Who Needs Boundaries?

When most of us hear the word boundaries our thoughts are not usually positive. Boundaries bring to mind lack of movement, lack of creativity, lack of fun. Haven't we been taught to "think outside the box" & "color outside the lines?" Even some of our oldest songs contain an "anti-boundaries" theme..."Give me land lots of land under starry skies above, don't fence me in." With all this ingrained into our psyche why would we do a series on...you guessed it...Boundaries. While we are certainly pro-creativity at Real Life Family Center we also understand the absolute necessity for healthy boundaries. Without them our traffic system would be in chaos, our nation in anarchy and our morality a big mess. Yes, proper boundaries give us structure, support and balance. Show me a person or a family that lacks or does not follow well thought out boundaries and I will show you a person or family that not only lacks balance, but exhausts itself under that load. Our next series at RLFC entitled, "Got Boundaries?" will help point out the need for well thought out structure and systems as well as teach us how to put them in place if lacking. We will discuss boundaries for thinking, emotions, relationship, finances and time. These are 5 of the most important areas of life and with these 5 pillars is constructed the majority of our lives.  Challenge - take a good look at your life in each of those 5 areas. Is anyone of them a little chaotic? Out of control or out of balance? Anyone of those areas bringing exhaustion to your life? It may be the result of an overlooked or absent boundary. Join us these next 6 weeks as we examine, rebuild and strengthen the boundaries in our lives. 

44 - 0 !!

Forty Four and O!! That is an incredible record isn't it? If we were discussing the record of any sports team we would marvel at their accomplishment. Forty Four wins without a single defeat. You have to admit, that is an amazing run. I am not talking NFL or NBA or MLB right now I am talking USA. That's right...the United States of America. Yesterday's presidential inauguration marked the 44th straight peaceful transition of power in our remarkable history. We often take for granted the incredible political peace we enjoy, but look around at just about ANY OTHER NATION on the planet and you will see we are in the vast minority.  This is a nation built on God's moral principles and structured around democracy and capitalism. We greatly enjoy God's blessing and favor in our nation and should take some time to thank Him for His protection and provision. We also owe a great deal to the men and women who have fought and are fighting to make our nation free. Thank you to all those in the armed forces. The great American experiment is alive and well. Thank you God for your incredible goodness to us. 44 and 0 is a great record indeed. 

$5 Million Dollar Miracle!

Friday afternoon at 3:30 I received THE call. The call we at RLFC had been waiting for, praying for & believing for. This phone call would be the culmination of an incredible series of events where we were able to witness God's faithfulness. That call would confirm that our loan had been fully process, the title and deeds fully recorded and our seller paid in full. To understand this miracle I must recap the story. We moved into our new building a little over 2 years ago by giving a $2.5 million down payment and promising a $5 million balloon payment in August of 2008. All things were proceeding well until the bottom fell out of the economy in summer/fall of 2008. Our bank could no longer loan us the money and the purchaser of our land could no longer follow through on that sale. What do we do now?! I pray my usual prayer, "God you have a problem." We approached a dozen banks to be turned down by all. Finally God led us to a bank that not only would loan us the money, but not tie it to the sale of our property. After 2 more months of loan committees, financial doc reviews, land appraisals & an insurance physical it finally was all finished with only 3 weeks before foreclosure and homelessness. God is SO GOOD!!!

Authentic Christmas

My wife and I were on our date day earlier this week and got onto the conversation of our best and worst Christmases as kids. I couldn't think of a best, but my worst was easy. To make a long story short...I asked for a WEIGHT SET and received a CHESS SET. Now I ask you, how was I supposed to become an ATHLETIC BEAST with a CHESS SET??? What's the point of a Christmas list if you are not even going to pay it any attention??? Ok, I'm done with my rant, but clearly not over the chess set incident:) The point is that 30 years later I've come a long way with my understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. My greatest joy now at this time of year is giving not getting. Maybe contrary to most parents my greatest joy is NOT giving to my own kids. They are abundantly blessed year round and have a great home. They lack for nothing. Because of that, my great joy is buying gifts for those in need whom I've ever met. Like many in Real Life Family Center, the Huntsman family purchased meals and toys for local under resourced families.  I am very proud to be part of a church that this Christmas year has given toys, meals, stockings and other gifts to over 340 families. I LOVE THAT!!! I truly believe that giving makes us more like God. His character is that of a giver - The Ultimate Giver. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and fully embrace the unbelievable generosity of history's greatest Giver. Then...pass it on.

Making History - Living HIS STORY.

Maybe it's a by-product of getting older, but I am finding myself more and more aware of the flow of history. This last Sunday was Pearl Harbor day and I have caught myself thinking of how terrible it must have been to be there. I then thought about our nation's response following the attack. It was during that time that my mom was a little girl. She used to tell me about the rationing of certain goods and materials so the military could have what it needed to win in Europe and the Pacific theaters of war. During this time "Rosie the riveter" was born and the nation pulled together to help us win WWII. Two thoughts dominate my mind...First, I am INCREDIBLY blessed by the sacrifice of countless men and women who have gone before me. Secondly, I then have a responsibility to those around me and coming behind me. This is not just a good thing, it is a GOD thing!   I am reminded that I'm not just a PART of history I am supposed to help MAKE it!  I'm not just a participant in history, as a Christ follower, I am to be an active part in HIS STORY.  

The Election

We wake up this morning with a new president elect. Like many Christians across this nation and certainly here at Real Life Family Center I have mixed emotions. I am sad to see our nation continue a trend of wandering so far away from the original design of our nation's founders and so far away from the heritage of faith that our nation was built upon. On the other hand I am hopeful. My hope and prayer is that this will mobilize Christ-followers everywhere to pray more passionately, serve more effectively and give more generously. The fact of the matter is that the government, no matter how led, was never designed to meet the most important needs of the human soul. Only God Himself can do that and THAT is the message of the church. As long as the church in any nation is vibrant, alive and passionately pursuing its mission in its context there is hope. Remember to pray for our new leaders at every level. Whether you voted for them or not, believe in them or not, the Bible urges us to pray for our leaders. 

Today is a GREAT DAY to demonstrate to someone else the hope and joy that God gives us through Christ.

Spirituality Revealed

We are halfway through this new series and I am getting so many good comments on it. Many people getting new clarification and understanding at what a real, spiritual Christian life entails. We have, so far, discussed the basic fundamentals of spirituality and then last week, the Fruit of that connection with God. I hope you are being "fruitful" in your life with Christ. If not, check your connection to Him and the environment you are planted in. You are meant to live a great life for God. Have a great day!!!