Daily Photo Parable

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

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, December 13, 2024

Back in early November I walked past this truck and noticed that its owner had affixed a few Christmas lights to it. Combined with the two stalwart American flags mounted in the truck box, the effect was festive and patriotic.

Exactly one month later, to the day, I strolled past the truck again. This time, here’s what I saw:

Same truck. The flags are gone, shouldered aside by a Christmas tree in the box, and a snowman perches on the right edge of the windshield. But what’s most disconcerting to me are all those Christmas lights attached to every surface of the truck except the windows. And to notch up the disconcertation (disconcertingness?), those lights are attached with squares painstakingly scissored out of duct tape! Even my casual acquaintance with duct tape has taught me that (1) duct tape sticks, and (2) duct tape, when removed, might carry with it more of the surface than one may have suspected.

A major wild regret of this holiday season will be if I never get a chance to see this zealous, fully illuminated vehicle parading through the neighborhood.

Is zeal good or bad? The answer – the same answer which applies to many other such questions – is, “It depends.” The Bible says a surprising number of very sensible things about zeal and how to apply it, at the link just below.

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

Photo and Commentary (c)2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, December 12, 2024

Normally I wouldn’t associate a tire store with feelings, but oddly there is something about a store like this. That thing is the tire smell. We all know what a tire store smell is like. The moment you walk in the door, the thick odor of tire rubber assails your senses, and you might even wonder if it is safe to breathe.

I’m guessing most people don’t like the smell of tires, but some people love it. I kind of fall in the middle. Something I noticed was the feelings I felt and the memories the smell brought to mind. A few of the feelings were freedom and safety. Tires give us the ability to get around quickly. A good set of tires that are not balding and have been balanced offer reliability and a sense of safety.

It makes me think of the feelings I have when reading the Bible. There are some rough stories in the Bible. It seems like if no bad things happened, the Bible would not have been written. But woven throughout the Bible is hope, love, freedom, and safety. It is interesting to look for the love when reading the stories to see how God works through difficult things.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, December 11, 2024

At the end of the day, literally all around the world, the sun sets. It dips behind hills, over water, and beyond the horizon. After the light fades away, we hold the belief that it will rise the following morning. This belief stems from the experiences of previous day and the many before that. For the most part, we don’t even think about this process.

In fact, there are thousands of processes we don’t give a second thought to. Why is that? Since so many things happen “automatically” we tend to take them for granted. Hopefully, we don’t take too much for granted, as we believers know that things don’t just happen by chance. They are planned, calculated, and controlled. We know there is One overseeing all things.

All things are possible, not by our own doing, but by the hand of God. You can read about this very topic in each of the gospels. Let’s hear what Mark recorded:

Mark 10:27

“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

The context of this verse is based on the discussion of what it takes to enter the kingdom of heaven. However, this verse also applies to any situation, any scenario – all things are possible with God! What a great reminder – it has nothing to do with us and everything to do with our Father.

The sun sets, and the sun rises, without us even thinking about it. Take a moment to consider all the other things that happen throughout the day – I believe you will find the list is endless. The list is endless and so is the love of our Creator. What an awesome and powerful God we serve.

This particular beautiful sunset was seen from the island of Denarau, Fiji.