Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath and Sunday, December 28 and 29, 2024

This past Wednesday, Christmas Day, I was taking my usual morning walk when I noticed a piece paper lying flat in the middle of the street. As I came closer, I saw that it was a family photograph, probably one which had been included in a Christmas newsletter.

It made me feel a bit queasy to see that smiling family lying on the street like that, at the mercy of every car tire which rolled over it. I knew that up and down the street on either side were real families, living real lives, never knowing what might try to crush them in the days and months ahead.

This coming Sunday Shelley and I will be helping with a memorial service for a dear friend whose family we pastored many years ago. Though my friend was stricken with disease over the past few months, he lived a life of quiet but rock-solid faith in his Savior, a faith that he shared with his family, and which gave him utmost confidence for what lies beyond the grave.

Families, after all, were created in Eden, and any family who turns their hearts over to the Lord will sense His sustaining power no matter what happens. God loves families, and His Word says a lot about them. Here are some verses:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/marriage-and-family

Photo and Commentary (c)2024 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, December 27, 2024

This past Thursday, while I was driving east along 192nd Street in south Renton, I passed Meeker Middle School, which you see in the photo above. It is Christmas vacation, so the usually teeming parking lot was absolutely empty — except for a squarish vehicle which had been carefully positioned in a parking space.

It’s what is called a scissor lift. You use it when you want to get access to somewhere you can’t safely or conveniently use a ladder. Once you’ve stepped into the little cage at the top, you can operate the controls to hoist you — and whatever tools or other items you’ll need, such as light bulbs for replacement in a high ceiling — right up to where you need to be. And if you’re not acrophobic — or if you resolutely refuse to look down from the heights — you can complete your task and lower yourself back down to terra firma.

As soon as I spotted the lift, I did a cautious U-turn and snapped this photo. I was originally trained as a teacher, and during the years I spent in the classroom, I knew that my instructor’s role was that of a “lift” — to patiently and resolutely raise my students’ skills (in my case, English literature and writing) to higher levels than when they first arrived at class. That’s what a school and its staff are supposed to do.

And as a pastor, I have a similar responsibility. Right now I’m deciding on what sermon themes I’ll be preaching in the new year. And I know that the power which will lift souls (including my own) to a higher knowledge of, and greater love for, the Savior will not be my own, but will happen through the Holy Spirit, when people read and understand their Bibles.

Have you decided on a Bible reading plan for 2025? I’m working on a revision of the plan at the link below. But it won’t be that different, so if you’d like to get started on it, just click this link and read all about it. When you click it, you’ll see that I begin the section with several suggestions I think are helpful. Check it out!

https://bellevueadventist.org/read-your-bible-through-in-a-year/

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, December 26, 2024

During this Christmas season we pondered the meaning of Jesus’ birth and life and how it affects our lives today. There seem to be many lessons of Christmas. Among them are generosity, goodness, and knowledge of God.

I like these verses.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.
Luke 2:9,10

I like how the angel focuses on the word joy. Somehow the arrival of Jesus will cause great joy for all the people.

When thinking about what Jesus did that would cause joy, a few things that come to mind are forgiveness and salvation. Jesus also revealed knowledge or light about his father and our father, God, and how much God loves us.

So, in this dark month of December, let’s focus on God’s light shown through Jesus and his teaching.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, December 25, 2024

As you take a moment to gaze at this image of the Washington Monument, proudly surrounded by flags in our nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., you might find yourself wondering, “What does this have to do with Christmas?” Don’t worry, we’ll get to that – I promise.

Let’s begin by exploring the symbolism of the Washington Monument. This impressive stone obelisk, made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, commemorates our nation’s first president, George Washington. Not only was he the first president, but he also served as the commander-in-chief of the army and was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Before the Eiffel Tower in Paris was constructed, the Washington Monument held the title of the world’s tallest structure. George Washington’s dedication, strength, and unwavering commitment were crucial in securing our nation’s freedom. Thanks to his efforts, and those of the other Founding Fathers, we enjoy the freedom to worship as we choose in this country.

Did this path to freedom and peace start with Mr. Washington? No, not even close. In fact, that plan was put into effect when Jesus was born in a stable, amongst the animals, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Jesus was the symbol of freedom and peace for the entire planet – past, present, and future. He accepted His fate, to enter a sinful world as a fragile baby – helpless, weak, and vulnerable. As He grew, He became focused, dedicated, determined and respectful.

His power wasn’t the kind you see in army generals; His power came from His Father and it was the power that is used “behind the scenes” – silent but steadfast. He changed lives along His journey, spreading the love, no one had ever seen. He was the ultimate leader, asking much from those that needed to give much and asking barely anything, from those that only needed to be asked. He WAS the plan. He fulfilled ALL and in doing so, gave us the ultimate gift – eternal life – the freedom and peace, not from another country ruling over us, but from the ultimate bondage – Sin. We, through Him, never have to worry again. God’s plan is summarized in the book of John, specifically in a few verses in the third chapter.

