David Bahn - Reflections

I was privileged to lead the people of Trinity Lutheran Church, Amarillo, Texas in a Strategic Mission Planning Event this weekend. I also preached at their three services. This is a recording of my message at the 6 PM service. I pray that you are edified by this message.

Paul speaks of the blessings that came from being connected to the free woman, the mother of the child of promise. We are sons and daughters of the free woman - brothers and sisters of Christ. We’re connected to the promises of God in Jesus, and those are the most valuable connections of all.

If you wish to see some of my photos from this trip, you may see them in my smugmug gallery.

Our motive for sharing the message of Jesus is not so that we raise the living standards of those who come to faith. It is so that they can experience the fullness of God's love in Jesus, and give him the honor he rightly deserves.

And he deserves a lot of honor and has much love to shower upon us!

If you wish to see some of my photos from this trip, you may see them in my smugmug gallery.

I thank God for those who light the path and point us toward Jesus. I pray that some may be moved to repentance and faith in him through this statue so beautifully expressing Jesus' lordship over Cuba and his kindness and grace he so freely gives. 

If you wish to see some of my photos from this trip, you may see them in my smugmug gallery.

I thank God for those who light the path and point us toward Jesus. I pray that some may be moved to repentance and faith in him through this statue so beautifully expressing Jesus' lordship over Cuba and his kindness and grace he so freely gives.

If you wish to see some of my photos from this trip, you may see them in my smugmug gallery.

Freedom is a gift of God which has far-reaching blessings. We tend to think of those blessings on the basis of our personal benefit. That is true. But Hagar – though the slave woman – was protected by God. People in Cuba enjoy the same universal blessings of God’s daily provision, the benefits of natural law, and rain and sun. The difference, however, is more than our personal benefit. The difference is the potential for us to extend God’s goodness and grace to others. We’re free not only to worship Jesus, but to spread the message of his love.

Like to Photos from Cuba

Diane and I just returned from a very interesting trip. Several members of the Northwest Houston Photo Club went on a PhotoFly trip to Cuba. In many ways Cuba is in the grips of their socialist leaders and system. For example a university graduate makes the same as salary as a high school dropout. Their infrastructure is in shambles. We had electricity about 50% of the time. The roads are potholed and mostly devoid of modern transportation.

On the other hand, Cuba is full of people for whom Jesus died. Some very few of them confess him as Lord and Savior. Most seem blithely ignorant of his proper place in their hearts and lives. And yet there are many delightful people there.

I'm going to abide for the next two weeks or so. Jesus says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." So, in order that I am able to produce more fruit, I will be abiding in Jesus and seeking his renewing grace.

That means I'll not publish these podcasts until sometime after January 26. May God bless and keep you in his care, dear listeners!

https://www.youtube.com/live/bcOCWLHSqlg?si=WQPrVVlmlQLGwefU

The message starts at 36:20

Paul speaks of being in the anguish of childbirth because of the situation in Galatia. He took in the pain they were in danger of inflicting on themselves. He cared deeply for their spiritual wellbeing. He beautifully reflected God's love to them.

We may not be able to carry the pain of the world, but we can certainly open our hearts to those who are hurting, struggling, sinning, and suffering - if only to a point. To do so reflects Christ's love for all people. Bring them to Jesus who carries our sins, griefs, and pains, and makes it possible for us to open our hearts to others in their times of struggles and pain. 

Have you ever been smooth-talked into buying something you really didn't need?

During a period of 6 months we were visited by two of the most smooth-talking door-to-door salesmen on the face of the planet.

The proverb says, "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses" (Proverbs 27:6). I'm not sure those salesmen are enemies. But they sure did kiss up to us.