Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, September 10, 2026

These old stumps at Rattlesnake Lake give testament that in the past there were huge forests of old growth trees. Loggers cut the notches in the side where they inserted planks to stand on while cutting the tree. Now the notches look like eyes, and the stumps look like melancholy old men keeping watch.

Unlike old stumps that are no longer alive, people have some ability to do things and decide how they live. I like the following verse.

Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
Titus 2:2

When we think about people that we like to be around, I often think of the word “thoughtful.”  We kind of want people around us to be thoughtful, and it makes sense that we also try to be thoughtful as an example.

The stumps in the photo have plenty of time to think if they could. Likewise, we can watch and think about what the Bible teaches and consider the traits that make us pleasant to be around. When you have a chance, read the rest of Titus 2 for more information about living while we wait for the Lord.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, September 9, 2026

This past weekend, I visited Marina Beach Park in Edmonds. If you’ve been there, you know it’s a beautiful spot to watch the ferries pass by, enjoy views of the Olympic Mountains, walk along the shoreline, or simply pause and take in God’s creation.

When I captured this image, my attention was focused on the gentle waves rolling onto the beach. Later, while reviewing the photo, something else caught my eye: the smooth rocks scattered along the shore and the sand surrounding them. Over time, many of those rocks will be worn down by water and weather, eventually becoming tiny grains of sand.

That reminded me of David’s words in Psalm 139:

Psalm 139:17-18 (NKJV)

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.”

David wasn’t focused on the sand itself. He was using it to illustrate something impossible to measure God’s thoughts, care, and attention toward His people. Just as no one could realistically count every grain of sand on a beach, David recognized that he could never fully comprehend the depth of God’s concern for him.

That’s who our God is. He knows each of us personally. He cares for each of us completely. No one is overlooked. No one is forgotten.

As I looked at the sand in this image, I was reminded that God’s love, care, and thoughts toward us are more numerous than we could ever count.

Thank You, Lord, for knowing me, caring for me, and always being right beside me.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, September 8, 2026

For most, it would appear to be an attractive male Red-winged Blackbird, but if one looks more carefully, you’ll notice the epaulets on the wing of the Tri-colored Blackbird are a scarlet red, not the orange-red seen on the Redwings.  Also, the band below the epaulet is a clear white rather than the yellow sported by its more common relative.  At one time it was considered to be the most abundant bird in southern California, but its numbers have dropped dramatically.  Still, probably 95 percent of the global population is found there.  One of the primary reasons for concern is the communal nature of the species.  Just like the Passenger Pigeon, this behavior makes it more vulnerable to extinction.

This gregarious nature leads them to build their nests close together, sometimes only a foot or two apart in freshwater marshes among the cattails.  Rather than gathering food from the nearby wetland, the adults routinely travel up to three miles searching for rich food sources. To induce the young to leave the comfortable confines of the nesting area, adults may return from foraging with food, but instead of directly offering food to the young, they will fly away from the colony with the hungry young in hot pursuit.

The young Tricolors may have to leave their comfortable nests in order to learn needed life lessons, but the Children of Israel and we today have no such excuse.  Notice how Moses explained this to his people.  “And you can’t say, ‘How can we obey the Lord’s commands:  They are across the sea, and someone must go across, then bring them back and explain them to us.’  No, these commands are nearby and you know them by heart.  All you have to do is obey!”  (Deuteronomy 30:13-14 CEV)

Certainly, lack of information is not what causes our mistakes; it’s our own stubborn nature.  The really good news is that God is willing to change that nature, to give us a desire for goodness:  “I will take away your stubborn heart and give you a new heart and a desire to be faithful.  You will have only pure thoughts, because I will put my Spirit in you and make you eager to obey my laws and teachings.”  (Ezekiel 36:26-27 CEV)  Good news indeed!

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday and Monday, September 6 and 7, 2026

Can you think of a sight or sound or taste or smell or touch that’s guaranteed to make you smile?

Just thinking about such a list makes me smile! I know that the sound of a baby laughing will always do that for me, and the taste of apple pie like my mother used to make. My list is much longer than that, though.

