who offered their stories and insights: Angela Hunt, Janelle Schneider, Athol Dickson, Linda Hall, Robin Lee Hatcher, Ethel Herr, Stephanie Higgins, Lissa Halls Johnson, Lois Walfrid Johnson, Nancy Mehl, Gayle Roper, and Patti Hickman.

I want to thank Multnomah and WaterBrook staff, including but not limited to Tiffany Lauer Walker, Melissa Sturgess, Lori Addicott, Joel Ruse, Liz Johnson, Sara Selkirk, and Leah McMahan Apineru.

I could never carve out time to write if not for the servant-hearted efforts of the wonderful staff of Eternal Perspective Ministries, including Kathy Norquist, Bonnie Hiestand, Janet Albers, Linda Jeffries, Stephanie Anderson, Sharon Misenhimer, Catherine Simons, and Dwight Myers. (Kathy made manuscript corrections and Bonnie typed a great deal of my research.)

I owe a great deal to the EPM Prayer Partners who upheld me before Gods throne in the most difficult days of writing this book. You know who you are, and God does tooif he uses this book for his glory, if he touches lives through it for eternal purposes, then he will reward you for your vital part.

Several people were generous in letting me use their cabins during the writing, including Mark and Debbie Eisenzimmer, Steve and Kathy Peil, and Ron and Karen Russell. Thanks also to Charles Steynor and the staff of Ecola Creek Lodge. And special thanks to our dear friends Carlos and Gena Norris, with whom we spent a wonderful rejuvenating week on the ranch immediately following the books finish.

More than anyone, I want to thank my precious wife, Nanci, my lifes partner and soul mate, who discussed countless aspects of this project with me, and brought great insights, encouragement, and continuous laughter. Thanks to our precious daughters, Karina and Angela, who along with their husbands, our sons, are Gods gifts to us. Finally, Im grateful to our grandsons, Jake and Ty Stump, and Matt and Jack Franklin, who brought incredible joy as they often charged through my office door yelling, Pops, were here!

Above all, my heartfelt thanks to the only Answer to evil and suffering who is bigger than the questions: Jesus Christ, my Savior, Lord, and closest friend.