Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Your face turned red and you were certain that everyone else in the room noticed the change in your appearance. And you had every right to blush – you were embarrassed. Then again, maybe you weren’t embarrassed at all, just very self-conscious. The really cute girl in the row next to you said she really liked your third grade picture when they came out, but you were just so shy. There are a number of reasons for blushing; even the fear of blushing can cause you to blush. It’s called erythrophobia. Whatever the reason, the capillaries widen, more blood flows through, and your cheeks turn red. And to top it off, your hands start sweating.

The Bible speaks of the lack of this reaction in negative terms in reference to the Children of Israel: “Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the Lord.” (Jeremiah 6:15 NIV) And to emphasize the point, these same words are repeated in 8:12 of the same book. The Lord wanted them to be conscious of their guilt, but they were too hardened to respond.

The male Western Tanager’s face is red too, but for a different reason. Unlike the red in others of the same family, his face is red due to rhodoxanthin, a pigment which is seldom found in birds. Instead, he gets it from insects in his diet which produces yellow pigments.

But we have no excuse. Most of us don’t eat too many insects, yet we have every reason to be ashamed of our failure to live the life we should. In the context of Jeremiah, we should be blushing. But there is good news. God covers us, not with a cheap cover-up, but with His own blood. That’s something we’ll never completely understand, how the redness of His blood makes us perfectly clean. But thank God for it.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, August 19, 2024

This photo was taken from Fields Point Landing on Lake Chelan. This is normally where you would park to take a ferry to Stehekin, a tiny village which is located at the north end of the lake. People go to Stehekin for a day trip or to stay over at the Lodge. There are trails to hike and you can take a shuttle, walk or bike to Rainbow Falls or to check out the bakery. Pacific Crest Trail hikers stop in at the little post office to get their last resupply before the Canadian border. The day I was at Fields Point Landing, Stehekin was evacuated because of a wildfire. There were a lot of cars in the parking lot but nobody else was around. I assume the cars belonged to firefighters. There is even a sign stuck into the ground that you pass on the way out that is a thank you sign for the firefighters.

Sometimes life takes us in a different direction from what we had planned. People get sick and disasters happen. We could be living in an evacuation zone for some type of calamity that we have no control over. At times like these, it is good to remember these words:

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Psalm 91:1-4 (NLT)

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, August 18, 2024

I can understand how we overlooked this sculpture as we drove in and out of town a few times, even though it’s 18 feet tall and weighs over 5,000 pounds. It’s located in the center of a traffic circle, and you have to keep your wits about you, and your eyes darting left and right for other vehicles, as you navigate such a roundabout. Tall trees obscure the sculpture from one angle, as well.

It was only when we took an after-breakfast walk through town that we suddenly saw it, and stared. I sputtered, “Is that wood or metal?” followed by recognition, “It’s an eagles’ nest!”

My husband ventured across the street during a traffic lull for a closer look and called back, “It’s metal.” I like how it looks like a huge nest of bleached beachcombed driftwood, though.

Curious to know more, I searched and found the artwork was installed near the entrance to Anacortes, Washington in early 2015. The sculptor’s name is Merrillee Moore, and she named her stainless steel sculpture “Aerie.”

Consulting several dictionaries, I discovered they all agree that an aerie is the nest of a large bird of prey, especially an eagle, located high on a cliff or a mountaintop. Or, in this case, located at sea level, in a traffic circle.

Moore said that she “sees the empty nest as a welcoming presence and a ‘symbol of home.’ ”

I wonder if any birds have ever decided that “Aerie” would make a good home. It seems inviting to me, and ready-made, but I don’t have a birds’ eye view of it as a desirable domicile. Although a high and lofty perch is apparently one of their prerequisites, so 18 feet may not be lofty enough.

