Blog note: And great earthquakes shall be in diverse places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. (Luke 21:11). (Emphasis added). Jesus is giving a series of prophecies about what to look for as the age of grace comes to a close. This verse from Luke is one of many such prophecies from throughout the Bible. 2017 was the worst year in recorded history for the intensity, frequency, severity, duration and occurrence of a large number of severe natural disasters worldwide. Earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, torrential flooding, unprecedented wildfires in unusual places, devastating droughts, excessive/scorching heat setting records everywhere, record snowfalls in Europe and Russia. Snow in the Arabia. This list can go on. Most studied eschatologists believe these ‘fearful sights’ and massive natural disasters are all part of the ‘CONVERGENCE’ of signs that this Biblical and prophetic age is closing. Most people who study prophecy are familiar with the routine reference(s) made that these things will be like a woman having labor pains that occur in greater severity, frequency, size and duration prior to giving birth. End of note.

Sat 20 Oct 2018 07.00 EDT. The Guardian.

‘We never used to have fires like this’: the human cost of California’s wildfires. Part 3

Photographer Gideon Mendel documents the residents of Shasta county as they return to their fire-ravaged homes. Interviews by Federica Armstrong.

Marta and Marcia McKenzie

Marta: My parents built this house in 1968. My father was a dentist and my mother was a college professor. They are 96 and 91 now. When the fire broke out, all three of us daughters were out of state. We heard neighbourhoods next to us were being evacuated, so we sent friends over to get them out. But they refused to leave until the firefighter’s wife up the street finally said, “You have to go.”

I was 10 years old when we moved in, so it has memories for me as well. Mum is sentimental about all the family heirlooms that got lost – she bursts into tears several times a day. My parents are staying with me and they move into a senior living facility tomorrow, so that’s the silver lining. Their mobility isn’t great, and it was a split-level house with a full basement; now they’re going to be in a place where there are more eyes and ears on them.

Marcia: We lived here exactly 50 years. We have three daughters and we made three bedrooms particularly for them, with a 100-gallon hot-water heater for many showers. I had a big grand piano, a huge store of sheet music that I played.

We entertained at least 60 people at times because it was just built for a party house. So I’m not going to do that any more.

Sue Asbill

By noon, the fire was coming closer and closer. My son, Scott, who is 56, brought his stuff to my house, thinking it would be safer here than where he lives. I really didn’t expect to have to go. The smoke was so bad and so hot, and I was so tired, I lay down. My daughter-in-law woke me up about 5pm and said, “We’ve got to go now.”

I grabbed some clothes and ran out, thinking I would be back the next day. The guesthouse nearby burned first – then the gas line exploded. I saw a photograph with the fire going 90ft up. The gas line burned for two days. My poor neighbour spent 40 hours with the hose and the fireman; they saved their house and part of this house.

We’ve always fought fires here and we were able to contain them. But we don’t have the August gullywasher [rain] any more. I’m staying in a rental not far from here because I wanted to be close to my house. Every time I come back, it’s a little sadder. It was a beautiful home.