David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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about

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.”

Category: Kingdom

  • Weightier Matters of the Law

    Mark 7:1-13 And [Jesus] said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! 10 For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 11 But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me…

  • The impact of Jesus’ presence

    Mark 6:53-56 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized [Jesus] 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they…

  • God’s Eyes

    Mark 6:47-48 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, Psalm 14:2 The LORD looks down…

  • What if Jesus were to pass by you?

    Mark 6:48 And about the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them… I still remember the day we did pass by the entrance to the park and the stock car races. Our family was out for a summer evening drive and we just happened to be…

  • Onomatopoeia and living the Christian faith

    Mark 6:34-37 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away…

  • Give what you’ve got

    Mark 6:38  And [Jesus] said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” We recently visited a neighbor whose house was messy. No other way to put it: messy. There were papers and items of all kinds strewn here and there. The kitchen…

  • No Fairytale Land

    Mark 6:21-29 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it…

  • Security

    Mark 6:7-13 And [Jesus] called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Whenever…

  • What matters to God?

    Mark 5:30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” We define our worlds by what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell – emphasis on “we.” And the problem with that is that our senses are limited. We get upset…

  • Better than Jesus?

    Mark 5:17  And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. It’s difficult for me to believe that people would not want Jesus around – until I think of Jesus’ presence 24/7/365. That changes things. To have an umbrella of grace and forgiveness when I think I need it, or to be able to call…