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.”

Functional Atheism

Ephesians 6:18-20

…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Poinsettia Tree
Poinsettia Tree in Nazareth, Israel

Sometimes it dawns on me: “God is real and present, and actively involved in our lives.” Surely I realized that long ago! I believe it with all my heart. I’ll stake my life on that truth. So, I don’t mean that the question was ever in doubt. I do mean, however, that we can easily live as functional atheists. We can forget or ignore the reality of God’s work in our lives. We can make ministry and kingdom work a mechanistic lever-pulling process and lose sight of God’s part and the reality of his work in and through us.

Just yesterday I was reminded (again) that God grows his kingdom; it’s his mission. He brings people to whom he may, when he wills, and sets the table for us to call others to faith. We were talking about the five-fold gifts of Ephesians 4 (“Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher”). One of the people in the conversation was clearly an evangelist. She spoke of how she makes easy connections with people who are not Christian, and finds Jesus comes nearly effortlessly into the conversations. Frankly, that does not happen to me. Another person had the same experience.

Perhaps it is that I have a “PASTOR” look or demeanor that sends non-Christians running. Maybe I just don’t see them, or have an opportunity often to be in conversation with others about Jesus. Actually, I believe it is a matter of gifting. I do have a heart for moving out into new territory. I do see new opportunities for the church’s ministry to take shape. I seem to have an apostolic mindset. Another person in the conversation was clearly gifted as a teacher. Still another was an apostle. Clearly these are not “offices” but manifestations of giftedness which God uses for the cause of his kingdom.

I’m not sure why the conversation yesterday caused such a clear moment for me, but I am sure I need to keep the God factor front and center of my heart and mind 24/7/365.

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