Words cannot effectively describe how full my heart is from the events of yesterday (Saturday April 29th) as I attended the Celebration of Life and Graveside services of Ron “Patch the Pirate” Hamilton’s Homegoing. I am emotionally drained and spiritually stirred.

What comes to mind when I reflect upon Ron Hamilton’s life is that he was: – Humble – Anointed – Genuine – Prayer-focused – Christ-honoring – Biblically-principled – Faithful

There is no doubt that his life was truly a testimony of the music he was used of God to write.

My wife and I so very thankful for his influence and investment into our lives when we were children through those ever familiar yellow cassette tapes 😇 and choral albums that we listened to constantly and practically memorized. Through our parents’ desire for his music in our home, Ron Hamilton’s passion for conservative, godly music was directly used of God to shape us into the individuals that we are today.

Then as adults, the Lord knit our hearts with him and Mrs. Hamilton, and they became family friends. He and Mrs. Hamilton adopted us as their own. They are some of the most authentic Christians that we have ever known. It has been our joy and privilege over the years to film and produce 17 music videos with Majesty Music. (All of these can be seen on their YouTube channel HERE.) And our oldest son David has played the character “Herbert” on three of the Patch Adventures. My wife and I are humbled that they would list us / consider us as “Young Partners in Ministry” in Patch’s funeral bulletin.

Ron “Patch” Hamilton was a servant of God and a modern-day psalmist who was used by Heaven to impact multiple generations with Biblical music that truly magnified Christ in all His majesty. What a life for Jesus! All for Jesus. Only for Jesus. He lived “I’d Rather Have Jesus” better than any one else I knew. We “saw Jesus in you.”

J. Oswald Sanders once wrote: “The best use of one’s life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. Life’s value is not its duration but its donation — not how long we live but how fully and how well.” Patch’s life was a testament of that truth. He made “full proof” of the ministry to Christ, his family, and the world.

The Old ship of Zion has set sail to Glory. We can hear an echoing “Ahoy, mate!” from its taffrail, as he has joined the great cloud of witnesses. He is now singing “Ten Thousand Hallelujahs” and “Worthy Is the Lamb” in Glory! ❤️🙌🏻😭 He is rejoicing in the presence of his Friend and Saviour with both eyes — faith now Celestial sight. We will see him again! We “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (I Thessalonians 4:13).

Last night, as I flew back to Omaha, Nebraska to preach Sunday – Tuesday, reflecting on all these things, my heart was challenged afresh and anew to live my life to the fullest for God’s glory. That’s all that matters! ❤️🙏🏻🙌🏻 Jesus! His work. His will. His Word. His way.

If you have made it this far in my lengthy post 😇, I encourage you to take some time and watch the “In Memorium” video the Lord enabled me to edit for the family the same night Patch went to Heaven. The video was made from 1:30am to 7:30am. (I worked on it immediately after we drove home from our revival meeting in St Louis.)

It was released on Facebook and Youtube just a couple hours prior to Patch’s funeral.

The film contains the remaining leftover footage that Katie and I had taken when we shot the “I Saw Jesus In You” music video with Patch years ago….

It was just the right amount of film needed for this “send off” video 😭🙌🏻