Author: Jeff Hampton

For Wilshire Baptist Church

During Lent and Easter at Wilshire, we’ve talked about spiritual practices: fasting, prayer, divine reading, forgiveness, sacrifice, confession and spiritual celebration. In the midst of this, I may have come upon something that isn’t usually talked about in those terms but might just be a spiritual practice that is universal: sleep. Not lazy sleep or self-indulgent sleep, but restorative sleep.

I’ve had sleep on my mind after spending time recently with Dr. Michael Scullin, director of Baylor’s Sleep Neuroscience and Cognition Lab. There, he is leading research that is adding to our knowledge of how sleep impacts the functioning of our brain and thus everything we do. Bottom line: A good night’s sleep sets us up for a good life.

Continue reading “Sleep in Heavenly Peace”

For Wilshire Baptist Church

I’ve heard and read the Easter story so many times I probably don’t focus and listen as I should. But for some reason this year, one part of the story has bounced around in my head: the borrowed donkey.

We’re told in the gospels that before entering Jerusalem for Passover, Jesus told his disciples to go into the city and borrow a donkey for him to ride. Much has been written and preached about the incongruity and symbolism of the “King of Kings” parading into the city on a donkey, and a borrowed one at that. When it comes to four-legged equine-related animals, donkeys don’t rank too high. We don’t tune into the Kentucky Derby each May to watch donkeys plod around the track. The beloved companions of the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry weren’t donkeys. No, Silver, Trigger and Champion were lightning fast, smart, beautiful horses.

Continue reading “Borrowed Donkey”

For Wilshire Baptist Church

I made an assumption, and I was wrong. That’s never happened before, right?

We have neighbors a couple of doors down and across the street who have a business hauling stuff in a large trailer. Occasionally there’ll be some noise as they come and go – and there’ll be an extra vehicle or two on the street – but it’s “over there” and so it’s not such a bother.

Continue reading “Getting Better Over There”