The Team

I had the privilege this past week to sit under the teaching of Craig Groeschel, our Life Church Network pastor. Craig is the real deal as they say. He is passionate about the Church. He loves people. He has been blessed with an incredible gift of communication.
As I talked with Craig he was truly excited to hear about what God is doing at Church at the Falls. This picture of the two of us, is a symbol of churches working together to reach people for Christ. The Life Church Network is making impact around the world.

Let's keep up the hard work reaching our city for Christ. Look forward to seeing you this weekend for week 3 of The Vow. God has something for you.

If you were with us last Sunday you know we talked about pursuing your spouse. Here's some homework to help you apply what you learned. If you missed last week, watch our website for week 2 of The Vow.

The Vow of Pursuit

Once we commit to keeping God as our #1 priority and our spouse as #2, it’s time to pursue our 2. The vow of pursuit means we close the gap between our intentions and our actions, and begin actively pursuing our spouse. When we think something good, we say it. When we think of something special, we do it. And when we want something different, we become it. Take a look at these quick ideas, use the ones that work for you, and let them become a springboard for your creativity as you pursue your 2.

Make a list

There’s no shame in asking your spouse how he or she wants to be pursued. In fact, why not make it a mutual assignment? Each of you can make a list of 10 ways you’d appreciate being pursued. Make sure you include some low-cost, easy ideas that you’d enjoy more than once. Then swap lists and use your insider knowledge for good!

2-minute investments

Technology can be a distraction in your marriage, or it can be your ally. Leverage the tools at your fingertips to pursue your spouse two minutes at a time. These micro-pursuits aren’t a substitute for the bigger ones, but they can help you make pursuing your spouse a part of your lifestyle.

• set a reminder on your calendar to ask about a future meeting or appointment your spouse has mentioned
• purchase and download some music you think he or she would enjoy
• send a steamy text
• leave a voicemail recalling a favorite shared moment
• go for a public display of affirmation on your blog/Twitter/Facebook
• search the web for lyrics to a meaningful song and quote them in an email
• send your spouse a link to an article or video that made you think of him or her

Stop doing to start pursuing?

Pursuing our spouse means we’re putting action to our intentions. But don’t overlook the things you can stop doing as another avenue of pursuit. It might be something as simple as not answering the phone in the middle of a conversation with your spouse. Maybe you can curb a habit that bothers him or her. Perhaps you’ll hold your tongue when a critical thought comes to mind. Making sacrifices for your spouse shows him or her the importance you place on your marriage and, ultimately, follows the example Christ set for us.

Life Doesn't Make Sense At Times

...and when it doesn't where do we turn?

Here's a great message from Andy Stanley that helps us see God in the midst of heart breaking circumstances. Pivotal Circumstances

Sunday Thoughts

• Started off the morning looking at a locked gate. We forgot the key to get into the yard where the trailer is stored. We eventually go a hold of someone to get us a key.
• Even though we were running late our team stepped it up and we got set up in no time.
• Teens hung out in Theatre 3 and watched a video of Ced Enough
• Great crowd today - we keep on connecting with more and more people.
• Love watching how hard our trailer team, Terry and Ian, work. It would be a tough go without them.
• I was excited to see one man learned a little something about saying good things to his wife, he had reminders in his phone all week to do this.
• Craig's talk was simple and to the point. It will be on our site this week.
• Who are you showing the love of God to? Look for ways this week to do this.
• If you showed interest in stapling flyers to the food drive bags, you will hear from us with the next 2 weeks.
• Sad news, All Saints Anglican Church in Ridgeway was gutted by fire last night. Pray for the congregation.
• Remember, Project Share can always use volunteers during business hours.
• Don't forget to pursue God and pursue your spouse this week.
• Thanks for a great day!
  

The Vow Part 1 Reflection

If you would like some further reflection on last Sundays Talk (Feb 15) click on the link below.

http://www.lifechurch.tv/curriculum/the-vow-lg-study/1

It's Friday and Sunday is Comin

Video Update

www.tokbox.com

Love to hear form you by email...love to pray for you and support you.