Jesus mentioned nests once, in this poignant comment recorded by both Matthew and Luke:

Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (Luke 9:57, 58 NKJV)

That’s the only mention of nests in the entire New Testament, Jesus talking about His homelessness. I think He wanted to be sure this would-be disciple understood what it would really be like to follow Him. I also think Jesus knew that day by day He was making His home in the hearts of those who heard Him gladly.

Remember how Jesus responded one day when He was told His mother and brothers had arrived and wanted to speak to Him?

But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12: 48-50 NKJV)

In my younger years when I read these verses I thought Jesus sounded dismissive of His mother and brothers – maybe even a bit rude to them. I don’t hear that now. I think He wanted His listeners to realize their own potential close relationship to Him, and to His Heavenly Father.

What would it have been like to have been in that crowd, when Jesus expanded their understanding of who was family to Him? What a thrill to hear Him call me His sister!

And yet that’s what He calls me today, here and now! It reminds me of a children’s song I learned a long time ago:

God is my Father,
Jesus is my Brother,
And the blessed Holy Spirit is my Guide.
The devil’s no relation,
‘Cause I’m a new creation,
I’m a part of the family of God.

A small song with a big boost of encouragement as we begin again with this brand-new week. No matter what last week was like, we start over, knowing we are God’s beloved family members.

So as we fly out into this week, may it be on eagle’s wings!

Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV)

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, August 17, 2024

A few days back, I noticed this surprising display on the lawn of a nearby neighbor. Though there was no “Free” sign on these chairs, it was obvious that they were being offered to whoever had the means and the motive to haul them away. I actually sat on one of them, and it was comfortable, though I could tell that it had been used well.

I was wondering if anybody would take this offer, and I didn’t have to wait long. The next day I saw a nice white hatchback SUV paused on the corner, and a young man was inserting all four chairs into it. I don’t know who he was, and don’t know who will be sitting in them, but that rest-experience will have been free of charge.

Which of course is the point of the Sabbath. You don’t have to pay dues to enjoy all the privileges of the seventh day. It’s free—and those who learn about it and take advantage of it grow happier and more confident in the love of its Creator.

Want to learn more about—or review—this gift as old as earthly time? Make sure you click on BOTH links below:

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

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/sabbath-observance

Photo and Commentary (c)2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, August 15, 2024

I have mixed emotions about this pile of wood in our back yard. Mainly I’m glad I was not the one to do all the sawing. A tree service employee worked hard to get all those rounds cut.

It reminds me of the following verses.

Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
John 4:36-38

It seems true that as we share our faith, the seeds we sow will lead to happiness down the road. Even when we may never see the people again that we share with, it is a blessing.

It looks like I’ll be the one to split and stack the wood in the photo. I’m not sure if I’ll be the one to use it, but I think it will help someone down the road.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Many, or all, of us know the parable of the lost sheep. The parable highlights the compassionate nature of God as a shepherd who actively seeks out and rejoices over the return of a lost individual. It emphasizes that God values everyone equally and is dedicated to finding and nurturing each person. The story serves as a lesson in unconditional love and care for others, regardless of their appearance or behavior, reflecting the call to love and support those who are lost.

What’s remarkable about this parable to me is that God wasn’t content with the 99 sheep He had. No, He needed to find that one remaining, lost, alone and scared sheep. He had to seek out the one left out in the cold. Let that sink in a bit. Think of having 99 of something and being obsessed (in a good way) about finding that last missing piece. I mean, 99 out of 100 is good, right? Actually, it’s really good. Until you are the one. God seeks us ALL and sees us as equal. We can rejoice in His passion and dedication to each and every one of His creations.

Matthew 18:12-14:

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

We have been anticipating a large number of cherry tomatoes to ripen soon but haven’t seen any yet. When I was perusing our garden yesterday, I found this one. I can guarantee that there are well over 99 other green tomatoes on the vines of the four large plants we have. Seeing this single ripe one made me think of the parable of the sheep. What an awesome, compassionate, forgiving, and loving God we serve. He cares for all, including when there is only one!