CalCarpenter

Friends,

It is Easter week at Sound Life Church. I always look forward with great anticipation to the special season when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though it is a busy time, the message is timeless, “He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed”. Please take advantage of every opportunity available to you.

The Good Friday Service will begin the celebration at 7:00 pm. It is a meaningful reflection on the cross and a celebration of Holy Communion. Our guest will be Dr. Warren Bullock, former SLC pastor, who will share with us the deep meaning of Christ’s work on Calvary. On Saturday morning Easter Eggstravaganza, Pierce County’s largest egg hunt, will again be in full swing. Over 30,000 eggs, candy, prizes, and a variety of activities will take place beginning at 9:00 am and going till noon. If at all possible, be a volunteer. We need everyone who can to be here at 7:30 am and we will pass out assignments to host the several thousand guests who will be with us. This is our gift to the community, thanks for being a part.

On Sunday we will celebrate our Risen Savior. We will have our regular service schedule at 9:30 am with Celebration Live, Traditions, and The Experience. At 11:00 am we will have Celebration Live and The Experience. In each of these services we will encourage everyone to make an impact through Convoy of Hope, “One Day to Feed the World.” This special offering will allow us to be pre-responders to crisis events around the world. Through Convoy of Hope we have helped to feed thousands of children every day, to be on the ground with relief supplies before the catastrophe happens, and to share the love of Christ with a touch of compassion. “One Day to Feed the World” is each one of us taking a day’s wage and giving it so the compassion of Jesus can be felt by those in greatest need. This is over and above our regular tithes and offerings. It is a gift that comes from our heart. The “One Day to Feed the World” offering will be taken at the end of each service. Thank you for your generous response.

Please be in prayer for each of the events this weekend. Invite your friends and family and believe God for life changing encounters.

Pastor Cal

It’s been awhile since I last blogged. Christmas has come and gone and we are now into the third month of 2010. Over the past several weeks the leadership team of SLC has been carefully considering how we can most effectively reach our community for Christ. The more we thought and prayed the clearer the focus became.

One of the most effective inroads into the community we have is Wired Student MInistry. They are reaching into areas that we have never been able to before. On any given Tuesday night more than 175 young people from all over this area converge on SLC to connect with each other but ultimately to God. Pastor Nate Lindseth and his team are doing an amazing work and the fruit is evident. The more we thought and prayed the more we began to ask the question, “What would happen if we were able to configure this ministry in a way that it could reach it’s full potential and what would that look like?” From that question came a solution that we believe will allow Wired to reach it’s full potential.

Over the a past 11 years our Sunday night Connection Live service has been a highlight. It is a believer’s service that that has been a strength. But Sunday is the one day of the week that the schools of this area do not schedule any activities. Though our Connection Live service is of great value to us we believe that a greater value can be gained by allowing Wired to have the entire campus for their ministry on Sunday nights. To that end the board and staff made a decision to repurpose our Sunday night service and give it to Wired. Beginning on April 11 Wired Student Ministry will meet on Sunday evening allowing it to use the entire campus to potentially reach an even greater number of students with the gospel. Our prayer is that by giving this service, which is so meaningful to us, to our students we will see God do amazing things and the impact will be more than we could ever imagine.

Over the next several weeks you will hear more about this change. Please be in prayer with us as we move forward in this effort to make in impact in South Pierce County.

Pastor Cal

There are many communications that we recieve during the Christmas season to help us appreciate the magnitude of the moment. My friend Don Detrick, from the Northwest Ministry Network sent me this a few days ago and I thought I would share it with you.

“The Christmas story offers hope to all people, in all places, for all time. The details of the story show us that God’s purposes are always redemptive. It also shows us that God can use little, insignificant things for significant purposes.

One of the most significant Bible prophecies about the birth of Christ is about a small town. Micah 5:2 states that Christ would be born in Bethlehem. “But you, Bethlehem, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me, the One to be Ruler of Israel, whose goings forth are from the old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2 NKJV) Have you ever felt insignificant like a small number in a world full of billions of number, “little among thousands?” The birth of Christ in Bethlehem illustrates the fact that God can use little, insignificant things for significant purposes.

Most people ignored the baby born 2000 years ago in Bethlehem. And the majority ignores the most important details about Christmas today. It’s not that we aren’t bogged down with details in December. With the rush to buy gifts, attend event, party and travel, we hardly have time to catch our breath. But in so doing we miss the most important details and so miss the significance of the moment. It’s too bad, because those details could make a major difference, an eternal difference in our personal lives.”

