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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  • True Sustenance

    Matthew 4:1-4 1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does…

  • Angels long to watch

    Matthew 4:1-3a Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God…” There are things that I enjoy watching – just from…

  • Lead us not into temptation

    Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. We pray in the Lord’s prayer, “and lead us not into temptation.” Rightly we remember that “God, indeed tempts no one; but we pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us, so that…

  • The Few the…

    Matthew 4:1-4 1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4But he…

  • Look No Further

    Matthew 3:16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,  and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am…

  • Oh well, OK

    Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. There comes a time when we simply must give in to God. We may not understand what He is asking us to do. We may not grasp any value in the…

  • On Display

    Matthew 3:16-17 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”…

  • Let it be

    Matthew 3:15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. Oh that we would remember that this life is but for a fleeting moment in the greater time span of eternity! It would help. When Jesus came to be baptized by…

  • What is this?

    Matthew 3:13-14 (NLT) Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to talk him out of it. “I am the one who needs to be baptized by you,” he said, “so why are you coming to me?” When Jesus came to John to be baptized,…

  • Sauntering nonchalantly…

    Matthew 3:8 [John the Baptist says,] “Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” Sometimes our casual and comfortable attitude toward God and worship belies a deep fear of God – much like whistling in the cemetery at midnight. Sometimes we saunter nonchalantly because we know no better. In either case it’s not a good practice. In…