Sunday

• Great Day!
• Gave the band a break today and used video from the Life Church Band - it was good but I love our band and can't wait to have them back next week.
• Lots of our volunteers away but others stepped up and filled in. We have the most dedicated group of people I have ever worked with.
• Gave a little sneak peak into the next series, "Difficult People". It will be fun!
• Gave out invitations to all our people encouraging them to bring a friend.
• We are working on a move to a bigger theatre, the one right next to us, theatre 6. Look for this happening soon. We will have more stage space and give us lots more seats to fill. I am excited about this.
• Got to meet a pastor today who is just starting at a church in St. Catharines. Always glad to encourage another pastor. I told him to call me and I would tell him all the mistakes I have made to spare him doing the same.
• I have to give our Falls Fanatic award to Jack Martin. Jack does so much on a Sunday morning, it blows my mind. This morning he was changing a bulb and fuse in our stage lighting and fixing hinges on one of our cases. In addition he did all his regular setup stuff. Jack is an example of selfless commitment -- he could easily be sleeping in our Sunday morning.
• One more week of our Elephant Series -- don't miss it.

Great Leadership

We are all familiar with the Maple Foods listeria outbreak that has killed 12 people and caused others to fall ill. Here's some good thoughts from another pastor on this whole story.
http://connexuscommunity.typepad.com/carey_nieuwhof/2008/08/this-is-great-l.html

Labour Day Weekend

Well summer is almost over, all except the calender saying so. We get back in to our schedules, the kids are back to school and summer vacations are over. On the flip side this is a great time of year. Schedules are good things and help us focus more, just as summer is good because we get to relax a little bit. As we head into September, I encourage you to make a commitment to be at Church at the Falls each Sunday. That one hour commitment every week has the potential to change your life.

This Sunday we continue our series, There's An Elephant In The Room. We are looking at maintaining momentum with the change we are want to see in our life. It will be a great talk -- you will find it helpful as you make the changes necessary to live a life that is more healthy and productive.

We have one more week of the Elephant series and then into Dealing With Difficult People. You will love the video segments we have planned for this series(we have a sneak preview this week). This series will help you with "THOSE PEOPLE" in your life. Don't Miss it!

Looking forward to see each of you at the theatre this weekend. Bring a friend -- it's the best investment you can make in a person's life.

Choose To Be A World Changer

Our Kimdo team leaders sent us a great word --

We were reflecting on how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things while driving the truck and trailer back after the gathering this past Sunday. We noted to each other that we realize this biblical truth every week. It is amazing how God uses what little talent we have to reach KIDMO children every week. We have few abilities to teach, sing and share with children, but when we give it up to God …amazing things happen.

May your prayer this week also be “God, make my life count.” May you allow God to use you to perform a miracle in someone else’s life today. A perfect example of someone being used by God is the life of Moses. Moses was in an excellent position to affect the lives of those around him, but he felt inadequate, insignificant and didn’t think he could be used by God. However, God speaking from a burning bush said to Moses “I AM everything you will need to change the world.”

Even after Moses took his sandals off and realized who God was, he continued to doubt his abilities. God responded by saying “This is not about you, it never has been about you, and never will be about you.” God went on to say to Moses “It is all about ME. I need to work through you, to be able to show my power and miracles.” Yet, Moses felt the job was way too big for him. There was no way Moses felt that he could pull it off by himself.

This is when God spoke directly to Moses as he did to Joshua and his people saying “I command you--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Choose to be a world changer that takes risks. Be enabled to know that God wants to use you in a special way, where you are and with your current abilities. Pray to God “…to make my life count.” You, your family and those you connect with every day at work, school, at the grocery store or in the neighborhood will be glad you did as we continue to do life together.

Ian Gordon (Elder / Kidmo Leader- aka Dash Rip Rock) &
Terry Pierce (Kidmo Leader - aka Setup Man Extraordinaire)
Titles in brackets added by Brandon

Billboards

Watch for our new billboard going up on or around September 1st, right by Home Depot, Walmart and the Optimist Club. (Morrison and Dorchester Rd.)

