Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, April 2, 2026

It is fun to see what images a cell phone can capture. I like how the moon just appears to float although we know it does not just hover there. The moon constantly accelerates towards the earth. Its forward momentum keeps it in equilibrium to establish an orbit.

When we think about our relationship with God, it is healthiest when things stay dynamic instead of just floating in limbo. Let’s think about how we can trust the Lord and use his principles as we move forward.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Have you ever felt on the outside of an inner circle? At one time or another, we’ve all been there—looking in on an event, a coveted work opportunity, or a tightly knit group of friends, wishing we were part of it instead of observing from a distance.

That feeling of being left out, of whatever is happening, can stir up emotions. It can leave us feeling overlooked, lonely, and even hurt. Part of that response comes from a fundamental human need: we are wired for connection. We long for acceptance. We want to know that we belong.

That human need is a trait given to us, from our Creator. That feeling of togetherness and acceptance is the basis of the family/community God has created.

Scripture reminds us that life with God is not meant to be lived alone, we are invited into His family, one household and called to walk together.

Ephesians 2:19 – “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God”

Think back to the feeling of standing on the outside. Now imagine being drawn in, welcomed with open arms, and embraced as part of the innermost circle, the family of God.

About the image — this English Daisy, which has such striking color and contrast showcasing its distinct circles, was captured in a nearby garden. 

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Perspective makes all the difference which is just another way of saying “you are what you see.”  A rather grim picture of life is painted by the military mind of Napoleon Bonaparte who observed, “There are two levers to set a man in motion, fear and self-interest.”  What a dismal outlook on life.  Somewhere along the way he must have missed all that is beautiful, all that is elegant.  Nature, of course provides examples of both viewpoints, but how much richer we are if we choose to focus on that which enriches.

Take this bird for example, the Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, a species found above 5400 feet in the mountains of Panama and Costa Rica.  There it feeds primarily on small fruits and berries, such as mistletoe and fuchsia, as well as insects.  Its very long tail and prominent crest combined with its silky plumage presents the essence of elegance. These characteristics place it in close connection with the waxwings.  The Phainopepla is its closest relative found in the United States.  During courtship the male will offer berries to the female which to our mind carries an inference of refinement.

Lest we romanticize too much, we’re reminded that balance is also an important factor in maintaining a mental equilibrium.  H.L. Mencken, an American journalist, provides us with that nudge toward reality: “An idealist is one who, on noticing that a rose smells better than a cabbage, concludes that it will also make better soup.”

Photo ©2011 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, March 30, 2026

The Snowshoe Hare is one of three animals in the Cascade Mountains of Washington that change color in the winter. The ermine, (a type of weasel) and the ptarmigan (a type of grouse) also change from a brown summer coat to primarily white in winter. The change in color stems from the shortening of the length of day. The reduced daylight causes a hormonal change and the animal stops producing melanin in new hair follicles. The new hairs also contain air chambers resulting in better insulation.

We can use God’s plan for clothing these animals as an allegory for the garments with which He clothes us.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10 KJV).

As God has clothed this hare in warm camouflage, even more, He longs to clothe you in His protective embrace.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, March 29, 2026

First there was a wild windstorm. That was Wednesday. Then, two days later, on Friday the 13th, winter arrived. We were startled, but thankful that it was a one-day, mid-March winter. At our place it had been snowing before we woke up to witness it, and kept snowing until late that night.

The double punch of a windstorm and snowstorm was too much for many trees in the area, especially the beautiful cherry blossom trees. Most of them were in glorious full bloom, and it was sad to see so many of their branches bowed down and broken with the weight of snow and ice.

I’m fond of trees. I consider them friends. Much has been researched and written in recent years about how beneficial trees are, beyond their beauty. They are so alive and giving, that it seems a terrible irony that the stiff and lifeless wooden cross upon which Jesus died has been called, in Scripture and song, a tree.

