Calvary Life Podcast

Social Media Crash Course with Grace Wakeling

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!

Safe Families and the Church with Karen Bergstrom

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 to Read the Bible with Craig Hill- Rebroadcast

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.

The Necessity of Cultural Conversations with Victor Milan

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.

Racial Injustice with Courtnie Dowdy

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 to Submit to Government

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. 

What is the Church?

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. 

Corona Convictions

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. 

Marriage, Relationships, and Quarantine with Chris and Alisa Grace

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.

Words of Wisdom with Dr. Tim McAveney

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!