Daily Photo Parable

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Russell Jurgensen
Thursday, June 11, 2026

This photo was taken near Denver Colorado where there happened to be a tornado watch. I think the danger was over by the time I got out for a walk because this was the most threatening cloud I could see. Earlier there was some thunder and heavy rain.

It is hard to see but there is a small creek in the rocks that was fed by the rain. The next day, the flow was greatly reduced.

In our spiritual lives, we have storms. God lets us know that we can lean on Him during these times. I see other Photo Parable entries used verses from Psalms this week. Here is another one that I like.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:2

I like how God describes Himself as a fortress, like He is ready and waiting to give us shelter.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, June 10, 2026

This past weekend, the weather was fairly volatile. As some of you may know, our home—where these images were taken—sits within the area known as the Puget Sound Convergence Zone (PSCZ). For a quick meteorology lesson: winds coming in from the Pacific Ocean hit the Olympic Mountains and split—one stream flowing north and the other south. These airflows then collide (or converge) over Puget Sound, often right over Snohomish County. That’s the PSCZ—what some meteorologists even refer to as “ground zero.”

I mention this past weekend specifically because we were about 15 miles away from home enjoying beautiful blue skies, while on our porch camera back home, there was a torrential downpour with pockets of heavy hail.

The first image shows the departing rain and hail cloud moving east, away from our location. Minutes later, even as light rain lingered, the clouds began to break apart and the sky turned blue again. Then, a faint rainbow appeared.

It made me think of the promise God made to all of us after the flood—a promise wrapped in an incredibly beautiful reminder.

Genesis 9:13 “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.”

Amen and thank you, God!

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Robert Howson
Tuesday, June 9, 2026

Henry David Thoreau was one of those who had a way with words.  He once described the Eastern Bluebird as one who “carries the sky on its back”; which in turn makes me wonder how he might portray you or me should he have elected to write about us.  Now remember, he wasn’t one who saw the world through Pollyanna-colored eyes.  His political commentary on civil disobedience laid the foundation for confronting social injustice in the most effective way possible. No, Thoreau was no romanticist with his head in the clouds.

In the same way, we are challenged to find a correct understanding of how God deals with our sin.  The reading of Hebrews 10:14 in different versions offers slightly diverse shades of meaning.  From the NIV: “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”  Here the tension is directly pointed out.  How can one be counted “perfect forever” and at the same time experience the process of “being made holy”?  J.B. Phillips ends the verse with these words: “For by virtue of that one offering he has perfected for all time every one whom he makes holy.” His rendering of the verse implies a done deal.  The ESV uses more theological terminology in its rendering: “For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.”  And lastly, The Message, a paraphrase, reads: “By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process.”

From this it appears that while God’s finished work has been completed, there is a part I must play as well, and that is simply to make sure that I am abiding in Him; that I totally, completely depend upon what He has already done for me.  Put simply, it means living gratefully.

Photo ©2011 and Commentary ©2026 by Chuck Davis
Monday, June 8, 2026

Today’s photo is once again from Mt. Adams, taken on August 14, 2011. On May 18, 1980, I was in Everett, Washington and heard the eruption that removed the top of Mt. St. Helens.

We know from the Bible that God has plans to reshape the earth. This photo provides a preview of his power to create and to recreate.

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth (Psalm 97:5 ESV).

“Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain, declares the Lord, which destroys the whole earth; I will stretch out my hand against you, and roll you down from the crags, and make you a burnt mountain” (Jeremiah 51:25 ESV).

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful (Revelation 21:5 KJV).

The earth and all its component parts bow to the will of God. Let us join them by embracing King David’s prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12 KJV).

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, June 7, 2026

I turned my back on our big bathroom mirror and held up my hand mirror to see what the back of my head looked like, to see if my hair needed more curling and coaxing into place before I headed out of the house.

At least that was my intent. But as I raised my hand I realized I was not holding my mirror. Much to my embarrassment, I felt instead the familiar heft of my cellphone. Quickly exchanging it for my mirror, I remembered sheepishly that this was not the first time I’d done this.

As is my wont, I’ve been mulling over the mirror mix-up. I wonder if my cellphone actually is a mirror for me? It certainly reflects what I pay attention to, and how I spend my time. Many of my apps are eager to give me an accounting of my engagement with them, whether or not I’ve asked for such personal, and at times slightly incriminating, information!

Turning from this revealing aspect of my phone, I thought about the mirrors mentioned in the Bible. Two passages immediately stood up and called for my attention.

The first calls for action:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:22-25 NIV)

That’s a challenge for the week ahead, with the promise of a blessing.

The second Biblical mirror mention that came to mind is in the conclusion of one of the most quoted chapters in the New Testament. It’s a well-loved chapter, because it’s all about love. The apostle Paul clearly and poetically describes how love does and does not behave. Read those verses in I Corinthians 13, and you will have another challenge for the week ahead! And you will also have this wonderful promise to look forward to:

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. (I Corinthians 13:12)

As we walk into this brand-new week, whatever our circumstances, we walk as God’s own children, fully known and fully loved.

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Sabbath, June 6, 2026

 A few months ago, Shelley’s Android phone developed an issue which fortunately was still under warranty. So we took it back to the phone store where we got it, and after verifying its feebleness, the kind staff ordered her a new one. When it arrived at the store, the staff made sure to transfer all her data to the new unit. The photo above shows the moment when the transfer was complete. The old phone had become obsolete, and the new one works great.

The Bible gives us tantalizing hints about what will happen to our minds and bodies at the Second Coming of Jesus. Paul says:

 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. ( 1 Corinthians 13:11 -12)

John quotes Jesus as telling His disciples about the renewal caused by the presence of the Holy Spirit:

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (John 16:12 – 14)

For several more thought-provoking verses which describe what the Holy Spirit can do for us right now, click the link just below:

https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/holy-spirit

Photo and Commentary ©2026 by Maylan Schurch
Friday, June 5, 2026

 Over the last couple of months in Shelley’s and my neighborhood, we’ve been seeing several kinds of heavy equipment. Since our own cul de sac isn’t affected, I haven’t needed to get a comfortable grip on what’s been happening, but it has to do with the water system, and involves replacing segments of pipe which travel from the main line under each street to the water meters for each dwelling. Lots of machines have been methodically lurching about, digging and then placing huge iron panels over not-yet-filled holes.

I was interested in the device you see above. It’s immensely powerful – you can see a bit of its “track” at the photo’s lower right – and the hydraulically-powered hinged assembly is perfectly capable of clawing up and removing whatever materials the streets are made up.

But notice that the above photo shows three options for earthmoving. The machine itself seems to be attached to the farthest-away scoop, the one with four claws. But stacked this side of it are two other scoops, a narrower one with just three claws, and a third (on the bottom) with no claws but just the blade.

This is going to seem a bit strange at first, but this assembly might be something like the way God works. He has to do some mighty “earth-moving,” mainly by pulverizing hard human hearts. But He doesn’t use just one method. With humble hearts He is gentle, and with tougher personalities He sometimes needs to act more emphatically.

Bottom line? Make it a frequent habit to pray as David did, in the last two verses of Psalm 139:

 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting. (Verses 23 – 24 NKJV)