David Bahn – Reflections

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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.”

Going with the flow

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego. – Daniel 1:1-7

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Bird of Paradise | California | January 2018

I will be walking through the book of Daniel for the next several weeks. I believe Daniel offers me an opportunity to consider how I might be more resistant to just going with the flow of the world. In some ways I am not tempted to go along with the flow of the world. I don’t have it in me to win at all costs. I do not want to cause others harm in order to succeed. I have no desire to impose my will on others at the cost of friendships or respect. The world doesn’t seem to have those qualms.

On the other hand, it’s very easy for me to blend in, to refuse to speak up about my Savior, or to be willing to make a point of my faith. People may know that I’m a pastor of St. John Lutheran Church. But I’m not certain they know that I’m seeking to be a dedicated follower of Jesus. And that’s the rub.

Daniel and his friends will quickly be faced with a challenge to their faithfulness. Will they eat the food that the king offers, or will they make a point of being faithful to God – at the very real danger of alienating themselves from the king and perhaps even losing their lives?

This is the situation: Daniel and his friends are in a foreign land, under the absolute control of a king who is making a point of showing his absolute sovereignty. He has taken vessels from the Lord’s house, together with whomever he pleased to Babylon. In addition Nebuchadnezzar changed these men’s names, removing any identity by which their names reflected God.

How will they fare? What will be their challenge? Will we be able to learn anything from their example? I look forward to doing so.

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One response to “Going with the flow”

  1. Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope Avatar
    Quilting Crosses with Threads of Hope

    I am very much looking forward to this walk! Excited even! It’s one I’ve not taken – read the book but not inspected it nor studied it.

    My first name is a derivative of Alexander but on most first attempts has most often been spelled and/or pronounced incorrectly. Although I may make a correction, to change a pronounced/spelled “a” to an “o”, I’m truly never offended. I have just always expected it. Also, even though it means, “protector of man[kind]” (this is newish knowledge) to think of it as my identity by which I was named and meant to reflect God is a big thought!

    The renaming of Daniel and his friends seems as if it was intended to be a very real part of stripping away the last vestiges of their heritage, too. Praise God that He lives inside us and not in our birth name unless it is our Birth Name in Jesus – HIS! … and so this verse came to mind!
    Acts 4:12
    12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men[a] by which we must be saved.”

    Can’t wait for all that this walk in Daniel will reveal and so glad you are sharing it! Blessings on your journey, Pastor!

    Reply

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