Jeff Hampton – Page 118 – Jeff Hampton, Writer

February 19, 2020

Whose World?

For Wilshire Baptist Church

“It’s Luka’s world, and we’re just living in it.”

The local sports anchor gushed on Sunday night as he described the NBA All-Star performance of Dallas Mavericks phenom Luka Doncic. There’s no arguing the kid has game like nothing we’ve seen lately, but I bristled at the notion that it’s all about him and we’re just spectators. And I don’t like any statement that might lead some to believe that unless they rise to Luka’s level, they’ll never be more than just another schlub watching life from the grandstands.

February 13, 2020

False Spring, Real Heaven

For Wilshire Baptist Church

Looking out the window on a February morning, daffodils are raising their yellow heads, purple irises are blooming at the corners of the porch, and dianthus decorate the flower beds with red and white polka dots. Even the dead brown lawn is decorated with tufts of green weeds. It’s beginning to look like spring, but this is a “false spring.” February is our coldest month in North Texas, and most likely we’ll see another freeze or two. Still, this preview of spring provides a promise of what is to come and what can be. So it is too with some people we meet.

February 6, 2020

Joining the Club

For Wilshire Baptist Church

During our recent joint birthday week, LeAnn and I visited a restaurant we rarely go to, but they’re known for steaks and that seemed like a good way to celebrate. When the server came to our table, we realized he had served us once before because he has the same name as our nephew. But we also realized it had been almost two years since our most recent visit because on that night they were having a benefit for that server and his family. His parents had died and two of his six siblings were seriously injured driving home from a camping trip. He had not been on the trip, and at 23 he had become the head of the family.