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.”

New Normal

Mark 2:1-4

And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them.3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay.

Capernaum ruin showing steps on outside of house
Capernaum ruin showing steps on outside of house

Sometimes we need to go the extra mile for a friend, family member, or neighbor. These men seem to have gone several extra miles. I’ve seen the ruins of Capernaum, including a house where steps were built on the outside, going up to the roof. The town isn’t that large; what we saw was less than a mile wide or long. So while the literal distance wouldn’t have been necessarily a mile, the length they went on this day was noteworthy.

Something changed that day in Capernaum. Maybe this paralyzed man was a fixture in the town or nearby. Perhaps he was a fixture of life there. But on this day his friends decide to take him to see Jesus. People’s curiosity and interest in Jesus’ teaching brought many to his home. But as the pieces of roof began to be taken away – some, no doubt falling into the room where Jesus was – and the paralyzed man was lowered a new standard of brotherly love, and hope for the future were revealed.

Life will not be the same for this man or his friends. Life will not be the same for those who see this miracle. Life will not be the same for Jesus either, for the scribes take note of Jesus’ claims and Jesus’ destiny begins to take focus.

People today speak of the new normal. It has to do with sexual expression, male and female roles, marriage, and abortion. It’s a sad new normal from a Christian perspective. But Jesus established a new normal 2000 years ago. It is the new normal of love for our neighbor, hope in God, and life lived beyond mere words of well-wishes. What is the new normal in your life? Is it expressive of God’s kingdom and his values for our being. For Jesus’ teaching and miracles, life, death and resurrection is the manifestation of God’s new normal. Whenever we go the second mile, go beyond words of well-wishing, pray for a miracle, or entrust ourselves to God we are living out Jesus’ new normal. Long may we live that way!

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