Dear Friends of CATF,
We have an exciting partnership for our next series of Talks starting on November 9th. We will work with Life Church to bring to you, How To Be Rich. Don't worry it's not some get quick rich scheme, but rather it's a clear look on what God says about, How To Be Rich.

During challenging economic times this is your opportunity to invite someone along that may be facing tough times financially or may be looking for security in very insecure financial times. Let's each fill a seat next to us with a friend over the next few weeks. We will also have lots of invite cards for you to pick up this Sunday.

I can't express in an email how much I appreciate working and learning with Life Church. We have a shared commitment to help our churches reach people for Christ and help followers of Christ grow in their relationship. I am so excited to see what God does as we work together to make a difference for Jesus in Niagara Falls and around the world.

Love to hear your feedback as always. See you this week as we wrap up the House of Blues.

The Hands and Feet of Jesus

Here's just an example of the difference we were able to make by donating Kraft Dinner. It doesn't take much to make a difference in someones life. Giving in a tangible way allows a person to know the love of God.

Thank you Brandon for the Kraft dinners. Tonight i dropped some off to 4 men living in an unhealthy situation and most have illnesses. They were very thankful for the food.

Another home with a father and daughter who have suicidal tendencies also received some boxes. They were very appreciative as well.With help like this Brandon we can reach more people in their homes and while there pray for them, talk about the Gospel...and hopefully one day do bible study
classes. The cost to this kind of ministry is cheap but it gets us in to their homes and they see the love of Christ.......please thank your church for me....

What got us here - Won't get us there

What got CATF to the place it is now won't get us to the next level. When I say level, I mean the next level of reaching people and seeing people grow in their faith. As leaders we are wrestling with what is next. Don't worry it will only get better because we are listening to God. If God says it - we will follow it. Following God means building his kingdom, not our own.

• Part of the change will be myself growing as a leader - I can only take you where I have gone.
• Another part will be changing some of the stuff I do - allowing me greater focus.
• Another part will be partnering with a larger church that has already done what we need to do.

I know this will be good - because I am excited already. I know it will be good because it is God that is leading us.

Exceptional Sunday

I'm not sure what sets one Sunday apart from another but today was an exceptional day. (It's late - I'm tired - please excuse my spelling and grammar)

• Great music again today. Loved the opening song.
• I felt especially in the zone today when teaching. I hope it was helpful. I realize more and more that what I share on Sunday helps me more than anyone. I love that!
• There was a light hearted attitude among our people today. It's good when we can laugh while dealing with a tough subject.
• I am amazed at the incredible commitment our our people.
• We had some first timers today and a few people who I hadn't seen in a little. God was clearly drawing people in to CATF - it's no accident. Talked to one person that wants to get connected with some other Christians. Pray that he follows through.
• Had someone at church today that was close to death just a couple weeks ago, but through prayer he made it through. So glad we have an amazing God.
• My mic broke this morning about 1 hour before church. I hate using a hand held mic. Thanks to a helpful church in St. Catharines we were able to borrow a mic. Jack Martin ran over to Harbour Fellowship Church and got back at about 10:05, just in time to get things set up for me. Everything worked great - thanks Jack.
• One our our people said to me, "I can't wait till Sunday comes around, I love CATF." That made my day! Thank you.
• I am thankful that my wife and kids make huge contribution to CATF. That makes my job so much easier.
• Glad to see some excited kids in Kidmo.
• Glad to see our Host Team Leader, Lynn Graham welcoming the parking lot clean up man in for a coffee. That's showing God's love.
• We collected 219 boxes of Kraft Dinner for local foodbanks.
• Terry Pierce loves to serve our church by taking on jobs that just need to be done.
• Thank you Debbie and Mark Wright for getting right out after our gathering to greet people as they leave - yes I notice this and it means a lot.
• There are so many others I could mention - can I just say Thank you so much - God knows the investment you make.

Psst - want some inside news

Can I give you some inside news?

