Calvary Life Podcast

The Podcast is back for Season 6! What did Eric do on his Sabbatical? What is it like for him to be back? What's the difference between solitude and community? Is it harder to have solitude now that we have phones in our pockets? What are some helpful times for solitude?   In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastors Eric and Matt will go over all those questions and more. And, for the first time, we are having timestamps in the description. So, feel free use them to jump ahead at any point or return to a part of the podcast you really enjoyed.   TIMESTAMPS: The podcast sabbatical (1:09), Eric's Sabbatical (3:14), Matt's pool filling discussion (11:27), Eric's sabbatical continued (13:07), What's Eric feel Calvary's next big thing is? (20:49), How has it been for Eric being back? (23:01), Does Eric or Matt lean more towards Solitude or community? (26:44), Is solitude the same as being isolated? (29:31), A word for our introverted friends (31:45), Is it harder to have silence and solitude with a cell phone? (35:59), Eric climbing story (38:08), Tips for solitude (40:36), The tremendous sacrifice Eric and Matt do for podcast recording (43:03), what Matt loves to do for solitude (43:49), Eric's Ironman (46:56), final remarks (52:18)

What's Calvary's plans for the summer? When does Eric come back from Sabbatical? What's the difference between a Sabbatical and a vacation? What's Eric's project for the summer? How can we respond to the upcoming series on the book of Proverbs?  In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastor Eric goes over the plans Calvary Church, including Eric's own Sabbatical. He shares about the differences of a Sabbatical and a vacation, the particular project he will be working on throughout the summer, and how we can respond to our upcoming series on the book of Proverbs.

What was it like growing up in China? When did Christian's faith become his own? When did Christian feel Jesus calling him to ministry? How did Christian end up here at Calvary?  In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastor Eric chats with Calvary's new High School Pastor Christian Hemerling about his life, growing up in China, and the experiences that shaped him into the person we're excited to be leading our high school students, plus we go over some mailbag questions.   

What does the Bible say about sabbaticals? Why is Eric taking a sabbatical? What do pastors do on their sabbaticals? Who is in charge when Eric on his sabbatical? What are practical implications of a sabbath for Christians? What are small ways to incorporate principles of Sabbath into our weeks?  In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastors Eric and Matt discuss many topics related to rest and joy. Eric shares about why he will be taking a sabbatical for three months this summer, both Eric and Matt discuss what the Bible says about Sabbaticals and the practical implications of a Sabbath for Christians, and how we can have little ways to practice Sabbath principles in our daily lives.   

Why did Eric write the book "God Joy"? What was it like writing it? Were there any stories that were hard to share? What's the difference between guilt and shame? What's the God Joy holiday? What's a spirit of generosity?  In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastors Eric and Matt discuss many topics related to Eric's new book "God Joy". Eric shares what led him to write this book, what it was like writing it, and he talks about certain stories that were difficult to share in the book. Eric and Matt also talk about the difference between guilt and shame, and the relationship between suffering and joy. And we end the podcast with questions sent in from our viewers.

What is it like to prepare an Easter sermon? Is there a preferable technique to baptize someone? What's your family Easter tradition? What's your favorite holidays? Should Christians celebrate the Passover? In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastors Eric and Matt discuss how to prepare an Easter sermon that can reach both a wide variety of people on different faith journeys,  what's their family Easter traditions, they rank their favorite holiday (Shocker: Eric loves Christmas), and why it's important for Christians to celebrate the Passover.   

Should we tell others what we're fasting from for Lent? What's some best practices for Christians using social media? What is the heart of a city? What does your family do to prepare for Easter Sunday?    In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Pastor Eric and Matt are joined by Pastor Tim Nellis. Pastor Tim shares about his experience recently preaching on Palm Sunday and he shares certain things that the LORD taught him as he studied for his sermon. The team also discusses topics related to Lent, Christians on social media, and how each of the team's families prepare for Easter Sunday. 

What Bible verses did God use to impact the lives of the Calvary missionaries? What does it mean to be sent by God? Is that something only for missionaries or for everyone?   In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, we're explore those topics in depth through the Calvary Missionary panel discussion we recently had during a Sunday morning service. Our missionaries will share a little about their individual stories, how God called them to be a missionary, and what it means to be sent by God. 