7 Days of Prayer

7 Days Of Prayer


The vow of Priority is one of the four vows that can help our marriage last a lifetime. It means God is our #1 priority and our spouse is #2. So here’s a challenge for this week that brings your top two priorities together: spend the next seven days praying with your spouse. Below, you’ll find tools to make it easy. And, singles, you’re included too! Check out the guide below to see how you can take part.
Pray... together?

If you're new to the idea of praying with your spouse, this is an ideal opportunity to begin. It doesn't have to be complicated! Just find a quiet time of day, get comfortable, take turns praying out loud, speak simply, and keep it to a reasonable amount of time. For couples who pray together, fewer than 1% of those relationships end up in divorce. Connecting with God together is worth the investment!
Live it

Priorities: God #1, Spouse #2. Your priorities might be in order mentally, but are they working out that way in your day-to-day? Pick at least one thing you can change this week to get aligned. Maybe it’s getting up 15 minutes earlier to read your Bible. You might turn off the tv and set aside the laptop while listening to your spouse. Perhaps you could cancel something on your schedule to spend time together.
7 Days Of Prayer Guide

Day 1: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matt 6:33
Couples and singles: God, we pray that you'd be first in every area of our lives. Please show us what that looks like and we can make you our #1 on a daily basis.

Day 2: You shall have no other gods before me. Ex 20:3
Couples: God, we pray that our relationship with you would come before any other and that it would provide our ultimate fulfillment. Please allow our marriage to reflect the overflow of our individual relationships with you.
Singles: God, I pray that you’d use this season in my life to strengthen my relationship with you. Please help me find my ultimate fulfillment in you.

Day 3: And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment... Philippians 1:9
Couples and singles: God, we pray that you would help us see what needs to change to make you first in our lives. Please give us the strength to make those changes.

Day 4: With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without... 2 Corinthians 7:1
Couples: God, we pray that you’d help us protect our priorities. Please empower us to move beyond the distractions that pull us away from our relationship with you and each other.
Singles: God, please help me guard your #1 spot in my life. I pray that you’d empower me to avoid distractions and guide me to the opportunities and relationships you want me to pursue.

Day 5: So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. Romans 14:19
Couples: God, we pray that we would encourage each other to keep you #1 in our lives. Please lead us as we lead each other back to you.
Singles: God, I pray that you would bless me with relationships that support me in keeping you as my first priority. Please show me how to encourage my friends as well.

Day 6: Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus... Romans 15:5
Couples: God, we pray that your priorities would become patterns in our lives. Please guide us to communicate about these things regularly and keep us on the same page as a couple.
Singles: God, today I pray for my future #2. Please guide me to someone who is of the same mind when it comes to you, and please prepare me to welcome that person into my life.

Day 7: And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you... 1 Thess 3:12
Couples: God, we pray that as we honor you in our lives, we would be blessed with renewal, peace, and joy. Please allow your priorities to lead us to a stronger and healthier relationship with you and each other.
Singles: God, as I honor you and wait for #2, I pray that you would bless me with renewal, peace, and joy. Please fill this season of my life with your abundance.

Sunday Thoughts

• Great crowd today.
• Good to see more new faces.
• Excellent teaching on marriage by Craig. If you missed it, watch our site this week for the video. God #1, Spouse #2 the rest falls in behind and life is so much better.
  
• 5 people raised there hand to accept Christ today.
• Almost everyone committed to pray with their spouse for the next 7 days. Singles committed to pray about their future spouse. We will have prayer outlines available here this week.
  
• Had a blast this morning with our team. Always so much fun.
  
• Good to see so many people giving of themselves.
• The band really set the tone and pointed us to God.
• Invite a friend next week. I'm over and out...off to the gym.
  