Mark November 23 and December 21 on your calendars - on each of these days we are asking you and your friends to be at Church at the Falls. I believe with all my heart that CATF is one of the best kept secrets in Niagara Falls (I hope you agree) and we want you to get the word out. Make sure that friends who attend regularly are out on these days. Make sure that friends who attend occasionally are out on that day. Make sure that friends who don't attend get an invite. Maybe plan a lunch out after as a way connect further with one another. Either way we want those two days to be big days.

Are we doing this just to say we broke an attendance goal - no way! We care about people and we know that the truth of God can be found at CATF and we want as many people as possible to hear about Jesus. We also know that it encourages each of us when we have a bigger gathering. We also know that we all need incentives to encourage attendance. Let's make Jesus famous in Niagara Falls! After all he did create that little drip of water we call the Falls (sarcasm). He deserves more applause than his creation does.

So start praying for people who have been absent to be out that day and for new people to feel welcome to be with us that day. I'm excited about what we all will accomplish that day. God wants to change lives - are you in the game?

P.S. If you are someone that has been absent for awhile make sure you are with us on these two great days. No guilt intended:-) We miss seeing you.

Amazing

OPEN ARMS
by Max Lucado

How do you think God can use you to help change the world?

If you ever wonder how in the world God could use you to change the world, look at the people God used to change history. A ragbag of ne'er-do-wells and has-beens who found hope, not in their performance, but in God's proverbially open arms.

Abraham- God took what was good and forgave what was bad and used "old forked tongue" to start a nation. Moses- would you call upon a fugitive to carry the Ten Commandments? God did. David- his track record left little to be desired, but his repentant spirit was unquestionable. Jonah- God put him in a whale's belly to bring him back to his senses. But even the whale couldn't stomach this missionary for too long.

On and on the stories go: Elijah, the prophet who pouted; Solomon, the king who knew too much; Jacob, the wheeler-dealer; Gomer, the prostitute; Sarah, the woman who giggled at God. One story after another of God using man's best and overcoming man's worst.

The reassuring lesson is clear. God used (and uses!) people to change the world. People! Not saints or superhumans or geniuses, but people. Crooks, creeps, lovers, and liars?he uses them all. And what they may lack in perfection, God makes up for in love.

Jesus later summarized God's stubborn love with a parable. He told about a teenager who decided that life at the farm was too slow for his tastes. So with pockets full of inheritance money, he set out to find the big time. What he found instead were hangovers, fair-weather friends, and long unemployment lines. When he had had just about as much of the pig's life as he could take, he swallowed his pride, dug his hands deep into his empty pockets, and began the long walk home; all the while rehearsing a speech that he planned to give to his father.

He never used it. Just when he got to the top of the hill, his father, who'd been waiting at the gate, saw him. The boy's words of apology were quickly muffled by the father's words of forgiveness. And the boy's weary body fell into his father's opened arms.

The same open arms welcomed him that had welcomed Abraham, Moses, David, and Jonah. No wagging fingers. No clenched fists. No "I told you so!" slaps or "Where have you been?" interrogations. No crossed arms. No black eyes or fat lips. No. Only sweet, open arms. If you ever wonder how God can use you to make a difference in your world, just look at those he has already used and take heart. Look at the forgiveness found in those open arms and take courage.

And, by the way, never were those arms opened so wide as they were on the Roman cross. One arm extending back into history and the other reaching into the future. An embrace of forgiveness offered for anyone who'll come. A hen gathering her chicks. A father receiving his own. A redeemer redeeming the world.
No wonder they call him the Savior.

