While a ferocious, wind-driven wildfire grew along the California coast northwest of Los Angeles, firefighters were hopeful early Saturday that an expected weekend change in the weather will likely help them keep the inferno away from 4,000 homes and a military base.

Homes in Ventura County and Glendale were spared from the fire on Friday as firefighters fought against the flames, according to the Los Angeles Times. More firefighters were expected to arrive and it was being hoped that diminishing winds and higher humidity would help them make headway on Saturday.

Firefighters are expected to take until next Monday to fully contain the blaze, which sent a pall of thick smoke drifting over the beach community of Malibu and farther inland across Los Angeles County, according to Reuters. more >>

Outspoken San Diego Pastor Chris Clark of the East Clairemont Southern Baptist Church of San Diego, Calif., isn't shy about defending citizens' rights when it comes to government encroachment, especially when it pertains to parental rights.

Speaking out against the California Family Health Council mailing condoms to more youths, Clark told The Christian Post, "This is one more example of the government's intrusion on parental rights and responsibilities with their kids. … And it goes against what Scripture teaches."

The California Family Health Council, a statewide organization that "champions and promotes access to quality sexual and reproductive health care for all, including abortion," is expanding its free home mailer condom distribution program for teenagers, 12 to 19, to Fresno and San Diego counties, under its Condom Access Project. more >>

Pastor Jim Garlow of Skyline Church in San Diego, Calif., has lost his wife, Carol, after a five-year battle with cancer, it was revealed on Sunday.

"Forty-two years ago, we ended our wedding vows with the words '...until one of us shall place the other in the arms of God.' I just did that," the senior pastor, who leads a 2,500 member congregation, wrote in a solemn message announcing the news.

Carol Garlow had been battling abdominal cancer for five years and nine months, but after the illness refused to go into remission, she made the decision with her oncologist last week to discontinue treatment. more >>

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Evangelist Greg Laurie filled in for Saddleback Church Pastor Rick Warren during worship services over the weekend and is the first of a string of well-known Christian leaders scheduled to speak from the pulpit while Warren continues to grieve his son's passing. The list of pastors planned includes Francis Chan, Mark Driscoll, Pete Wilson, David Platt, Craig Groeschel, Wilfredo De Jesús, and Doug Fields.

During the sermon series featuring the pastors, they are scheduled to answer the question, "What Does it Mean to Follow Jesus?" Chan, an author and popular speaker at Christian conferences, is planned for next weekend at Saddleback.

Prior to his weekend sermons at the church, Laurie told The Christian Post he wanted to give a message of hope amid grief. The Harvest Crusades founder, who said the untimely loss of his son nearly five years ago gave him a "new ministry," spoke at Saddleback just a little more than two weeks since the suicide death of Warren's 27-year-old son, Matthew. Christopher Laurie died, at age 33, in an automobile accident in 2008. more >>

Evangelist Greg Laurie said he plans to give a message of hope at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., amid grief during worship services this coming weekend. The Harvest Crusades founder, who said the untimely loss of his son nearly five years ago gave him a "new ministry," will be speaking from the church's pulpit just a little more than two weeks since the suicide death of Pastor Rick Warren's son, Matthew.

"Since our son went to be with the Lord almost five years ago, I have been given a new ministry offering hope to those who are facing great difficulties in life," Laurie told The Christian Post via email Thursday. Christopher Laurie died, at age 33, in an automobile accident in July 2008.

"In the aftermath of our son going to be with the Lord, a friend of mine, Pastor Jon Courson, who lost both his wife and his daughter, brought comfort to our congregation and to our family," said Laurie. "I hope to do something similar for Rick and Kay, as well as the Saddleback Church family." more >>

Pastor Rick Warren and his wife, Kay, have started a petition on the Saddleback Church's website to raise awareness and lower the stigma of mental illness. Their 27-year-old son took his own life about two weeks ago after a lifelong struggle with depression and mental illness.

"Join Kay and I, and the Saddleback Family, in our effort to urge educators, lawmakers, healthcare professionals, and church congregations to raise the awareness and lower the stigma of mental illness… and support the families that deal with mental illness on a daily basis," says the petition, which carries a picture of Matthew Warren, who shot himself on April 5.

"Matthew was just one of about 11.4 million American adults that suffered from severe mental illness in the past year," the petition says. "In fact, one in five Americans experiences some sort of mental illness." more >>