Daily Photo Parable

Photo ©2005 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, November 2, 2026

Today’s photo was taken from the flanks of Mt. Rainier. Climbing a large, glaciated mountain can help you understand that you are a mere speck on the earth. Expand the view to the milky way galaxy and you will feel yourself shrinking even more. Consider then God’s entire creation, the innumerable galaxies, and all the worlds that exist within them. Only then will you begin to understand how small you really are. The following verses may provide context:

• ^“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3 KJV).
• ”Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding” (Isaiah 40:28 KJV).
• “Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14 KJV).
• “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” (Psalm 8:3-4 KJV).

I hope today’s photo and commentary provide some perspective on what Jesus did to save us. How Vast is His Love may have been a more fitting title. My insignificance is significant to Him! He is mindful, so very mindful of you and me.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, November 1, 2026

So: Saturday night, Halloween. Sunday, Daylight Savings ends. Monday, Seahawks on national TV. Tuesday, U.S. midterm elections. Wednesday?

Wednesday, prayer meeting! Hooray!

Prayer is definitely in order for all Saturday night through Tuesday night events mentioned above. (Although I’m sorely tempted, I don’t pray for my preferred team to win; I pray no one will get hurt.)

October 31 is also celebrated by many as Reformation Day, in honor of the day (October 31, 1517) Martin Luther is thought to have nailed his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, thereby launching the Protestant Reformation.

That put a song in my head on Halloween night, and when I found I could not remember all the words, I looked them up so I could sing all verses. It’s such a confident, bold, declaring sort of song. Maybe you would like to sing along:

A Mighty Fortress is Our God

A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:

For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:

Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:

The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That Word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:

Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.

(Lyrics and music, Martin Luther.)

As I sang the song through, I gave thanks for all the truth I was singing. A good song to sing as we turn the page from Halloween to the month of Thanksgiving.

Thank You, Lord, for your forever kingdom.
Thank You that Your Word abides with us.
Thank You for being our Mighty Fortress.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, October 31, 2026

Friday afternoon of this week Shelley gave me a couple of surprises. The first one I’ll mention in a moment, but in the photo you see the second.

So, what is this a photo of? If I didn’t know the backstory, my first thought would be, “Is this part of a map of a few little-known Indonesian islands?” The faint white grid-lines make the map-resemblance stronger, but the white lettering might remind experienced bakers of parchment paper.

Sure enough, parchment paper is what it is. But what about the imprints? This brings us to Surprise One, which Shelley gave me to eat. These are the marks of the beet segments she roasted (if that’s the correct verb), and they were superb, and make me want to go down to the refrigerator and see if she has any left.

But on an aesthetic level, these beet-prints are positively beautiful. They spent a few moments on the parchment paper, and they left beauty behind them. I can imagine an artist using those images as inspiration for part of an exhibit. They’re that evocative, to me at least.

Those beets are kind of like you and me. We too leave imprints on our world. Think back to the memory of a childhood friend, or a favorite teacher or coach. I myself think fondly about an old South Dakota farmer named Archie, who grinned with delight every time he greeted me at church. The imprint he left on my life was a gentle, friendly, happy one.

To find some of what the Bible says about friendship, click below.

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/friendship

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, October 30, 2026

My wife Shelley cares deeply and in detail for our health, and has done much judicious reading and research about which vitamins and supplements should be consumed by people of our age. Now that she’s done all the heavy lifting, so to speak, I am the official pill-dispenser every morning at breakfast.

A few months ago I opened one of the bottles and poured out a capsule, and discovered what you see in the photo above. While still inside the bottle, one of this capsule’s halves developed a leak, and the powder dribbled out into the bottle, leaving nothing but air.

If I had simply popped this capsule into my mouth without looking at it, I wouldn’t have noticed the difference. The capsule shell was still firm, but its helpful contents were gone, and my existence would not be as enhanced as it might have been.

One of the tragedies of modern life is that there are religions, and people who teach them, which on the outside might look good, sound good, feel good, but are hollow inside, all or most of the truth drained away.

