Kevin Cloud - God and Hamilton: Spiritual Themes from the Life of Alexander Hamilton and the Broadway Musical He Inspired

God and Hamilton: Spiritual Themes from the Life of Alexander Hamilton & the Broadway Musical He Inspired

2018 by Kevin Cloud

Published by Deep River Books

Sisters, Oregon

www.deepriverbooks.com

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations labeled MSG are from The Message. Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled GW are taken from GODS WORD, 1995 Gods Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Excerpts where noted taken from Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, Copyright 2004 by Ron Chernow. Used by permission of Penguin Press, an imprint of Penguin Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. All rights reserved. Any third-party use of this material, outside of this publication, is prohibited. Interested parties must apply directly to Penguin Random House LLC for permission.

Excerpts where noted taken from Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter, Copyright 2016. Reprinted by permission of Grand Central Publishing, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

ISBN13: 9781632694775

Cover Photo of the Author Daniel Williams

Library of Congress: 2018933921

Printed in the USA
2018First Edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Cover design by Jeremy Shellhorn

Praise for God and Hamilton

Clouds Christlike compassion turned me inside out and revealed a side of Hamilton I had never thought to explore.

LAUREN BOYD,
HAMILTON BROADWAY CAST

In this book Kevin portrays a wonderful example of how you can draw from contemporary culture to understand how God works with us on our own heroic journeys. I found his emphasis on Gods grace and faithfulness particularly inspiring and think that all who read it will come away with a better understanding of the challenges we all face. I cannot recommend it more highly!

MIKE BREEN,
FOUNDER OF 3DM,
AUTHOR OF BUILDING A DISCIPLING CULTURE, COVENANT AND KINGDOM, AND FAMILY ON MISSION

A bold and creative exploration of the themes in life that matter most. If we have the eyes to see and the ears to hear, we will notice God everywhere. In this beautiful book, Cloud helps us see, listen, and open to the all-consuming love God pours out to us.

PHILEENA HEUERTZ,
AUTHOR OF PILGRIMAGE OF A SOUL:
CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY FOR THE ACTIVE LIFE AND FOUNDING PARTNER, GRAVITY, A CENTER FOR CONTEMPLATIVE ACTIVISM

How did Alexander Hamilton overcome a tragic and shame-filled childhood? Kevin Cloud celebrates the amazing grace that propelled Hamilton to become a key architect of our fledgling democracy. For all who struggle with doubt, depression, and despair, God and Hamilton offers an inspiring way forward. Kevin Clouds book made my heart sing!

CRAIG DETWEILER,
PRESIDENT, THE SEATTLE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY

C. S. Lewis once lamented that people too often fail to appreciate the real and serious glory of even the most dull and uninteresting human life; that if we could ever truly glimpse the beauty of a normal everyday persons story we might actually be tempted to worship them. In God and Hamilton, Kevin Cloud offers precisely this kind of appreciative glimpse into the life of Alexander Hamilton. These pastoral reflections upon a life that was anything but dull and uninteresting are sure to inspire. Read this book and catch a new imagination for what it means to be human.

TIM SUTTLE,
PASTOR AND AUTHOR OF SHRINK:
FAITHFUL MINISTRY IN A CHURCH-GROWTH CULTURE

Eliza Hamiltons commitment to the children of her day was born out of her love for an orphan who changed the course of our nation, and was shaped by her abiding faith. We at Graham are inspired by Elizas conviction, strength of character, and loving spirit as we continue to lead the organization she co-founded to care for children growing up in conditions her husband, Alexander, would have found familiar. Kevin Cloud beautifully captures this powerful story that is inspiring the world.

JESS DANNHAUSER,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF GRAHAM WINDHAM

Youd have to be living under a rock not to know about the Broadway play Hamilton. Its developed an enormous following. I didnt really know all the spiritual implications of Hamiltons life though until I read Kevins book. My appreciation grew for the musical, but mostly for Hamilton. What a great read!

RON EDMONDSON,
PASTOR AND AUTHOR OF THE MYTHICAL LEADER

Kevin Cloud has masterfully tapped into the resurgent interest in Alexander Hamilton by crafting a captivating, wholly entertaining, and spiritually insightful book. As a talented, multi-faceted, and gifted visionary, Hamilton continues to connect with our modern society in a unique way. His principled words and actions have long been associated with spiritual guidance. Cloud takes his reader on a fascinating journey, connecting those inspired dots of Hamiltons life, and marries them with our perception of God in our culture. In doing so, he provides powerful, transformative lessons and tools for our times. A fun and purposeful read indeed.

DR. GREGORY JANTZ,
AUTHOR OF TURNING YOUR DOWN INTO UP

Hamilton is more than just a musical and has the power to change lives, and in God and Hamilton author Kevin Cloud illuminates why a Broadway show affects so many of us deeply and on such a personal level. Kevin skillfully weaves insights about the musical, Alexander Hamiltons life, and his own experiences and spiritual guidance into a tapestry that not only illustrates the amazing work that Lin-Manuel Miranda created but that also makes you reexamine the life youre leading. Entertaining and thought-provoking, God and Hamilton is a compelling read whether or not youve seen the show.

BRYAN BARRERAS,
AUTHOR OF WHERE WAS THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED?: THE UNOFFICIAL HAMILTONAN AMERICAN MUSICAL LOCATION GUIDE

With a pastors heart and a mind at work, Kevin Cloud unearths novel and crucial insights at the intersection of Alexander Hamiltons life and our own. He has also done his homework, grounding his claims in the rich context of the revolutionary era.

T. J. TOMLIN,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY,
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO AND AUTHOR OF A DIVINITY FOR ALL PERSUASIONS

This book is a testament to how God can use the arts to transform us. With the heart of a true pastor, Kevin Cloud masterfully weaves together historical details from the lives of Hamilton and his contemporaries, scenes from Lin-Manuel Mirandas beautiful musical, and contemporary stories of faith. In these pages, Cloud moves easily among the roles of theologian and storyteller, pastor and friend. I loved this book, and think that anyone who has found his or her imagination captured by the life story of Alexander Hamilton will enjoy the way Cloud examines these experiences in light of the stories of the Biblefrom the Psalms to the Gospels to the Revelation.

KATIE SAVAGE,
AUTHOR OF GRACE IN THE MAYBE: INSTRUCTIONS ON NOT KNOWING EVERYTHING ABOUT GOD