What have you seen? What have you heard?

::truth::

“Go and tell John what you have seen and heard” from Luke 7:18-23

John the Baptist was concerned and confused. His cousin, Jesus, was doing great miracles – miracles one would expect of the promised messiah. But the revolution was not being televised – yet. Where was the fiery reformer John was expecting?

So John asked the question, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”

Jesus’ answer was as authentic as he was, “Go tell John what you have seen and heard”. Jesus did not send a simplistic answer nor did he send a theological tome. He simply pointed to his works and his words. Jesus came with the works and the words of the kingdom and he both walked the walk and talked the talk. His lips and his life were perfectly consistent.

Which gives us pause for reflection - if we were asked, “Are you the church – the body of Christ, the hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus, or shall we look for another”, could we say, “What do you see? What do you hear?”

Can we point to our works and our words as validating our reality? We are called to be “on-mission” with Christ and our words and works should be self authenticating. That’s called “authentic”. That’s called “being real”.

So let the gospel come to you and through you to a lost, blind, and hurting world!

The well wisher of your soul’s happiness,
Pastor Tom

Stuff to click: Free worship music (with chord sheets!) - http://fm.thevillagechurch.net/music, Kevin DeYoung’s list of contemporary “Jesus-es”

::prayer::

Andria M – Pray for my friend from work, Sara, who is going through some tough stuff in her life. Also pray that I and the other Christians at work would show God’s love in the way we live.

Barbara B – Pray for my students and me as they return this week J. Pray for healing of my right eye. Pray for the pending sale of my parent’s house. It will take a miracle for it to sell.

Denise D – Thanks you for all your thoughts and prayers for my mother who had a hip replacement. She is recovering well and continues to do so. Please pray for me – I will be having surgery Monday for kidney stones. Thanks you and God bless you all. Continue to pray for all our troops. My friend, Dave, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease and a friend, Alea, who has been in the hospital due to a rare illness and is recovering.

Eloise B – Pray for safety as we travel to PA on Fri and Sat and that our daughter, Pam, will be open to talk with us about Christ and that she will recommit her life to Him.

Deborah T – 1) Bread on Aug 2^nd – people taste it, like it, and buy it. 2) For vacation Aug 4-29. Good family bonding time, fun, laughter, meet other people… true followers of Christ. That we are ready for the trip – bring all we need. Most of all God is with us and protects us: driving, no accidents or illness (falling off a cliff!)

Nancy W – Pray for wisdom for our family as we make decision with James for his future. Continued healing of my hand. Outreach for our church.

Samuel W – Please pray for daddy to have a safe trip home.

::community::

Meet Julie Wolf: Julie is a licensed counselor representing Hope Counseling Clinic – “restoring hope and healing hearts.” Julie is leading a seminar called “Surviving Grief: Understanding Yourself and Those You Love” August 12th from 7pm to 8:30pm in the fellowship hall of the First United Methodist Church of Winter Garden. RSVP at 407-758-5693

New CD “Love Rains Down.”The album features local homeless musicians working together with an amazing cast of musicians and producers, including one sound engineer who just won an Emmy (all time and production donated). They all pooled their talents to create an amazing CD full of original songs. All the proceeds will go toward supporting work with the homeless in Orange County, with the first priority being to provide a shower trailer for the homeless of West Orange County. Available on Sundays! $10 Donation.

::mission::

Mike & Sue Farho (Tunisia)- Praise that attendance at the Sousse church has been up and for the great prayer walk they did last Sunday on the beach. Pray for the Farho's as they work through updating their resident visas.

Tim & Janice Greenfield (Guadalajara)- Praise for the 6 families that attended church due to exposure from VBS. Pray for the Greenfields and other Alliance Missionaries from Mexico City and Tijuana as they gather this coming week for yearly field forum. Their speaker will be Paul Little.

Please pray for the church family of Saint’s Sanctuary Alliance Church in Pompano Beach. Their church van, filled with adults and children, was in a major accident last Saturday on the Florida Turnpike while returning from Orlando. One person died, and several were injured. Some are still in the hospital, including Pastor Matthieu Jean-Gilles’ daughter.