Pipe: Pray for Southern California

Massive evacuations ordered as onslaught of fires spreads

 

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

By Tony Perry, Garrett Therolf and Mitchell Landsberg, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
October 23, 2007

Wind-whipped firestorms destroyed more than 700 homes and businesses in Southern California on Monday, the second day of its onslaught, and more than half a million people in San Diego County were told to evacuate their homes.

The gale-force winds turned hillside canyons into giant blowtorches from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border. Although the worst damage was around San Diego and Lake Arrowhead, dangerous fires also threatened Malibu, parts of Orange and Ventura counties, and the Agua Dulce area near Santa Clarita…

We need to be praying for the more than 500,000 residents in Southern California who are living in fear of losing their homes to fire. Further, we should also hold up in prayer the congregation of Malibu Presbyterian. The church was lost at the outset of the flare-up on Sunday.

The Faith Journey: Wayne waits, watches…

There’s a little bit of Wayne in all of us.

He’s a symbol.

He may be a new Christian, he may not.

Wayne is at-once confident about his faith and fearful for the future. His faith journey began as a sprint, but somewhere along the way he encountered some rather large stones in the road. At times he was able to hurdle them without much trouble, but those were just the little ones–they would get much bigger. In fact, many of them were big enough to make him question why he had started the journey in the first place. Is it worth the struggle?

Turn back, find another route or press on–it’s a daily battle.

Wayne is seeking his second wind.  

Welcome to his world.

Why Wayne waits

Living the Christian life was never meant to be easy.

In fact, in the midst of Jesus’ last days on earth, he told his disciples as much: “But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home…in this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16: 33-34)

The ugliness of life, its trials, trepidations and temptations, are magnified when we are alone–scattered. Jesus was preparing his disciples for the worst by leaving them with a command to trust in God. It was a message for them, and us.

The church is a living, breathing organism–a community of believers ordained by God to intercede for one another. All that to say this: we need each other, we welcome Wayne.

Wayne has been waiting for the opportunity to be a part of something. He seeks fellowship with believers, training in the word and an opportunity to put service over self.

How long must he wait? Are you ready to be a part of something special?

Why Wayne watches

Waynes watches you. You are to him the personification of the faith journey. He may follow your lead.  

He will have questions and observations; how will you respond to him in those moments?

He watches because you represent represent Christ in those moments. This is just one part of the journey.

Serving Wayne is serving Christ.

All along the journey

By now you’ve already heard the story of the warriors from the tribe of Dan (Judges 18) who went out seeking a new place to settle down. You will recall that before they arrived to their destination, they ran into a young priest whom they questioned about their journey.

“Will our mission be a success?” they inquired.

“Go assured,” he answered. “God’s looking out for you all the way.” 

And so it is with us. We need to be looking out for one another, for in so doing we live the life that God intended–a life of fellowship, service and commitment to community.

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