Why does Calvary care about missions? What's Pastors Eric and Matt's individual heart for missions? Are we still needed as missionaries in today's world?  In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt explore those topics in depth. They explain why Calvary has a heart for mission, how Jesus has used experiences in Eric and Matt's pasts to shape their own hearts for missions, as well as discuss why missionaries are still important in today's world.     

What was it like on Calvary's recent trip to Israel? Is there actually a real benefit to going to Israel? What's been the personal impact of studying through the book of Numbers for our current sermon series? In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt explore those topics in depth. They explain the impact of going to Israel has had on their relationships with Jesus. They also share about what's stuck out to them through studying through the book of Numbers and how we can sometimes attempt to manipulate God through our good deeds.

When people say they "hear" God, what does that mean? What does God's voice sound like? Are people literally hearing voices in their heads? In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt explore that topic in depth. They explain the methods of hearing from God through His Word (Scripture), other believers, and in Listening Prayers, as well as discuss the importance of finding time to be quiet, and how your spiritual gifts will impact the way you experience God's communication with you! 

Sometimes, life just isn't fair. Sometimes it's hard to understand what God is doing, and often, it leads to us complaining. Is that alright? How does God view our complaining? How should we? In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt dive deeper into last Sunday's topic of Complaining, based on Numbers 10 and 11. They talk about the differences between the way we experience anger and God experiences anger, how to read the Bible when God does things we don't understand, and what justice means on a cosmic, God-level.  If you'd like to check out the books mentioned in today's episode, you can order them through the Calvary Bookstore, or find them here:  This Strange and Sacred Scripture - Matthew Schlimm How (Not) to Read the Bible - Dan Kimball

Welcome to a brand new season of the Calvary Life Podcast! In this week's episode, we're kicking things off by talking about Blessings- why we bless, who we can bless, and how we bless others with God's authority.  Join as Matt and Eric go into deeper explanations of how we can practically and biblically bless others, and hear the heart behind our new "Bless this Block" initiative. They also take a moment to sing TO each other, and listener, we're sorry.  If you'd like to listen to past seasons of our show, check us out at calvarylife.org/podcast! 

It's the end of the year, and time for our hosts Eric and Matt to answer your questions! Throughout the season, we've collected listener questions from our email and compiled them into a single episode- some are serious, some are funny, and some are completely made up by Eric and Matt themselves. So enjoy this special holiday treat, and we'll see you again in the new year!

In this episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, we've got an update to a story from our very first season- The Relentless Grace of God with MaryJane Edwards.  When we first aired that interview in June 2019, MaryJane shared her story of coming to faith and her experience as a teen mother giving her child up for adoption. Since that time, there have been a few major updates to her story that we're excited to share with you.  So join Eric and Matt as they listen to MaryJane's story from the beginning again- how she and her husband Quentin met, the experience of hiding and then revealing her unexpected pregnancy to both her family and to Quentin, and the beauty of now reuniting with her son 21 years later. Experience how Jesus' grace and the blessings of God surpass anything we can imagine for ourselves.  If you would like to listen to the original interview with MaryJane, you can find it here. 

Oneness does not mean everyone looks or thinks identically. It also doesn't mean we ignore the value of diversity! So what does it mean? In the final episode of our Values miniseries, Eric and Matt discuss the value of Oneness. Together, they talk about how the Church benefits from a unity in oneness, how oneness will sometimes require more mature believers to be flexible with younger believers, and even how "oneness" in clothing shows up in Eric's preaching wardrobe!

Dependence takes us farther than we could ever go on our own. Though for many of us (in the United States especially), dependence can feel like a negative. But when we're called to be dependent on God, what does that look like?  In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt talk about Dependence in their lives and in the lives of believers everywhere. They discuss how to be aware of the ways our nature gets in the way of depending on God, what it looks like to lean on prayer as an act of dependence, and ways they're both learning to be dependent on the Lord in this season. 

Welcome back to the Calvary Life Podcast! After a brief break to allow Eric to recover from some of his injuries, he and Matt are back in the studio talking about Health! In this week's episode, Eric and Matt discuss what it means to be healthy. You'll hear the story of his accident (the parts he can remember, at least), ways that he's growing in his recovery, and how to intentionally create slowness in your life to allow yourself to rest.

