David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

Greater Love

Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ”

Vietnam Memorial Statue
Statue at the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC

On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of1918, the armistice that was signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front, took effect. This official date marking the end of the war reflects the cease fire on the Western Front. Celebrated in many allied countries as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day, in the United States, we honor all veterans for their service to our nation.

Jesus says, “Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. Many men and women over the past years have done that in service to our nation and to preserve the freedom we now enjoy. We salute them today.

It may seem a bit of a stretch to connect the harshness of war with the call to love God and neighbor. “War is hell,” so General Sherman reminds us. The purpose of the military is to kill people and break things it is said. So how does that relate to loving God and neighbor?

If there were no enemies; if no one ever threatened the weak and took advantage of the helpless; if there were no terrorists; if there were no maniacal dictators or fiendish despots this kind of love would not be necessary. Sadly there are people like Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Mussolini, Amin, bin Ladin, and too many other evil men who terrorize, murder, rape, and destroy. To let them run their war machine over innocent nations, peoples and tribes is ignoble and cowardly.

Sometimes love must be tough. And while that is the exception, on this Veterans Day we pause to salute those who have done the heavy lifting of tough love for our sake. Seldom neat or pretty. Never easy. Their service should inspire us to stand strong against evil and thank God for the freedom and blessings we enjoy today.

The mortal combat of our Lord Jesus against sin, Satan, and death looked radically different from any kind of winning ways today. He surrendered himself to the cross and died. But his was a victory of faith, believing that his surrender actually would win victory over the enemy – Satan and death. And he was validated in that faith three days later.

Jesus now reigns at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again at the end of time in triumph over his foes. Until that time we love God and our neighbor because of his love for us. And while we may occasionally be called on to make the ultimate sacrifice there are a hundred smaller sacrifices we can make each week to express that love. Such is our calling. There is no greater command.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord God, for loving me, and for sending Jesus who loved you and the whole world so much that he died for us to fogive our sine. Give me the Holy Spirit so that I love you first and most and love my neighbor as myself; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

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