On the nature of God and evil.

On the Nature of God and evil (revised)

When the Phone Rings

When the Phone Rings

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

21 Nov 2016

Ever get that awkward anticipation,

That feeling of sudden wonder,

something’s amiss here.

Suddenly, the phone rings.

It’s an odd ring, weird, scary even 

with bell tower chimes in the distance.

A familiar voice is on the other end.

Don’t get alarmed but the prospects are not good.

how does one reconcile that?

For whatever that prospect is, 

the alarm was long wasted. 

Now, the pondering of the things left to say, 

the words forgotten, 

forgiveness yet to give,

a next project on the list, 

wild vision of worlds yet to live.

With this call, someone tossed a rock through the bedroom window

Shattering the peaceful pane into a gruesome mess of cutting shards

And now who gets to deal with this and why me.

As the call completes, the task is to collect oneself

Sweep up the shards knowing

A real task is on the horizon.

Trying to understand what is happening

Trying to determine where to be and when to be there

Are supplies needed? 

a backpack, a pillow, a toothbrush, faded picture, 

What to do with the broken glass?

Don’t forget the pot on the stove.

Do I call someone else and invite them to the prospect?

When the phone rings,

Another familiar voice arrives;

With a quiver, we invite them into the prospect.

There are pauses as words are framed.

The question is beckoned, “Are you ok?”

With hesitation to counter, 

Niagara Falls does not have enough water to describe the number of tears that flow. 

Through the flood of emotions and floating courage, 

the prospect is shared.

This voice was reassuring and consoling.

T’was Time to pick up the pieces.

After the heart-felt conversation, a return to life considering.

Time to plan moves and needs.

the plan is flexible and aided by thoughts of goodwill from many

A thought arises, “we can make it,”

even beyond the horizon.

When the phone rings,

Another voice, similar to the first, is heard. 

The conversation is concerning and intense again.

A big shudder as a layer of hope is ripped away.

Despite setbacks, 

and with plans in motion, 

space for developments is found

shaping them in the corner of the room

sculpting with a great mound of clay.

When the phone rings, 

Another friendly voice to help with the molding.

There were laughs from many days gone past.

A mutual encounter is booked and 

The shape form is continued

Not really knowing what the outcome is going to be,

moving the clay around with curves and edges.

A leathered book was placed next to the clay

one full of wisdom and sayings for people walking and wondering.

Curious what purpose brought this here.

Open to a page, read of gardens and boats. 

When the phone rings,

Palpitating, sweating and dreary to answer.

It rings louder, yelling to be understood.

Unsteady and decidedly, another voice is played.

Another layer of hope is torn. 

The results came back and they found more.

Nothing tastes good.

not much to soothe the hurt.

They will try this and that, 

but success is not an option.

The prospect is nearer.

Damn it, why did I answer?

Back to the plan and the clay is forming.

There is room here for some plants. 

Potted chrysanthemum should do fine 

For texture, color, and ease,

to complement the changing mold.

Our mold has got smaller somehow.

The edges look familiar;

the shape is beginning to show.

Inscriptions on the form appear.

Toned, eerie whispers surround.

The phone rings,

Trembling and shaking, 

the friendly voice returns to relieve.

The prospect is not today, not yet,

And so let’s propose another social 

To regale of those memories and plays

With sips of love, dance and bonding of joyful tables.

The mold is recognizable and forming before the eyes;

can almost hear the circles and piece come into harmony;

can almost pick up the sculpture.

Yet, the potted bloom is tired.

Page of book turned to exile and return. 

When the phone rings,

Questioning, timing, fearing, exhausting.

It summons and trumpets loudly- almost screaming. 

The solemn voice, the prospect is near.

Weight is down, pain is up.

The smell of the body wasting.

Tend to your affairs.

Hope is but a dash. 

Nothing more will be done.

The mold is cast and real.

I can pick it up, cradle it, hold it close

Splendid plan in display

Flower in slow decay.

Book is pulled to remaining verses 

Many stars, a dragon, horsemen, scores of people.

Holding it and looking

Then it rings.

What a Dream!

Wow What a Dream!

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

Sermon based upon Isaiah 6:1-8

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our Rock, Our Redeemer.

Picture This…

You see the LORD— crowned and covered with a velvet coat on BIG throne floating over us on clouds with many angels around having a BALL singing praises

The LORD leaned over to you, yes to you, and closed your eyes and said your sins are forgiven. Are you humbled?

The LORD then prompted your chin to look and asked, “Whom Shall I send?”

For me, like Dory from Finding Nemo, I excitedly raise my hand and say “Pick me!!” — Did you feel like Dory?

Did you envision God, what did you see? Were you asked anything else? What did you say?

—

This image was among the first that I had of God from my youth.  Of the 66 chapters of Isaiah, we get to read about this BIG image of God. This becomes a well-worn image that has been used to describe God through to this day.  

