Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, March 13, 2025

This troll near the Issaquah Community Center seems to have a peaceful aura about it. Normally when we think of trolls they are fictional characters that wreak havoc wherever they go. Then there are actual online people trolls who enjoy posting disruptive content to upset regular users. It takes some effort to avoid engaging with someone who only wants to cause trouble.

A few things make this particular troll seem less threatening than I would expect. The birdhouse necklace seems to indicate it is peaceful enough that birds would want to make a home there. Expressive eyes and a gentle smile seem to offer encouragement that people can hang out there without fear.

How can we, as normal people, provide an aura of peace? Here are some Bible verses I like.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:6-8

We all have different talents which is fortunate, so we don’t have to wear birdhouses around our necks. Let’s use our positive skills cheerfully.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, March 12, 2025

I presume you have heard of the phrase, “Can’t see the forest for the trees.” The thought being, you are so focused on something directly in front of you, that you can’t see the wider view or, “bigger picture.” Bringing that concept to life, I would point out all the distractions we face daily. These distractions don’t allow us to see what we should be really focused on.

Don’t get me wrong, I know how challenging this can be. We are absolutely bombarded with information and stimulation, from screens of all sizes, various forms of media, and an endless stream of notifications, making it very difficult to find moments of peace and focus. The word “focus” may seem to be counterproductive if we should be looking at the wide view. However, “focus” doesn’t necessarily mean you have blinders on. In fact, you can focus on the big picture – by pushing out the other parts that are distracting.

Ironically, I find the best physical place to find that moment of calm and that opportunity to see the “forest” is right here (see image) in the forest. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, God’s nature (whatever that looks like in your part of the world) allows us to be that much closer to Him. We see the tree that’s right in front of us, as well as the surrounding grove. We hear His voice, giving us permission to push the distractions aside and focus on His love.

To take a page out of David’s playbook seems like the right way to go:

Psalms 16:8

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

By fixing our gaze on the Lord and keeping Him at our side, we can find stability and security. Our faith becomes unshakable when we focus on God.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Some nicknames seem to just naturally fit the wearer, like kid gloves, or slippers for that matter. It’s easy for us to see why the title “Golden Slippers” was given to the Snowy Egret. This small member of the heron family is equally at home in freshwater and marine environments; anywhere it can spend its day fishing. It employs a variety of techniques to capture its prey, from the sit-and-wait approach to actively chasing its prey with wings spread. It’s also been known to shuffle those golden slippers in the shallows to scare fish from their hiding places.

Their beautiful diaphanous feathers are shown at their best during breeding season when courtship rituals are in full swing. This beauty also led to their destruction when they were killed for these plumes which were in demand for hats in the women’s millinery trade. In 1886, these feathers were selling for $32 an ounce, which was twice the going rate for gold.

However, an even more pricy purchase was made long ago for you and me. The chorus of the old negro spiritual, while not relating to the egret, still brings to mind the promise of that gift, something better, something beautiful, something shared by all who make it there:

Oh, dem golden slippers
Oh, dem golden slippers
Golden slippers I’se goin’ to wear
Because they look so neat

Oh, dem golden slippers
Oh, dem golden slippers
Golden slippers I’se goin’ to wear
To walk the golden street.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, March 10, 2025

I was driving up Highway 97 in Central Washington sometime back, when I saw these white flowers blooming on the side of the road. I was able to find a pullout so I could get a closer look.

They are white stemmed evening primroses and are quite beautiful. They were growing in sand in a burned-over ponderosa forest area.

It’s amazing what evidence of a Creator we can see in the designs around us.

But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse.
Romans 1:18-20 (The Message)

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Friday and Sabbath, March 7 and 8, 2025

Tuesday of this week Shelley and I dropped by a favorite bookstore (which combines new and used volumes), and as usual I walked over to the reference section.

There I saw this lineup of books, exactly as you see them, in this order. As I studied them, I reached for my smartphone to snap a photo. These are various ways people look at the Bible, I thought. But which is right?

Some people see the Bible as a treasury of quotable quotes – moral aphorisms to live by. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” “Love your enemies.”

Others read Scripture as a repository of extraordinary facts. God created us? God became human? God died and rose again – and can perform this same miracle for others?

Still others consider the Bible as filled with useless information, to be discarded if modern science thinks it should be.

But the wisest (and humblest) of Bible students have discovered that in the deepest and most eternal sense, the Word of God is “real world research.” Science and philosophy go only so deep – but Scripture goes even deeper:

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

For more of what this awesomely masterful volume has to say about itself, click the link just below:

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

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, March 6, 2025

Sometimes when things seem to be closing in around us, it is a good time to reevaluate the situation and do what we can. On this particular day we wanted to go for a walk, but the rain was pouring, and the wind had picked up. It was tempting to stay indoors and hide from the weather.

With a little determination, we found some umbrellas and headed out.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:10-12

It turned out the umbrellas did a great job protecting us from the weather and we had a nice walk.

To read more about the armor of God, follow this link.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206&version=NIV