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.”
O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Morning Sun on Three Chairs | January 2023 | Galveston, TX
I’ve been fighting an upper-respiratory infection for the past three days. I’ve done a lot of sleeping, praying, coughing, “resting,” and yearning for relief. I’ve prayed in Jesus’ name for relief. It is my only source of confidence. No amount of personal pain or misery can avail before God. No amount of groveling moves his heart. No amount of personal piety captures his attention. But Jesus: That’s a different story. There are plenty of people who have it much more difficult than I. Many more who struggle with grave illnesses. Many who are likely more pious than I. But our confidence lies outside of ourselves. And Jesus has the name above all names. He promises that’s when we ask in his name God will hear us. He promises that in Jesus’ name answered prayers yield complete joy.
So you’ll excuse the brevity of this post, and call on God in Jesus’ name for me and all who are ill. His name is majestic. He is the embodiment of grace and truth. No matter the circumstances, Jesus’ name avails. O LORD, our LORD, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
David Bahn - Reflections 
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