re: Say a prayer tonight for Redding, California as major fire decimates it right now

Not against prayer,
but I live by the following:

"helping hands are better than praying hands".

I'm not sure what all I could do in this case, though. Maybe help some move out of harm's way. Help folks save some of their pets, possessions.

I've always wanted to be retired and I'd go and just lend a hand. I do respect those that do this.
I knew a guy who just went from here down to the coast to help out hurricane victims. He left town here one morning with absolutely no idea where he was going to sleep along the coast that night. (This was for KAtrina) HE ended up bunking in some shelters and stayed for about a month.
One of the times he went, he was working and the President came through.