Dear Friends of KHCS,

This Fall will be remembered by everyone living in Southern California as the Fall of the Wildfires.  Over two dozen blazes have scorched thousands of acres and left 5,000 or more people homeless.  Half a million people or more were evacuated from their homes as the fires approached.  Approximately 1800 of those homes were not there when the occupants went back. 

Given that our lives have been focused on fire for the past few days, I thought it appropriate to think of fire and natural disasters in a spiritual realm this month.  There are several thoughts or lessons to be learned from the idea and actuality of fire.

Fire Fact #1 - Fire is used by nature as a natural cleansing event.  We will never eliminate wildfires.  In fact, some articles in the papers this week recounted how fires were more ferocious in certain areas because it had been decades since that particular area had burned.  You see, nature uses fire as a natural cleansing event to burn away the thick undergrowth of the land.  In the desert or coastal plains of Southern California we may not see this but in the mountains of Southern California it is reality.  In other situations we were told some of the 25+ wildfires were controlled as they burned up to and approached areas which had recently burned.  These recently burned areas actually worked with the firefighters to stop the spread of the fires.

Spiritual Reaction to Fact #1 – Fire is seen in the scriptures as a refining tool.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ our works will be test by fire.  The wood, hay and stubble, representing impure works on our part will burn away.  The gold, silver and precious stone will come through the fire even more refined. 

Fire Fact #2 - Fires pick and choose which house to burn and which houses to leave unscathed.  Often entire city blocks were burned but many spoke with amazement as they recounted how the fires seem to hop through a neighborhood.  News reports would show how one home was left standing while those on either side were totally gutted.  Residents of some areas were shown sifting through the rubble burned out homes while neighbors next door with homes untouched were offering help and sympathy.

Spiritual Reaction to Fact #2 – God allows certain events to happen in life even if He is not causing them to happen.  Some are quick to blame God.  One particular resident of San Diego County was show on television wondering how God could cause her house to burn in 2003 and then allow her house to burn again in 2007.  The reporter pointed out later in the story how the lady’s house backed up to a hillside that had not been cleaned since the previous fire four years earlier.  Chances are if this lady rebuilds and then fails to clean away the brush on the hillside behind her home she will be able to be on a news report in the future questioning God again.  The laws of nature God put into place when he created the world cannot be ignored when we develop certain areas.

Fire Fact #3 - Eminent fire danger demands our priorities be placed in the right place.  It was interesting to see what people who were told to take a few valuables and be out in 10 minutes gathered together.  Of course, top priority went to family members.  Pets and animals seemed to be next.  Pictures of a family’s life and history also were saved.  Material possessions which could all be replaced were left behind.

Spiritual Reaction to Fact #3 – God wishes our lives were focused at all times on the right priorities.  Eternal matters should always take precedence over the temporal.  Often we spend our lives focusing on accumulating those things which will melt with a fervent heat at the final judgment of this earth.  No one has ever been quoted on their death bed as having wished they had spent more time at the office, made more money or bought more things.    

Fire Fact #4 – People responded to life’s tragic events in a mature way.  Focus was not so much on what was lost but the spirit to rebuild.  Those impacted most were showered with gifts of necessity and monetary contributions.  Our Governor was even amazed as he walked through Qualcomm Stadium asking if people had everything they needed when he was told repeatedly, “We have more than enough.” 

Spiritual Reaction to Fact #4 – God is not so interested in what happens to us, but how we respond to what happens.  God is interested in the final outcome for each of us.  The process and refining He allows us to go through may be tough for the time we are set to endure it, but is how we respond which gives Him His greatest pleasure.  We are told in Romans all things are at work in our lives, working together for the final good purpose of refining us into people who are conformed to the image of Christ.  Tragedy, a natural phenomena of a fallen, sinful world, is always an opportunity for growth.  It is properly enduring tribulation that brings about patience and maturity.  That’s the refiner’s fire!

Please remember KHCS is a listener supported ministry for the Coachella Valley.  We do not receive funds from any other source than our listeners.  Many other non-commercial stations like ours have huge fund raisers this time of year.  Many of them are referred to as Share-a-thons which can raise a lot of money needed to run a station.  Rather than to spend time and money doing one of these, our Board of Directors thinks the best way is to let our listeners

know of our needs so we can operate KHCS in a Christ honoring way that serves the needs of our listeners in the Coachella Valley.  This year donations have been considerably less that previous years and the month of October has been very low.  The cost of operation has not gotten any less.  If you have not been a regular supporter of KHCS, I would ask you to become a committed monthly supporter so we may continue to keep Christian programming on the air for our Coachella Valley.  All donations are tax-deductible.  Finally, I would ask all of you to keep KHCS in prayer!

In His joy,

Dan Pike
President

Mailing Address:
KHCS - Joy92
PO Box 2507
Palm Springs, CA  92263