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Refining Fire: New Healing for Old Wounds
This is a book for healing wounded churches. When a church experiences conflict, it results in a wounded people. Healing for the church involves a healing of the people involved. The process is essentially the same for both. That is because the church is God’s vessel for healing the deep wounds of the human soul. The healing process set forth in this book is the application of biblical principles of grace that actually work. They have been tested and found to be amazingly effective. Damaged churches can experience renewal and become effective vessels of grace to their community. Wounded believers can experience renewal and restoration, discovering a dimension of God’s presence either forgotten or never before known. Understanding the reasons for conflict and division, rediscovering the healing impact of Jesus’ mission, catching a new vision of what it means to be the church in today’s world, and designing a local fellowship so that healing grace defines worship and ministry is the focus of this book. As such, it is both a manual for personal healing of the deep wounds of the soul and for healing the wounded church.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published March 3, 2017
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March 15, 2018
****encourages the healing of old wounds and the administration of God's grace****
Pastor Duane C. Eastman, from Anacortes, Washington penned “Refining Fire” to encourage the healing of “wounded churches;” churches where conflict, division and spirits of criticism and complaint have become the norm instead of the ministry of God’s grace. Where…” minor irritations become major issues and personalities, preferences and perceptions are elevated above love, understanding and patience.” He writes, the “church is ordained by God to be the body of Christ in the world” and that doesn’t happen in wounded churches.
Since churches are made up of a body of believers this also means the people themselves are often wounded and in need of healing. As such they need to be transformed by trust, faith and God’s grace. The process is essentially the same for people as it is for churches and that is why healing is the focus of “Refining Fire.”
The three-part book includes twenty-three chapters written in first person style. Pastor Eastman begins with why people and churches “need healing” and then explores “the healing process” and “the healing impact.” He uses Scripture, personal stories and tested biblical principles to illustrate healing and restoration both personally and within the church.
I especially liked the story in chapter three about a monastery where only an abbot and four elder monks remained. The aged abbot visited a rabbi in a nearby hermitage to ask advice about what he saw was the “death of his order.” After the monk and rabbi wept and prayed together, they spoke quietly about spiritual things and the monk asked for the rabbi’s advice. He responded, “I have no advice to give. The only thing I can tell you is that the Messiah is one of you.”
On his return the monks asked what he learned, and he repeated what the rabbi had said and said, “I don’t know what he meant.” However, the rabbi’s seemingly insignificant comment opened the monk’s eyes in the coming weeks and they began to view one another through the eyes of God’s grace “instead of the eyes of criticism.” This resulted in renewed respect and the monks treating one another differently, just in case one of them “might be the Messiah.”
This is one of many stories that illustrate one aspect of healing involves letting go of pride and self-centeredness. We need to deny self, “take up the cross” and let Christ rule in our hearts, our emotions and our lives. When we do, that leads to Christ-like thinking and provides the “necessary wisdom to live a Christ-centered life.”
This is a book to be savored and read slowly so that the Scriptures and illustrations become part of your own story.
‘Refining Fire: New Healing for Old Wounds,’ by Duane C. Eastman, WestBow Press, 2017, 224 Pages, 978-1512776669, $17.95
“Gail’s Bookshelf” Midwest Book Reviews: "January 2018"
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Pastor Duane C. Eastman, from Anacortes, Washington penned “Refining Fire” to encourage the healing of “wounded churches;” churches where conflict, division and spirits of criticism and complaint have become the norm instead of the ministry of God’s grace. Where…” minor irritations become major issues and personalities, preferences and perceptions are elevated above love, understanding and patience.” He writes, the “church is ordained by God to be the body of Christ in the world” and that doesn’t happen in wounded churches.
Since churches are made up of a body of believers this also means the people themselves are often wounded and in need of healing. As such they need to be transformed by trust, faith and God’s grace. The process is essentially the same for people as it is for churches and that is why healing is the focus of “Refining Fire.”
The three-part book includes twenty-three chapters written in first person style. Pastor Eastman begins with why people and churches “need healing” and then explores “the healing process” and “the healing impact.” He uses Scripture, personal stories and tested biblical principles to illustrate healing and restoration both personally and within the church.
I especially liked the story in chapter three about a monastery where only an abbot and four elder monks remained. The aged abbot visited a rabbi in a nearby hermitage to ask advice about what he saw was the “death of his order.” After the monk and rabbi wept and prayed together, they spoke quietly about spiritual things and the monk asked for the rabbi’s advice. He responded, “I have no advice to give. The only thing I can tell you is that the Messiah is one of you.”
On his return the monks asked what he learned, and he repeated what the rabbi had said and said, “I don’t know what he meant.” However, the rabbi’s seemingly insignificant comment opened the monk’s eyes in the coming weeks and they began to view one another through the eyes of God’s grace “instead of the eyes of criticism.” This resulted in renewed respect and the monks treating one another differently, just in case one of them “might be the Messiah.”
This is one of many stories that illustrate one aspect of healing involves letting go of pride and self-centeredness. We need to deny self, “take up the cross” and let Christ rule in our hearts, our emotions and our lives. When we do, that leads to Christ-like thinking and provides the “necessary wisdom to live a Christ-centered life.”
This is a book to be savored and read slowly so that the Scriptures and illustrations become part of your own story.
‘Refining Fire: New Healing for Old Wounds,’ by Duane C. Eastman, WestBow Press, 2017, 224 Pages, 978-1512776669, $17.95
“Gail’s Bookshelf” Midwest Book Reviews: "January 2018"
Google+GailWelborn
Pinterest: GailWelborn
Twitter: @GailWelborn
FaceBook: Gail Welbornastor
FaceBook Reviews: Gail Welborn
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