LOS ANGELES — As the people of California continue to battle against devastating and seemingly endless wildfires, an unexpected group of heroes has come to the rescue. Who are these valiant champions you may ask? Well, actually, they are inmates from the state’s correctional facilities. That's right! Men and women who at one point lost their freedom because they chose to harm society are now giving back to their communities, risking their very lives alongside professional firefighters to protect and preserve the natural beauty and people of the Golden State. For many, this dangerous task has become a road to redemption, embodying the transforming power service and personal sacrifice can have in the human soul. The Conservation Camp Program, run by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in cooperation with Cal Fire, trains these inmates to serve on the frontlines of wildfire suppression. Their pay is rather small (between $2 and $5 per day plus $1 per hour...

“And the people of Nineveh believed God” (Jonah 3:5). Jonah ben Amittai, whose name means “Dove,” was an Israeli prophet during the reign of Jeroboam II in the 8th century B.C. Israel was enjoying renewed growth and a revived spirit of nationalism, while neighboring Assyria was starting to decline. Assyria was a cruel Gentile nation, comparable to Nazi Germany, and Israel had long forgotten its commission to be a light to Gentile nations. The Assyrian people were living in utter darkness. God called Jonah to call out the Assyrians for their sin (1:1–2). It was about a 550-mile journey, so Jonah packed his bags and bought a ticket — to Tarshish, 2500 miles in the opposite direction! The proud Israelite would not go to reach these — sinners! God, not one to be disobeyed...