Annual New Year's Letter

A scientific approach to the passing of 2009:

The Leukert five wish you the best as we begin this amazing year numbered 2010. We’d like to help you start your year with some of the best life has to offer: God’s love for each one of us, family, and the joy of fulfillment and of course the essential gift of humor. We would like to share this 7th annual Leukert New Year's Letter, reviewing the year 2009 in the scientific context of Cause and Effect.

Cause: Karl, as pastor, is started in the focused Leader’s program. He sees more clearly the importance of putting things on the calendar and planning for them.

Effect: Three incredible weekends away for just Karl and Sharon. The effects are still lingering.

Cause: A dark and slightly fuzzy substance has appeared.

Effect: Teasing Michael (14 years old) about his facial hair which reduces him to a lump of shyness.

Cause: Lost front tooth

Effect: More charm added to Matthew’s (8 years old) scar dimpled grin. When combined with his natural gift of comedy, he’s irresistible.

Cause: Sharon and some other church members join the Focused Leaders Program

Effect: Sharon now has a clearer vision and focus of what God wants her to accomplish in life. The church members that went on the retreat have a special bond and know God has great plans for us individually, as families and as a church body.

Cause: A second church was added to Karl’s responsibilities

Effect: We have begun to know and love a small group of people in Atlanta, Texas and we enjoy worshipping with them.

Cause: Staying up all night walking, running and staying energized

Effect: Thoroughly exhausted but the Jefferson Central Women’s Ministries “Pray for a Cure” team showed spirit all through the long night of Relay for Life in May. To our delight, our team was presented with a trophy for most spirited team. Sharon is glad Relay for Life is only once a year.

Cause: Saying “I do” 18 years ago

Effect: Karl and Sharon celebrated their wedding anniversary at a Bed and Breakfast in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The pampering was deluxe, the atmosphere was welcoming, but still private and the gardens and birdfeeders right outside our balcony window were the icing on the cake (see above regarding focused leaders).

Cause: Sharon’s carpool had to change hours at her job.

Effect: We purchased a 2002 Toyota Camry. We are now officially a multi-vehicle family.

Cause: Greta (6 ½ years old) in full costume at the school Christmas program

Effect: She grooved through every song. Our friends have considered taping her and submitting the video to AFV to win the $100,000 grand prize.

Cause: Decreased attention to toy sales

Effect: Sharon lost her status as a Discovery Toys Educational Consultant. Although they are still some of the best educational toys, books and games around, the event meant it was time to move on. The still in great shape toys we had around the house that the children have outgrown (some are never outgrown) were sent to our niece in California. Enjoy Liana!

Cause: Forgoing individual presents and purchasing one family gift.

Effect: Investing in family togetherness and enjoying the benefits of Wii and Wii Fit (thanks to the relatives and friends who added to our original investment).

Cause: Jesus loves us intensely

Effect: We see miracles and blessings and God’s leading all around us. We know the joy of the family of believers and the privilege of worshipping and praising God. We have the comfort of those who keep the faith when difficult times come. The reality of God’s involvement in our lives is unmistakable.

Thank you for joining us in this scientific review of 2009. Please feel free to write or call us. It has been scientifically proven, however, that we do respond quicker to emails and comments on Facebook.

Karl, Sharon, Michael, Matthew and Greta Leukert

205 E Bonham Street, Jefferson, TX 75657

903-665-7749

Karl’s email: keleukert@gmail.com Sharon’s email: sdlhome@yahoo.com

Greta's Pluck

Methinks I was struck by the blahs of winter. More aptly put, I was busy and life was full to overflowing.

Sickness due to allergies and the latest bugs going around hit our family hard this winter and it's still not letting go. My oldest missed a campout. It might have been a good thing however since the campers who went mostly got rained on.

I think the thing that has struck me the most recently was the sunburns on the faces of my children. I know why those had those dry cheeks. They worked hard for a bike-a-thon to raise money for their school. Michael, my oldest, rode more than 30 miles. My 7 year old son rode about 12 miles and my just turned six daughter rode 11 miles. Since Matthew and Greta are less than 2 years apart, I'm not too surprised that they rode similar distances. Greta's pluck is what surprises me.

Greta represented her kindergarten class well. In fact, the school principal said she wished the kids in the older grades had even half of Greta's determination. Evidently her bike toppled over a few times. Greta didn't give up. She got back on and went for it. She may be petite, but she has pluck!

So my little powerhouse kept on going. She has a leaning toward athletics that her brothers do not, so I'm proud of her for going on and cycling for eleven miles. It took her all day and other kids, obviously older, did more than three times that many miles.

I've heard the phrase "equal sacrifice, not equal giving." It seems to be the latest catch phrase amongst organizations trying to encourage their ranks to give at an equal sacrifice, not necessarily an equal amount. In Greta's case, she outgave them all! She is an inspiration to me. Sometimes I feel like my 11 miles just doesn't add up to others that can go 35 or even 40 miles. But if I gave it everything I had and didn't give up no matter what then my 11 miles is priceless in God's book. Thanks for the lesson Greta.

By the way, did I mention that she did those eleven miles...on a bike with training wheels?


musings and cogitations

End of the Book

So I was teaching the Sabbath School class yesterday and we were talking about Spiritual Gifts. I asked the class if that was something from the days of the disciples. "That's all in the book of Acts. We don't have Spiritual Gifts anymore, right?"

Of course many in the class responded with an emphatic No! Spiritual gifts are still being used by God's people today for their intended purpose - to strengthen and build "the church" meaning wherever God's people are gathered.

But one man took it one step beyond. His comment still stops me in my thoughts and sometimes even makes me shiver. "The Book of Acts isn't a closed book. It's not finished."

The point: We are all disciples of Jesus called to spread the good news of His love to a hurting world. The Acts of the Apostles isn't finished, because God's people are still acting/doing/moving/working. More importantly, God is still acting/doing/moving/working.

What an awesome thought. The Book of Acts has final chapters still to be written. There is still work to do.

musings and cogitations