Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, October 7, 2025

One of the blessings that comes from being in the eastern part of our state this time of year is the wealth of color displayed. Not only do the Black Cottonwood found along lowland streams and rivers display a brilliant yellow, but higher in the mountains the Western Larch extends this color to higher elevations along with a similar species, the Subalpine Larch. Larch belong to the pine family with the Douglas Fir probably being their closest relative.

What is unusual about the larches is that they are coniferous trees, but they are deciduous and not evergreens. This can be confusing since most conifers keep their needles or leaves year around, but the larch is an exception. In the fall, when temperatures grow colder and daylight gets shorter, the chlorophyll, which masks the other colors in the leaves, is drawn into the trees which results in the yellow being displayed. The term conifer and evergreen refer to different aspects of a plant. The term conifer relates to how the plant reproduces by way of cones, while evergreen refers to whether the plant loses or retains its leaves. We also have evergreens that aren’t conifers like the azaleas and boxwoods. Still, because of what we see most frequently, we tend to equate conifers with evergreens which is a mistake.

Unfortunately, we also run the danger of extending this same kind of thinking to other areas as well. This type of stereotyping may promote the thinking that all true believers will come to understand the Bible as we do before the Lord comes. All they have to do is “see the light.” While it’s good to have confidence in the Word, maybe we run into danger in having too much confidence in ourselves.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Chuck Davis
Monday, October 6, 2025

This week’s photo parable introduces us to the American Pika. The Pika is often mistaken to be a rodent, but although similar in size and shape to other rodents, the Pika is most closely related to rabbits and hares. The Pika makes its home among the scree and talus slopes of the Cascades and other western mountain ranges. You may hear its high-pitched alarm calls as you hike across a rocky mountain slope.

The Pika in today’s photo joined our group in the Necklace Valley, along the shores of Lake Ilswoot as we enjoyed the cool of evening. Generally shy, this Pika emerged from the rocks posing nearly motionless for several minutes.

The chosen habitat of the Pika reminds me of the protective nature of rocks that we find throughout the Bible. Moses describes one such scene: “And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by (Exodus 33:22 KJV). King David shares: “Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3 KJV).

The Pika trusted us that evening, but only because of the cleft in the rock. Today, place your trust in God because He is our Rock and our Fortress.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, October 5, 2025

I was mending the other night. I don’t mind mending; it’s usually a project small in time and effort that gives me the pleasure of putting something together again. Mending is somewhat akin to healing, I think.

You can mend all manner of objects – furniture, clothing, glassware, electronics, pottery, watches, stuffed animals, books, shoes, hearts. (Some mending is more challenging than others.) Helpful tools may include needle and thread, wire, patches, scissors, hammer and nails, all kinds of glue, soldering iron, all types of tape, words, hugs, love.

My recent mending required only needle and thread. As I worked, I thought how both my mother and my mother-in-law enjoyed mending. I like to remember how my mother would urge me before she came to visit us to “save any mending for me.” Both women grew up in times and circumstances that required a great deal of patience and resourcefulness for daily living.

This makes me muse as I mend. How often do I weigh the cost of repair with the cost of new? Is it all about cost/benefit ratio? What new skill might I learn, to be able to mend rather than throw away? Could I offer help with mending of some kind to others?

As I tied the last knot and snipped the thread and put away my scissors and spool, I thought how handy and humble thread is. And yes, it reminds me of Jesus!

Once upon a time I had a college Bible professor named Carl Coffman. Out of all the words he spoke during the quarter I sat in his classroom, this was my clearest take-away: He said he wished he could produce a paper that would have the light outline of the face of Jesus on it, and then print Bibles on that paper – reminding us on every page that the whole Bible story is about Jesus.

If we asked Professor Coffman what is the thread that runs throughout the entire Bible, I’m sure he would say, “Jesus.” You might answer, “our salvation story,” or “redemption,” or the scarlet thread of “love.” I think in all these answers we would be saying the same thing.

Sometimes a word just catches hold of my interest and imagination and I know I’m going to be thinking of it for awhile; that’s what’s happened to me now with “thread.”

It must be because my mending brought my dear mother and mother-in-law to mind that I suddenly thought of the phrase “picking up the threads.” Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines this idiom as “to begin something again after a long time.”

