Chuck Carstensen

About two weeks ago there was a fire in an Elk River, MN which burnt an apartment complex causing several families to be displaced. Many families lost everything in that fire. Many are still trying to find housing and living in local hotels. There are a lot of hurting people.

Anyone wanting to help these families can get more info or donate to:

www.hopefilledhands.com

763-262-HOPE

Donation can be sent to:

Hope Filled Hands

PO Box 150

Elk River, MN 55330

I personally am working with a family who was living there who had an offer accepted on a bank owned home that were are waiting to close on. The people really need this to close. So I would like a special prayer request for them that their closing would happen this Friday at 1:30pm. These people lost everything in the fire and just want to move on and start over. They have kept a great attitude and we have been getting delays on the Sellers end of the closing.

For the rest of the people keep them in your prayers that they may find housing and that God would restore to them all that has been taken. Thanks!

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate. He is a Dynamic Life Coach; The Discovery Coach - "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (available this winter).

Its been a couple weeks since my last ALPHA post. Things are coming together nicely for the program. With a few more participants signing up we will have the largest group in the last couple of years. Today I am working on a few of the final details as far as preparing for the kick off event tomorrow! God has blessed this so I am looking forward to a great 10 weeks.

FALL SESSIONS 2008

Sundays...(5:30 - 7:30)

Sept. 21 Alpha Celebration Dinner (Christianity, Boring, Untrue, and Irrelevant?)

Sept. 28 Who is Jesus?

Oct.5 Why did Jesus die?

**Oct. 12 How can I be sure of my faith? and How and Why Should I read the Bible?

**Oct. 19 How and Why do I Pray? and How does God Guide Us?

Oct. 25-26 Weekend Away

Nov. 2 How can I resist evil?

Nov. 9 How and why do I tell others?

Nov. 16 Does God Heal Today?

Nov. 23 What about the Church?

This takes place at Cambridge Lutheran Church, Cambridge MN. For questions or signup contact Chuck Carstensen at 612-290-3809 or at chuckcarstensen@hotmail.com

For Alpha info near you go to www.alphausa.org

This is an invitation to everyone in the Isanti County area to attend ALPHA this fall at Cambridge Lutheran Church. (621 Old North Main Street - Cambridge, MN 55008)

Alpha is a practical introduction to the Christian faith and is open to anyone and its non denominational. The evening starts with a meal, followed by a video and then discussion. Child care is provide. The schedule is below. Contact me for for info!

FALL SESSION 2008

Sundays...5:30-7:30

Sept. 21 Alpha Celebration Dinner (Christianity, Boring, Untrue, and Irrelevant?)

Sept. 28 Who is Jesus?

Oct.5 Why did Jesus die?

**Oct. 12 How can I be sure of my faith? and How and Why Should I read the Bible?

**Oct. 19 How and Why do I Pray? and How does God Guide Us?

Oct. 25-26 Weekend Retreat

Nov. 2 How can I resist evil?

Nov. 9 How and why do I tell others?

Nov. 16 Does God Heal Today?

Nov. 23 What about the Church?

For questions or signup contact Chuck Carstensen at 612-290-3809 or at chuckcarstensen@hotmail.com

The Dalbo Ministerial League Softball Tournament is now underway with 7 games tonight. My team Cambridge Lutheran #1 got the 7th seed and faced Harvest Evangelical Church the #26 seed and got a big scare sneaking out a 6-5 win.

We simply could not string together any hits. Thankful they did not string together many hits either. Chris Goebel our normal pitcher was gone and my sister Michelle Carstensen convinced me to let her pitch and thankfully she pitched awesome which was key for the win tonight.

Brandon Erickson, Michelle, and Al Wolfe had 2 hits each tonight to lead the team. Next game is at 7:30 am Saturday vs Grace at Maple Ridge the #17 seed team but the #3 team from the lower division so they had a 10-3 record on the season which was better then our 7-6 regular season record. We beat them twice last year, but I am not sure if they have upgraded their team or not. It should be a good game and we will need to hit much better to have a chance of winning. Maple Ridge beat River of Life 7-6 to advance to face us.

All games on Saturday and Sunday will be at the Cambridge Softball Complex. The lowest seed team to win tonight was New Hope #2 (the 22nd seed) beating Grace Gospel the #11 seed.

Please click here to subscribe to my blog . See the sidebar on the right to subscribe by email.

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Chuck Carstensen is a Realtor with The Discovery Team at RE/MAX; helping buyers, sellers, and investors of residential real estate. He is a Life/Development Coach; The Discovery Coach - "Helping you discover your talents, desires and purpose." Carstensen is a speaker and co-author in the best selling book series Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Your Wake Up Moments (available this fall).

Elk River Area Toastmasters

We all want to be first to the finish line in our business! We are all winners! Some of us simply need to work on our skills a little more to realize the results that we truly want and deserve.

The Elk River Area Toastmasters group is looking for more members! This has been a great way for me to increase my speaking skills and confidence.

How can you recognize a person who can benefit from toastmaster? Let me count the ways:

Lackluster Leaders Procrastinating Presenter

Enthusiastic Entrepreneur Managerially challenged Manager

Stumbling Speaker Boring Business meetings

Tactless Trainers/Teachers Potential/Promising Poets

Stoic Storytellers Tall Tale talkers

Crackpot Comedians Unprepared Utterances

...and so on

We meet Thursday's at 12:00 noon at the Elk River Community Center located at 413 Proctor Ave. Elk River, MN 55330. You are welcomed to visit. Call Chuck Carstensen at 612-290-3809 with questions.