It is also note-worthy that in the tradition and time of Isaiah, the temple was normally closed to people, and there is much speculation of what happened behind closed curtains.  Yet in this exciting image, the curtains were suddenly “thrown open” into full view of an amazing spectacle, quite similar to what happens when Jesus dies.  

The tribute and adoration of this dream bring strength and calm to Isaiah. In this point of the book of Isaiah, we see Israel in a time of great prosperity, the prophet relays awe, a confession, thanks, and wonder through this dream.  Isaiah is called to serve.

—

When have you been called to service? This seems typical of my life that I get pulled into doing things whether I meant to raise my hand or not.  Has this happened to you?  An auction maybe?  

Many moons ago, I met with friends and colleagues about putting together a festival of celebration for the community. We talked about what we wanted and how we wanted it.  There were some grand ideas and good conversation until someone asked, “who is going to lead this?” 

The silence was penetrating, but I mentioned something about experience working on festivals before (Not leading them, but working on them).  Guess what?  Like a goofy gloat, I did not see the rest of the people step back from the line.  I became that person.  Incidentally, I learned a bunch during the time leading that effort, but it was a work in progress.  We pulled it off, we were not sure if we were going to, but we did.

When have you been called to service?  For all of the veterans, military and civilian protection, let us give praise and thanks for the service and respect for those whom gave their costliest sacrifice.

—

In this text, Isaiah is being called to service in a time of political turmoil. Isaiah says he is unworthy. We see God forgiving and purifying the prophet after the heartfelt confession.

Now, how are we called to service you may ask? According to Jesus, we are called to service many times in our lives.  Are you ready to serve and are you ready to answer?

When you support your spouse, your children, your neighbors, your country, somehow, you get to help with something you never imagined. You learn from it, you grow from it, and sometimes you create some fond moments! What do you say to these requests? Were these not moments when the Lord asked for you to say, “Here I am!” ?

A friend needs help, your dad finds out he has cancer, your child is hurt in an accident, or a tornado goes through town. What do you say to these? I may not be worthy of You, but “Here I am! and Lord, how can I help?”  Were you afraid?

When the Lord called upon me, I was awakened but afraid.  What are you asking of me and why me? Yet, the call is real and it is time to answer, “O Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.”

When you were called by the Lord, what did you say? Did you recognize the face, the voice, or the ideas?  What did you do? 

O Lord, we may not be worthy to receive you, but only say the word so that we can be healed.

Lets come back to this dreaming, There was a Great Dream…

That one day, our lives would be peaceful, without war and un-tempted to shed more blood.

This was a great vision that we would not be suspicious of each other and instead live in harmony.

This was a Great dream that we would raise the flags together and commemorate the grace of our country and community— in blue states and red states alike with hands connected together as the community of this great country;

In this dream, we would not yield to divisive politics, not yield to racists gestures, nor be blind to inequality but instead in this dream, understand our common humanity and work together— to walk the path together;

In this dream, we would provide shelter and call on Isaiah for fair justice of all of our brothers and sisters no matter where their ancestors called home;

In this dream, we would be able to share our many scriptures as equals and not condemn others for reading something else;

In this dream, our differences would be our greatest strengths for today and inspire our futures to carry the torch that was passed to us.

Have you see this vision too? Have you believed this too?

Yes, there is a great dream that God gave us everything we needed, and we gave thanks every time.

There is a great dream that God smiled upon us and blessed us with life and liberty that no one could take away— Not today, not tomorrow, not ever! No one can take away our God-given liberty.

There is a great dream that the Spirit saved us from insolent pettiness and wildernesses of despair to give us hope and a path to success.

That Great Spirit helped us let go of the chains that held down our community and gave us wings to soar beyond repression. We will not be held down when we have been granted so much by our Creator. 

In that Great dream, we were saved from almost certain doom. And, we were given the light and assurance to go forth and to believe in what we can be.

Again have you seen this vision too?  Have you felt it? If you have, that Spirit is working in you too.

That Great Spirit has called us to serve and to provide for our community. We do not have look with dreariness anymore because we can have hope and know that the guiding Spirit is with us always. 

Thanks Be to God.

A Prayer to Overcome Divisions

Should I be scared or should I walk among the proud who play by the books and respect each and have love for family and foe alike? Should I walk among those who give disrespect? Should I be scared to worry about life that has taken a turn?  Should I cry the victory was not mine and cry fowl? Should I be unfaithful? Should I be with no hope and lost?

