Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, June 7, 2024

Almost every day I do at least a mile-long loop around our neighborhood, and I always pass this lawn. As you can see, most of the lawn is a combination of green and bare spots, but there’s this lush rectangle (probably a trial sod installation) which contains nothing but healthy grass.

A couple of days ago as I paused to take this photo, I suddenly thought of how this healthy patch could represent the Sabbath. Whoever walks across this lawn—bunny, bird, or human—meets with a combination of healthy and unhealthy places. But when they reach the unbroken patch of grass, their feet enjoy a good stretch of supple natural carpet.

Isn’t this a bit like God’s seventh-day Sabbath, with which He concluded Creation week? Back in Eden, of course, all seven days were perfectly free from the ravages which sin would later cause. But even after the Fall, the Sabbath remained to soothe and heal those who saw its value, and to remind them of God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth.

Want to learn—or review—the news about God’s weekly “patch of Eden”? Click the link just below:
https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/sabbath

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Russell Jurgensen
Wednesday, June 5, 2024

We were fortunate to see this Tesla coil in operation at the Griffeth Observatory in California. It was interesting that the letters at the bottom of the image were powered through the air by the Tesla coil.

I had some time to read about the early days of electricity development. A common theme was the hope that electricity could provide medical treatment.

This Tesla coil originally belonged to a local doctor who eventually donated it for display at the observatory. Plain electricity doesn’t have much effect on improving health. Over time, however, developments in medical technology are very useful in things like MRI machines, ultrasound, and many other devices that use electricity.

It makes me think about the energy that God provides. Energy by itself is not very useful. But when put to good use by our actions, energy can make difficult tasks much easier. Let’s rely on God’s energy for good as we go about our lives.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, June 5, 2024

This past week, we had the chance to have our grandkids stay at our house for a few days. On one of the days, we ventured out to Flower World – a local garden center, only about a mile away from our home. In addition to a huge variety of plants, trees, flowers and shrubs for purchase, there is also a small farm area with a few different types of animals and fowls.

This one doesn’t need much of an introduction as I am certain, most (if not all) know the identification – Peafowl. Technically, as this one is a male, he is known as the more common name of Peacock. There are three different species – all part of the pheasant family. This peacock is of the blue, or Indian variety, as you can tell by the color of its feathers. Speaking of colors, not only are they vibrant, but the patterns are also extremely unique – like eyes looking back at you. These bright, vibrant colors and patterns are used during the courtship process. We know this was by design, and not by chance.

Genesis 1:20 & 21 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” So, God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

I know we all can agree, we serve a creative and awesome God. Every detail is carefully considered. When I see something that beautiful, that detailed, that colorful – I know it was created with love and care. What an awesome God indeed.

Photo ©2024 by Carolyn Howson
Commentary ©2024 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, June 4, 2024

We were driving through an old cemetery in Montana, our heads out the window, and pointed towards the top of the trees when the command to “Stop!” was issued. I had seen nothing, but my wife sitting on the passenger’s side had seen something she felt was worth stopping for. Since this bird photography thing is my interest and not hers, she was only seeking to be helpful, and perhaps speed up the process of finding desirable lodging for the night. We were looking for a Merlin nest that had been reported in this town which resulted in our inching through the grave sites. Once binoculars were put on the subject it was clear it was not a Merlin, nor a Merlin’s nest, but rather a juvenile Great Horned Owl pondering its adolescence.

Since the owl was on her side, we manipulated the camera into positon on the edge of the window and she fired away, producing the accompanying image. On this particular jaunt we had traveled some 6000 miles looking for and photographing a variety of birds, dragonflies, flowers, and other living things. But this was her favorite image. Which poses the question — why? Why, when there were much less common species recorded? Why, when there were colorful and unusual subjects under scrutiny? The answer is simple. It was because she was the one who had first discovered the bird and she was the one who recorded its image. Its image had become personal because of her involvement with it.

That makes understanding God’s position recorded in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 easier to understand: “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other people, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Cheryl Boardman
Monday, June 3, 2024

This photo was taken one morning looking east from Whidbey Island.

The text is from Lamentations 3 which is on the meaning of suffering.

“But I have hope when I think this. The Lord’s love never ends; his mercies are new every morning; Lord, your loyalty is great. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is mine, so I hope in him.'” Lamentations 3:21-24 (NCV)

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, June 2, 2024

I’ve glanced at this weather vane almost every day for years, as we’ve taken our morning walk through neighborhood streets and nearby trail. This homeowner has crowned her backyard gazebo with a functional work of art.

It was only today, as I gazed at my photo, that I focused on the choice of a horse and buggy as the topper. This makes me grin, because to me they symbolize a serene, slow-paced ride, and I know this weather vane has seen some wild and windy weather that would have the horse galloping for its stable.

But our local storms are nothing compared to what our dear friends in Temple, Texas experienced a dozen days ago, when a tornado tore through their town, missing their home by a mere mile. My friend Linda said that night the sky grew dark and “an angry wind” started blowing. What followed was a ferocious storm of rain, hail, wind, and debris, like nothing they had experienced before. She said, “I prayed my way through those minutes that felt like hours.”

The tornado destroyed or severely damaged nearly 500 homes and businesses. While our friends mourn those losses, they are grateful they suffered minimal damage, and thank the Lord for His providence and care.

Linda’s phrase, “an angry wind,” has stayed in my mind. I’ve never experienced a wind as angry as the one she and her husband survived, but it reminded me of two violent storms, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.

Maybe you thought of these two, too:

The prophet Elijah cowering in a cave on Mount Horeb as he flees from the fury of Jezebel, with God guiding and providing all the way:

The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (I Kings 19:11-13 NIV)

We turn to Jesus and the disciples experiencing a vicious storm in two distinctly different ways:

Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. (Matthew 8:23-26)

A much better Biblical wind comes to mind, a wind that was prophesied, promised and prayed for:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. (Acts 2:1-2 NKJV)

As the chapter continues, we read that they were filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in the various languages represented in the multitude that gathered. Peter stands up and delivers a powerful sermon – Holy Spirit powered – and “about three thousand souls” repented and were baptized.

And so the early church begins, not with human power and strategies, but with the Holy Spirit equipping and empowering. That is the plan for today’s church, too. We lack nothing; God will provide everything we need as we humbly depend on Him.

As we step out into this brand-new week, take courage. God will be with you every step of the way, and in any storm that blows in your direction. He has given us His Holy Spirit to be our Counselor, Comforter, and Guide.

Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, June 1, 2024

Earlier last month I noticed these three dramatic jet contrails in the sky just south of our house. They reminded me of the Three Angels.

Over the years, my denomination has decided not to shy away from potentially puzzling prophecies in the Bible. We’ve focused a lot on Revelation, including the messages of three angels which show up in chapter 14. As you’ll see, these angels (most likely metaphorical but whose messages will be communicated to the world) announce several things about events which will happen just before Jesus’ return. There’s a lot to unpack here, and I can’t do it in this blog, but here it is, raw:

Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”

And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.”

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.”

Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, “Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
(Revelation 14:6 – 16 NKJV)