Calvary Church is blessed to be home to believers of every generation. Each group brings something different to the table, making us better together!  In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt discuss generations in the Church with longtime Calvary member, past Elder, and Corner Bookstore operator Randy Harris! Together, they talk about what it looks like to cultivate the next generation of believers both within your family and within your church, share about Randy and Tammy's plans for retirement, and start a new mail segment of the show! 

On Sunday, October 10th, Calvary Church welcomed longtime member Bob Shank as he shared on the topic of Generosity. In this week's special bonus episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt invite Bob back to dive deeper into his thoughts on being biblically generous! Together, they discuss what it looks like to genuinely practice gratitude, how we should consider the phenomenon of people who do evil looking "blessed", and provide added clarity to what was already shared on Sunday.

Calvary Church values Flexibility- we are open to change for the better! But how flexible is too flexible? What areas are worth holding fast to, and what areas should we hold with an open hand? And how do we use flexibility to reach others for Christ? On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt sit down with special guest Dave Mitchell! Together, they talk about what it means to be flexible, Biblical examples of God requiring flexibility, and how we can safeguard the Mission of the church without elevating the methods of our preferences. 

As followers of God, we are called to be generous. But what exactly does that mean? Does generosity only mean giving money, or are there other ways we can live generous lives? On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt discuss what it means to be generous. They explore the difference between tithes and offerings, share stories from their own lives of generosity, and talk about how we can be generous with not just our money, but our time, attention, and words as well.

Enjoy a special bonus episode of the Calvary Life Podcast with longtime Calvary member and elder, John Reed!

What does guilt have to do with joy? Can we be joyful in the midst of trials and suffering? And what does October 8th have to do with all of this anyways? On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, join Eric and Matt as they discuss how we value Joy. The talk about the book of Nehemiah's example of joy, give you a sneak peek at Eric's book writing process, and explore how we can be joyful in our everyday lives.  

A team is more than the sum of it's parts- each person's role enhances and improves the others, making every individual indispensable. That's why at Calvary, we value team!   On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt talk about the way Team works at Calvary. They explore different analogies for teams (sports, pools, kitchens, farmers markets, etc.), ways to jump into ministry, and how different giftings can come together to make the church function as well as it possibly can. 

Passion. It's the driver behind monumental achievements in art, athletics, and human relationships the world over. But in the Christian life, what does it mean to be passionate? How do our passions reflect God to the world? On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt discuss Calvary's passion for, well, passion. They talk about how to cultivate passion when it doesn't come naturally, how the Church can be characterized by it's passion, and how our "non-spiritual" passions can be used to bring glory to God.

In a world of 7 billion people, it can feel easy to get lost in the crowd. But when we stop and remember that each person is created in the image of God, it should change the way we value those we come across.  On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt discuss the heart behind and practical steps on loving people. They talk about the power of making yourself available, the way Jesus truly saw people, and why "warmth is the new cool". 

In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric Wakeling and Matt Doan talk about how Calvary values Grace! It's not just a girl's name- it's one of the most powerful forces in history. Eric and Matt both share their experiences with recognizing their need for Grace, when running from God means He runs towards us, and how the Good News is never Old News.  If you'd like to keep up to date with the new season of the Calvary Life Podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on your podcast player of choice. To listen to our archive of episodes, check out our website at calvarylife.org/podcast.

We're back from hiatus with a brand new season of the Calvary Life Podcast!    To kick us off, hosts Eric Wakeling and Matt Doan discuss the first installment of our Calvary Values series- Truth. At Calvary, we seek to think Biblically about everything and humbly about ourselves. So how do we find, live out, and share truth in our everyday lives? And what does it mean to have soft edges and a firm center?    If you'd like to keep up to date with the new season of the Calvary Life Podcast, be sure to subscribe to us on your podcast player of choice. To listen to our archive of episodes, check out our website at calvarylife.org/podcast.

What does it mean to be kind? How can someone cultivate a spirit of compassion? And is it okay if it doesn't necessarily come naturally?    On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric sits down with a Calvary pastor with a reputation for being the kindest man alive- Matt Doan. Together, they talk about the benefits and drawbacks of having a naturally warm personality, the ways that someone can cultivate a spirit of compassion towards others if it doesn't come naturally to them, and how God uniquely creates each and every one of us to display His personality and image to the world, no matter what our gifting is.    If you would like to learn more about ways you can show compassion to our community locally and globally, visit us online at calvarylife.org/reach! 

