Rob Hamilton

It sounds dramatic, doesn’t it?  “I’ve been given an ultimatum.”  But really, it’s more of an invitation from our Trustees. The carpet in the parsonage has reached the end of its useful life. Recently we discovered beautiful hardwood floors hiding underneath. Instead of replacing the carpet, we’ve opted to refinish the floors.  There’s only one catch: it’s hard to live in a house when your bedrooms and bathrooms are off-limits for several days. So, the Trustees have issued their “ultimatum” that we have to go somewhere for a few weeks. They didn’t have to twist my arm at all.  As I stared at that wornRead More →

One of the habits that shapes me is starting each day with Scripture. My first 7–12 minutes after waking are spent with an app that offers a short opening prayer, a prayer of confession, two Scripture readings, the Lord’s Prayer, and a blessing for the day. It’s not Bible study or sermon prep. It’s what I do for my own spiritual practice. Bleary-eyed, I simply read it, pray it, let it pass through me. It’s part of my routine as I move on to a workout, then cup of coffee and the day’s tasks. But sometimes a verse lingers. Sometimes the Holy Spirit won’t letRead More →

As you read this, I’m in my final few days of preparation for my annual worship planning retreat in the Wet Mountain Valley of Colorado. At 8,000 feet in an international dark sky community, the air is thinner, the stars are brighter, and the cell signal is thankfully scant for miles. It’s the same location, the same rhythm, and the same prayer request I’ve made 5 times now: that God would meet me here in this thin space and guide our church’s path for the year ahead. I’ll be away from Wednesday, August 27, through Tuesday night, September 3, taking a few days afterward toRead More →

There’s a term that’s been making the rounds lately, but it describes something that’s been around for… well… forever. It’s called the “Sunday Scaries”. If you’ve done child-rearing, you might know exactly what I mean. It’s that feeling of anxiety or dread that creeps in on Sunday night before school. Maybe it’s because you procrastinated on homework that’s due Monday. Maybe it’s disappointment that you didn’t get everything done you hoped for over the weekend. Or maybe it’s knowing you have to face an unpleasant situation, or a lingering conflict once Monday arrives. Of course, this isn’t just a kid thing (notice what I didRead More →

I woke up early last Sunday morning, enjoying the cooler weather with the windows open. It made me think of classic Door County weather: lower humidity with temps ranging from the mid-50s to mid-70s. Just 72 hours earlier, we were camping in Door County, and the weather wasn’t nearly as pleasant. In fact, it was much smokier up there than it is down here. That’s when this blog came to mind even before dawn. I started thinking about how the past two summers of camping with my family have felt… different. Not just because the girls are getting older or the campsites are booked faster,Read More →

More than ten years ago, I was working with a coach who began every one of our monthly sessions with the same question: “What are you reading?” At first, I found her question annoying. Mainly because I’m not a big reader. I don’t breeze through novels, nor do I have a book on my nightstand. I tend to stick to reading that’s closely tied to my trade: books about theology, church leadership, Bible study resources, or spiritual formation. That’s my jive. If I have a book in my hand it’s usually for a utilitarian purpose. So after hearing the question a few too many times,Read More →