What My Dad Taught Me About Depression, Hope, and the God Who Stays One of the greatest gifts my dad ever gave me wasn’t the ability to answer every question. It was the freedom to admit that sometimes we don’t have the strength to. There was a season not very long ago when I understood…
Faith
Why Should I Be Involved in Church?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 Dad’s Lesson Date: July 18, 1999 (If you have not read the explanation behind the devotional series, “The Stories You Gave Me”, click here for the back story.) Roger Hamrick (my dad) had a gift for taking everyday objects and turning them into life lessons. A baseball glove. A hammer. A…
Preparing the Way
May 21, 2000 | 1 Chronicles 21-22 Several years ago, my dad asked me what I wanted for Christmas. My answer surprised him. I didn’t ask for jewelry, a gift card, or something wrapped in festive paper. Instead, I asked for something that had been quietly accumulating over decades—his Sunday School lessons. For years, Dad…
The Trellis for a Well–lived Life: Revisiting Crafting a Rule of Life
Several years ago, while I was attending seminary, I took a class that focused on contemplative spirituality. It was a refreshing departure from the constant activity and achievement that often characterize both ministry and modern life. During that course, I was introduced to Stephen Macchia’s book, Crafting a Rule of Life, and as part of…
Chicks on the Road: Following the Road God Sets Before Us
Life is a journey. We often hear that phrase, but the older I get, the more I realize how true it really is. Rarely does life unfold according to the carefully crafted plans we make. Roads curve. Detours appear. Unexpected opportunities emerge. Sometimes we find ourselves traveling paths we never would have chosen, only to…
Standing in the Waters: Reflections on Baptism
There are certain moments in life that become spiritual landmarks—moments we return to again and again because they remind us of God’s faithfulness. For me, baptism is one of those landmarks. I was first baptized in 1973 when I was nine years old at a Southern Baptist church. I remember making the decision to publicly…
Are We Still Chasing Utopia?
Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, especially in the introduction by John Anthony Scott (Washington Press), invites readers into a thought experiment that still feels uncomfortably relevant in 21st century America. When I first studied the Reformation during my undergraduate years—particularly the Renaissance period—I remember being struck by how deeply thinkers like More were wrestling with questions…
Reflections on John Chapter 1: Meeting Jesus, the Word Made Flesh
There are some chapters in Scripture that are so rich and profound that we could spend weeks studying them and still discover something new. John Chapter 1 is one of those chapters. The Gospel of John opens with some of the most powerful words in the Bible: “In the beginning was the Word, and the…
When Worship Speaks to Every Sense: Rediscovering Sacred Rhythm Thought Multisensory Faith
Worship is often imagined as something we hear—music, preaching, spoken prayer. But throughout Scripture and Christian history, worship has engaged far more than hearing alone. It has invited the whole body into participation: sight, touch, movement, even smell and silence. This is the heart of multisensory worship and a growing movement of liturgical renewal—returning to…
We Will Cherish These Times: A Letter From My Father
There are certain pieces of paper that become treasures. Not because they are rare or valuable, but because they hold the voice of someone you love long after they are gone. One of those treasures for me is a birthday card from my father. My dad passed away in 2016 after a difficult battle with…