By the time a student graduates from high school in the United States, they will have spent approximately 18% of their life in class. So as believers, how do we take advantage of that time to train up mature leaders and followers of Christ? On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric sits down with Dave Seidman, Calvary Christian School's brand-new principal. Together, they discuss what makes Christian education "Christian", the importance of having believers in secular schools, and the value of first-grader's weddings.  If you would like to learn more about Calvary Christian School, visit them online at calvary.school. 

When believers fight against abortion, they're often faced with the question- what happens after the baby is born? How do we care for young mothers and children in positions of great need?    On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric sits down with Dianna Smiley, founder and executive director of Generation Her, a nonprofit for teen mothers and pregnant teens that seeks to empower teenage mothers and their children by equipping them with life skills and a supportive community.   Together, they talk about the journey of Dianna adopting her children, the needs teen and young mothers face in everyday life, and the power of caring for teen mothers and their babies even beyond the pregnancy stage.   If you would like to learn more about or get involved with Generation Her, visit them online at generationher.org or on Instagram and Twitter at @generationher. 

When someone says the Holy Spirit is working in them, what does that mean? How much of our spiritual growth is our responsibility, and how much is the Lord's?    This week on the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric sits down with Eryn Holm, one of Calvary's pastors and a current student at the Institute of Spiritual Formation at Talbot Theological Seminary. Together, they discuss what spiritual direction is, how spiritual disciplines play out in community, and ways that we can join in the Holy Spirit's work to promote growth in our lives.    Below, you can find links to some of the resources discussed in today's episode.   Spiritual Disciplines Handbook - Adele Calhoun Dark Night of the Soul - St John of the Cross Beloved Dust - Kyle Strobel and Jamin Goggin Relational Soul - Richard Plass and James Cofield   Recommended Apps:  Abide Dwell

According to the CDC, about 1 child in 7 in the United States will be diagnosed with a disability. And while there are many avenues of support for these children, an often-overlooked group suffers as well alongside them- their siblings.  On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, we meet Calvary member, doctor, and founder of A Touch of Guidance for Siblings of Special Needs Children Won Yu. Together, he and Eric discuss Won's experience as a doctor during the Covid-19 pandemic, his family's journey of growing with his son's developmental disorder, and how his son's diagnosis drew him and his wife to better serve the often-forgotten siblings of children with special needs.  If you would like to learn more about disability ministries at Calvary, check out calvarylife.org/bridge.

"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded, it is a relationship between equals." - Pema Chodron In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric sits down with Melissa Brosch, longtime Calvary member and Disability Ministries Pastor! Together, they explore Melissa's story of getting connected with disability ministries, the importance of honoring someone's age and stage in life, and why the best disability ministry is the one that doesn't exist. If you're interested in learning more about how to co-labor with people with disabilities, check out disabilityministryconference.com for training and resources. You can also find book recommendations from Melissa at the Calvary Bookstore, and on our website at calvarylife.org/bridge.

If you knew that making the decision to follow God would lead you to spending decades in an impoverished country with a completely different language and culture, would you still choose Him?This was just one of the life-changing decisions faced by our guests on today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Tom and Gayle Shook. Together with Eric, they share their journeys of finding Jesus, living and ministering in Mongolia, and how the Lord captured their hearts for refugees from all over the world. If you would like to learn more about what Tom and Gayle are doing these days, or find out more about Voice of the Refugees, you can reach out via email at thomasandgayle@gmail.com. You can also learn more about global missions at Calvary by visiting calvarylife.org/global. 

When 2020 started, very few people knew what COVID-19 even was, let alone how greatly it would impact our regular way of life. For many, it meant a sudden halt to office life, school, and social calendars. But for some, like Chuck Gustafson, that impact was felt with life and death consequences.  In this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric got to sit down with Chuck Gustafson and talk about life with Covid. Chuck shares the story of catching the virus, the Lord's generous faithfulness in healing him, and how he is using his story to share God's love with everyone he meets.  You can now watch the Calvary Life Podcast, as well as just listen to it! Check us out on our YouTube page to watch all of this season's episodes.

