Sermon Tone Analysis

®TP2¯®PL50¯®OF2¯®TW51¯®IP0,3¯®FF204¯®PT11¯Wedding of Jennifer Augdahl ~/ Troy Swenson

HLC 5~/7~/94

Texts: SongSol 2:10-13 Mt19:4-6

is a sense in which this wedding today is like a fairy tale

Once upon a time, man (Troy) and woman (Jennfr)

when they first met, it was pretty much love at first sight, and after many adventures and journeys, got married and ... well, better not get ahead of selves; get them married first

But I hope you and everyone here today feels a bit of the romance, the fairy tale type of happiness that this wedding brings

You 2 even chose one of the most romantic passages in the Bible in the Song lesson

It's a great wedding text for a spring tie wedding (actually, a great elopement text: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!")

and so this celebration is a time for love and fairy tale dreams and the start of a happily ever after

and the romance is wonderful... until it runs into the reality of the everyday world

you know what I mean: when work starts to get overwhelming and the car breaks down and the bills come in and it seems you hardly ever see each other and you start to think that the only way you are ever going to get away and get back together is if once again take the advice of the Song: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away!"

in describing the trials and tensions of married life, I know I'm not telling you anything you're not expecting,

but in few moments, you two are solemnly going to promise your lifelong love for each other even under the most complex and difficult and un-fairy-tale like of situations.

Now, I am certain of your sincere desire to be faithful to your promises, but in real world, not all things can be fixed with hammers and nails by even the most industrious and ambitious carpernter

I am certain that you will both do your very best to live out your good intentions, but in the real world, there are no magic potions, no golden-egg laying hens, no fairy godmothers who can fix everything with the wave of a wand

so how are you going to manage your marriage?

how are you going to keep love and romance alive?

how are you going to keep your marriage together, keep it all together?

it is this sort of reality addressed by the Matthew passage you chose

the answer seems obvious: let no one and no thing separate you -- or put you asunder in the traditional wording

that's easier said than done, of course,

but it is impt to see that with everything that God does, there is a promise which accompanies the command

and the promise is this: it is God who has brought you to this day

it is what God has joined together that shall not be separated

it is is the love of God which will keep you together because God's love is far stronger and more powerful and more wonderful than even the most passionate and romantic of human loves

and this should be a great comfort and source of strength and encouragement to you, especially in the midst of trying and difficult times

For you see: you need not long for some fairy GODmother to help you out of trouble

you can count on a wonderful GOD who will be there with you in the midst of sickness and health and better and worse and all that the years may bring

So, when it's one of those times when you know that your life ain't no fairy tale, times when human love falters, that's when you will most appreciate God's love.

that's when you will be able to rejoice that it is God who has joined you together

and when that happens, well, Once upon a time, man (Troy) and woman(Jenfr)

who fell in love, and after many adventures and journeys, got married and lived happily ever after... and loved happily ever after because they were joined together in God's never-ending love

AMEN.