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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  • Marvelous!

    Discarded rubble hardly seems worth keeping, much less do we think such rubble will become more important than any other stone of any building. But that is what Jesus says of himself in Matthew 21:42. There are plenty of builders out there who have clearly in mind what is important and what may easily be…

  • Outrageous Truth

    Jesus’parables illustrate faith and life in sometimes outrageous ways. Certainly that’s the case with this parable of the vineyard. We can perhaps understand people rebelling against their oppressive leaders in some cases. We’ve seen it recently in Egypt and Libya. But to beat a collection agent, kill a bill collector, and stone yet another: that’s…

  • The Lost Art of Fear

    Matthew 21:23-27 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell…

  • Authority Begets Power

    Matthew 21:23-27 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell…

  • Unmasking Questions

    Matthew 21:23-27 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell…

  • Respectfully Repentant

    Matthew 21:28-32 [Jesus says,] “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30And he went to the other son and said the same. And…

  • The Honor of Fruitfulness

    I’m not certain I always keep in mind that it is an honor and privilege of serving Christ and bearing fruit. It’s much easier(!) to think of it as a responsibility and a burden. But consider this encounter between Jesus and the fig tree: Matthew 21:18-22 In the morning, as he was returning to the…

  • Beyond Green Leaves

    Matthew 21:18-22 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, Jesus became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at…

  • Minor details

    Matthew 21:18-22 In the morning, as he was returning to the city, Jesus became hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the wayside, he went to it and found nothing on it but only leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again!” And the fig tree withered at…

  • Where Jesus Stays

    Matthew 21:14-17 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said…