This problem was no surprise to the apostle Paul, who firmly warned young pastor Timothy about such heresy. I’ve bolded the last part for emphasis.

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2 Timothy 3:1 – 5 NKJV, emphasis added)

For a one-verse method to avoid religious heresy, click the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/heresy

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 27 – 28, 2026

Complexity is not the same as contradiction.  What makes a subject appear contradictory may simply be that we see only a fraction or a small part of the whole.  The Varied Thrush might be viewed in this light.  Strictly a West Coast bird, this shy species makes its home in the damp coniferous forests from Alaska to California. At first glance it appears quite similar to its cousin the American Robin, but is shyer.  Yet, during the winter months it may visit our backyard lawns in search of earthworms or even come to feeders when food is scattered on the ground. Louis Agassiz Fuertes described its minor-key song as “the voice of the cool, dark peaceful solitude which the bird chooses for its home.”  But even there, one described its song as “sounds without a source”, an ethereal hint as to its existence.

And that existence, as previously mentioned, is limited to the West Coast.  Yet, this homebody, is also a wanderer, and has been recorded in every U.S. state except Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and Hawaii.  Such is the paradox of life.

This same apparent contradiction of terms is also found throughout Scripture.  For example, Jesus stated “I did not come to judge the world” (John 12:47) and yet earlier in the same book He is reported to have said “For judgment I have come into this world.” (John 9:39)  Another example is found in the book of Matthew which records Jesus as saying “The way is hard that leads to life.” (Matthew 7:14) Yet, in Matthew 11:30 He states: “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  So, how do we reconcile this apparent conflict?  The simple answer is, the same way we resolve the inconsistency of the thrush’s life. We simply recognize that life, be it the bird’s or our own, is more complex than just a few glimpses through a knothole.  And the same is true of the way we read the Bible.  Even John Newton chose to leave us with a paradoxical view of the gift of grace when he wrote:  “’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved.”  Still, we are blessed to see at least parts of the whole.

Photo ©2005 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, October 26, 2026

Last week I shared a dramatic photo of Waimea Canyon. The photo for today was taken less than 100 yards away. Crossing the winding narrow road (Waimea Canyon Drive) took me away from the majestic views of the cliffs and the depths of the canyon and provided a tremendous contrast. The undulating curves of the red clay soil with a single dead branch brought me back to reality. God’s creation is not all pomp and circumstance, but God’s hand shaped it all. The contrast between these two scenes reminds me of the contrasts that God shared with Elijah.

And He said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:  And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice (1Kings 19:11-12 KJV).

This week, I hope that we will reflect on the innumerable ways that God reveals Himself. We can find the beauty that He created everywhere. Sometimes we find it in dramatic vistas like the canyon photo from last week. Other times, it shows itself in the simple lines of a clay bank with a dead branch. Wherever you seek it, keep in mind that God is hoping that we connect with our Lord and Saviour, even when He speaks in a still small voice!

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, October 25, 2026

I never know what we’ll find on our neighborhood walks; this day a king of diamonds playing card stared up at us from the mossy ground next to the sidewalk. “Somebody lost their king!” I exclaimed. (I’ve heard the comment that someone “wasn’t playing with a full deck,” and in this case that would be literally true!)

I don’t know who lost this king, and how and why, but I immediately thought of two stories –one Old Testament and one New Testament – where we clearly see all the particulars of how this happened. In both cases I want to leap into the story and change the choices, show God’s chosen people they need to keep their King.

First story:

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”  (I Samuel 8:4-9 NIV)

But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”

When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.” (I Samuel 8:19-22a)

So they lost their King, traded Him in for a king. Look at their reasoning: they wanted a king “to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” Wasn’t that what the King of heaven, their King, had been patiently doing for them? Why clamor for a lesser king?

Second story:

Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he [Pilate] said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. (John 19:14-16 NKJV)

But He died as their King, on the cross:

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.” (John 19:20-22)

No matter what was written, He was rejected. Isaiah foretold it:

Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4, 5)

He was not the King of their hearts.

Is He the King of ours?