Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, October 30, 2025

Church is a great place to find friends. My granddaughter arrived at the parking lot to her church at the same time as her good friend from her children’s class arrived. Without planning they even had similar outfits.

I believe the following verse tells us of the value of friends.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.  Luke 16:9

It seems worth some thought about what it takes to be a good friend. I know I want to renew my efforts to cultivate my friendships.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, October 29, 2025

If I am being honest, fall isn’t my favorite time of the year. It’s typically colder, wetter and a bit drearier than some of the other seasons. That said, I will acknowledge that part of the season is gorgeous, especially when it comes to the falling leaves. Take this image for example. While walking in our neighborhood, I saw this single maple leaf with its vibrant hues of yellow, orange, with hints of red. These colors, against the dark and wet background of the pavement, highlight the brilliance even more. Given the fact that this same leaf, when attached to the tree, is a pale green provides an even more compelling transformation.

As we know, this color transformation is actually the life cycle of the leaf losing its chlorophyll, as it no longer is in the business of photosynthesis. Amazingly, those colors, or pigments, are always present but don’t ‘show up’ until the dominant chlorophyll is no longer present.

As Christians, are we similar to these leaves? Do we possess these beautiful traits, only to be overshadowed by the world we live in? When we have God in our daily walk, and He is able to remove the “dominance” of a sinful planet, only then can we reflect His beauty and His character to others.

When I think of it that way, maybe fall is growing on me after all. Maybe, just maybe I’m becoming able to look past the grey, cold days and cherish the beautiful colors God has provided. I certainly hope, no matter what the season, I am able to reflect the true colors of God and share His love to all.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, October 28, 2025

Perhaps you remember seeing a picture of the drawing by Leonardo da Vinci of the perfect man. Created about two years before Columbus sailed for America, da Vinci’s work is sometimes referred to as Vitruvian Man since his idea was based upon the mathematical calculations of Vitruvius who envisioned a direct correlation between the proportions of man and the ideal proportions to be found in architecture, and by extension, the universe at large. Drawn with pen and ink on paper, da Vinci superimposed the figure of a man within a circle and a square thus illustrating the ideal proportions for man. It is sometimes referred to as The Canon of Proportions as well as Proportions of Man.

But beauty and perfection apparently do not always follow the ratios established by man. In Vitruvius’ model, the ideal body would be eight head lengths high. Yet no one would question the beauty of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher whose tail feathers may be nine inches long, making up two thirds of the bird’s total length.

It’s equally apparent that God does not follow the same criterion for perfection as man. He described Job as “a perfect and upright man”. (Job 2:3 ASV) Paul makes it clear how that ideal may be met in Colossians 1:28: “… admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ.” (ASV) No matter if my proportions don’t fit da Vinci’s perfect circle and square; if I’m in Christ, then I am perfect.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Chuck Davis
Monday, October 27, 2025

The image for today’s photo parable is a compilation of seven overlapping photographs. The clouds in the valley along with the mountain range in the background demanded a wider view. Stitching multiple shots together results in an image near to what I experienced in person that day.

The human field of view is around 180 degrees with peripheral vision expanding to two hundred degrees. A camera with a 50mm lens has a field of view around 54 degrees. Thus, I needed several photos to capture what I was able to see.

In spiritual matters, people, like our cameras, have constricted viewpoints. God desires that we be different, that we take a wider view, that we begin to see as God sees.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV).

Paul puts it this way: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God (Romans 12:2 KJV).

I hope that you enjoy this Wider View. May it provide encouragement to seek and know God’s will for us. Like the elements that are hidden in the clouds of this photo, God’s will is much more than we envision.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, October 26, 2025

I always enjoy doing “Stand up if’s.” I was reminded of that when a weekend gathering began last Friday night with several “Stand up if’s.” The leader invited us to stand up if:
you knew how to speak three or more languages, if you were a twin, if you had been born in Washington state . . . and many more.

The one I kept thinking about throughout and after the weekend was, “Stand up if you’ve ever met someone famous.” Several people in the large audience stood up, and the leader asked each one who their famous person was. I was sure in my long life I’d met someone famous – at least one — but racking my brain didn’t bring up a name.

