David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

recent posts

about

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.”

Duh!

Matthew 10:24-33

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

"Mississippi River Barge" - © 2010 David Bahn
"Mississippi River Bluff & Barge" – © 2010 David Bahn

Sometimes the truth is so obvious that it escapes us: a teacher is above his disciple; the master is over his servant. We get that. But sometimes we forget. Whether in the heat of the moment we lose perspective, or whether we simply forget our place (familiarity breeds contempt after all).

Yesterday my sister told me of a student in the alternative school in which she teaches. He had brought a soft drink into the class and it was taken from him. In defiance of their authority to enforce the rules in the classroom he ended up actually ended up taking a teacher’s keys and demanding, “I want my soda back!” He is out of the school for the rest of this week. He needed to read, believe, and apply Matthew 25:24!

But so do we. We may never snatch the teacher’s keys. But how often do we demand that God answer to our sense of right and wrong? How often do we blame God for the misfortune we experience without asking God how we might find comfort and hope in him? How often do we demand justice without understanding God’s greater desire for mercy, or the place of our unjust suffering in the redemption (little “r”) of a friend or family member?

Job was a righteous man. He endured suffering beyond any that we are likely to experience. Yet he never cursed God. He did not sin. Nevertheless God had to have a “God to man talk” with Job. God had to remind him that he was the Creator, the One who is over all things. Job must answer to him, not the other way around.

Today would be a good day to remember that Jesus is Lord. That’s a call to repentance for our failure to live out that truth, and to faith because he has redeemed us. Therefore let’s live under him in his kingdom and serve him in faithful love and eternal joy!

Discover more from David Bahn – Reflections

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Posted in

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.