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.”
Psalm 100 Praise the Lord!

Psalm 100 Praise the Lord!

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Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
    Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the LORD is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

“I’ve Been Here” Famous and not so famous people have signed the wall outside a Havana bar. | Havana, Cuba | January 2025

At the St. John Men’s retreat last weekend, we ate lots of bacon and other excellent food. We also visited, enjoyed time around the campfire, experienced great fellowship, and participated in the Hillbilly Olympics. Thankfully my teammate and I didn’t get beyond the first round of the competition. We were able simply to sit and enjoy the competition and conversations.

We also heard some edifying presentations from our guest speaker, Pastor Bob Gehrke (father of Seth, our Lead Minister). Pastor Bob as he is known, led us in singing This is the Day in a round. There were many good singers in our group. But there may also have been some joyful noise-makers as well.

I thought of that when I read the opening verse of this psalm of praise. Praising God involves vocal expressions of blessing to God. When we’re at the airport, we see signs that say, “If you see something say something.” It’s a plea to have people speak up to warn of potential threats to airport safety. Expressing our praise to God isn’t about warning people of imminent danger. It is about pointing people to the source of extraordinarily great blessing, goodness, love, and faithfulness.

I suppose it is possible to praise God silently. But that’s not the spirit of this psalm. We are called to sing, give thanks and express our praise to God – out loud.

The purpose of praise is two-fold. First it’s a proper thing to do. God is worthy of our praise. When we praise God we’re not gilding the lily. We’re not engaging in flattery. God doesn’t need our praise. He is not insecure or needy. He is worthy of all our praise. It is good, right and salutary that we should praise God.

We also praise God as a witness to the nations. We’re calling attention to God, that he is above all powers, all other gods, and beyond any other source of good and blessing. It may be that people will dismiss our praise as emotional froth. But it is not. And honorable women and men will recognize the truth of what we proclaim. God is good. His steadfast love endures forever. His faithfulness spans generation after generation.

Praise the Lord! Make a joyful noise to him!

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One response to “Psalm 100 Praise the Lord!”

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

    Praise the Lord! He has done marvelous things! Great is our God!

    Reply

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