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.”

Shaken

Hebrews 12:26-29
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.

The images of the earthquake in Japan and the destruction caused by the tsunami are stunning and sobering. But the ripples and fallout of these events continue to build. Scares of nuclear power plant melt-downs and radiation leaks dominate the news. Stock prices in Japan tumble, US stock futures are down in the aftermath.

The things that can be shaken have been shaken. The reality of our limited control over creation and the absence of any true foundation under our nation’s and the world’s economies has become brutally obvious.

People who have experienced an earthquake desperately need help. They need the comfort of someone who can stand by them in their time of loss and grief. They need courage to face the continuing uncertainty of tomorrow in the face of having their world literally turned upside down. And they need direction – a compass to guide them from place to place: the old landmarks are gone.

Our world has experienced the shaking of so many things that used to be thought solid. In the face of this, God invites us to a place (a kingdom) that cannot be shaken. The foundations of his kingdom are secured in his reign over the universe and all the powers in the heavenly places.

We can ignore God’s call to repentance and faith. We can ignore the plight of those all around us – both far away and close at hand. But that is not our calling, nor the true destiny of those who live in the firmly-founded kingdom of God. We have received a kingdom that cannot be shaken. We have the moral compass to guide our way through the greatest upheaval.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

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