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.”
  • Psalm 97: Who’s happy now?

    Psalm 97: Who’s happy now?

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast

    Psalm 97

    The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
        let the many coastlands be glad!
    2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    3 Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    4 His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
        before the LORD of all the earth.

    6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!

    8 Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O LORD.
    9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.

    10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
        He preserves the lives of his saints;
        he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    11 Light is sown for the righteous,
        and joy for the upright in heart.
    12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!

    Red Headed Woodpecker | Three Rivers, CA | January 2025

    My friend, Dennis, was going to come over to the motel to swim. It was my parents’ motel where I grew up and where we lived for 10 years of my formative life. I became a really popular guy when my parents added a swimming pool. That was one of 17 additions to the motel during it’s nearly 30 year history as our family business. I was oblivious to the attention the girls gave me, and was really happy that Dennis was going to come for the afternoon.

    But then the call came. Dennis wasn’t coming. I was one very disappointed boy of 11.

    Then there was a comment Diane made during one of our many long-distance phone conversations 51 years ago. She was in school at Valparaiso University in Indiana. I was finishing my college degree at Southeast Missouri State University in my home town of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. As we were talking I began to realize that she was saying, “Yes,” to a question I had proposed 7 months earlier. It was a terribly unromantic proposal, but I was sincere, ready to be engaged and ready to plan our wedding. She was not ready for that at the time.

    During that phone conversation 7 months later, I realized she was ready. And I asked her, “You mean we are going to get married?” “Why yes,” she said. It was kind of like, “Of course we are you silly man.” Silly or not I was over-the-moon-happy. I don’t recall what I said after that, but I do recall the feeling of joy and elation.

    8 Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O LORD.
    9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.

    Diane is not most high over all the earth. She is not exalted above all gods – even though she has continued to bring me great joy. It’s the LORD who is most high. It is he whose judgments causes gladness and joy of the eternal kind.

    God gets it right – although to put it that way is dangerously close to self-idolatry. I don’t really have the right to declare whether God is right or wrong. But the witness of all of Scripture vindicates the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the one who took on human flesh, humbled himself and took the form of a servant and died for our sins. Then on the third day rose from the dead. And if that doesn’t vindicate the truth of God’s word, only his final appearing and irreproachable and incontestable judgement will do so.

    Better we realize that now, and thank God that when we face that final appearing we will be saved by the merciful kindness of God who for the sake of Jesus’ suffering and death saved us, forgave us, redeemed us. God’s judgment for all those who believe in Jesus is “Not Guilty.” That is a cause for eternal joy and glory and praise to the LORD, Jesus Christ.

  • Psalm 97: “Everybody out of the van!”

    Psalm 97: “Everybody out of the van!”

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast

    Psalm 97

    The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
        let the many coastlands be glad!
    2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    3 Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    4 His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
        before the LORD of all the earth.

    6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!

    8 Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O LORD.
    9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.

    10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
        He preserves the lives of his saints;
        he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    11 Light is sown for the righteous,
        and joy for the upright in heart.
    12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!

    My First Attempt at Astrophotography | Michigan | August 2022

    We were on the way to Colorado. Our son Aaron was driving. It was late at night and he needed to let someone else take the wheel. So he pulled the big blue Dodge van off to the side of the road. Suddenly he yelled, “Everybody out of the van!”

    What was going on? Did we have a flat tire? Was the van on fire?

    It was none of the above. We were in a dark sky area of the country. It was a cold and clear night.

    And the stars were amazing! My attempt at astrophotography many years later doesn’t begin to capture the glorious display of God’s creation.

    6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!

    I notice that there is a connection between seeing God’s glory and righteousness in the heavens and the shame of those who worship the creation rather than the creator. Then I found this verse:

    And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to them and serve them, things that the LORD your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven. (Deuteronomy 4:19 ESV)

    Paul would later write:

    They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. (Romans 1:25)

    Martin Luther wrote in the Large Catechism, “A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress. … That to which your heart clings and entrusts itself is, I say, really your God.”

    So many things vie for the place of God. Attention. Acclimation. Adrenaline. Gold. Guys/Gals. Gin. Cars. Computers. Conquests. Power. Pleasure. Possessions. We may not have a Buddha statue, a Hindu deity or Shinto kami statue on our shelf. But we are easily tempted to find our comfort and salvation in things that will never satisfy us, and can never save us.

    Next time you see a majestic night sky, a glorious sunrise, a magnificent mountain range, or a magnificent landscape, remember the One who created it all. It is his display of righteousness for all to see seen most fully in the cross of Jesus who is our rightness, hope, and salvation. He is truly the One who preserves the lives of his saints and delivers us from the hand of the wicked. May his name be praised by us today!

  • Psalm 97: “This isn’t that.”

    Psalm 97: “This isn’t that.”

