David Bahn – Reflections

My Podcast is on hold this week. You can listen to past podcasts here, including the sermon I preached at Angaza Igoma Lutheran Church in Mwanza, Tanzania

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,
    O Lord of hosts!
² My soul longs, yes, faints
    for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
    to the living God.

³ Even the sparrow finds a home,
    and the swallow a nest for herself,
    where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
    my King and my God. [emphasis added]
⁴ Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
    ever singing your praise! Selah

⁵ Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
    in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
⁶ As they go through the Valley of Baca
    they make it a place of springs;
    the early rain also covers it with pools.
⁷ They go from strength to strength;
    each one appears before God in Zion.

⁸ O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
    give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
⁹ Behold our shield, O God;
    look on the face of your anointed!

¹⁰ For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
¹¹ For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.
¹² O Lord of hosts,
    blessed is the one who trusts in you!

We are decidedly different from almost all the other participants at the PLI International Year Three Conference. We have found a place here, however, and we recognize the grace of God to us in this regard. One key difference – beyond skin color and mode of dress – is how we communicate. I try not to yell when I preach. I try to make my points by means of intense quiet and earnest expression. The pastors here have the PA turned to “11” and they use it! In fact I was told that they appreciated it when, later in my presentation I became more intense in my manner of speech. But we have been accepted. I don’t sense that Diane has experienced this kind of communication challenge.

But we both must have interpreters take our thoughts and translate not only words, but concepts to their minds and hearts. We also must have a translator speak to us through radio headsets that they and we wear. I have also noted that all the pastors here wear clerical collars. I don’t even own a clerical collar any longer. I’m not against wearing one, I just don’t find it helpful or necessary. It seems here, however, that this is important. And if I were here all the time, I would buy and wear clerical collars. It seems to be an important witness that allows people to respect us. When in Rome… (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:20-22).

We are blessed to be received here. We are blessed to be part of the body of Christ. We are blessed to be God’s children. We are blessed to bless others. We taught today about the importance of the “One-Another’s” of the Bible. Take a look at these passages that speak of how we are to treat one another within the Body of Christ. Galatians 5:13; 6:2; Colossians 3:13; Romans 12:10; 15:7, 14; 16:16; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

We hope we have modeled these to the people here. We have certainly experienced these from the people here, for which we thank God.

NOTE: Diane and I are in Tanzania, teaching pastors and their spouses about discipleship (following Jesus). If you want to track our experiences in Tanzania, you can check my Smugmug photo website. I’ll include photos there throughout the week.