Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, September 22, 2023

A couple of Halloweens ago, one of our neighbors – a rather eccentric guy – discomfited the more sensitive souls on his street by acquiring a department-store mannequin, wigging and painting and dressing it to resemble a movie horror figure, and placing it in an upstairs window. I called her Matilda, though her exhibitor (whom I’ve never spoken to about her) probably has his own name for her.

Neighbors who fervently hoped that this was a short-lived Halloween phenomenon gnashed their teeth when Matilda remained through Christmas and beyond, ghoulish as ever, but now sporting a Santa hat.

Then she disappeared – only to reappear a couple of weeks ago with added accessories: a new curly wig, and pulsing red lights for eyes.

Here’s something I find interesting. Even though I haven’t seen the horror movie “The Ring,” the YouTube clips I’ve seen of it makes me think that Matilda is based on her, especially wearing her previous totally-black, longhaired wig from before.

But since I never let myself be enveloped in “The Ring’s” horror plot, seeing Matilda causes no visceral fear within me, the way it might someone – especially someone younger—who might have seen it. Similarly, clowns do not frighten me in the least, though they might cause an unpleasant sensation to those who saw the movie based on Stephen King’s horror novel “It.” I haven’t seen this movie either, so I’ve never regarded clowns with anything but benign amusement.

Okay, where am I going with this? I think it’s vitally important that we – to use a recently repurposed word – curate what goes into our minds. When I was a kid, I sometimes read scary stories, which fed my very active imagination and sometimes made it hard to get to sleep at night.

Paul put this idea into these memorable words:

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8 NKJV

Want to see other Bible thinking about entertainment? Click the link just below:

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

Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, September 21, 2023

This view of a glacier above and a mountain goat below is from the Hidden Lake area of Glacier National Park. We counted ourselves lucky to get good weather for a chance to see this spot.

It is interesting to think about how God provides an environment for us to live. There are so many fascinating features of nature that it is impossible to count how many ways God provides for our needs. In this image there is snow and water that give a regular flow of the essential liquid. It has mountains that hold the snow and also provides material through erosion to give soil in the lowlands for planting food. There are wild plants for animals to eat.

Ultimately, nature gives us an environment where we can interact with each other. If we were just intelligent entities on a smooth round planet, it would be pretty boring.

Let’s use the gift of our environment to make good and loving choices as we work with people around us.

Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, September 20, 2023

When I think of fellow believers, I don’t always picture them as trees. Yet that is exactly what we are described as, in these verses in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.”

It says it right there, those that trust God are blessed. We are like trees, near water, with our roots spread out, giving us the confidence and belief, we will be able to get through any circumstances, with God.

First, I appreciate the only action on our part to be blessed is, trust in God. That one action seems like a simple task and the rewards are immeasurable. Second, I really like the analogy of the trees. When we see a tall tree, we typically think of strength and longevity. The root system, unseen, underground spreads out for nutrients as well as steadfastness.

The reason I titled this entry as a “group of believers” is to coincide with the image. But there’s more to it. If one tree stands alone, the roots can still be strong and the tree will survive through most situations, however, if a group of trees are around each other, the root systems and the proximity to each other, benefit all of them.

Believers, grouped together, will be a far better match for any drought, windstorm, or whatever each of us faces separately. Through the act of trusting God, we are blessed and strong, and we are able to support one another, no matter what we face.

Photos and Commentary©2023 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Some of you may be fans of the T.V. show “Antiques Roadshow” which I find myself watching from time to time. I’m sure some who watch it are well-informed connoisseurs and have valuable assets stored away in the attic just waiting to be discovered. But I also suspect the majority are individuals just like me who are fascinated by the value placed on sometimes seemingly insignificant items. Value, like beauty, is sometimes in the eye of the beholder.

For example, if it had been up to me, I wouldn’t have called it the Golden-hooded Tanager. To me, what caught my attention were the beautiful blue colors on the body, face, and wings. Then again, maybe all the blue names were already taken, who knows. To add to its beauty, in the proper light varied shades of purple and turquoise are also apparent. It’s not that I feel this neotropical species was treated unfairly, it’s just that I feel attention was not given where it was most deserved.

In The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin he wrote: “I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.” The prophet Zechariah recorded the Lord’s frustration with His people when they refused to see His goodness, to overlook the worth He placed upon them: “And the Lord said to me, ‘Throw it to the potter—the handsome price at which they valued me!’ So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.” (Zechariah 11:13 NIV) Sad, the prophetic value later shown in reality.

Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, September 18, 2023

I had the pleasure of going through the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver, BC, this past spring. It was filled with plants and birds, water features and people.

The whole top of the conservatory is a glass dome with pretty amazing views of the sky and taller plants. This dome lets in the light for the plants to grow. There is artificial lighting as well because Vancouver doesn’t always have sunny days!

The first book of the Bible talks about how we (humans) had a beautiful garden as our first home. Sadly, sin came into the world and Adam and Eve, due to believing a lie and disobeying God, were banished from the garden.

A lot of people love gardens and try to replicate a beautiful, peaceful place which brings a lot of joy to themselves and others. We can’t ever equal the beauty of what we lost, however.

There is a happy ending, though. The last chapter of the Bible talks about the restoration of Eden:

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.”
Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV)

Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, September 17, 2023

I’m sharing this story with my husband’s permission. I thought I should ask him, because the story doesn’t shine a good light on either one of us, except that we meant well.

It was Sunday morning, and we had breakfasted and walked and were ready for some yard work. First up, trimming the hedges in our front yard. There are several and it’s always a big task to shape them evenly, but we had our electric hedge trimmer to speed us on our way. We planned to take turns with the trimming, which turned out to be a good idea. That way, neither one of us could chide the other for what happened.

Whichever one of us started trimming was doing a splendid job until suddenly the cord got in the way and the hedge trimmer started trimming the cord instead of the hedge. We unplugged the tool and my husband spliced and taped the cord.

Then the other one of us resumed the trimming, and was also doing a splendid job until suddenly the cord got in the way again, close to the first accidental slice, and after we recovered from seeing that we could do repeat damage in such a short span of time, my husband did more splicing and taping.

We proceeded very cautiously, one of us becoming cord manager and taking full responsibility for keeping the cord away from all trimming action. With this team approach we finished the job, swept up the trimmings, and called it a morning. A very humbling morning.

Here’s what I think happened (because there had to be a reason behind such double damage done by two usually competent adults who were already acquainted with hedge trimming): I told you it was Sunday, but it wasn’t just any old Sunday; it was the spring morning when Daylight Saving Time started.

Each fall and spring, just like clockwork, the media warn us of the dangers of switching on and off Daylight Saving Time. A quick search will bring up a plethora of articles detailing why this is so. One article posted on the AARP website lists “Five Surprising Ways Daylight Saving Time Affects Your Body”: 1) Higher risk of heart attack and stroke, 2) Impaired decision-making, 3) Difficulty with memory and focus, 4) Appetite changes and cravings, and 5) Increased irritation.*

So we no longer operate equipment, large or small, when Daylight Saving Time begins or ends. Nor do we sign important legal documents on that day! We cut ourselves slack, so we don’t cut anything else.

Last Sunday we got out the hedge trimmer and used the team approach to trim all our hedges, safely and serenely. We kept in mind that accident-prone Sunday of a few years back. Even if we tried to forget it, the black tape wound around the orange cord would remind us.

And yes, as I stared down at that cord on the driveway, it reminded me of Jesus.

Although it was no accident that He ended up on a cross, suffering the humiliation of a condemned criminal’s death. As the song says, “He chose the nails, so that we could go free.” Through all eternity we will not forget His sacrifice, spelled out forever in the nail prints He wears. Spelling the word, LOVE, all caps.

His death should break our hearts, even as it mends our souls.

*5 Surprising Ways Daylight Saving Time Affects Your Body (aarp.org)

Photo and Commentary ©2023 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, September 16, 2023

This past Wednesday at a traffic light I saw this wonderful license plate. I’ve lived in the Puget Sound area since 1982, and have listened to many a Seattle Mariners game.

What’s so heart-tugging about this plate is all that it contains. It sports the team colors and the familiar “compass” logo. It even trumpets “My Oh My,” one of now-deceased announcer Dave Niehaus’ trademark exclamations when the team made an exciting play.

But best of all is the “B-LIEVE” lettering. Year after year after year the team has tantalized its fans with the hope that this might be The Year, but according to their Wikipedia entry, “As of 2022, the franchise has finished with a losing record in 30 of 46 seasons. The Mariners are the only active MLB franchise never to have appeared in the World Series, and currently hold the longest active World Series appearance drought in MLB.”

This year, however, the hope is much stronger than usual. As I’m writing this, they’ve won 81 games and lost 65, and they’re third place in the American League West. And whoever owns the car on which the plate is proudly bolted is probably “b-lieving” with all his or her heart.

The Bible has a lot to say about hope, hope which doesn’t depend on human pitching or hitting but in a believable God. Check out some of Scripture’s quotes at this link:

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