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.”

No Bait and Switch

There are those who try to peddle an easy Christianity in an effort to gain followers, and in hopes that some of those followers will eventually be willing to buy in further to more challenging Christian teaching and lifestyle. There are those who never get around to the higher calling of Christ and offer a message devoid of any call to sacrifice. Jesus is not such a teacher!

Crucifix in Augsburg Church
Crucifix in Augsburg Church

Matthew 16:24-28

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

There is a deep mystery and profound truth in Jesus’ teaching about gaining and losing life. On the one hand if we seek to gain life we will lose it. On the other hand if we lose life for Jesus’ sake we will find it. We follow him by denying ourselves and taking up our cross, and in so doing we become fully alive. Jesus offers both invitation and a challenge. We are invited to follow him, but challenged to realize that such following is no cake walk.

Jesus wants his followers to be followers; not advisers, nor consultants, nor even promoters of his cause. He calls us to a path of difficult challenge with the promise of an incredible blessing along the way. We who lose life for his sake will find it. We who lose the things of this world for his sake will enjoy a heavenly kingdom. This is sure to happen, and some have seen it first hand (Peter, James and John on the mount of transfiguration – Matthew 17:1-6).

When we are willing to follow Jesus we will discover life in its fullness. This is no bait and switch; this is invitation and challenge, and a call to Christian faith and life and is abundant, full, challenging, and profoundly blessed.

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.