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.”

The Elements of God’s Blessing

Psalm 128

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord,
    who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
    who fears the Lord.

5 The Lord bless you from Zion!
    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children!
    Peace be upon Israel!

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If I were to make a list of what it means to me to be blessed, I would list things such as health, joy in my heart, a sense of God’s favor in my heart, and peace that comes from Christ’s salvation. Those are good things, and I am thankful for them. I might also add that certain good things I enjoy today of worldly blessings would be on that list – not as essential to being blessed, but as elements of God’s blessings to me.

Here the Psalmist has a list that helps me to expand and refine my list. He indicates that those who fear the Lord are the blessed ones. Then he goes on to speak of fruitful labor, a family table filled with children and grandchildren, and the ability to see Jerusalem prosper as elements of God’s blessing. 

While the list given here is not radically different than mine, there are at least two elements that are noteworthy to me. The first is that those who fear the Lord are the ones who are blessed. While I mentioned having peace of heart because of Christ’s salvation, the edge of fearing the Lord adds some more explicit form to my list. Fearing God is a boundary for life and choices I will make today – that is a blessing.

The other element of God’s blessing is an obvious one that I should have mentioned as high on my list: family. I am immediately reminded of our recent family gatherings where all sons, wives, and children have gathered around the table for dinner or games or conversation. Amid the crying because someone was disciplined, or the chaos that involved getting fifteen or sixteen people to the table, there is a great blessing for which I am truly thankful to God. Such blessings should never be overlooked; they are the stuff of life in God’s kingdom – the place where he reigns in the hearts of his people. These come to us from our God who is rich in grace and delights to pour out his blessings on those who fear, love and trust in him. 

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