Richard Bastear

The Refiner's Fire Richard Bastear

The Refiner's Fire is the story of a man's search for self that ends with the discovery of God. A wonderful serendipity emerges every step of the way, much as in the story of Forrest Gump. Casting aside all pretense, the author courageously and honestly reveals his struggles through inadequacy and failure. Growing up during WWII he shares intimate details of life on the home front. The suicide of his beloved sister, military service in Trieste, Italy, his sexual addiction, the joys and sorrows of ministry, justice issues with blacks and hispanics, and the traumatic death of his wife due to cancer are all explored. Brooding over him are the inescapable questions: Who Am I and Why Am I Here? He probes deeply into the meaning-of-life issues, but inadvertently finds a thread which when spooled out leads to the heart of God.