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 Life of the World to Come

The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord shall praise him. – Psalm 22:26

Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” – John 6:35

20180823-DSC09308
Still Life | Moody Mansion, Galveston, Texas | August 2018

The Urgency of Eternity is one of the values we have identified through a recently-completed planning process at St. John. We express it this way:

We believe that God desires all people to be saved and to live with him for eternity. Our life of worship, praise and service on Earth is to be a model for the life of the world to come. This is demonstrated by:

  • Focusing on the death and resurrection of Jesus in our preaching, teaching, and sharing

  • Pointing people to the hope of being reunited with the multitude of saints before the throne of Jesus for all eternity

  • Urging one another to store up spiritual and not material wealth: True Riches In Jesus

  • Prioritizing our efforts to share the message of Jesus

  • Training our members to be “everyday missionaries”

I really appreciate the way this value is expressed and the examples by which it is demonstrated. The team that put this together did a remarkably good job.

I appreciate this because I need the reminder of a greater blessing than worldly happiness, success, and material possessions which God has provided me. This is not a call to eschew all worldly wealth or pleasures. This is a call to keep things in perspective. As a friend of mine once said, “Eternity lasts a long, long time.”

The poor and those who are hungry and thirsty may have a head-start on appreciating the future joys of paradise. They are more likely to recognize their need for God; for something more. But even they can be distracted by their lack of good things, and become mired in the agonizing morass of unmet needs. They can lose sight of God’s promises or despair of his goodness and love. As the proverb says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

These words summarize my thoughts in this regard:

Two things I ask of you;
    deny them not to me before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
    give me neither poverty nor riches;
    feed me with the food that is needful for me,
9 lest I be full and deny you
    and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
    and profane the name of my God.

– Proverbs 30:7-9

The greater good is an eternity in which God’s riches are abundantly shared with all, and we enjoy an eternal feast of Jesus’ love, redemption, and victory over every evil. This is God’s gift and desire for us all. I need that reminder today and every day of my life.

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One response to “The Life of the World to Come”

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

    I see your lovely photograph.
    I’ve read God’s WONDERFUL Word.
    And, I deeply appreciate your exposition and sharing toward the greater good of resetting our perspectives of the here and now as well as on our joyous eternity with Jesus!
    …To this I respond with my original thought at first seeing your photograph: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Proverbs 25:11

    Reply

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