Is Facebook just for "old people" now? How harmful can Instagram be? And what exactly is TikTok, and how does it work?In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric Wakeling sits down for a crash course in social media with the expert- his seventeen year old daughter Grace Wakeling. Together, they explore the details of what TikTok is, how Gen Z uses different social media platforms for different purposes, and even discuss some of the parental guidelines in the Wakeling home!

We're back with a brand new season of the Calvary Life Podcast! Kicking us off is a discussion with long-time Calvary member, clinical psychologist, and National Regional Director of Safe Families for Children Karen Bergstrom.  Together, Eric and Karen talk about the crisis of unsafe environments for children in this unique season of quarantine, and how the Church is uniquely equipped to step up to meet the need. They explore how Karen's family of origin impacted her heart for serving children, what it means to be a "turkey thrower", and why we should avoid being ones! If you'd like to join in with the mission of Safe Families, you can check out the Safe Families website at safe-families.org, or see the local ministries Calvary serves (including Safe Families) at calvarylife.org/local.  We also have a brand-new feature of the Calvary Life Podcast- video! If you'd like to sneak a peek inside the studio, you can watch Eric and Karen in-person (and socially distanced) on our Youtube and Facebook pages.

How do you read the Bible? Isn't it just like any other book? It may seem like a silly question on its surface, but it has far-reaching implications. On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric is joined by pastor, professor, and biblical scholar Craig Hill to explore this very topic!  Together, Craig and Eric discuss what it takes to read the Bible well, and how anyone can do it. They talk about studying the Bible vs reading it devotionally, the importance of approaching Scripture with humility, and how our culture and location can influence what we read in the biblical text. Craig also gives his recommendations for resources and tips to read the bible well. If you are interested in any of the resources mentioned in this episode, or if you would like to discover others, check out the Corner Bookstore at Calvary on Sundays before and after the service, throughout the week, and at calvarylife.org/corner.

When the Bible calls us to consider others as more important than ourselves (Philippians 2:3), how does this influence how we have conversations about race and culture? Are we willing to risk feeling uncomfortable for the sake of understanding our brothers and sisters in Christ?   Calvary Church is a community that is Better Together. And while cultural differences bring depth and beauty to every group, they can also provide opportunity for misunderstandings, hurt, and division.    In a continuation of last week's theme, Eric sits down with Victor Milan, one of Calvary's Hispanic Ministries pastors, to discuss racial justice and cultural diversity. They discuss how multitudes of small interactions can build up to big emotions, what it's like to not feel a sense of belonging to any one culture, and how a correct understanding of the Gospel is key to healing the woundings and bridging the gaps that can divide us all.    If you'd like to learn more about Calvary's Hispanic ministries, visit them online here.

Ahmed Arbery. George Floyd. These names have dominated headlines in the past weeks for the tragedy and injustices they suffered. So as believers, how do we respond? How are we called to act when we encounter racial discrimination and oppression?  Today, Eric discusses this topic with Calvary's High School Pastor, Courtnie Dowdy. Together, they explore the idea and meaning of privilege, Courtnie's experience growing up as a black woman in predominantly white spaces, and what Jesus' life tells us about how we should respond to and work against racial injustice.  If you would like to explore this topic further, check out the resources Courtnie and Eric discussed below:  Books- I'm Still Here by Austin Channing Brown, Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, Insider Outsider by Bryan Loritts Accounts to Follow- Jackie Hill Perry: Instagram, Twitter; Bryan Loritts: Instagram, Twitter; Jo Saxton: Instagram, Twitter; Albert Tate: Instagram, Twitter

When the United States government restricts the gathering of people, is that an infringement on our religious freedom? What do we do if we believe our government leaders are foolish and wrong? What does the Bible say about how to behave when those in authority over us are hard to respect?  On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric explores how we should consider our current circumstances as the Body of Christ- how we love the people we disagree with, submit to the government officials in authority over us, and protect our right to worship the Lord. In times as turbulent and challenging as these, it is vital we seek Biblical guidance on how to proceed in grace, truth, and love.  If you would like to learn more about how Calvary is serving our community in this time, or if you would like to sign up to give or receive aid, visit us online at calvarylife.org/help and calvarylife.org/pantry. 

It's common to hear someone say that they "go to Church", but is the church a location? When we're not able to gather in person, what does that mean about the Church?  In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric discusses the idea of the Church being a people, not a building. He explores what that means for re-entering normal life, how we fulfill our role in the body of Christ, and how that impacts our understanding of community.  If you are interested in learning more about how Calvary is doing Sunday services in this time, visit us at calvarylife.org/live. 

