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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  • Fill it up!

    Has it ever all come together for you – a perfect storm of good fortune, blessing, and favor? Your boss walk by your desk just as you close a major deal, only to hear a co-worker tell you that he had heard that you were the reason the customer went with your company, on the…

  • Naming Rights

    Remember the good old days when it was just the “Orange Bowl” or “Sportsman Park” (really old days!), or “The Colonial”? Now it’s “Enron Field” – oops, I guess that’s not right! Or, … well you get my drift. Naming rights are purchased by large companies to get their name in front of the public.…

  • Planting Apple Trees

    What do you do when you know someone is out to get you? How do you act when you are threatened? Yesterday I had a brief FB conversation with a high school classmate regarding the signs of  the times and the end of the world. I quoted Martin Luther who was asked “What would you…

  • Pentecost

    Yesterday was Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church. It is the celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on various people in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. People from places all around the Mediterranean Sea heard the Good News of God in their own language. Three thousand people were converted, baptized, and…

  • When could that be wrong?!?

    It’s hard to believe that anyone would criticize Jesus for healing a man – on any day at any time. When could that be wrong?!? Matthew 12:8-14 He went on from there and entered their synagogue. 10And a man was there with a withered hand. And they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on…

  • Drawing the Line

    What do you tolerate? Where do you draw the line? It matters. Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing…

  • Self-shaped spirituality

    What if we took God’s word seriously? What if we didn’t just pick and choose the most convenient verses, or if we didn’t scour the Bible looking for those ideas that aligned with our sensibilities? What if we let God’s word shape us rather than using God’s word to prop up our self-shaped spirituality? Matthew…

  • Mercy!

    It wasn’t until our children were growing up and I saw them arguing and fighting that I began to understand Jesus’ words, “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.” I would rather our sons not fight in the first place than to have them offer each other even the most sincere apology after a quarrel. Matthew…

  • Greater than the temple

    Jesus is greater than the temple. Temples crumble and fall – eventually. Yet we build them, spending time, money, sweat, and energy to construct them. Is this wrong? Should Christians simply meet under a tree or in our homes? Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were…

  • I’m Glad

    “Something greater than the Sabbath is here…” I’m glad for that. Matthew 12:1-8 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, and they began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2But when the Pharisees saw it, they said to him, “Look, your disciples are doing what…