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.”

Stones cry out

Joshua 4:4-7

Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

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Part of one of the stone walls at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas

I have two bricks in my office. They remind me of the 1.2 million bricks I handled when I worked in a brick factory between college graduation and entering the seminary. They remind me and anyone who lets me tell the story about seven months of hard work, and even served at least on one occasion as an impetus for rededication to the task at hand.

Israel had to cross the Jordan if they were going to enter the Promised Land. That was no small challenge in the days before long-span bridges. Admittedly, this was only the first step in their conquest of the Promised Land. Nonetheless, Joshua sees this is so significant that it should be commemorated with the twelve stone memorial. He realized that God had provided for their safe passage and successful crossing. That was to be memorialized. He looked forward to telling that to his children and grandchildren.

We have 18 stones by our back yard water garden. They remind us of our children and grandchildren. One of those stones is separate from the others in memory of Nici who died of cancer in 2009. They are a reminder of the blessings of God in our lives.  Any job that we complete or any milestone we reach is an occasion to thank God, to remember his faithfulness and goodness in our lives. We look forward to sharing stories with our children and grandchildren about God’s provision, about new births and even lost loved-ones.

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