I last heard my mother’s voice in November of 1982, my mother-in-law’s in May of 1998. Forty-three and twenty-seven years ago. A long time ago. One of my favorite things to do with both of them was to sit and visit, to listen to them tell stories of their lives. How I look forward to “picking up the threads” with them again! There will be plenty of time, when time shall be no more, to talk once more. With great pleasure we’ll pick up the threads.

In that Place, because of God’s grace, all will be mended. Resurrection Day means all will be not merely repaired, but restored, made new – such a new as we have never known!

Let’s read the promise of healing one more time, because I never weary of hearing these words:

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:3-5 NKJV)

And all this makes me think of what the dictionary calls an “informal, old-fashioned” word: “threads.” “Threads” meaning “clothes,” as in, “How do you like my new threads?”

Listen to the Bible describe the best threads of all:

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10)

These threads, these garments, this robe of righteousness have not been patched and mended. We are clothed with the grace-filled gift of Jesus – His perfect righteousness for our old tattered rags.

I lay down my needle and thread, my tape and my glue, my tool kit, and with a full and grateful heart say, “Thank You, Jesus!”

This week, live loved. Because you are.

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, October 4, 2025

Moseying through an antique store in Anacortes, Washington a few weeks back, I was startled to come upon this gristly display.

My first thought was sacrilege! Who would dare stab knives between pages of books? My second thought was, Oh well, if the volumes aren’t valuable or memorable (and these books appear to be neither, at least from the perspective of 2025), maybe using them as safe storage for kitchen-size daggers might be okay.

My third and most recent thought goes something like this. Keeping these blades sandwiched within these books probably prevents them from rattling around in a drawer with other knives, getting their edges nicked and dulled. The dry paper protects their sharpness and keeps them from rust.

Maybe that’s one way to think about what the Bible does to its readers. If we spend quality time within its pages, we have less chance of getting seriously banged up or corroded by the onslaughts of sin.

How long has it been since you’ve reviewed what the Bible says about itself? Check out the verses at the link below.
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/bible

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, October 3, 2025

This week, while getting routine maintenance on the Toyota I drive, I strolled across the street to a Chinese buffet restaurant. When the meal was done, I was presented with this fortune cookie, and when I broke it open, I saw what you see above.

Yep, that’s a full-fledged period after “always.” Nope, this is not an AI’d or Photoshopped image.

I’ve never taken an interest in cookie fortunes aside from the curiosity they satisfy and the giggles their total irrelevance often give me. Yet I get a nagging sense of incompletion from the above message. What original message did the careless typist miss? Often the answer is something like “a dedicated wife.”

The Bible says quite a bit about being a worthwhile human being. Take a few minutes to glance down through the verses in the links below. They’ll recalibrate your manhood, or womanhood — and help you fill in the blanks before the “always” period!

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

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

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

Photo (c)2025 by Amber Jurgensen
Commentary (c)2025 by Russell Jurgensen

The church kindergarten room is newly decorated and here is a photo of the entrance. I like the message that God has a spot for you!

It reminds me of how Jesus wonderfully promoted inclusion by inviting children to listen to his stories. And for the hard hearted people in his audience he had this to say:

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5: 43-45

So no matter which way we look at it, Jesus shows us that we can all understand his message and find ways to solve problems. He has a spot for all of us!

Photo and Commentary ©2025 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Recently, we had an opportunity to visit a few cities in Switzerland. During a walking tour in the town of Bern, we visited a famous cathedral – Bern Minster, which literally translates to Bern cathedral. The construction of this structure was started in 1421 and stands as the tallest cathedral of Switzerland – measuring at 330 feet.

As you walk through a small doorway and make your way to the sanctuary, the ceiling jets upwards. In front you see beautiful stained-glass windows, over 40 feet high. The designs, the light, the color, all quite remarkable. In the image I have included a single burning candle was set on the table, with the stained glass as a backdrop.

It reminded me of the verses in Matthew 5

Verses 14-16
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In that place, I thought of this lonely candle, surrounded by various lights and colors. Did the surroundings change the way that candle burned and showed its own light? No. Nor should we. We have an opportunity, an obligation, to shine as well. Verse 14 says, “We are the light of the world.” Our light is the reflection of God’s goodness. If we choose to cover ourselves, and hide our light, we are ultimately hiding God’s love.

It may not always be easy, but we need to choose to show our light, and reflect the love God has for all around us. We need to stand out, so others are able to see the God we serve.