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.”

Hope Brings

Romans 8:12-24

So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

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Holding On, Praying Expectantly: That’s how a friend and colleague once described hope. Hope inspires us to hold on to the promises of God, to the future for which we long, even in the face of suffering and stress. We pray to the God who has made great promises, calling on him as Father, our “Daddy” (that’s what “Abba!” means). We look expectantly toward the inheritance of glory and the fullness of our redemption.

So many things get in the way of such hope. We get distracted with worldly pursuits and cares. We see this opportunity and rub up against that challenge, and our minds are no longer focused on hope and centered on the present, or the shorter term gain. The far greater challenge to faith today seems to be affluence and the opportunities it brings. Bored? Turn on the TV or go to a movie, or better yet, go to Disney, or Aruba! Stressed? Take a Valium, drink a cocktail, down a bottle of wine. Three day weekend? Head to the beach, the country, or pop over to the Hill Country for some R&R.

To some extent we would have to agree that pain, suffering, and difficulty are God’s gifts to us, helping us not to focus only on the short term good that may satisfy for a while, but never bring true peace. So we can put our pain and suffering in the perspective of Paul’s assessment: “Not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (v. 18). And we can learn more about the truer gifts of God, directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit who leads us, and calls us to put to death the evil deeds of the body.

Our Christian hope brings new perspective on life, a truer purpose for living, a freedom in God’s grace, and a call to live patiently until that great Last Day.

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