Video Update

www.tokbox.com

It's Thursday and about this time every week I get pretty pumped up about Sunday. I honestly believe that every Sunday is going to be the greatest Sunday yet. Why do I think that?

• We work hard, pray hard and plan hard for each and every Sunday.
• We anticipate God working in amazing ways. He has something for each person each and every Sunday.
  
• We believe lives will be changed and people will come to faith in Christ.
• New people will gather with us and find LIFE and that's enough to get anyone fired up.
  
• Each Sunday is fun and exciting and that's the way it should be, because we have a bunch of certifiable crazy people that come expecting great things. If you can't get excited about the church you are part of then you need to find a new church. Don't ruin it for others. :-)

This Sunday is going to be the best! Don't miss it.

Reality Check

I haven't posted much the last few days, just catching my breath from a very busy few days. Church at the Falls, there are some amazing things happening in our midst. This past Sunday we saw four people raise their hand indicating their desire to accept Christ.We have seen over 25 people indicate their desire to know for sure they are part of God's family over the last 3 months. We had 90 people in attendance on Sunday, our largest attendance outside of Christmas and Easter. We are so close to break through the 100 barrier, reaching more people for Jesus. Since our connection with LifeChurch.tv we have witnessed God working in amazing ways. Along with the amazing work of God, comes the behind the scenes work of our adversary the devil. He is destined to destruction and wants to cause as much distraction and destruction as he can. That's why we need to be in prayer. Here's how you can pray.

How You Can Pray For CATF:

• Pray we stay focused on the vision God has given us. It is so easy to get caught up in everything but the reason we exist.
• Pray for our staff. You have no idea how hard Brenda works each week to bring together an incredible worship experience. She does this well working a job and being an incredible mom and wife. Pray for strength, encouragement, the ability to manage time well, pray for God's favour on all she does, pray for a close relationship with God.
• Pray for all our great volunteers. For encouragement, for strength, for focus on why they serve, for continued unity, for a continued selfless commitment. Pray that their work schedules allow them Sunday off to be with CATF and to give of their time to God.
  
• Pray for our people. Some are facing financial hardship, some are facing health and emotional struggles, others are facing relational challenges and some are wrestling with spiritual issues.
  
• Pray for more volunteers. We need more people to help with Lil'K and Kidmo. We need people that love kids and can serve even once per month.
  
• Pray for our finances. We need to see our weekly giving double over the year ahead in order to cover our weekly expenses so that we can reach our community.
  
• Pray for our people to invite their friends. YOU are the best marketing we have and I pray you are investing in the lives of your friends and families.
• Pray we reach this community. THAT is why we exist. We have a Biblical mandate to reach the unchurched of our community. Many churches are not effective at this and we don't want to fall into that same trap.
  
• Pray for area churches. We are all on the same team. Pray God blesses, awakens, and maximizes the churches in our community.
  

Ways You Can Pray For Me:

• Pray I stay close to God. My relationship with Him is primary to all I do.
  
• Pray for my family. Brenda and my children are my first priority. A pastors family faces unique pressures, some of which are spiritual attacks by satan on us. If he can distract or derail my family it takes a toll on a lot of people. My time is constantly being pulled at and I tend to overwork. Pray that I keep my family first and pray that my family grows closer to God.
• Pray for strength and good health for me. Pray that I get enough physical activity and care for myself.
  
• Pray I hear from God. I try my best to lead CATF as God leads me. I want the best for CATF.
  
• Pray for my private world - the life no one sees. One poor choice could ruin my family and this church. Pray I stay above reproach and don’t mess it up. There are too many temptations in this world - but God is greater.
  

Sunday Is Coming

www.tokbox.com

• True[ish] Part 4 this Sunday
• Special Youth Presenation on Feb 22 at 9 am - CedEnough - to share his story on the big screen.
• Easter Food Drive
• The Vow - our next series.
  