It took me a couple of days to come up with someone. The week I turned twenty-one I attended a community picnic in my hometown of Juneau, Alaska, during which my father introduced me to United States Senator from Alaska, Ernest Gruening. His claim to fame at that point was that he had been the first senator to oppose the Vietnam War, but my father met him years earlier when Gruening was Governor of Alaska, and my father delivered groceries to the Governor’s Mansion, which was a couple of blocks up the hill from our house. (There is much more I find intriguing in both my father’s and Gruening’s lives, but I must not venture further down that trail today!)

Sitting in that large gathering Friday night, unable to contribute a famous person I had met, I thought to myself, “Well, we could all say we’ve met Jesus!” However, even though it was a gathering geared toward Christian women, I realized that was probably not true. There were bound to be people in our midst who had not yet met Jesus. I’m sure that the organizers and the speakers had been praying that this would be a weekend when that would happen – that we would all meet, or re-meet Jesus there.

“Stand up if . . .” When you think of all the stories in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, who do those three words remind you of?

I thought first of three men who bravely stood up, despite the threatened consequences of that choice.

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (Daniel 3:13-18 NIV)

Rather than bowing down to a heathen God, they stood up for the one true God, regardless of the consequences.

The king ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and the three men were bound and thrown into the furnace.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?”

They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”

Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” (Daniel 3:24-26a)

If you continue reading the story, you see the king becoming an instant convert to the Most High God, although the dire threats he then utters against anyone who dares to say anything against this God show that he has some growing to do!

One more. When I thought of people who “stood up” in the Bible, I thought of a story in the New Testament that always brings a lump to my throat and tears to my eyes.

When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. (Acts 7:54-60)

Read the full story of Stephen in Acts 6 and 7. Full of faith, and full of the Holy Spirit, he stood up for Jesus, speaking the truth without fear, and praying – just like His Saviour did – for his killers.

And (here’s where my throat tightens up) the heavens open to his eyes, and he sees Jesus standing up for him!

Thank You, Lord, for standing up for Stephen. Please fill us with Your Spirit so that we, too, will be strong to stand up for You, no matter what. Thank You for your limitless love.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, October 25, 2025

Friday morning of this week I pulled into a gas station to fuel up. On the asphalt beside the pump I noticed this penny, so I bent down and picked it up. Normally what I do in this situation is just give the penny to the person behind the counter, or put it in the little small-change tray some places have.

Instead, I held it in my hand as I pre-paid for the gas, then carried it out to the pump again. I wanted to think this over a bit. Obviously there was no way to find the coin’s original owner. I could have pocketed it, and though it would add only a tiny amount to my net worth, I would be doing nothing illegal. Finders keepers.

But my mind rebelled at this thought. No, I said to myself, this penny is not mine. I didn’t inherit it, nor earn it, nor was I gifted with it. So when I went back in to get change for my gas, I put it in their change-tray. And I felt satisfied. Did I feel a bit of pride, for my honesty? Not sure. Maybe.

Jesus once discussed a group of people He knew who were scrupulously careful to be stewards of even small amounts. They were the scribes and Pharisees, students and teachers of God’s law. They were proud of their reputation.

The only problem was that when it came to more important issues, they were hypocrites. Jesus knew it, and He called them out on it:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. (Matthew 23:23 NKJV)

Notice how Jesus is careful to insist that we not switch our attention totally to the major areas and grow careless with the seemingly “small stuff.” “Do both,” He says.

These powerful religious influencers had developed huge blind spots when it came to law-keeping. So for a good Bible-verse review about how to avoid toppling into the hypocrisy trap, click the link just below.

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/law-god

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, October 24, 2025

Not long ago I visited a Barnes and Noble bookstore. They must have been reorganizing some of the volumes, because I came upon this entire set of shelves, which were empty!

“Mysteries and Thrillers!” I thought, reading the signs above. “All solved!”

When I was younger and had more time to read, I devoured my share of mystery stories. Right along with the detectives, I tried to puzzle out who did the crimes. Most of the time, my own solutions were pretty lame, but I always enjoyed the remorseless logic used by the hero.

Once we turn our attention to real life, we remember that mystery is all around us – dreadful conundrums that seem inexplicable. Why do bad things happen to good people? Where is God when it hurts? Why does God allow evil to continue, and spread? What is my purpose in life?

Making sense of these bafflements is often a process of praying, reading the Bible, and being patient. But as a couple of verses toward the end of the Bible’s “love chapter” remind us, the time will come when we will see clearly.

1 Corinthians 12:11 – 12: When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus!