As this year wraps up my wife Rosetta and I spent some time thinking about lessons we have learned this year or lessons we have re-learned.  Some of these are simple and others are quite profound and require constant attention.  Not sure if anyone reads this blog but if you do I hope you will find something encouraging here as well as something useful in your journey through life, with God, and others.

Dear Friends,

As 2010 draws to a close, we would like to share with you a few things we learned this past year, some of our favourite books read this year and some photos representing the highlights of the year:

Luch’s list of things being learned and re-learned:

→ Nothing on earth matters to me more than my bride of almost 35 years, and my three sons and two daughters in law.  All of them are my greatest claim to fame.

→  When it comes to dealing with conflict in relationships, don’t be a conflict avoider, and choose to pursue understanding and reconciliation if it depends on me.

→  Know who you are, like who you are, be who you are, and don’t poop on yourself.  Do everything you can to discover your gifts and abilities, and put them into action.

→  Discipline myself at least six days a week to keep physically fit and to follow Rosetta’s pattern of healthy eating.

→  Diligently guard against envy and jealousy.

→  Avoid pride and boastfulness in all my relationships.

→  Focus on my unique contribution to the cause, and not on my position.

→  Treat people with respect even when you feel you have been disrespected.

→  Keep a high view of the body of Christ and Kingdom of God even if your church situation isn’t ideal. Work towards building disciples and not institutions.

→  Live my life well with my attitudes, my responses, my treatment of others, and all my work dealings.

Rosetta’s list of things being learned and re-learned:

→ The greatest human gifts to me are my husband, my sons, my daughter-in-laws and my mom and my dad.

→  It’s important to be involved with people who can’t repay me.

→ Many friends and family are dealing with brokenheartedness.  I can pray for many of them but can only be an alongsider to some of them.

→  The world is a beautiful place.  Thanks to our son Michael for taking us to see some beautiful places in the UK.

→  As I get older, it’s requiring daily focus to stay healthy and keep the pounds off.  It’s important to eat clean and exercise daily.

→  The outdoors–fresh air and sunshine–restore me emotionally.

→  As much as possible, deal with “water under the bridge” in my close relationships.

Some of Luch’s Top Reads in 2010

Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing—Soren Kierkegaard (19^th century philosopher)

The Prayers of Soren Kierkegaard—Alister Hannay

The Grace Awakening –Charles Swindoll

The Reason for God—Tim Keller

The Unshakable Kingdom and the Unchanging Person—E. Stanley Jones

Tribes—Seth Godin

After You Believe—N. T.Wright

The Insider—Jim Petersen and Mike Shamy

Embracing the Mysterious God—James Emery White

The Next Christians—Gabe Lyons

The Orthodox Heretic—Peter Rollins

Will This Rock in Rio?–Ken Lottis

Rosetta’s Top Reads in 2010

The Orthodox Heretic—Peter Rollins

Will This Rock in Rio?–Ken Lottis

Eat to Live–Dr. Joel Fuhrman

Prayer—Finding The Heart’s True Home, Richard Foster

In the Name of Jesus, Henri Nouwen,

History of Christianity, Justo Gonzales

The Divine Hours, Phyllis Tickle

The Spirit of the Disciplines, Dallas Willard