Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, September 9, 2024

I’ve been seeing osprey (like the one pictured) flying and nesting all along the Columbia, the Wenatchee and other rivers and lakes throughout North Central Washington and up into BC’s interior. There are a lot of poles with platforms on them that have been placed near these waterways and the ospreys build huge nests on the platforms where they raise their chicks. I saw the one pictured years ago while I was driving and I stopped and got out and it actually let me approach fairly close (although the picture has been cropped quite a bit)!

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you ride upon the wings of the wind.
The winds are your messengers;
flames of fire are your servants.

You placed the world on its foundation
so it would never be moved.
You clothed the earth with floods of water,
water that covered even the mountains.
At your command, the water fled;
at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
Mountains rose and valleys sank
to the levels you decreed.
Then you set a firm boundary for the seas,
so they would never again cover the earth.

You make springs pour water into the ravines,
so streams gush down from the mountains.
They provide water for all the animals,
and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds nest beside the streams
and sing among the branches of the trees.
You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home,
and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
Psalm 104:1-3 (NLT)

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, September 7, 2024

Several mornings a week before breakfast, I’ll hop in the car and take a little drive, singing along with a series of voice-practice soundtracks which help me exercise my voice.

I was driving along a deserted side street, caroling away, when I spotted several rabbits sitting close to the road. They seemed so unconcerned by my car that I drove past them, then turned around and came back to get a better photo.

They were so beautiful that I thought that the center rabbit might have been a statue, a realistic decoy to keep the others company. But they all moved, and seemed friends with each other.

Since most of the rabbits I see in our own neighborhood are of the salt-and-pepper tan color, I’m wondering if these three (and there was actually a fourth on the other side of the road) were actually pets. Whatever the case, they were perfectly at ease with each other.

And they were of different colors. As I understand, in the bird and animal kingdoms, sometimes a difference in color can cause persecution and ostracism. But these bunnies seemed oblivious to their different hues.

Did you know that the Bible is emphatically against any kind of racism? You’ll find nine Scriptures forbidding it at the link just below.

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

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, September 6, 2024

Shelley and I had a wonderful holiday weekend, partly because a used-book store chain was giving a discount to anyone shopping during the Labor Day holiday. Prudently, and as completely as possible, we took advantage of this.

One of the areas I visit in any bookstore is the Religion section. I always look at the used Bibles. Sure enough, Monday I spotted this small Bible, still in its case. From its yellow tag’s price (pretty stiff for a used Bible), from its listed features (which includes its manufacture from calfskin), and from other evidences, I could tell that this was a well-made Bible.

But what caught my attention right away was the beautifully scripted “Lifetime Guarantee.” I thought, Sure enough. That’s what any Bible—carefully and prayerfully studied—will definitely provide.

When’s the last time you opened your Bible? Recently, I hope, and regularly. If you’d like a review of the astounding claims the Bible makes for itself, click the link just below:

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

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, September 5, 2024

There is something peaceful about flying a kite in a medium breeze. You can feel the tug of the wind through the string. The kite gently dips and and flaps its tail. Kids enjoy the fun along with the adults.

However, it doesn’t always go as planned. The wind might be too fast causing the kite to dive towards the ground. Or the wind might not blow at all. So when conditions are right, it makes it all the more enjoyable.

It reminds me of the story of Jesus calming the storm.

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”
Matthew 8:27

We can rely on Jesus to see us through storms. At all times we can feel peace knowing that God has energy we cannot see to get us through.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Some of you may remember the situation of Y2K, also known as “Year 2000” and the concern people had as the date approached. For those who don’t remember, it was centered around a computer issue that had the potential to bring down worldwide infrastructures, as the computers might not be able to distinguish between the year 2000 and the year 1900. During the time leading up to January 1, 2000, many were storing up food supplies, water, and other essentials – fearing the worst.

Years later, when the Covid pandemic was in full swing, we saw similar behavior. In fact, most humans have the tendency to store up, collect, hoard, save lots of things, regardless of the circumstances. That mindset is typically a self-preservation, a way to “save myself” from whatever may come. Even during non-catastrophe times, humans tend to collect “stuff,” whether it’s cars, money, houses – we want more than we could possibly need. That storing up leads to self-reliance, that feeling we can take care of ourselves. Let’s read what Matthew says about the topic, in chapter 6.

Matthew 6:19-21

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Self-reliance can lead us away from a daily walk with our Creator. If we think we can take care of ourselves, we will be less worried about a prayer life requesting “give us our daily bread.” We need to be reliant on the One who cares, protects, and provides for us – daily.

Don’t get me wrong, some collecting/storing up can be a good thing. Take my friend the bee for example. He was flying from one flower to the next collecting the pollen necessary to sustain the hive. It’s interesting that bee pollen is also known as bee bread, Maybe it’s not a coincidence we are taught to pray for our daily bread. When I saw this buzzing winged buddy, I knew the collection process was for the greater good of the hive, not for a personal gain. That’s the difference in the mindset Matthew was describing, in the verse. Don’t be worried about collecting a bunch of stuff that’s not going to be worth anything in the long run. Be more focused on the bigger picture, eternal life with our Savior. When we are worried about the day and the days toome, make sure the daily walk you have allows you to focus on our final destination, not our current locale.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, September 3, 2024

As a child of the West I had good reason to believe there was a conspiracy going on. Every junior bird book I opened to leaf through its pages displayed in lavish colors the red, black, and white of the Red-headed Woodpecker but I never saw one. In fact, adults seemed to refer to all members of this family as belonging to the Red-headed persuasion. Sixty years later I still hear people use that label when referring to a Red-breasted Sapsucker. I have no idea how this species gained such notoriety, but without question it did. Perhaps it was because the name fit so well, a perfect description of its likeness. Its fame certainly wasn’t due to its abundance, for there are many woodpecker species which are much easier to find, even in the East where it resides.

Names have a funny way of attaching themselves to our thinking. Think of all the Bible characters that experienced a name change: Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Gideon, and Paul come to mind, to say nothing of tongue-twisters like Zaphenath-Paneah, a mouthful given to Joseph.

Much has been said about the many names used for God or even the abundance of titles used to describe the person of Jesus. But I like the way the Apostle John refers to his Savior. He reduces it to the basics. III John 7 simply states: “It was for the sake of the Name that they went out, receiving no help from the pagans.” (NIV) It was as if no additional information was needed. In truth, John does not always limit himself to such brevity. When writing to the church in Laodicea he says: “…These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.” (Revelation 3:14 NIV) The ruler of God’s creation – that’s pretty all-inclusive; inclusive enough to include all woodpeckers, even Red-headed ones and you and me.