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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  • Beyond Spiritual Celebrity

    Election results are in: there is a red tide rising. Some are happy. Others are wondering where they went wrong. Still others are deeply worried. But the kingdom of God is neither shaken nor shored up by our elections. Matthew 18:1-6 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in…

  • Who cares? And why does it matter?

    Who cares? And why does it matter? Peter is asked about Jesus’ tax-paying record. The implied accusation is clear: Jesus is a rabble-rouser and not subject to the authorities. But when Peter comes into the house Jesus approaches him first. Who cares? Why does it matter? Apparently Jesus cares. And it matters because Jesus does…

  • By Grace through Faith

    On Reformation Sunday we celebrate the reforming work of a Catholic monk named Martin Luther turned church leader standing on the truth of God’s word alone. It all started when he – through study of the Bible – determined he must call for debate on the sale of indulgences. These indulgences cheapened the grace of…

  • Beyond the Flat Tax

    Matthew 17:24-27 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take…

  • We Have a Champion

    Spiritual warfare is not a metaphor; it is what is raging all around us. The enemy is cunning, powerful, stealthy, and set on our destruction. He will afflict a man’s son and cause him to have seizures. He will sneer with perverse joy when the boy falls into the fire or into the water. He…

  • Beyond Foolish Faith

    When I was in college I had a mini-debate about faith with my friend Jerry. I told him that if I had faith enough (all hypothetical, of course) I could stand in front of a semi truck on the Interstate and it would not hurt me. He wisely denied the idea. He wasn’t worried that…

  • Faith

    Faith is a wonderful thing. On the one hand it is childishly simple. On the other hand Jesus chides his disciples for their lack of it.   Matthew 17:14-20 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15″Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and…

  • Invitation to an Adventure of Faith

    Sometimes it is difficult to keep Jesus in his proper place in my life. I try, though sometimes I fail. The truest part of me, however, created by his gracious power at work in my heart, loves Jesus. I delight in seeing his name glorified. I so want to see his kingdom come. And here…

  • No One but Jesus Only

    “I know the answer is Jesus,” says the little boy during the children’s message, “but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me.” If you’ve heard the joke, you’ll recognize the punchline. If you haven’t heard it, you can read it at the end of this post. As a Christian, I know the answer is…

  • Not, “Thy kingdom stay.”

    Photography is the art of capturing a moment in time. That is one of the unique characteristics of a still photograph as opposed to a movie. Movies take a person through time. A photograph freezes a moment in time. A photograph can help you relive the moment. But Peter wanted to do even more. He…