No I say!  The Spirit that guides is always here and by every side, not just the winners versus losers. The Spirit knows all struggles and is prodding us to find our way wherever we are on life's journey as a person or as a country. We may not understand why, but we are granted access to this infinite Wisdom that can carry us both friend and foe. Maybe, this is time to reach across and to hug someone from another culture, like Jesus did. Maybe, this is time to embrace our loved ones when security feels so frail. Maybe, this time we learn from assuming we are always right. Maybe, we comfort each other as people of faith, of love and of our country. Let us be at rest and find faith in our community and our Redeemer to help us through anguish, division and pain. Let us also work to find that faith and strength to struggle on for equality, fairness, and safety for all, with compassion and our Loving Creator's love being with and around us.

Why Did You Do it - Exodus 32

Why Did You Do it Aaron?

Tony E Dillon Hansen

A sermon based upon 

Exodus 32:1-14

Luke 23:34

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search= Exodus+32&version=NRSV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+23&version=NRSV 

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

In the wake of storms and floods let us remember those that are struggling with what nature has brought to them. May they, their families and colleagues find grace and hope in these times. 

In the spirit of our scripture reading, the Chicago Cubs and legendary sportscaster, Harry Cary, “Holy cow!?”

For us here today, I would like to consider the question of How easily we forget the lessons of yesterday for the temptation of today.  Let us consider, How easily we get bored or get roped into doing something we know we should not do? Consider how do you make up for our own mischief and big mistakes?

So lets do a summary what has transpired so far.

Many trials, locusts, bloody rivers, and lots of deaths occurred while we are in Egypt to free the slaves to make this journey to Israel.  Moses develops a speech impediment to prove to Pharaoh his obedience.  Moses is now considered leadership with his brother Aaron to take the Jewish slaves to this “promised land.”  By “some” miracle, they cross a large sea and did not have to face the wrath of the Egyptian army.

We get to Mt Sinai, and Moses decides to go for a long talk and walk (a sabbatical) with God in the mountain where he is to receive the Torah from God. Unlike a sabbatical today, Moses does not tell anyone how long he was going to be. The people are quick to forget why they are there, what happened to get them there, or where Moses is. They begin to cry for something to relieve the boredom and questions — they start some mischief.  

‘When the cat is away, the mice will play’, as the saying goes.  

This sounds like some mischievous times in my youth as I can recall some times when my mother would go to the store and rather than taking us with her into the store… (I don’t know why she wouldn’t think that would be great fun.) …Mother would say something like “I will just be five minutes.”  Mmm-hmm. 

She would wisk away and soon enough, we kids start picking on each other in our boredom and eventually turns into some nasty spells.  When Mom returns, there would be some tempers flaring as she tries to put bags away, get in the car, heavy scoldings and kids screaming. You may think Mom may want to leave us right there in the parking lot.

Yet, this is not going to settle well with God or Moses. 

I guess Moses thought leaving the people with Aaron would be a responsible idea, but Aaron gets roped into building this calf.  Guess he was bored too or could it be a little sibling rivalry?? After all, Moses was getting all of this attention from this mysterious God in the mountains. 

It might be worthy to remember that Aaron, Moses’s older brother and once-upon-a-time head priest, may feel a bit used, abandoned and stiffed by his brother Moses.  Perhaps, Aaron wants to restore the feeling of being the leader instead of being a perpetual sideshow. Therefore, it might not be too difficult to be the center of attention again.  Maybe or maybe not. 

This “un-holy cow” was going to test people, and I am sure that Moses uses different words to describe this “bull” to Aaron, which also describes the excuses Aaron provides for this.  

We know that later passages suggest that Aaron tries to shed blame for the misdeed, and we know that Moses casts deadly punishment on the camp — which God had not done. We have to ask, will God forgive us this time?

Through all of this, We end on a note of compassion and mercy from God when Moses reminds God of the covenant.  Through this intercession, we avoid a serious catastrophe, and further, the LORD continues to walk with the people into the Promised Land and beyond — Even though so many participate in the bull project.

Even though God does so much for us, we continue to fail. What do you when you fail: learn and correct, or forget and dodge? We have to remember that when we fail it is up to us to correct our behavior because God remains there for us, to walk with us, and incidentally, is still speaking to us.

Through Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and more, God spells out the mission of love, mercy, social justice and compassion that we are to uphold. 

Even though we fail so many times, that Someone still loves us.  But Why? 

As revealed in Genesis, we were made in God’s image and then provided the tools and creativity to take care of the world that was made for us.  God has a lot invested in us, and to just toss us away, that would be throwing away that tremendous investment. 

Plus, God still believes in us —thanks in part to Moses and later Jesus. Maybe, it is for this reason that God continues the work with us— hopefully, we understand how lucky we are.

Even during my mother’s angriest tirades at our wonton mischiefs, she was hurt too; 

we, children, would plea for mercy, 

and she would end up finding some way to remind us of her undying love for us.

Maybe we might share a little gratitude to God for all of the times that we have tested the divine patience —to be grateful that we are not alone despite all of those times.