This December, remember the most important details, Keep Christ in Christmas. And among the details on your holiday, “to do” list, make sure that you have given all you should have to the ministries of the church. I always remind you at this time of year to make sure that you have “settled up” with God by giving a full tithe of all He has provided for you. I know that this has been a difficult year for many of us. You may feel like your giving is insignificant but when we combine with the faithfulness of others it can be used in significant ways to help us continue God’s mission in our community and around the world. Your focus on the General Fund of the Church would be appreciated. You can give in the offerings in the coming services, through the mail, or online at soundlifechurch.org. All gifts must be received or postmarked by December 31 to receive credit for 2009.

Thank your for your faithfulness and continued prayer and support of Sound Life Church. Have a wonderful Christmas.

Cal

Halloween night seems like a strange evening for a pastor to get excited about, but this Halloween was much different than those recently. All across south Pierce County families from SLC chose to Shine Your Light and tell the people of this community that we love them. More than 4000 invitations and bracelets were passed out along with the best candy possible. We are excited to see the harvest that will come from the seed being planted. Thanks to everyone who made this special night possible.

1) I hate to say it, but trouble is a real part of life and we all react to trouble differently. If we think that we can live trouble free we’re only kidding ourselves. In fact, Jesus told us in John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The challenge we face is dealing with trouble without losing heart. To not lose heart we need an unshakeable faith, but that faith must have a foundation. The foundation is confident trust in a faithful God. So where does that kind of faith come from, Romans 10:17 reminds us, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” What does this teach me? I need the word of God to be the foundation for my faith. Faith that comes from any other source can be shaken. Faith that is built on the Word is unshakeable and even in the most troubling times my heart can stay strong.

2) Can you believe Brett Farve? This Sunday he went back to Green Bay for the first time as a member of an opposing team. After 16 years of wearing the Packers uniform and leading them to championships he was now a hated Minnesota Viking. At 40 years old he lead the Vikings to a convincing victory even though he was booed at every turn. Quite a performance. What did I learn form this? The calendar is not the measure of your value, performance is. Whatever your age you can finish strong. I like that option.

I’ll leave you with a thought that might only occur to me. Trusting God is like riding a bicycle, once you get the hang of it, it tends to get easier.

Cal

What a great weekend here at SLC.! Our friend Rita Springer ushered us into the presence of God not only at Connection Live on Sunday night, but at the Women’s Retreat as well. It is so refreshing just to be in a place where you sense that God is near and that He loves you and you love Him. I want to stay hungry for that type of experience on a regular basis. Here”s what is in my head on this rainy Monday morning.

1) For the past two Sundays I have been talking about having a Heart of Generosity. Generosity expresses itself in two major ways.  Am I generous with my resources (my stuff), which is giving, and am I generous with my time, talent, and heart (me), which is serving. To have a real heart of generosity you must be generous with both.  If my attitude is right I will find it easy to be generous with everything. So the real issue is my attitude and the best way I have found to have a good attitude is to focus on what I am thankful for. None of us have everything that we want or even seem to need, but when we look a little closer our lives are a tapestry of wonderful things that God has blessed us with. Even in the most trying circumstances God’s goodness is overwhelming. When I focus on that reality it changes my attitude. Living with a proper sense of gratitude makes it much easier to be generous, because, God has everything that I need and He is more than willing to supply. That is an attitude adjuster.

2) Saturday night is Halloween, but for many of us it is the night to Shine Your Light. I love the idea that we can do something so positive on such a negative night. If you want to know more about this just click and it will take you to the web page that explains it all. 5000 wristbands and invitations to SLC will make an impact on our community. Remember to give out great candy as well, we want kids and their families to know that we care about them and that God does too.

3) The Seahawks had a bye this week. The good news, they didn’t lose. The bad news, the didn’t win. The lesson to learn is you’ve got to play the game to have a chance to win. Too many people live life not to lose. They play it so safe that they never accomplish anything. I’d much rather take the risk of failure than to never try. Getting the most out of life requires that you show up. You can’t take a pass.

4) Fall the end of Daylight Saving Time. My favorite Saturday night of the year. One more hour of sleep. I can’t wait!!! The problem is that I begin to dread the spring beginning of Daylight Saving Time when I lose an hour of sleep. Let’s just keep our clocks on Daylight Saving Time all the time and end this insanity!!!

God is better to us than we could ever deserve. That will help keep your life in perspective.

Cal

It’s Monday morning and after having a least 4 cups of coffee I think my brain is finally starting to function. For a pastor Monday’s always start a little slow, after 6 services on Sunday and preaching at least twice it takes a few minutes for the synapses to start firing with a regular rhythm. Now that the coffee has taken effect these are the thoughts rolling around in my head.