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast

    Psalm 97

    The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
        let the many coastlands be glad!
    2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    3 Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    4 His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
        before the Lord of all the earth.

    6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!

    8 Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O Lord.
    9 For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.

    10 O you who love the Lord, hate evil!
        He preserves the lives of his saints;
        he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    11 Light is sown for the righteous,
        and joy for the upright in heart.
    12 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!

    Boat Under Repair | Havana, Cuba | January 2025

    It was Easter Sunday, very early in the morning in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I was just beginning to wake up to get ready for our Easter SONrise Service. It was raining and storming quite hard and I wondered how we would possibly handle having an outdoor Easter service. Just then came a roll of thunder that lasted at least 15 seconds (it seemed like a lifetime!). I got out of bed and was paralyzed. What to do! I believe it may have been the forming of a tornado. It was that loud and lasting. And scarey!

    That’s what I think of when I read this part of this psalm:

    2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    3 Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    4 His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    5 The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
        before the Lord of all the earth.

    Sounds like a traumatic weather/seismic/firestorm event to me! Sounds like nothing I’d like to be part of if I had the choice. That’s the thing about such events, though. They don’t ask permission from the likes of us humans before inserting themselves into our lives. They just make their way into the warp and woof of our lives. Often unannounced. Sometimes with warning. Dangerous, destructive, and disarming.

    The Bible says that God is a consuming fire (cf. Deuteronomy 4:29; 9:3; Hebrews 12:29). Martin Luther explains each of the 10 Commandments beginning with the words, “We should fear and love God…”

    Some people hear that and want to have nothing to do with such a god. They would choose a kinder gentler version of God: A gentle Jesus, meek and mild… iteration of the One True God. That is not our God.

    But neither is a god who is only fire and brimstone, judgment, destruction, and smiting. He is both holy and mighty as well as kind and merciful. And his love is always supreme.

    We sometimes teach a This is That technique in our training of pastors and spouses with PLI. It’s a way of helping people to remember past events and see how the church has navigated those events and changes. This [change, event, plan,] is that [past event] all over again.  But in the case of a tyrant, fire and brimstone, judgment and smiting (only) god, That is not This. 

    Our God is no wimp. He is all powerful. Mighty. Holy. A consuming fire. But he is also merciful and gracious. Loving and kind. He is the God who inspired St. Paul to write, “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Romans 5:20). We rightly both fear and love God above all things.

  • Psalm 97: “Who’s in charge here?”

    Psalm 97: “Who’s in charge here?”

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast


    Psalm 97

    The LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice;
        let the many coastlands be glad!
    2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him;
        righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
    3 Fire goes before him
        and burns up his adversaries all around.
    4 His lightnings light up the world;
        the earth sees and trembles.
    5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
        before the LORD of all the earth.

    6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
        and all the peoples see his glory.
    7 All worshipers of images are put to shame,
        who make their boast in worthless idols;
        worship him, all you gods!

    8 Zion hears and is glad,
        and the daughters of Judah rejoice,
        because of your judgments, O LORD.
    9 For you, O LORD, are most high over all the earth;
        you are exalted far above all gods.

    10 O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
        He preserves the lives of his saints;
        he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    11 Light is sown for the righteous,
        and joy for the upright in heart.
    12 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,
        and give thanks to his holy name!

    (more…)

  • Today’s Psalms for March 2, 2025

    Please pray these Psalms with me today, on this Lord’s Day

    [At the word, selah, pause and reflect on the previous verse(s).]

    Psalm 2

    Why do the nations rage
        and the peoples plot in vain?
    2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
        and the rulers take counsel together,
        against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
    3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
        and cast away their cords from us.”

    4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
        the Lord holds them in derision.
    5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
        and terrify them in his fury, saying,
    6 “As for me, I have set my King
        on Zion, my holy hill.”

    7 I will tell of the decree:
    The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
        today I have begotten you.
    8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
        and the ends of the earth your possession.
    9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
        and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

    10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
        be warned, O rulers of the earth.
    11 Serve the Lord with fear,
        and rejoice with trembling.
    12 Kiss the Son,
        lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
        for his wrath is quickly kindled.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

    Psalm 32

    Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
        whose sin is covered.

    2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
        and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

    3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
        through my groaning all day long.
    4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
        my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

    5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
        and I did not cover my iniquity;
    I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
        and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

    6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
        offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
    surely in the rush of great waters,
        they shall not reach him.
    7 You are a hiding place for me;
        you preserve me from trouble;
        you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

    8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
        I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
    9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
        which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
        or it will not stay near you.

    10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
        but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
    11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
        and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

    Psalm 62:5-8

    For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
        for my hope is from him.
    6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
        my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
    7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
        my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

    8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
        pour out your heart before him;
        God is a refuge for us. Selah

    Psalm 92

    It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
        to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
    2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
        and your faithfulness by night,
    3 to the music of the lute and the harp,
        to the melody of the lyre.
    4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
        at the works of your hands I sing for joy.

