Sermon Tone Analysis

®PRADDRESS:Bill and Sharon Alexander

1015 Gayley Ave, #158

Los Angeles, CA 90024¯®TP2¯®PL49¯®OF2¯®RM51¯®IP0,3¯Sharon Brekke & Bill Alexander Wedding -- July 7, 1990

Texts: Mt 22:35-40; Rom15:5-6

®PT10¯®LS1.25¯

Nothing is as simple as it seems.

[lakeside wedding, rain

Nothing is as simple as it seems.]

S&B telling about business; simple matter to refill used laser cartridges with toner, but no, besides discovering complexities of operating a business, 5% failure rate on refurbished, 2% failure even on new

Nothing is as simple as it seems.

talk about simple: did you hear what J said in the Mt reading? the OT, Bible of J's time (show), all this can be summed up in: "You shall love the Lord your God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind."

(the foremost command) and "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

- only 2 simple commands about love, yet it would not take much self-reflection to realize how often we do not love God w~/ all our heart, soul, mind; and who among us would be comfortable standing before God to be judged on how perfectly we have loved our neighbors as ourselves?

- failure rate for all humanity on this one is 100%

Nothing is as simple as it seems.

but J was talking about love in all capital letters, that big kind of love which is so all-encompassing as to be impossible to do; what about simple kind of love we celebrating here today; pretty straight path that brings you before me (some detours, something about Bill's dancing) but basically story of love is: 2 people meet, fall in love, get married - this is simple love between man and woman as husband and wife - but no, divorce rate indicates that we dealing w~/ substantial failure rate here too

Nothing is as simple as it seems.

I'm sure I'm not telling you anything new, something you've not thought about, but in few moments, you two are solemnly going to promise your lifelong love for each other even under the most complex and difficult of situations.

And you also going to express your mutual intent to serve God and others as long as you both shall live.

Now, I am certain of your sincere will to be faithful to your promises.

I am certain that you will both do your very best to live out your good intentions, but we all know: Nothing is as simple as it seems.

So, how is it that you dare to make to such awesome promises; promises for which the failure rate is seemingly bound to be 100%?

So how can I, knowing that nothing is as simple as it seems, let you declare such binding pledges here in the presence of these witnesses and of God?

God, that's the magic word; no, not magic word, rather the simple word, simple reason why you can promise your love to each other.

God is the simple reason why I am glad to affirm your vows to each other.

God is the simple reason why this day, this ceremony, this gathering of witnesses is taking place.

God is the simple reason your love, your marriage, your future life together are all possible.

You see, it is not simply your promises to each other that are making this marriage happen.

It is, in fact, God's promise to you that is the important factor.

Listen again to what the apostle Paul said in the reading from Romans: "May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God does steadfastly promise to encourage you, to strengthen and support your love for each other.

It is God who promises to grant you to live in harmony with each other even in the most difficult times of our complex lives.

It is as simple as that.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.