September Is Just Around The Corner

If you are part of CATF, you rock! Thank you for all you do to make this place happen week in and week out. We are entering one of the key growth times for churches - September and October are key momentum times. Let me give you some ways you can continue to partner with what God is doing here:

• PRAY! This is where it starts. The devil would love nothing more than to derail what is happening around here. Please pray for the staff and leaders, the volunteers, for continued unity, the unchurched in this community, for people to come to faith in Christ and be baptized and all that God is doing.
• SERVE! If you aren’t plugged into what God is doing here at CATF you are missing out on being a part of what God is doing in the Niagara Region. Don’t sit on the sidelines, get in the game. I can promise you it will be one of the most fulfilling things you have done in your life. Serve in an area you LOVE, not out of obligation but because you love doing it.
• DO LIFE with someone from CATF. Hang out with people at a coffee shop, in your home or join a LifeGroup in the fall.
• GIVE! BIG vision takes BIG money. God has chosen to fund His work through His people. I am sold out to personally giving to this church -- so my money is where my mouth is. You can’t out give God. Thank you for your faithfulness in this area. Because of your giving, we are able to do what we do. People's lives are changed for all eternity because of your generosity. Our weekly investment in the lives of people is about $2500. Currently our weekly giving covers only about half of that. Needless to say we are waiting on God to bring in the additional funds and He will do that through you -- that's the awesome part of it.
• INVITE! Get your friends to church. You are the church’s best marketing. Billboards are great - but you will out perform billboards any day. Invest in people and they will come to church with you. Don't spend all your time with Christians -- invest in friends that need to come to faith in Christ. What a way to live and give!
• HANG ON! God is going to do some great things this fall and you get to be part of it.

Sunday Thoughts

• It's still summer and was very evident by our attendance level today.
• We have the greatest most dedicated group of volunteers around.
• Terry was away today and we really felt it. He is a key person on our set up and tear down team.
• Next week Jack will be away so that's another key team leader -- I'm glad they all get a well deserved break.
• Sound issues galore today! That really throws me off my game -- It took me nearly the whole message to get on track. Feel sorrow for all you that had to listen to me today. Not sure if my talk got recorded -- no great lost. It was painful enough to listen to me once today let alone to listen to the recorded version.
• Good to see a number of new faces out today.
• Met a pastor who was vacationing in Niagara Falls -- he is from the Chicago area. Always good to have pastors stop in.
• Band sounded really good -- just wished my part of sound worked as good as their part did. (just kidding)
• Next week -- there will be checks and rechecks before we go live. I am passionate about us doing our best each week. These weeks give me a kick in the butt about being more thorough during our practice. It's easy to get a little lax when things have gone so well for weeks on end.
• Thanks to all my Falls Fanatics -- can't wait to assemble again next week.

Buffalo Bills and The Poor

Last evening my son, Kyle and I went to see the Buffalo Bills play an exhibition game at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. My thoughts:

• tickets too expensive but worth it for a one time fun dad and son night out
• not a bad seat in the place
• food at the stadium is way over priced...what's new
• they shoot a canon off when the Bills get a TD or FG....scares the life out of ya.
• we rode the Go Train from Burlington to Union Station which was a good move
• football fans can get loud and drunk -- noticed this more on the Go Train up and back

So that was the Game now here's the real highlight:

On our way from the Game back to Union Station there were numerous homeless people begging. As we approached Union Station I heard some young guys really giving it to this homeless man -- belittling him would be an understatement. I couldn't believe what they were saying and I was drawn to the one loud mouth of the group. I just stared him down. He didn't take kindly to my intervention in his childish game. He began to run his mouth at me, but to no avail I just kept walking having made my point to him already. Unfortunately my son had heard enough and let the big loud mouth know. At this point a couple of the guys began to follow us offering up a few choice words. We just calmly walked on and they got the message. We entered Union Station and I sensed God leading me back to the homeless man. I ran back to him, gave him some money and said what I think God wanted me to say, "God loves you -- what those guys said to you is wrong -- you have potential." The man's eyes engaged me the whole time -- I saw hope in his eyes as I a spoke to him. With that I ran off to catch my train realizing that God had placed us there for such a time as this. It was worth it to be threatened by those thugs and if I had to, I would have stood toe to toe to defend this poor man. God loves the poor -- no matter what there situation or how they got to where they are. God knows each person hearts -- we are not to be the judge we are to show Jesus to the world. Jesus is strong and loving -- thank God we were able to show both last night.

We all need to step in and help as we sense God lead. That night I passed several needy people -- God didn't ask me to meet every need -- just the one he had for me. What need can you meet? Whose spiritual or physical need can you meet?

How about the loud mouth thugs? My first prayer, "God bring judgement." My second prayer and prayer I have prayed several times, "God redeem their lost souls." I was once like them and in need of Jesus. God forgive them and help them.

As for my homeless friend, "God, bring him hope, redeem him and may he move from his present struggles to help others he was once like."

It's amazing what you can learn at a football game.

Opportunity to Volunteer

Sunday Thoughts

Today was a really good day -- really good. There was a great buzz around the treatre and no it was not feedback over the sound system. People were excited and enjoying one another -- new people were connecting with others. It was a great day! The band did an excellent job as usual. Truth be told -- I can't wait until September because I think we are going to blow the doors of the place. That pumps me up because so many people need what we are offering this community. The local church is the hope of the world!

