MISSOURI DISTRICT EDITION
August 2011 Dear Friends, Welcome to the August 2011 edition of LCEF on the Move We are nearing the end of summer and in just a matter of a few weeks some of our schools will begin another year and churches will be looking at increased activity levels after a few weeks of vacations and the like. I pray your summer has been a blessed time. I know that when God created people, He did not “wire” all of us in the same way. We have different emotions and different ways of approaching various situations. That being said, I believe that most of us like to think that in one way, shape, or form, we are responsible for planning out schedules and organizing ourselves to accomplish something with our lives. I like to think of myself as a very organized person who has a good idea of where I will be going and what I will be doing in, at least, the short term. If you had asked me a few months ago what I would be doing this summer, I would have told you where the family was planning to vacation and what other major activities were on the calendar. Imagine my surprise when I learned that I would require surgery to remove a cancerous thyroid gland and then go through a “clean up” process involving radioactive iodine to kill any remaining thyroid cells. The entire process would take about two months from start to finish. My life was not in danger and it was not imperative that I undergo the process on an emergency basis. However, life would not be “normal” until it was taken care of. My summer plans went out the door and were replaced by surgery, recovery, and preparations for and eventually acting upon a follow up treatment. Everything went well and the doctors tell me that I have a very low risk of any future complication. That being said, the events of the summer demonstrate that I am not in charge. God spoke very clearly to me that there will be times that I need to put my plans on hold and be open to something else. In hindsight, I have had an opportunity to reflect on the blessings of family, friends, and (yes) the good health that I have been given. All in all, it was not a bad summer. God has plans for all of us as individuals, churches, and beyond. My prayer is that we remain open to His leading and then act upon what He leads us to do. Thank you again for you support of the ministry of Lutheran Church Extension Fund. In HIS Service, Dennis Klussman LCEF Vice President