in response to folk's questions

Tons of you out there surfing the interweb have asked me to clarify a bit more about what I preached on. Here it is. The bible passages that I used were Jeremiah 17:5-11 and John 15:5-17. Figuring out what scripture to use was possibly the most difficult part because they don't really use a lectionary here. I used these to speak about the myth of individualism that we have created here on earth and how that stands in opposition to the dependence on God that sets us free way more than any earthly independence. I talked about the big statue of John Wayne at the Orange County Airport and how I always think of that statue as a sign of this worldly independence that we strive for even to our own detriment. The whole idea of the lone rider going off into the sunset being an ideal we want to fulfill.

But then in opposition to that I raised the point that it is only through a dependence on God that we can be truly free to live as we are created to live. The word "obey" is used in the John passage a few times and I talked about the difference between sending your dog to obedience school vs. Sending your child to school to illustrate the difference between using obediance to control (ie controling your dog so they don't destroy the house when you're away) and obediance as a means to set free (ie children learn in schools, hopefully, not to be controlled but to become truly independent). It is through first being dependent on a parent or teacher that we become independent adults.

The last example I used of someone being dependent and set free was my own being here at all. I am dependent on your financial support to be here which could be considered a drag if you don't know the whole story. The whole story is that I asked for money and you all sent me love and trust and prayers for free. In a way I am set free by the gift of dollars because they allow me the time and the means to do what I am doing but devoid from that love, I would just be getting paid. I am set free by your love and trust in me to give without any expectation of material return. Just think of how much more God loves us than that! He has given us everything, all of creation, and we depend on that, but it is the grace and love we have from him that sets us free to be alive as we are called.

That's pretty much all of it. If anyone wants the whole sermon text i can attatch it in an email if you shoot me line at ajrwirth@verizon.net.