If you are out and about this week, please stop by the new office. I would love for you to see the our new digs. Next week we are back on track with, There's An Elephant in the Room -- great series of talks -- don't miss it.

If you haven't taken a look at the new welcome video at www.churchatthefalls.com please take a moment. Thanks so much to Daniel for the great work on this video. Daniel is our Falls Fanatic of the week -- not only does he do video work he also drums for us every other week.

Summit Thoughts

We need a whole bunch more people to go to the Summit next year. Wow! It was likely the greatest conference experience I have ever been part of. God spoke mightily through several of the speakers. No matter if you lead at home, in the church, in the community or at work -- there is was much great God centre leadership training that you leave feeling so full. God met us in a mighty way. I am thankful for our group of 6 that attended over the last two days. Thanks for taking time from work and personal schedules to become a greater leader. I can't wait to see what God does in and through those that attended.

If you are a pastor or church leader reading this blog and didn't get to the Summit, get the DVD's and take the time to watch them with your staff. Be forewarned, God will rock your world. Here's the link to buy the DVD's http://www.willowcreek.com/wca_prodsb.asp?invtid=PR31456

If you are looking for some good notes on the Summit check out what Mark Beeson blogged.

Great Pictures

Church at the Falls and the Peanut Butter Extravaganza featured in SNAP Niagara. See details and some great pictures.
http://www.snapniagarafalls.com/display/46687/1702/

Summit

Great day today at the Leadership Summit with 5 others from our church. Great practical leadership talks that will not doubt help each of us in our various leadership capacities. I hope many more of you can come next year. My computer battery is going dead so that's all folks.

Thinking About Prayer

I have been think a lot about prayer the last few days and then this morning I came a across a fascinating truth in the Bible.

The story takes place in Isaiah 37. King Hezekiah is under threat by Sennacherib. In a nutshell Sennacherib sent a letter threatening that Assyria is going to put a beating on Jerusalem and that God is no match for the Assyrian Army. This obviously stresses King Hezekiah out, but I really like how he ends up responding.

Isaiah 37:14-15
Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD.

Hezekiah turned to God during a life challenge. I wonder, do we spread our concerns out before God our Heavenly Father? DO we spread our family, health, financial, work, relational concerns before God -- I mean when was the last time we laid our heath report, bank book, lay off notice, letter from a angry spouse, letter from a child's school before God and just prayed about it?There is nothing magical about doing this, it's just a way for us to acknowledge we NEED God.
What do you need to lay before God today? Would you keep doing this day after day until you see God's work in your life? Don't worry - Pray.

True and Eternal

I read this verse and had to say something about it.
All you say can be trusted; your teachings are true and will last forever.

Psalm 119:160 (CEV)

All you say can be trusted - Is there anyone, any religious leader, politician, doctor, lawyer, factory worker, salesman, counselor, mom, dad, child or friend that you can say that about. NO, only God's Word can be trusted from beginning to end. So that means if he said it, you can hold on to it. As a good friend of mine says, "You can take that to the bank".

Your teachings are true and will last forever - God's truth never goes out of style, expires or needs revamping. If he said it, then it will pass the test of time. It's not old fashion -- it's current to your present reality.

God's Word is true and eternal - two things that no human wisdom will ever match up to. So, who are you listening to? That does not mean we ignore the people in our lives, just make sure what they say lines up with the Bible. I'm glad we have the constant truth of God to guide our lives -- now if I can just follow it instead of my stupid ideas.

Are we just going through the motions???

God created us to make a difference in every area of life that we come in contact with. Maybe what Seth has to say will help use refocus.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2008/08/sing-it-please.html

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Calling All Parents

I came across a great parenting book while off on vacation. I would highly recommend it to parents of toddlers all the way through to parents who a have 20 somethings living in their home. Great advice is found in the pages of this book -- please do yourself a favour and get this book. It really could change the relationship you have with your child.

http://www.amazon.ca/Have-New-Kid-Friday-Character/dp/0800732766

Why do we settle into a judgmental attitude?

There are times when I know that I must send you to someone else's blog because they said it so much better than I ever could. So here it is...
http://villagevoice.ca/?p=832

I'm Back

Well, I'm back at after a week of vacation. Sorry I didn't update my blog, but I needed the rest. I am looking forward to a great week ahead as we gear up for Sunday and also for the Leadership Conference on Thursday and Friday.

This past week allowed me to slow down, sleep in, get away for a couple days with my wife and just enjoy a relaxing time in general. Thanks to the many that did extra week on Sunday and leading up to this past Sunday. You are all valued partners of CATF.

Well, I'll have more to say during the week.