Before it's over

If you are like me, I can get caught up in the present and forget about what is beyond this life. Why should it take tragedy or sickness to wake us up? What are you investing your life in? What would people say is the most important "thing" in your life? Take a moment and think about life beyond your last breath, Staci understood how fragile life is. Let's not forget to find Life while we can. John 3:16


Staci Mcauley Interview - Part 2 from LifeChurch.tv on Vimeo.

This Sunday

Don't miss this Sunday....we have copies of Craig's marriage book to give away.

Project Share

Here is a great Project Share event you can support.

Tickets now available for Feb.17 Chili Cook-Off

Event present by Meridian Credit Union

This year’s edition of the Mayor and Council’s Chili Cook-Off promises to be bigger, better and spicier. Reigning Chili Champ, Andrew Patterson from the Red Hot Chili Pepper will be back to defend his title of “People’s Choice for Best Chili” as voted by guests that come to the event. The 2008 “Judges’ Champion” as voted by celebrity judges, Sidney Krick from Edgewaters Tap & Grill will also be on hand to defend his title in the 2009. Not only will people be able to sample some of Niagara’s best tasting chili, they will also be able to scoop up some great prizes made available by the participating restaurants as well as renown local chef, John Tennier, who will be offering a dinner for 8 cooked and served at home. There will be 3 other establishments vying to take a trophy home this year. Chip -N- Charlies Bar and Grill, The Keg Steakhouse

(Victoria Avenue) and The Fallsview Casino Resort will also be competing. Celebrity judges include 105.1 The River FM personality Mike Ryan, Cogeco’s Jack Custers, The Review’s David Martineau, Niagara This Week’s David Bos and 2 time Chili Champion John Tennier. Tickets for the event are $10 per person and they can be bought at Project SHARE, both Meridian Credit Union locations in Niagara Falls and Curves on McLeod Road. Tickets will also be available at the door on event day. Raising the Roof winter toques will be available to purchase at the event at $10 per toque. All proceeds raised from the event will go to Project SHARE. The Meridian Credit Union has taken on title sponsor of the event in 2009. The Credit Union is a long standing partner of Project SHARE that shares core values with the agency.

Toque Tuesday in support of the Homeless

The Mayor and Council’s Chili Cook-Off is an event created to bring awareness to the issue of homelessness. The first Tuesday of every February each year is nationally dedicated to the homelessness issue. In Niagara Falls, proceeds generated through the Cook-Off and Raising the Roof toque sales will go towards Project SHARE’s efforts to combat homelessness. Emergency agencies all across Canada are also participating on Toque Tuesday by hosting events in their own communities. Show your support for solutions to homelessness by purchasing a Raising the Roof toque and wearing it proudly. For more information on Raising the Roof, please visit www.raisingtheroof.org.

Help us promote this great event in advance.

Event: Mayor & Council’s Chili Cook-Off presented by Meridian Credit Union

Tuesday, February 17^th, 2009

Optimist Hall, Niagara Falls

11:30am to 2:00pm

Marriage Series

The new series, The Vow, will start two Sundays from now, February 15. You might be asking, why we are doing this series?

Five quick reasons…

#1 - Jesus talked about marriage…so why wouldn't CATF talk about marriage. God created marriage and we need to see what he has to say.

#2 - People are hurting! With around 50% of marriages ending in divorce…something is broken. Only God can fix it.

#3 - We have singles at CATF and singles again! Before you marry or marry again...you need to get it right. You need a God foundation.

#4 - I believe every marriage can see a marriage makeover. If you are married you need this series. There is HOPE for EVERYONE who feels hopeless in marriage…and it is our desire that lives be changed as they come face to face with the one who wants to redeem them and transform their marriage.

#5 We must take God's marriage message to the community. We want to help our community, so don't miss the opportunity to invite teens, couples and singles. They will not me disappointed.

All politics aside, this video shows that the former President George Bush was truly a dad before he was a president. The message was sent from the Bush twin daughters to the Obama girls. The Bush girls clearly have a dad who has taught them values and love for others. I hope I am doing the same for my children. I hope it encourages us all to make a difference.

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