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Refined in the Furnace of Affliction
UNFORESEEN TRAGEDIES LEAD TO A MORE MEANINGFUL LIFE
John McCulloch's oldest son received a head injury at birth, resulting in blindness. A second injury at age 28, resulted in his being confined to a nursing home for life. This book is about how these afflictions and others led one family to a positive result.
John McCulloch's oldest son received a head injury at birth, resulting in blindness. A second injury at age 28, resulted in his being confined to a nursing home for life. This book is about how these afflictions and others led one family to a positive result.
148 pages, Paperback
First published December 26, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 1, 2009
Refined in the Furnace of Affliction is a personal memoir, written by John McCulloch. According to the product information, the book is about one family’s struggle to overcome personal obstacles after one of the children born suffers an accident and is rendered blind. Through faith and through devotion to God, the McCulloch family finds peace in this and in their lives as a whole.
Let me say first off that I am not religious. However, I feel that there is wisdom in everything, especially in experience. And even if I don’t have a personal relationship God or practice a religion, I still find inspiration in the experiences of others. It’s uplifting to read about hope and love and togetherness regardless the reason for it. I’m not one of those anti-religion nonreligious people, that’s for sure.
So, I didn’t mind the religious nature of the book.
Though, there was a lot to mind.
The book information makes it seem as if this will be the story of the handicapped son, Johnny, and how his affliction impacted the family. I thought that the book would center around the various trials and tribulations of a family trying to come to terms with disability through faith in God. I found that this was not the case in Refined. The first half of the book is one fractured moment after another, details on matters that don‘t have any relevance to a fluid plot. Most of the first few chapters is about Mr. McCulloch’s experiences in the military and his moving from one national park to another, where he worked as a ranger and eventually a fire inspector. It took about half way into the book until anything really substantial regarding Johnny came up.
I was also put off by the whole bit of them communicating with or through the will of Jesus through tongues. It was a bit strange. Just as strange was their invoking of things like finding a lost wallet or stopping an attacking dog in the name of Christ. Still, I was impressed by their conviction. But the part that really got me was towards the end where the author makes a personal judgment about the morality of the world because we allow such things as homosexuality. I think that tolerance and acceptance go a long way. I also feel that if people want their beliefs and their lifestyles to be accepted, they need to extend the same respect to others. While throughout the book the McCulloch family seemed very giving, very generous and nice, the final expressions of intolerance shattered that view.
Let me say first off that I am not religious. However, I feel that there is wisdom in everything, especially in experience. And even if I don’t have a personal relationship God or practice a religion, I still find inspiration in the experiences of others. It’s uplifting to read about hope and love and togetherness regardless the reason for it. I’m not one of those anti-religion nonreligious people, that’s for sure.
So, I didn’t mind the religious nature of the book.
Though, there was a lot to mind.
The book information makes it seem as if this will be the story of the handicapped son, Johnny, and how his affliction impacted the family. I thought that the book would center around the various trials and tribulations of a family trying to come to terms with disability through faith in God. I found that this was not the case in Refined. The first half of the book is one fractured moment after another, details on matters that don‘t have any relevance to a fluid plot. Most of the first few chapters is about Mr. McCulloch’s experiences in the military and his moving from one national park to another, where he worked as a ranger and eventually a fire inspector. It took about half way into the book until anything really substantial regarding Johnny came up.
I was also put off by the whole bit of them communicating with or through the will of Jesus through tongues. It was a bit strange. Just as strange was their invoking of things like finding a lost wallet or stopping an attacking dog in the name of Christ. Still, I was impressed by their conviction. But the part that really got me was towards the end where the author makes a personal judgment about the morality of the world because we allow such things as homosexuality. I think that tolerance and acceptance go a long way. I also feel that if people want their beliefs and their lifestyles to be accepted, they need to extend the same respect to others. While throughout the book the McCulloch family seemed very giving, very generous and nice, the final expressions of intolerance shattered that view.
