A hunk of burning love

Years ago in Venice, Italy, a few twists and turns from the centrale station I found a small impovershed church that had an unusal candle arragement. In lieu of the usual votive candles, they had a bank of electric candle-shape lamps. For the lowly sum of 10 lire one could turn on a light to go along with a prayer. My first thoughts were how frugal, how modern, and how typical of the religious hustle.

That why I found this story rather odd story a bit disturbing,Couple Sells Candles That Smell Like Jesus

Now there's a candle that lets you experience the scent of Jesus, and they've been selling out by the case.

"We see it as a ministry, " says Bob Tosterud, who together with his wife came up with the idea for the candle.

Light up the candle called "His Essence" and its makers say you'll experience the fragrance of Christ.

Bob Tosterud and wife Karen say the formula is all spelled out in Psalm 45.

"It's a Messianic Psalm referring to when Christ returns and his garments will have the scent of myrrh, aloe and cassia," says Karen Tosterud.

Wondering what that must smell like, Karen Tosterud ordered those oils, a combination that produces sort of a flowery, cinnamon aroma. Then she called on a friend who just happened to be a candle-maker.

"And in October, we got our first batch of 768 candles. We had no idea how it would go," Karen Tosterud says.

But once word got out they went through 10,000 candles.

"It's the only one on the market and everyone tells us it's very unique and nothing like it," says Karen Tosterud.

"We wanted people to be able to experience Christ in new ways and to be able to read a bible and have that scent and that candle as a reminder that he is with us all the time."

"You can't see him and you can't touch him," says Bob Tosterud. "This is a situation where you may be able to sense him by smelling. And it provides a really new dimension to one's experience with Jesus."

I guess I missed that part in the Bible that encourages people to profit on the faith of others.


(Via Bifurcated Rivets)