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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  • If You Want to See and Hear the Prayer & Song…

    This is a Facebook video. Don’t know how to get it embedded here. But you can to to this link to see it…

  • Annual NWHPC Christmas Prayer

    Each year for the past several years I’ve offered the prayer at the Northwest Houston Photo Club Christmas party. It’s a fun light-hearted thing. This year I wrote lyrics to the Christmas song, Do You See What I See. The whole group sang with me! Then I prayed the prayer, and at the end the group…

  • We Hold These Paradoxes

    A google search for paradox examples will give you… Your enemy’s friend is your enemy. I am nobody. “What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young.” – George Bernard Shaw. Wise fool. Truth is honey, which is bitter. “I can resist anything but temptation.” – Oscar Wilde. Now to him who is able to do far more…

  • Hold On Pray Expectantly

    Hold On. Pray Expectantly! The acronym for hope is not new with me. I got it from a friend, a fellow pastor who was very supportive of my growth and leadership, and who has expressed appreciation to me over the years. I shared that message today with the people at St. John Lutheran Church where I…

  • Not Worth Comparing

    So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen…

  • The Role of Faith

    Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. – Hebrews 11:1 When I was in college I took some philosophy classes. Mostly I did it because I thought it would be an easy “A.” It was. I also became somewhat intrigued with Søren Kierkegaard. I tried to read Fear and Trembling,…

  • Escaping the Vortex – II

    Jesus the Example What would you do if your best friend, cousin, and advance team captain was taken prisoner. You know it’s unfair. You know he’ll never get a fair trial. The political powers have conspired with the church and justice officials. There is nothing about this situation that is just. Nothing hopeful is on…

  • Escaping the Vortex

    A friend of mine is an airplane pilot. He is also very knowledgeable, and loves to tell stories. On one occasion we were talking about the process of escaping from a graveyard spiral. In aviation, a graveyard spiral is a dangerous spiral dive entered into accidentally by a pilot who is not trained or not proficient…

  • The Not-so-Good Old Days

    I was blessed with an amazingly gracious and kind mother-in-law. Looking back on some of the experiences I subjected her to, I can only imagine how she must have suffered in silence. I was never disrespectful or unkind. But I was, perhaps a bit thoughtless toward her.  She was a fan of modern-day conveniences. She…

  • Jesus’ Example of Giving Thanks – A Special Thanksgiving Post

    The Gospel writers record that Jesus gave thanks five times. I thought this might be instructive for us – expanding our horizons of things for which we might wish to give thanks to God. Before the miraculous feedings of great multitudes – Thanking God for the provision he has afforded John 6:1-14 After this Jesus went…