From No Wonder They Call Him the Savior
(W Publishing Group, 1986, 2004) Max Lucado

Sunday Review

• Started our new series, Leaving the House of Blues.
• My mic messed up so it took a little for me to get comfortable this morning, but I think things got better after changing mics.
• Our band hit it out of the the park with, Everyday I Have the Blues. Way to go Jay, Jason, Nathan and Julie. You did a great job. Thanks Brenda for leading an incredible band.
• Great work by our tech team today - good sound, video and lighting.
• Nice to meet some new people today.
• One a serious note. There was one first time guest going around asking our people what the church believed and that's just fine - I hope our people can clearly communicate what we hold to. What gets me, is that when that same person talked to me they never asked me any of the controversial questions they asked others. If you are reading this blog, when you don't want to talk straight to the pastor it seems like you come in with an agenda. As one of our people put it, you came across as very judgemental of our church. You may not have meant any of this, but you were a guest and we treated you with love and respect. You should do the same as our guest. Please think twice next time you enter a church as a guest. Next time we meet I will be more than happy to answer your questions - trust me.
• Let's move on to a little lighter subject. Lot's of Kraft Dinner donated to benefit local food banks. We will have the numbers next week. Thank you!
• If you missed week one of our HOB series you can join in next week.
• Have a great week. It is a pleasure to serve along with all of you.

Sunday's Coming!

Don't miss this Sunday -- we start our new series, Leaving the House of Blues. Practical biblical talks about discouragement and depression. Be on time, or you will miss something really cool - that's all I'm saying. You'll have to be at the theatre by 10:00 am - wake up sleepy head.

Please remember to bring your boxes of Kraft Dinner, this is the last Sunday to donate.

Praying for your pastor

For those who have wondered how best to pray for me.

• Pray that I work smarter. I’ve been working hard for the church since we started but I need to learn how to work smarter. I need to manage my time better. I need to focus on my leading and equiping the people of CATF.
• Pray that I keep my priorities in order. Kids grow up fast and I want to be sure that I give them, and Brenda everything I can. They come before my postion as a pastor and I need to practice that.
• Pray that I take care of myself. I don’t do a good job of taking care of myself at times. I need to stay on my exercise routine and eat right. I also need to learn how to relax so I reduce stress. I also need to be aware of my Crohn's Disease and do what I can to care for myself in this area.
• Pray that I focus more energy on developing deeper relationships with my peers. I know many, many great pastors and I like to think that I’m friends with most of them but I want to deepen some of these relationships. The introvert in me sort of gets in the way of this a lot.
• Pray for fresh passion for me. I’ll be completely honest and tell you that being the pastor of a church is tiring and demanding. I love what I do, but I constantly need a fresh word from God.
• Pray that I rest better. I struggle with taking enough time to rest and rejuvenate. I struggle to take a complete day off.
• Pray for my family. Ministry can take it’s toll on a family. There is also a spiritual warfare element in play when you’re leading a church. Please be praying for my wonderful wife, Brenda, and my great kids. Pray for protection from the enemy as well as peace and joy from the Lord.
• Pray that I make sufficient time for prayer. Yes it is hard for me to pray with all that comes my way -- and you thought that was all I did all day long :-)
  

Thanks so much. Prayer is the greatest gift you can give me.

Thanksgiving

I would like to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. (Yes, for my American friends, this Monday is Thanksgiving in Canada.) I trust you are able to spend time with friends and family. I hope you are able to think about God's may great blessings in your life.
Psalm 118:1 "Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good"

I am thankful for

• My Saviour Jesus. My Heavenly Father. My eternal home.
• My family - even when they drive me insane. I'm sure I do the same to them.
• My church - what a great bunch of people.
• My health (although not perfect) - last year at this time I had just got out of the hospital after a four week stay.
• My country - even if the politicians try to mess it up - it's still great.
• My turkey dinner that will be out of this world.
• My freedom - not many countries have what we do.
• My future - because God has a great one planned.
• My security - no matter how bad the financial scene gets and whatever else happens in this crazy world - God is in control and he will take care of me.

Look forward to seeing you each this Sunday and bring a friend along with you. Also remember we are doing a Kraft dinner drive for our local foodbanks this week and next.