Last week I stood still in the middle of Carpinito Bros Farm Stand, a garden center and local produce market, and smiled. I was gazing at beautiful begonias in a multitude of colors. I turned to the produce area, and my eyes and smile widened at all the colors that I knew tasted even better than they looked – peaches, nectarines, plums, apples, melons, pears, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, lemons, limes, avocados, radishes, broccoli, cucumbers, cilantro, carrots, zucchini blossoms, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, garlic, green beans, corn on the cob, and more!

I felt rich in the midst of all that goodness.

While I appreciate grocery stores, I don’t usually stand still in their produce aisles and grin. I think that’s because those stores stock so much more than fresh fruit and veggies, and there’s a lot of hustle-bustle and other commerce going on around me.

But there in the farm stand, it was easy to feel surrounded by God’s goodness. I remembered the invitation to “Taste and see that the Lord is good . . .” (Psalm 34:8 NIV).

Considering the context in which this psalm was written (David on the run from King Saul’s army), and the last half of the verse, “ . . . blessed is the one who takes refuge in him,” I think David was tasting the goodness of God’s protection.

However, I think we can literally taste and see God’s goodness in the incredible variety of food He has created for our enjoyment.

And we can also listen and see, smell and see, touch and see, and look and see! God’s goodness is all around us! How easy it is to get mired down in the messiness of life, and the chaos and tragedies we hear about each day. Not only hear about, but experience!

I tend toward the melancholic, so I know I need to tend to the health of my body, mind, and soul by choosing my focus each day. As we step out into this brand-new week, I plan to begin each morning by saying out loud, “Taste and see that the Lord is good,” and then keeping all my senses alert to experience that goodness, and give thanks.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, September 5, 2026

Not far from where Shelley and I live is this pleasant home, occupied by a dad and mom and two young children. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that workers arrived and were starting to get the house ready for painting

If you look closely you’ll notice that the panels on the garage door have been edged in what looks like some sort of white masking product or at least primer. The primer has also been applied to the left garage door frame. Up on the second floor, new siding slats have been inserted. A couple of days ago when I was looking at this scene from a different angle, I notice somebody crouching beside the chimney (out of site behind the tree on the right), replacing siding and doing other prep work.

As I’ve glanced at this house recently, it strikes me that I hadn’t realized that it needed all this work. Only someone with an expert’s eye could have convinced me that anything needed to be done. But the decision has been made, and I’m sure that in another few weeks it will look breathtaking, and be able to withstand the elements for much longer. [LATE-BREAKING NEWS! I wrote the above paragraphs, including the conclusion below, at the library Friday afternoon. I’d taken the photo several days ago. But when I got home from the library, I discovered that the garage has been entirely painted. More to come with the rest of the house, I guess.]

Isn’t this the way it is with our spiritual lives? Outwardly we might look “put together,” but as God told the prophet Samuel, “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 NKJV

Which means we all need spiritual improvement. Click the link below to learn why and how.

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/spiritual-growth

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, September 4, 2026

Thursday morning of this week I was on my usual post-breakfast walk when I noticed this impressive line of Washington Energy Services trucks parked in front of a single residence. My first thought was, What is going ON at that dwelling? The signage on the trucks’ boxes tells me that this company is equipped to handle emergencies relating to “Heating, Cooling, Windows, Water Heaters, Siding and Doors.” As you can see, the back doors of each of these vehicles are open and ready for service, with a selection of ladders on top of the nearest one. Somehow I have a confident feeling that whatever that home needs within the Energy Services wheelhouse, it’ll get done.

As a pastor I’ve had the privilege of baptizing quite a number of people. And following the direction of Jesus in Matthew 28:19 (“ . . . baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”), I use those three Divine Names as I lower the baptismal candidates beneath the water.

The Bible is very clear that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit take individual roles in our salvation, yet they work in perfect unity. Why not take a moment to review Their roles, by clicking the link below? Now that’s SUPPORT!

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

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, September 3, 2026

These Yurts at Seaquest State Park near Mount St. Helens provide a cozy campsite without the trouble of setting up a tent or hauling an RV.

Finding thoughtful services like these yurts made me think of the following text.

The earth is filled with your love, Lord;
teach me your decrees.
Psalm 119:64

As we discover God’s love in a myriad of places, we can think about the teachings of Jesus who points us to the greatest commandments to love God and love our neighbor in Matthew 22:34-40. All the rest of God’s decrees stem from these concepts. That seems to be our job of learning what it means. Maybe getting out in nature once in a while helps clear our thoughts for that purpose.