April 28, 2009
“My purpose in writing this book is to encourage readers who are experiencing trouble to put their faith in the Lord, and trust Him to see them through the trial. This is true no matter how devastating, how heartbreaking, how seemingly unfair the affliction.”
With these words, author John McCulloch opens his biographical book ‘Refined in the Furnace of Affliction,’ which chronicles his family’s troubling times dealing with two separate injuries which first left his oldest son, Johnny, blind and then confined him to a nursing home.
Although the early injuries were devastating and could be explained as medical incompetence, McCulloch is rarely negative in his writing about the circumstances. Many of us, when faced with tragedy, are tempted to lash out and blame someone for what has happened. McCulloch writes from a point of acceptance and grace.
McCulloch has never been a professional writer. He describes his career in the navy and as a ranger in the U.S. Forest Service. He reveals that he is 75 at the time of writing, and it is clear that ‘Refined in the Furnace of Affliction’ is his reflections on the ups and downs of his life. He openly describes his relationship with God and the importance of his faith in his life. He admits his own flaws as a father and allows us to have an intimate glimpse into his experiences.
There are also sections of the book which are written by two of his other children, Bruce and Beverly, who share their struggles and coming to faith. They too, are open and honest about themselves, their family and their relationship with God and I suspect that the writing of this book brought healing to each of them.
‘Refined in the Furnace of Affliction’ is not a literary masterpiece, but it is an honest account of one family’s journey on Earth and their trust in their Father in Heaven. As summed up in a poem by Johnny, it is a prayer for all:
To show them that you really care,
So you can help them to find out,
What life is really all about.
In sharing his own story, McCulloch’s prayer is that others will be able to find comfort and healing through the presence of the Lord. His testimony is powerful, passionate and inspirational.
With these words, author John McCulloch opens his biographical book ‘Refined in the Furnace of Affliction,’ which chronicles his family’s troubling times dealing with two separate injuries which first left his oldest son, Johnny, blind and then confined him to a nursing home.
Although the early injuries were devastating and could be explained as medical incompetence, McCulloch is rarely negative in his writing about the circumstances. Many of us, when faced with tragedy, are tempted to lash out and blame someone for what has happened. McCulloch writes from a point of acceptance and grace.
McCulloch has never been a professional writer. He describes his career in the navy and as a ranger in the U.S. Forest Service. He reveals that he is 75 at the time of writing, and it is clear that ‘Refined in the Furnace of Affliction’ is his reflections on the ups and downs of his life. He openly describes his relationship with God and the importance of his faith in his life. He admits his own flaws as a father and allows us to have an intimate glimpse into his experiences.
There are also sections of the book which are written by two of his other children, Bruce and Beverly, who share their struggles and coming to faith. They too, are open and honest about themselves, their family and their relationship with God and I suspect that the writing of this book brought healing to each of them.
‘Refined in the Furnace of Affliction’ is not a literary masterpiece, but it is an honest account of one family’s journey on Earth and their trust in their Father in Heaven. As summed up in a poem by Johnny, it is a prayer for all:
To show them that you really care,
So you can help them to find out,
What life is really all about.
In sharing his own story, McCulloch’s prayer is that others will be able to find comfort and healing through the presence of the Lord. His testimony is powerful, passionate and inspirational.
April 25, 2009
Refiner’s Fire
Refined in the Furnace of Affliction is the story John McCulloch’s son, John, who suffers an injury at birth that results in blindness and another later on in life that confines John to a nursing home for the rest of his life.
“Father” John takes through the trials that he and his family (he and his wife were to have three other children) lived through and overcame, and shows us that it is possible to find the positives in every situation.
I’m sure you will enjoy this candidate look into this family’s life.
Refined in the Furnace of Affliction is the story John McCulloch’s son, John, who suffers an injury at birth that results in blindness and another later on in life that confines John to a nursing home for the rest of his life.
“Father” John takes through the trials that he and his family (he and his wife were to have three other children) lived through and overcame, and shows us that it is possible to find the positives in every situation.
I’m sure you will enjoy this candidate look into this family’s life.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews