Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, December 20, 2024

This past Sunday I paused at the office supplies section of a thrift store, and noticed this impressive-looking journal. As you can see, its cover is Christian- or Jewish-themed, quoting a beloved verse from Jeremiah. I’ve preached on this verse several times, at child dedications and baptisms especially, because people sense that God knows us, and knows exactly the plans which would make us deeply happy.

Most of the time, when I encounter a beautiful journal like this in a thrift shop, I know what I’ll find inside. Along the spine inside the front cover I’ll find evidence of torn paper, since its previous owner bought that journal with the firm determination to write in it daily. That zeal lagged, and the owner decided to donate it, but removed the written-on pages.

But when I opened this journal, only one page had been written on. Here is that page:

First we see a childish scrawl, laboriously printing the word “BEAR.” Just underneath the “B” it seems as though the child, or a slightly older sibling, had ventured a smaller and more careful version of the word.

But suddenly a far more mature, and most likely feminine, hand takes control of the writing instrument. It seems that we may be witnessing an instructional moment, with Mom writing the word using printing and cursive, maybe saying the word as she writes. We see no more from the original writer, unless that unsatisfying and crossed-out effort underneath is his or hers.

And the rest of the journal is blank.

As I glanced from cover to contents, I suddenly saw a connection, one which was obviously not meant by the writers. But isn’t it interesting that the book’s cover announces God’s plans for us – and they are heartening, amazing plans. But once the book is opened comes the announcement Bear. It’s repeated several times, in childish printing and adult script.

It’s like the message is, “God has great plans for you, but before He can work out these plans, you’ll need to bear with life as it is.”

Because God’s journal – the book He wrote through several authors – has a lot to say about perseverance and faith, two topics explored in greater detail in the links below:

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

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

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, December 19, 2024

A few weeks ago, when the power was out, I snapped this picture of powerline crews working. I am grateful for their hard work to restore power. They evidently put their trust in the equipment they work with. Those power lines are very high.

It makes me think about the things we trust and rely on. We rely on having electricity and by extension we rely on the power line crews and their machines.

We trust in spiritual things such as God’s forgiveness and God’s spirit working with people. We trust that when we are honest and kind, even when others are not, that we have our own reward.

And we trust that when the Lord returns, all will be revealed, and the full power of God’s goodness will make things right.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, December 18, 2024

During a recent trip to our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., we had an opportunity to visit the D.C. zoo – also known as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conversation Biology Institute (https://nationalzoo.si.edu/) This image is from that trip, not from a safari. Regardless of its location, as you can see, not only is this one beautiful but largely impressive tiger. The zoo has two male Amur tigers named Vostok and Metis – apologies as I am not sure which this guy is.

The Amur (or Siberian) tigers are the largest of the species and are native to Eastern Russia, Northeast China and even into North Korea. Despite their size, males averaging between 400-650lb., they are still endangered. Clearly, they are on the top of the food chain, but there is a lack of food supply in the natural habitats. Thankfully, over the past few years their numbers have increased slightly with the help of various conservation programs. When you look into his eyes, you may not see a wild, ferocious beast, but one in his natural surroundings, that’s exactly what he is.

While the tiger is not mentioned in the Bible (because they were not native to the Middle East), we do get a glimpse of how big cats and other predators will act in a peaceful environment.

Isaiah 11:6 & 7

The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

These verses, and all of chapter 11, are a vision of prophecy, describing the result of Jesus coming and fulfilling His plan to save each one of us. Then we will have the privilege to accompany our Creator to New Earth when peace is all around us. Where love (not hate) fills the air. A place so pure, a wild beast will sit right next to a helpless little lamb – and nothing bad happens. What a wild place to dream about. What an incredible destination to long for. Thank you, God, for the opportunity to choose You and see this magical location with our own eyes.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, December 17, 2024

The 1800s was a period when most natural history writing carried a moralistic tone. So it’s not surprising that when Ellen White wrote about nature she naturally fell into that same pattern. And for that matter, most of us that write blogs for this church do so as well, tacitly agreeing with Martin Luther that nature is God’s Second Book. The Slaty Flowerpiercer is a species that generally would not receive good press in that setting. This common species is endemic to the Talamancan montane forests of Costa Rica and Panama. It sports a unique upturned bill with a hook on the upper mandible which it uses it to puncture the base of the corolla of flowers. Then, with its brush-tipped tongue, it extracts the nectar, frequently without pollinating the flower.

Although I don’t read a word of Norwegian, it’s not difficult to determine the meaning of its name in that language: Blyblomsterborer. The moralists add another title as well, nectar robbers, implying damaging the flowers without pollinating them is nectar theft. Following this same logic, the hummingbirds with their long bills which enable them to reach deeply into nectar-filled flowers, are somehow more moral than these interlopers.

Beautiful our gardens may be, even if they are not comparable to Eden. Perhaps we might be wise to enjoy their beauty and uniqueness without feeling obliged to sermonize about them. Good advice was offered by Abraham Lincoln, at least the saying has been attributed to him: “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” And I’d like to add, flowerpiercers.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, December 16, 2024

We tend to take light for granted 24 hours a day but we really only realize what a blessing it is when we don’t have it and we need it!

Have you ever been on a snowy road at night where there are no streetlights and you can just see (thanks to your headlights) some dried grass sticking up through the snow showing you where the edges of the road are? I had a 30 mile commute to work in Eastern Washington (years ago) where this was the case. It was great when there was a full moon reflecting off the snow.

I don’t experience power outages too frequently where I live now (between a couple of dams on the Columbia) but I have been places where I have not had electricity for a very long time following a storm! At those times, it really helps to have a candle, or several, and some battery operated lanterns.

Sometimes, in this world, people experience a darkness that can’t be fixed by the flick of a working light switch. For this kind of darkness, the Bible tells us that Jesus is the Light of the World:

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
Psalm 18:28 (NIV)

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8: 12 (NIV)

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, December 15, 2024

Somehow we missed it. Last month was National Pomegranate Month. I just learned this today, and since we happened to be in possession of two pomegranates, we celebrated by splitting one in half and enjoying it, seed by seed (or aril by aril, to be more precise).

I also learned that some Jewish scholars believe the fruit Eve succumbed to eating in Eden was a pomegranate. I’m not a scholar, so mine is not a carefully researched and reasoned response: I’m dubious.

Genesis 3:6 records that: “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it.”

That’s why I’m dubious – a pomegranate doesn’t look all that pretty and promising from the outside, and it’s careful, messy work to slice into and extract its fruit. That’s why there’s a roll of paper towels in my photo.

But I could be wrong and those scholars could be right. Edenic pomegranates might have been quite different from the one we cautiously approached today, wearing aprons and wielding paper towels when the juice literally got out of hand. They’re a bit of work, but the glossy red fruit is worth it.

We added a ripe, juicy pear to our pomegranate feast, because a kind friend gave us an early Christmas gift of that smooth, delicious fruit. For breakfast we’d enjoyed blueberries in our steel-cut oatmeal, and later shared a persimmon, making the most of that delectable fruit in its short season. We like fruit, all kinds!

I think God chose not to tell us exactly what fruit Eve and then Adam ate because He knows us well. He knows if we can veer off on a sidetrack we’ll do it, and miss the main point. We might end up shunning that specific fruit, forever linking it to the tragic end of Paradise, while God wants us to focus on how distrusting Him led to their woeful choice.

When Paradise is restored, and we are Home at last, all trees and all fruit will be safe to touch and eat. Best of all is the Tree of Life:

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:1-2 NKJV)

We need that healing, don’t we? I’m thankful that between now and then, we’re offered the gift of a different kind of fruit, that also leads to healing:

. . . the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23a)

As we step out into this brand-new week, we can ask for and receive this fruit every day; confident that it’s always in season!

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, December 14, 2024

These days, the conventional wisdom is that shopping malls are on the way out. The large “anchor stores” such as Sears and JC Penney, which often were located at one end of the mall or the other, are starting to shrivel. This past Thursday I drove past such a mall, which formerly contained several stores, big and small. Everything’s been torn down, and all that’s left is a wide flat-scraped surface several blocks square.

But there are exceptions to this mall-demise, and the sign you see in the photo is one of the success stories. Crossroads Mall is located a little over a mile east of the church I pastor, and every time I’ve been there it’s a throbbing hub of activity.

Several reasons: For one thing, there are several gigantic apartment complexes just across the street. Also, the mall contains a popular food court with restaurants of many ethnicities. A large grocery store is part of the mix, as well as a Joann Fabrics and a Michaels. There’s a HalfPrice Books and a Barnes and Noble within a hundred feet of each other.

But I believe that the main reason it’s thriving is what the above sign says. Its designers wanted to express their gratitude that you’ve spent time there, and that’s nice. But it’s the other meaning of “visiting” that is the true reason this mall isn’t going anywhere. Chairs and tables offer lots of opportunities for conversation. A chess set whose pieces are two and a half feet high draw players and kibitzers daily. Everywhere, people are relaxing, talking, settling down in the branch of the local library, getting their hair or nails done. Clubs and organizations, and groups of card-players, meet around the tables.

The quaint, King-Jamesy term for this is “fellowship.” I like to believe that my own congregation, while maybe not drawing quite the hordes of happy folks that Crossroads does, is a place where people can come and feel loved and supported by the Holy Spirit who is smiling and chuckling and listening and visiting through our members’ hearts.

Check out what the Bible says about these groups which Jesus founded:

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