1) In my message on Sunday I used an illustration about the baseball statistic called a “quality start”. Just to remind you a quality start occurs when a starting pitcher completes at least 6 innings and gives up 3 runs or less. It is a way to give credit to a pitcher even though he does not complete the game. Quality starts can be a good thing in baseball and in life but I think that what is even more important is a quality finish. In baseball the guy who finishes the game is called the “closer”. When the pressure is the greatest and the game is on the line that’s who they give the ball to. He is the guy they count on to get the other team out and finish the game strong. He “saves” the the game. In life beginnings are important but the finish is what really counts. I want to have quality starts where I begin with passion and resolve, but it doesn’t mean much if I never finish what I begin. God wants us to be closers, to be strong till the end, living up to our commitments, and not to giving up when things become a little difficult, that’s when a save occurs. In the scorcard of life I want to have more “saves” than “quality starts” because life doesn’t end at 6 innings. As the great theologian Yogi Berra once said; “It ain’t over till it’s over.”

2) We have a unique opportunity to do something meaningful on Halloween. Shine Your Light is a way to redeem a night that the enemy has taken as his. When you tell people that you care about them and God loves them it can make a real difference. Who knows what kind of a hurt the costume is hiding? We know that the real answer to the pain of life is to “Encounter the Reality of God”. Take a few moments on the website and see how you can be engaged in this outreach to our community. I believe it can have a dramatic impact on all of us.

3) Another lesson learned from the UW Huskies. This one comes from their agonizing last minute loss to Arizona State on Saturday night. You’ve got to play the whole game. Finish strong or all you’ve done may be lost.

God is faithful keep on trusting.

Cal

As usual I’ve got all kinds of things rolling around in my head so I’ll take a couple of minutes to share them with you.

1) It’s great to be back home after a week in North Dakota. It almost felt like spring when we got off the plane. Our time at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale was extremely rewarding. It is a privilege to share with developing leaders and maybe give them an insight or two that will help them along the way.  I spoke in two chapels and several classes.  The students were very kind and responsive. Spending time with our dear friends Keith and Marlys Elder was a special joy (he serves as the campus pastor and the Dean of Students). President Jack Strom and his team are doing a great job.

2) Dr. Joe Castleberry, the President of Northwest University, ministered to us this past weekend. His insights on the person and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer were outstanding. There seems to be hunger in many at SLC for God to move in our lives in a deep and penetrating way. That hunger is not just for an emotional experience it is for something that is strong and life changing. I love Dr. Castleberry’s observation that the Holy Spirit fills us  “not to make us better than others but to make us a better version of ourselves”. I need to be a better me and it is comforting to know the Holy Spirit will do that work in my life.

3) Thanks for the cards and other expressions during this Pastor Appreciation month. All of us on staff at SLC feel your ongoing love and support. It is so great to be part of the “House of God” that is SLC.

4) A lesson from the UW/Arizona football game. The Huskies won it in the 4th quarter scoring 15 points in 18 seconds with a touchdown pass and an improbable interception and return for a touchdown. The truth to embrace is this: Never give up, a miracle may be just around the corner.

I want to live my best, believing God for his best.

Cal

This is my first adventure in the land of blog. My understanding this is a medium where I can share what I’m thinking and feeling so others can see if they resonant with it. So I’m going to take what is rolling around in my head and see what you think or feel about it. Hence the title “Out of My Head”

1) I am so grateful to be in ministry at Sound Life Church. This week Tina and I spent time with pastors from around the Northwest Ministry Network. Often the conversation turned to the challenges of dealing with difficult people and paradyms. As I thought about our context here at SLC I was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the privalege of serving a loving, caring, and peaceful congregation. A congregation that loves God, each other, and is excited to move forward into the mission of God. I understand that not every situation is like this one and I empathize, and pray for those who are facing difficulties in their ministries. I do not take for granted how blessed I am.

2) The idea that we are the House of God has really taken root in my spirit. That we can be the place where God dwells and do his purpose in the world at times overwhelms me. In all my years of ministry I don’t think I have ever been more excited about the church than I am today. Like it says in Genesis 28:17 “How awesome is this place!”. I’ve got a few more years to give and I can’t think of a better cause to give those years to.

3) October 6-10 Tina and I will be at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, ND. I will be preaching in chapel and both of us will be sharing in some classes on practical ministry. We are excited for the opportunity we have to speak into the lives of some great young leaders in training. Pray for us that we will communicate clearly what is on our hearts. It is becoming increasingly clearer to me that one of the things that God has called me to do is do what I can to equip the coming generations to fulfill the mission of God. What a joy to have that opportunity.

4) I am always sad to see summer leave but this fall will be exciting in so many ways. One of the points of excitment is that Tina’s mom will be spending about a month and a half here in Tacoma. That’s a long time for a grandma from Texas but we can’t wait to have here come.

Have a great day.

Cal