Why

Why do we meet in a movie theatre, why do we use secular music at times, why do we dress casual, why does the pastor wear jeans and an untucked shirt (partially because I like to), why do we present profound truths of God in simple terms, why do we challenge people to life change and not simply just dispense knowledge, why do we serve Tim Hortons coffee, why do we use a contemporary style music. Why do we do these things? To be the coolest church in town? NO - far from it. We do these things because we want to reach secular unchurched people for Jesus. We do this so that followers of Christ are in a growing environment, rather than a dormant dying environment.

Until you as a believer experience what it's like to have a unchurched friend sitting next to you on a Sunday morning you won't completely get this. You may get it to a certain point (and I'm glad you do), but when you bring someone along to church, when you start praying for them and when see the life change happen; then the light bulb will burn brightly. You will be more pumped up about CATF than ever before. Until you have person in need of Jesus sitting next to you, it is impossible to get the whole picture.

The church is to be like a teaching hospital - people are learning and saving lives at the same time. Because lives are being saved you are growing and because you are growing you are reaching out to help others. I want that for each of you - I want you to experince the joy of being part of a person hearing about Jesus. Keep working hard to build relationships with eternity in mind. Keeping reaching out, even when you are turned down.

We are in this together -- let's make a difference.

Sunday Review

Thanks CATF for another extraordinary Sunday. I continue to be blown away at the commitment level of all our volunteers. I am a blessed man to be part of such a great church. Your investment in others is making a difference. People from every - I mean every walk of life were with us today. People that may not have gathered with a church otherwise. People who for the first time gathered with a church; that's amazing to hear in a country like ours, but that's why we are here. Lives were forever impacted by Jesus Christ today and that my friend makes it worth it all. I will shut my eyes tonight thanking God for all he is doing in and through lives at CATF.

Let's reach one more for Jesus!

This Life Is Short

Just got off the phone with another pastor. He shared with me that a dear friend and member of his church suddenly passed away this morning. Life here on earth can come to an end so suddenly. We don't know how many days we have.

• Do we love like we are dying?
• Do we care like we are dying?
• Do we live like we are dying?
• Do we realize we are all dying? Literally little by little, it's only a matter of time.
• Do we realize this is just the beginning, then comes our eternal home. Eternally with God or eternally separated from him. Are you ready?
• Live today like it's your last day.

I, Paul, am God's slave and Christ's agent for promoting the faith among God's chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it. My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago—and he doesn't break promises! And then when the time was ripe, he went public with his truth. I've been entrusted to proclaim this Message by order of our Savior, God himself. Titus 1:1-4 The Message

Let's each point one more to Jesus before it's too late.

Can't wait to gather with each of you this Sunday - bring a friend along.

Project Share

We are looking for a point person to arrange opportunities for our people to serve at Project Share once per month.

Here's what would be involved.

• Arrange one morning per month where our people can volunteer at Project Share.
• Make people aware of the opportunity to serve by email or phone calls.
• Do this on a monthly basis.

Email Brandon Duff if you are interested, brandon@churchatthefalls.com

Random Thoughts

• This past Sunday was one of our best. Great connection with the people, new theatre is working out real good, band did great, video and sound guys were right on and the people at CATF are the greatest.
• I am amazed at the current financial fiasco that is going on in the States. Wondering where this will all lead.
• Frustrated with political leaders. Why can't they just talk about what they would do as our Prime Minister rather than tearing down their opponents. I think the first political leader that focuses on what he will bring to the table and stop the negative campaigning, will win a landslide. Not sure if I will see that in my lifetime or not. Political mudslinging has been the status quo for my lifetime and beyond. Let's all learn to speak a good word.
• I like the cool weather, but it's what is around the corner that I don't like.
• I love Thanksgiving and can't wait. Good food and just taking it easy is right up my alley.
• NHL hockey has started once again and that is a good thing. GO MAPLE LEAFS!
• The Buffalo Bills are 3-0.
• I am looking forward to the House of Blues series coming up. We all get down in the dumps to one degree or another and God cares about us. Don't miss this four week series looking at Biblical answers to depression.