So. Cal Ablaze

I know all of you have seen the news this past week of the horrific fires down here, and while there are no fires currently near Pasadena, we're still feeling the effects of the surrounding areas. A friend of mine, Tim, works at Malibu Presbyterian Church and posted some incredible and heart breaking photos from Sunday and Monday, as their church burned to the ground Sun. morning and then as they returned to sort through the ashes on Monday. He and another pastor went to the church super early Sun. morning when they heard of fire danger and were able to move a few belongings of staff members out of the offices before they had to evacuate so they wouldn't get trapped when the roads closed. Another friend of mine is the director of Residence Life at Pepperdine University in Malibu (across the street from the church). Pepperdine itself did not burn, but they had quite the experience of getting all the dorms evacuated early in the morning on Sunday and preparing for what might happen if the campus had burned (which as you will see in the pictures, was awfully close to happening).

Tim was standing in the sanctuary Sunday morning before evacuating--the sancutary is completely gone now. California's heroesMalibu on Sunday morning--what is usually one of the most beautiful beaches in California. While a lot of the fires are starting to be controlled (at least in the LA area, not down in San Diego) the smoke still remains awfully thick all over the entire southern california region.Pepperdine University--the flames got awfully close to campus...The cross at the center of Pepperdine's campus--photo taken/posted by Chuck Strawn

If you look closely you can see the row of chairs here in the ashes from the fellowship hall.

A firefighter found a Bible in the rubble of Malibu Pres and is presenting it the pastor here on Monday morning.