Perhaps that is how lucky I am to have my parents and how lucky we all are that God loves us.

Thanks Be to God.

Taking a Step on a Journey

Member in Discernment Begins

27 Sep 2016

Tony E Dillon-Hansen

May the word my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to thy sight our Rock and Our Redeemer.

I first have to thank the Discernment Committee, my husband (Bret-Wayne), the Deacons, the Chancel Choir, Stephen Ministers, the Church Council, and Plymouth Congregation as a whole for helping me to start, to reflect, and to contemplate this journey.  There is so much you have given to me already that it pales in comparison to what I can give back.

I believe this recognition and recommendation to be a powerful and solemn reminder of the privilege of being a representative (a minister) of the good people in our world.  

I strive to be the best that I can be and to be always worthy of this recognition that the people of Plymouth bestow upon me. 

When I do my work, and perhaps when the day comes that I am called to ordination, I will remember and keep your trust in me and my work because Plymouth has become a home. 

I am humbled to be your servant always. 

I remember being called in my youth—but not finding the right reasons to answer that. I had to learn and walk through a few wildernesses (and I imagine more to come.)  I have only a vague idea of where this is going and so, I am putting faith and trust into God’s call.

I do know, I have had to endure a lot of events in life. With the help of training, education, mindfulness and God, this journey has already given more peace and patience to me.  

I know that many more challenges await me as I progress in this process and beyond, AND 

I know that I have found a home in the UCC and Plymouth. 

I first met with cynicism the words from this Church about being welcoming as that is how I came to think of organized religion. Plymouth, however, answered some of my questions and caused even more. 

I enjoy the phrase from our Church that says to ”grow” in love. That word “grow” is important to because it recognizes that change is a universal constant. That love will grow over time if, like a gardener, you tend to the work of planting i.e. love.

My theology has transformed considerably from my youth into what I understand today and will continue to evolve.  I went from rigid doctrine-defined embedded theology to progressive and deliberative theology. While I have reverence for many traditions, I went from confusing doctrines to a cohesive understanding about the complex-but-simple Way, enlightenment, inclusion, compassion, the Buddha, God, Church and Jesus. 

I have much to learn, and I am more willing to walk and to learn with you more than ever before. 

I don’t know why bad things happen to good people, but they happen. As I said in a recent course discussion (some wonderful people there with thought provoking ideas), we have to be prepared for the hour as in the parable of virgins from Matthew 25. If we are to leave a lasting and good legacy, then we have to be prepared to showcase our good life when we are no more. I believe that this is how I will “showcase" my good life. 

If I may suggest, I might understand why Pope Francis would use the bus instead of chauffeur transportation as a bishop and priest. I ride the bus to work (one to help my finances) but because, 2, I get to be reminded to grow with all parts of God’s kingdom that Jesus tells us to do (John 4: 7-15). 

Do what Jesus did and go to the watering hole so you can grow with the community. My what mass transit systems can show us a lot about the community we are living and about the faith we have. 

Some may call me a master in martial arts, but more importantly, I am ALWAYS a student. Like being a martial arts instructor, I know that whatever I bring to the community and the Church, the Church and the community will teach me more. I know I will evolve, and I hope to help Plymouth to continue to be a beacon of hope, trust and faith. 

My brief ministry experience, so far, has taught me about the peace and honor that comes with this work and I am seeing opportunities to “grow” this experience..  

I pray that I, my family and my work continue to be worthy of your recommendations here and to be a force for positive energy and faith in our community. 

Again, I am humbled and thankful to be God's Servant and Your Servant.

Lao Tzu is quoted as saying “a journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Thanks Be To God.

Pastoral Prayer 11 Sep 2016

Pastoral Prayer 11 Sep 2016

God Our Redeemer, Hear Us O Lord!

We may hide our shames and troubles from you,

But you give us a chance to redeem, to have hope and to take new steps.

We may not fully appreciate what you give to us (forgive us),

But you still allow us to learn and to grow.

On this September 11th and anniversary of horrible tragedy,

Let us be mindful of your good works and your good love.

Let us walk in service to your Truth and guidance.

Comfort those who were hurt and who lost people to the violent acts.

Bless the First Responders that perished and those that serve today to make Your world a bit safer.

Guide Us in our healing and learning from these senseless acts.

Forgive those who bring such evil upon the world—then proclaim Your will be done.

Forgive us for anger, vengefulness and our own unfaithful deeds.

Let us instead realize and share your love and forgiveness—

So that there is more peace and less anger in our world.

Let Us not hide from you but guide us to seek you.

From 1st Timothy,

1 Timothy 1:12-17 (NRSV) - Gratitude for Mercy

12 I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a man of violence. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the foremost. 16 But for that very reason I received mercy, so that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display the utmost patience, making me an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.