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.”

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  • Bloom Where You are Planted?!?

    The whole world had one language with a common vocabulary. 2 As people moved toward the east, they found a plain in Shinar [Babylonia] and settled there. 3 They said to one another, “Let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used bricks as stones and tar  as mortar. 4 Then they said, “Let’s build a city for…

  • Pray and Prepare or Predict and Plan

    At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there. 3 They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” (In this region bricks…

  • Keeping up Appearances

    Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.…

  • Bricks or Sticks? No or Go?

    Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.…

  • Today’s Psalms

    For your personal edification and meditation on this Lord’s Day… Psalm 30:4-5 Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints,    and give thanks to his holy name.5 For his anger is but for a moment,    and his favor is for a lifetime.Weeping may tarry for the night,    but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 60:11-12 Oh, grant us…

  • To your children, and their children, and their children…

    Then Noah said, “May the Lord, the God of Shem, be blessed,    and may Canaan be his servant!27 May God expand the territory of Japheth!May Japheth share the prosperity of Shem,    and may Canaan be his servant.” – Genesis 9:26-27 I mentioned yesterday about how much I love speaking the words of the benediction at the end of…

  • Curses and Blessings

    When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan;    a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;    and let Canaan be his servant.27 May God enlarge Japheth,    and let him dwell in the tents…

  • The Art of Overlooking

    When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, 25 he said, “Cursed be Canaan;    a servant of servants shall he be to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem;    and let Canaan be his servant.27 May God enlarge Japheth,    and let him dwell in the tents…

  • For Shame

    Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. 22 Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders;…

  • Don’t say “Oops!”

    The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham and Japheth.(Ham was the father of Canaan.) 19 These were the three sons of Noah, and from them came the people who were scattered over the whole earth. 20 Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. 21 When he drank some of…