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.”

Our True Calling

Psalm 9:18

For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

20130215-1310

I am somewhat of a talk radio junkie – though I’m drying out a bit. It used to be Bill Bennett’s “Morning in America” program (still a high quality show with the mantra: Candor, Intelligence, and Good Will). Before that it was Rush or Hannity. But no more: I’ve more recently begun listening to The World and Everything in It, a program that comes from World Magazine (a Christian-world-view news magazine) and the Clark Howard Show (a consumer/financial advise show; a kinder and gentler Dave Ramsey).

Today on Clark Howard a woman called in who was in a dire situation. She is not eligible for Social Security – even though she is 65 years old. She has no relatives; none at all. She is not eligible for SSI, and can’t afford Medicare premiums. She is truly destitute. If ever there is one who has been forgotten this woman is such a one.

So this morning as I read Psalm 9 these words really struck a cord with me: “…the needy shall not always be forgotten…” Certainly that promise would comfort this woman. Surely she yearns for God’s help. So how might God help her? How might she “not always be forgotten”?

Make no mistake: the needy person’s greatest need is for eternal salvation – abundant life that begins here and now and extends into eternity. That provision has been made through our Lord Jesus, and his suffering, death, resurrection, ascension, and will be perfectly experienced on the Great Last Day. Until that time, however, we are given foretastes of that ultimate deliverance. Little interventions of God’s grace brighten our day. The needy find help; God sees to it.

God works through means. Sometimes those are miraculous means: Elisha and the woman with the jar of oil comes to mind (2 Kings 4). More often God provides for the needs of the needy by the kindness of his people. So the simple question is this: do you know someone who is needy? Are you helping that person? This psalm says that the needy will not always be forgotten. That becomes more true than theoretical when you or I act in behalf of those in need.

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.