Refined in the Furnace of Affliction by John McCulloch

Finding Strength through the Fire of Affliction

LTJG John McCulloch awoke as a Filipino orderly urgently called his name, "Mister McCulloch, wake up...you have an urgent message at the Message Center."

John's emotions ran the gambit as he excitedly read the telegram, "You are the father of a baby boy..." fear gripped him as he continued "...however, there is something wrong and he is not expected to live. Please come home immediately."

"Refined in the Furnace of Affliction" is written to encourage readers who are going through trials to find their strength in God. This is John McCulloch's story, an autobiographical memoir demonstrating how devastating and heartbreaking circumstances can become opportunities for building a stronger character and a deeper faith.

Baby Johnny was the victim of a head injury at birth which resulted in hydrocephalus. Dr. John Adams, neurosurgeon, of the University of the California Medical School in San Francisco, performed surgery to alleviate the pressure causing the trouble. After two more surgeries, over the next few months, the Hydrocephalus crisis was successfully resolved. However, the pressure had damaged Johnny's optic nerve. He was legally blind before his second birthday.

I personally was drawn into John's story because of parallels in my own life. I served in the U. S. Navy in the mid fifties, was married in 1956 and raised a family of four children over the same period as John and Sylvia were having these same experiences. Their family photo album was a walk down memory lane for me and reinforced my sense of personal interaction with the McCulloch family through John's writing.

John talks about his spiritual journey as it deepened during the hassles and difficulties during Johnny's early schooling. I experienced a father's pride as John told about Johnny's success in high school. Johnny became a member of the National Honor Society and was privileged to be the senior class speaker at his graduation.

Siblings, Bruce and Beverly, share their own stories. They tell of how their emotional and spiritual development were impacted by Johnny's blindness

Another blow came to the family when Johnny, at age 28, was struck by a vehicle and thrown 60 feet. The accident resulted in a traumatic brain injury. At the time the book was written Johnny was fifty years old and has been living in nursing care facilities since his accident.

In early March of 2000, it was discovered that Sylvia had ALS. Church and family members ministered to John and Sylvia with their prayer, comfort, and other support. During the month of April the following spring Sylvia went to be with her Lord.

This is not a book about blindness, hydrocephalus, or Lou Gehrig's disease but is the story of a family responding to these afflictions with positive results.

McCulloch writes with fervor and candidness. He communicates a love for his family, and gives testimony of the positive message of a living Christ who sustains and strengthens people of faith in their every need.

"Refined in the Furnace of Affliction" is the story of how John McCulloch and his family met and faced personal hardships and difficulties. It is a positive story of faith, perseverance, and testing.

Outskirts Press, 978-1432737856

As Reviewed for Midwest Book Review