Refiner's Fire

Malachi 3:2,3
(2) But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when he appears? For He will be like a refiner's fire. (3) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver . . . "

God is the purifier & He controls the the refiner's fire; He is the creator. Is there more to be understood here?
You betcha!
It helps to find out more about the process of refining by fire. Let's look at a silversmith's work by way of example
In fact, let me tell you a story -- one you may have heard, but as with all good stories it is even finer in the retelling.

A woman read that passage in Malachi and wanted to learn about a silversmith's work to understand this whole "refining with fire" idea better. So she made an appointment with a silversmith to watch him while at work.
She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest, beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith work, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up.
He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire, where the flames were the hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot, then she thought again about the verse, that "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."
She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver was being refined.
The man answered, yes, that not only did he have to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on it the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith,
"But how do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that you are in God's hand, He has His eye on you, and He will keep holding you and watching you until He sees His image in you.


Photo credit: William Kirk, silversmith: Photo by Shannon Tofts
Graphics credit: http://www.parkinx.com/fineart/bio.html artist: Jana Winters Parkin

God is For Real, Man!

The link below will take you to an interesting telling of John chapter 20, from verse ~18 through the doubting Thomas verses.

God is for real, man is a 60's record of ghetto kids interpreting the bible in the vernacular jive talk of the day.

The retelling of the Bible story is not offensive in anyway (like some "jive talk" could be). It is really a pretty fascinating portrayal.

Esther & Purim

Have you seen the rather off beat movie "For Your Consideration?" If you have a sense of humor that is a bit skewed - you have to see it!!
Warning: NOT a flick for the kids.

The movie starts out with its focus on the holiday Purim. I admit I knew next to nothing about this holiday. So, what do you do when that happens??

Since my childhood friend who attended Rabbinical school, is 1500 miles away I . . . . Hit the Cyber Highway, of course!

It is very cool that our Salvation History Bible study covered this ground, too! Purim starts with Esther. . . . .

Here is a good summary and link to more details. The story of Esther contains three different episodes:

1 Vashti was banished, and Esther became Queen (Esther 1 & 2)

Queen Vashti refused to obey the command of her husband King Ashasuerus, so he divorced her and sought a new queen. This new queen had to be the most beautiful woman in the land. A young Jewish girl, Esther, was chosen. Her uncle, Mordecai, overheard a plot against the king, and warned him through Esther.

2 Esther saved Mordecai from Haman (Esther 3-8:14)

Mordecai offended a high court official, who decided to kill not only Mordecai but all the Jews in the Persian empire. Esther pleaded with the king at two banquets she gave. Mordecai was saved from death, and Haman was punished.

3 Esther saved the Jewish people of Persia (Esther 8:15-10)

Letters were sent throughout the kingdom repealing the decree of death for all Jews. There was great rejoicing, and an annual festival called Purim celebrated the courage of Esther and the deliverance of the Jews.

Very interesting facts:
Hadassah, Esther’s Jewish name, comes from the word for 'myrtle', a tree whose leaves only release their fragrance when they are crushed; Esther's full potential only appeared when she and her people were in terrible danger.
The name 'Esther' means 'hidden': Esther's real identity as a Jewess was hidden for years.

sources: http://www.womeninthebible.net/1.14.Esther.htm
The graphic of Esther is detail from Rembrandt's Assuerus, Haman and Esther.
Dry Bones - the story behind the cartoons