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. (Acts 5:30 NKJV, Peter speaking to the high priest)

Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. (Acts 13:29-30, Paul speaking in the synagogue at Antioch)

. . . [Christ] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. (I Peter 2:24, Peter writing to early Christians)

Jesus, our healer and sin-bearer, bowed and broken on the tree.

Broken? No.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” (John 19:31-36)

Broken? Yes.

I hold with those who believe He died with a broken heart.

Jesus, bowed and broken.

Weighted down with the sins of the world.

Counterweighted with His all-embracing, everlasting, unchanging, personal love for each and all of us.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, March 28, 2026

Yesterday, as you can see in the above photo, was a Chamber of Commerce kind of day – blazing sun, blue sky, the temperature just that tiny hint of coolness which makes a walk especially zestful. So I headed out on my usual post-breakfast stroll, and came upon the scene above.

As you notice, a man is doing some major pruning work on an immense cherry tree in his yard. This wasn’t the first time I’d see him out there, because the heavy snowfall of a couple of weeks ago had snapped so many branches on a smaller cherry tree of his that he simply had the entire thing removed.

And now, here he was, toiling away on the taller one. (Later in the day I saw him quite a way up a very tall aluminum ladder.)

Did you know that the Bible often speaks of God as a Gardener? After all, Genesis 2:8 insists that it was God who planted the literal Garden of Eden. (Interesting and totally coincidental note: On my walk yesterday I’d been noticing bright yellow advertisement taped to neighborhood garage doors, and when I got home there was one on mine too. It advertised “Adonay’s Lawn Services.” Guess what one of God’s major Hebrew names in the Old Testament is: Adonai.)

And God’s “lawn service” is indeed spiritual. “I am the true vine,” Jesus told His friends, “and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

And a good gardener knows when and where and what to prune. This is why you and I need to submit to God’s cleansing care. For three verses about spiritual discipline and its importance, click the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/spiritual-discipline

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, March 27, 2026

A few days ago, in an era when the sun began to happily appear (yet whose temperature made it needful to wear head-warming hats), Shelley and I paused beside this patch of grass. I snapped this photo, not primarily of our shadows but to try to catch the glint of sun off some grass-spears.

As you can see, the grass-spears were too tiny to make this a success, and I ignored this photo until I happened to see it again today in my phone’s “gallery.”

There we are, my sweetheart and I, having known each other for 49 years and having been married for almost as many. We’ve moved through life together as a pastoral couple, and have treasured the people who’ve cast their shadows over us.

This matter of influencing other people isn’t an exact science. It happens whether you know it’s even happening at all. When I was 16 years old I worked fulltime in a creamery, helping get out milk products. One day the other workers and  I took a break together in the “coffee room” upstairs in the plant.

We had gathered at tables in the little room, and were making small talk. Suddenly, I noticed that the room had gone fully silent. I glanced around, and saw that everybody was staring directly at me.

I blinked, and asked “Is something wrong?”

Doug, a worker who operated the machine next to mine in the bottling room said in a hushed voice, “Maylan, what did you just say?”

“When?” I asked. “Right now?”

“Yeah. What did you just say?”

I thought back to the conversation I’d been having with the person across the table from me, and repeated what I thought I’d said.

As soon as I said this, the whole room burst into laughter. When it finally died down, Doug said to me, “We thought you’d said a cuss-word!”

I was indeed a meek young Christian, and grew up under parents who never swore and who admonished me not to. But I had never once even mentioned being a Christian to anybody in the plant, let alone expressing my embarrassment when somebody let fly an oath.

But all these people – every one of them – had felt my shadow, my influence. They knew who I was, and how consistent I evidently had been in portraying my beliefs. So it must have been like an electric shock to hear Maylan’s language turn grotesquely blue.

So yes, you do have a shadow – an influence — whether or not anyone will ever mention it to you. Your shadow falls everywhere you go, far from the door of your house of worship.