In this season of raised tensions, conflicting opinions, and what seem to be incredibly high stakes, how do we love people that disagree with us? Is there a way to re-enter the next "normal" as a united family and with respect for everyone's comfort levels?  On today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric discusses the importance of understanding the perspective of others as we begin to look at ending shelter-in-place orders and deciding what culture will look like after lockdown. Whether you believe we should have ended it weeks ago or you feel it would be safer to keep it going for a few more months, we can learn from one another and engage in respectful, caring, Christ-honoring conversation about it.  If you would like to know more about how Calvary is serving our community in this time, visit calvarylife.org/help. And if you are in need of someone to talk to or pray with, check out our free counseling options at calvarylife.org/counseling. 

When you're stuck in a house with someone for months at a time, tensions can rise and conflict can multiply. Small irritants can turn into world-ending issues, leaving you wondering why you ever thought it was a good idea to live with this person. So what can you do to handle this well?  On this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Bea Wakeling discuss exactly this with Chris and Alisa Grace, the founders and directors of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships! They talk about how to reframe your thinking to encourage grace in your home, ways to counter the natural desire to criticize, and how to engage well in difficult discussions.   If you would like to access any of the resources of the CMR or learn more about what they do, visit them at their website at cmr.biola.edu. And if you'd like to find out more about counseling options at Calvary, check us out at calvarylife.org/counseling.

For this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, we're hearing from our very own Dr. Tim McAveney, Chief of Cardiology for Kaiser Permanente, Orange County, on our Words of Wisdom Facebook Live video with Shannon Reese. So tune in to hear all about Coronavirus from a medical viewpoint, what we should and shouldn't be concerned about, and how to respond in a spirit of faith in the Lord. Be sure to check back to Calvary's Facebook  for new live content on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, as well as on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am for our regular weekly worship service!

For this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, we're hearing from a familiar voice- the wonderful Dr. Andrea Ganahl. We were lucky enough to have her be the first guest on our Words of Wisdom Facebook Live video with Shannon Reese, and it was so great that we wanted to share it with you here! So take a listen, because there's no shortage of new things to learn about anxiety, where it comes from, and how to handle it well when you're hearing from Dr. Ganahl.  Be sure to check back to Calvary's Facebook  for new live content on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights, as well as on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am for our regular weekly worship service!

In the stress of this current season, it can be easy to fall in to panic, anxiety, and hopelessness. So for this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, we wanted to revisit one of our most popular episodes which just so happens to be filled with some very pertinent wisdom for this time.  According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, over 40 million adults in the United States suffer from clinical anxiety. But if the Bible tells us to be "anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6), what can we do to deal with this overwhelming issue?  In today's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt Davis sit down with Dr. Andrea Ganahl to discuss this very topic. They talk about tips to manage your anxious thoughts, what it means for Christians to live with anxiety, and how we can help support one another in a world that can often cause us to be anxious.  If you'd like to learn more about anxiety, or hear more from Dr. Ganahl, you can visit her website at andreaganahl.com. You can also learn more about and sign up for counseling services at Calvary by visiting calvarylife.org/counseling.

In this season of fear, uncertainty, and insecurity, we can draw comfort that even if we're social-distancing from other people, our God is as close and accessible as ever. For this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast, Eric and Matt take a minute to address the global COVID-19 pandemic, how it's affecting all of us, and how we can find comfort in God's ultimate sovereignty.  If you are available to assist our more at-risk community, or if you're in need of assistance for yourself, please visit calvarylife.org/help to let us know your situation. Calvary Church truly is better together- whether that's in person or not! 

James 1:27- "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." We know that the Lord has a heart for orphans, but how can we join in? That's what Eric and Matt discuss in this week's episode of the Calvary Life Podcast with lifelong Calvary member and Acres of Love advocate, Erin Kruiewicz! Together, they talk about Erin's lifelong heart for adoption, her journey to get involved in Acres of Love, and how she met her son for the first time! If you would like to learn more about Acres of Love, visit their website here or follow them on their Instagram or Facebook pages. You can also learn more about how Calvary is helping serve the orphans of Orange County by visiting our Reach Local page.