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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  • Where’s the “OUT”?

    A life of balance is a beauty to behold. We would call balanced people graceful, together, or solid. We define balance in many ways: physically, emotionally, spiritually, or socially. Recently I’ve been looking more deeply considering the life of Christian discipleship as a matter of balance: UP-IN-OUT.     Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother sins…

  • A Holy Pursuit

    Life would be so much easier if no one sinned! Starting with Adam and Eve and continuing down through the ages with one notable exception (thanks be to God!), the smoldering torch of sin and rebellion has been passed from generation to generation. Only Jesus was exempt by the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit…

  • I will sing praise to my God while I have being. (Psalm 104:33)

    Psalm 104 (ESV) 1 Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters;he makes the clouds his chariot;…

  • Little ones to him belong

    Little ones to him belong. They are weak but he is strong… Few people would call me a “little one.” While there are a few people who are physically larger than I am, I seldom think of myself as small. I can sing the song, “Jesus loves me,” and believe that important truth. But I…

  • Fierce Love

    God cares. He is engaged. What happens here on earth and into eternity matters to him. Angels do his bidding. Shepherds seek lost sheep. All this happens at his bidding.   Matthew 18:7-13 [Jesus says,] 7“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one…

  • Heart Work

    I checked yesterday, and will keep looking. But no one I’ve seen has taken Jesus’ words literally by cutting off his hand or gouging out his eye. We all have all our digits, members, eyes and ears. But Jesus’ words are not to be ignored. And in fact there is a vital truth here that…

  • The Kingdom’s Goal

    Temptations, Hyperbole, Angels, & Sheep: these images flow from Jesus’ lips in these few verses. The unifying thought is Jesus’ love and salvation’s value.     Matthew 18:7-13 [Jesus says,] 7“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!…

  • 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…