Scott Hamilton

I’ll confess right up front that I have a phobia of sharks. More accurately, I have thalassophobia, which encompasses all creatures in deep water.  It all started when I saw the movie Jaws at the innocent age of nine years old. Years later, when my two girls were teenagers, we watched the movie together. I thought that sharing the experience would allow them to sympathize with my condition. As I watched the movie, I was dismayed at how cheesy the mechanical shark was. I felt a little embarrassed that it caused such a traumatic reaction in me. It didn’t help when the girls started laughing at the phoniness of it all. Regardless, I’m still traumatized which is why I live in Colorado. Apparently, sharks can’t tolerate the altitude.

I have lived in Colorado most of my life – I’m a transplant if you will. My wife Tess and I were married way back in 1992 and both our daughters are grown and have left the nest. I spent my childhood running wild just outside of a small mountain town of Grand Lake, CO. It was a great place for a young boy to experience adventures, but it was tough on my single mom raising me and my three other siblings. It was in my junior high years that we moved to the big city of Denver. Wow, what a culture shock.

My journey of faith began, begrudgingly, soon after I started dating my wife. I really didn’t want much to do with church or churchy people. Fortunately, we got connected with a group of warm, authentic, and down to earth people who introduced me to Jesus. I joined Jesus in the life He offers, and to the shock of many old drinking buddies, I eventually became a pastor. I have an AA degree in Biblical Studies, a BS in Christian leadership, and an MA in Theology.  Who would have thought that the kid who struggled to get through high school would do so much learning? I also serve as a chaplain with the Thornton Police Department. I appreciate our women and men in blue who sacrifice so much in serving our community.