    5 How great are your works, O Lord!
        Your thoughts are very deep!

    Psalm 122:1

    I was glad when they said to me,
        “Let us go to the house of the Lord!”

    The Holy Bible, English Standard Version.
    ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by
    Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

  • Psalm 100: “Come on in!”

    Psalm 100: “Come on in!”

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast


    Psalm 100

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
    2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    5 For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    (more…)

  • Psalm 100: The LORD is God

    Psalm 100: The LORD is God

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast


    Psalm 100

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
    2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    5 For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    (more…)

  • Psalm 100: God is Good

    Psalm 100: God is Good

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast


    Psalm 100

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
    2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    5 For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    (more…)

  • Psalm 100: Serve the Lord With Gladness

    Psalm 100: Serve the Lord With Gladness

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast


    Psalm 100

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
    2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    5 For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    Our Guide (right) and His Friends | Havana, Cuba | January 2025

    I was not a very good real estate broker. And that’s putting it mildly. I was not out and about connecting with people to get my name known. Nor was I confident enough to solicit listings successfully. I had gone to real estate school and done well. I understood the process. I had ads in the local newspaper. I had a real office and some part time help (paid for by my dad). But I was decidedly unsuccessful. The business closed after only a few months.

    Those factors contributed to my failure. But the big kahuna behind it all was a lack of motivation. I just didn’t want to do the things necessary to get listings and sell properties. Behind that lack of motivation was the sense that I wasn’t really serving any truly necessary niche in the real estate broker landscape. I had thought of being a faithful and honorable broker. I truly wanted to be someone who was not just out for people’s money. I realized, however, that there were other honorable real estate brokers in my town and found little motivation to pursue that avenue.

    There are different ways for people to have self-esteem. Some are decidedly unhealthy:

    • Seeking Constant Approval from Others (e.g. relying on external validation instead of intrinsic worth.
    • Comparing Oneself to Others (Measuring self-worth based on success, wealth, appearance, or achievements relative to others)
    • Arrogance and Superiority (Building self-esteem by looking down on others or feeling superior)
    • Materialism and Status Symbols (Believing self-worth comes from possessions, career success, or financial status)

    But a healthy self esteem is founded on more solid ground. Christians are called to find identity in God’s grace and love. Psalm 139:14 – “I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Romans 8:16-17 – “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” A healthy self-esteem is rooted in knowing we are loved, redeemed, and valued by God, rather than trying to prove our worth through worldly means.

    Out of that identity we are moved to praise God, and to serve him. Martin Luther connected that when he offered this explanation to the second article of the Apostle’s Creed:

    “I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him [emphasis added] in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.”

    We are loved by God. We are children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. We praise God also by serving him through serving our neighbor – with gladness!

  • Psalm 100 Praise the Lord!

    Psalm 100 Praise the Lord!

    Click here for an audio version of this podcast


    Psalm 100

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
    2     Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    3 Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    5 For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.

    “I’ve Been Here” Famous and not so famous people have signed the wall outside a Havana bar. | Havana, Cuba | January 2025

    At the St. John Men’s retreat last weekend, we ate lots of bacon and other excellent food. We also visited, enjoyed time around the campfire, experienced great fellowship, and participated in the Hillbilly Olympics. Thankfully my teammate and I didn’t get beyond the first round of the competition. We were able simply to sit and enjoy the competition and conversations.

    We also heard some edifying presentations from our guest speaker, Pastor Bob Gehrke (father of Seth, our Lead Minister). Pastor Bob as he is known, led us in singing This is the Day in a round. There were many good singers in our group. But there may also have been some joyful noise-makers as well.

    I thought of that when I read the opening verse of this psalm of praise. Praising God involves vocal expressions of blessing to God. When we’re at the airport, we see signs that say, “If you see something say something.” It’s a plea to have people speak up to warn of potential threats to airport safety. Expressing our praise to God isn’t about warning people of imminent danger. It is about pointing people to the source of extraordinarily great blessing, goodness, love, and faithfulness.

    I suppose it is possible to praise God silently. But that’s not the spirit of this psalm. We are called to sing, give thanks and express our praise to God – out loud.

    The purpose of praise is two-fold. First it’s a proper thing to do. God is worthy of our praise. When we praise God we’re not gilding the lily. We’re not engaging in flattery. God doesn’t need our praise. He is not insecure or needy. He is worthy of all our praise. It is good, right and salutary that we should praise God.

    We also praise God as a witness to the nations. We’re calling attention to God, that he is above all powers, all other gods, and beyond any other source of good and blessing. It may be that people will dismiss our praise as emotional froth. But it is not. And honorable women and men will recognize the truth of what we proclaim. God is good. His steadfast love endures forever. His faithfulness spans generation after generation.

    Praise the Lord! Make a joyful noise to him!