John 3:16-21

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Did I get you there? Do you see Christmas yet? Let’s take a few more steps, and I think it will become clear. To recap, I started with George Washington and moved to Jesus. Am I comparing the two? Not really. I reminded you of what George meant to our nation and how his work, along with many others, provided a freedom the country didn’t have before. With Jesus, the stakes are much higher. The plan, process, and execution were very different. In fact, without that plan, we wouldn’t have needed the freedom to worship in the first place.

So, no, I’m not comparing our nation’s first president to the Son of God. However, in both scenarios, a group of people needed to be saved and given a freedom they may not have deserved but certainly wanted. Baby Jesus provided this very thing to an entire world that desperately needed saving.

As we gather with family and friends, enjoying delicious meals and perhaps opening a present or two, let’s take a moment to reflect on the sacrifices made for us to have these opportunities. We all know that the only gift that truly matters is the one we’ve been given – the gift of eternal life with our Lord and Savior. Merry Christmas to one and all!

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, December 24, 2024

Competition is a very real part of each of our lives. We can easily divide these encounters into two distinct groups—those that have eternal consequences and the rest whose importance ranges all the way from significant to negligible. Into the first category we will place the conflict between good and evil, between God and Satan. Or if we put it in more personal terms, the tension that exists between love and ego. When we look at it in those terms, ego has some distinct advantages, the most obvious of which is, it is designed for conflict, whereas love, real love, wins only by a willingness to surrender, something foreign to ego.

Let’s take a quick look at some of those areas of competition that are of little importance. Which bird, in American culture, is most clearly associated with a holiday? The turkey would undoubtedly win hands down. Vying for the remaining positions would be the eagle, the cardinal, and the dove symbolic of Independence Day, Christmas, and Easter.

But no one really cares who wins that competition. Only a slight step up from this is whether the NFL team from Arizona, the Cardinals, win or lose. After all, even for a fan, it’s only a game. We do spend a decent amount of time focusing on such things as grades and salaries, but in the eternal scope of things, these things won’t really matter much either. One competition that is harder to distinguish is the effort exerted to win the affections of the sought-after one. The challenge here is distinguishing between true love and ego, for oftentimes we can’t even make that distinction ourselves.

If we go back to that symbol of Christmas and focus instead on the real Christmas, we can see love in its purest sense being demonstrated. The enormity of God becoming man is beyond our comprehension. And yet, that we believe, is why God will ultimately win, because He was willing to step down. May we not forget why love wins this Christmas.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, December 23, 2024

I traveled up Highway 97 this past weekend to visit my family for Christmas. The roads were good the whole way. It was overcast all day with some rain and fog but no snow or ice and temperatures were above freezing.

The photo is of Beebe Bridge which crosses the Columbia at Chelan Falls. The river here is a reservoir called Lake Entiat that backs up behind Rocky Reach Dam which is just north of Wenatchee.

Bridges are kind of shortcuts that help us reach our destination faster. The Bible talks about not trying to take shortcuts to God!

“Don’t look for shortcuts to God! The market is flooded with surefire easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life – to God – is vigorous and requires total attention!”
Matthew 7-13 (The Message)

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, December 22, 2024

“Blank” isn’t usually thought of as a positive word.

My mind suddenly went blank.

His face had a blank expression.

She called him a blankety-blank.

But our mail often brings a smile to my face when it uses the word “blank” in a certain way. See my photo above for an example, which is a page I removed from a three-page document I received in the mail last week.

Its messaging is a bit confusing. It’s written in capital letters, which feels like shouting, but it’s written in very faint letters, which feels like whispering.

I can see that the intent behind the message is to communicate clearly: “THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.” The sender wants me to know without a doubt that I shouldn’t worry that I’m missing something that was supposed to be printed on this page. It is with intention that it is blank (except for the sentence telling me that, and a small black line in the upper right corner, but now I’m quibbling).

The message is meant to be reassuring; there has been no printing error.

And yes, this reminds me of Jesus.

When Satan accuses us of being sinners, unworthy of heaven, Jesus defends us.

Imagine the two of them comparing lists: Satan mentions my name and presents a lengthy list of sins I’ve committed. Jesus recognizes my name; He knows me well. He knows that I’ve committed sins, but He also knows that I’ve committed my life to Him, and I’ve asked Him for forgiveness for my sins.

So when Jesus shows my accuser His page of my sins, it’s blank. It’s not a printing error; it’s intentionally left blank.

“I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25 NKJV)

Eugene Peterson, in The Message, words it this way:

“But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins—that’s what I do. I don’t keep a list of your sins.

There’s more where that came from, much more. Just a few more words of encouragement, straight from the Word:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9 NKJV)

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities . . . (Psalm 103:1-3a)

“Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord,
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

When I read these verses I exhale. I relax my shoulders, unfurrow my brow. The Lord is on my side. His intentions toward me are good, always good.

As we step out into this brand-new week, almost ready to step into a brand-new year, we celebrate the first arrival of our Saviour, who came with the intention of unmasking Satan, showing us what God is truly like, and sacrificing His life so that we could choose eternal life with Him. We look forward to His second arrival, each day one day closer.

Merry Christmas, and Happy, Healthy, Hopeful New Year!