[m-m-online] June 29th update

[Minister to Minister online]

IN OUR PRAYERS . . .

CLIFF LARSON (Emeritus, Trinity, Corpus Christi) had hernia surgery on 
June 12. Also, cancer was found. Please keep Cliff and Dottie in your 
prayers.

THE FAMILY OF CONCORDIA STUDENT PAUL REINER. Paul was a Senior Liberal 
Arts major specializing in English and Biology from Colorado Springs, 
Colorado where his father is the Director of Education at Holy Cross 
Lutheran Church. Please keep Paul's family and friends in your prayers 
as we mourn his loss.

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CONGRATULATIONS . . .

MICHAEL MATTIL (Grace, Denison) who was elected National Pastoral 
Counselor and ELOISE KUHLMANN (Trinity, Amarillo) who was elected Vice 
President of Servant Resources at the recent LWML Convention held in 
Sioux Falls, S.D

PRAYERS OF THANKSGIVING . . .
BILL AND SHEILA DASCH (St. John, Mansfield) for all their prayers during 
these past 3 years for our son, Tristen who was diagnosed with leukemia 
at age 8. He has finished treatment this month and no trace of leukemia 
can be found!.

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PASTORS

Undecided
Mark Cattau, Our Redeemer, Dallas to Pastor, Grace, Brownwood

Randall Bard, Christ, Fort Worth, to Pastor, Our Savior Rockwall

Marty Brauer, Bethlehem, Santa Clarita, CA, to Good Shepherd, Cedar Park)

Timothy Carr, Immanuel, Houston to Senior Pastor, Grace, DeWitt, Iowa

Mike Mast, Family of Joy, Houston, to Northern Illinois as 
Congregational Services Executive - Missionary

Retirement
Victor Willmann, Trinity, Tyler

COMMISSIONED MINISTERS

Accepted
Mark Sperry, DCE, Christ Memorial, Houston to DCE, Living Faith 
Lutheran, Clive, IA

Jane Ann Pohl to St. Paul Lutheran, Austin

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RETREAT FOR PRAYER AND SPIRITUALITY - OCTOBER 1-3, 2007

Spiritual formation is not something I do; it is something God the Holy 
Spirit does. As I read this phrase, it affirmed an insight that I have 
often struggled with—how to live a sanctified life in a justified way, 
which being translated is, how can I keep from making my spiritual life 
just another thing I have to do, I have to work at, I have to achieve, 
and let it be primarily something God does in me?

It is paradoxical, to be sure. To live a spiritual life I still need to 
open my Bible, and raise my voice in song or my heart in prayer, to chew 
on God’s word, to be silent, to find time for this most primary of 
relationships, my relationship with God. So I do something. But really, 
in all those things I do, God is the one doing—He gives the time, He 
speaks first so I can respond in prayer, He provides the Word.

In my early ministry, I was as “spiritual” as the next pastor. I studied 
the Word—for sermons and Bible classes. I prayed—for worship and 
meetings and over potlucks. But these did not really deepen my 
relationship with my Lord. For that to happen, I had to go on a retreat 
that Walt Waiser led: Prayer 101, back in October-November of 1995. To 
say that it changed my life would be an understatement.

Since that time, God has been active in my life. Prayer and meditation 
on the Word of God have become formative and central to my life in the 
community of the followers of Jesus. I have been able to share what I 
have experienced with others, pastors and lay persons alike. As I have 
grown, I have enjoyed leading retreats that build on that 101 experience 
that Pastor Waiser still leads. So once again this October 1-3 at Canyon 
of the Eagles, I and my compadre Steve Stutz will lead an experience in 
spirituality for all church professionals, spouses, and others, while 
Pastor Waiser continues to share his 101 retreat. Are you ready for a 
change in your relationship with God? Do you want God to take you 
deeper? Join us! See the district website to register.

[ http://www.txdistlcms.org/ ]

Pastor Randy Haedge