Ben Milstead

I’ve been on the verge of information overload over the past couple of weeks.  I’ve been exposed to some things that have really messed with my mind and I find myself looking for the message that I’m supposed to hear.  I know the phrase is normally “calm before the storm” but I feel more like it’s the storm before the calm.  I love times like this because I know something cool is about to happen and recognize that I’m being stretched. 

*  Brad posted this video last week.  It shook me to the core when I saw what it had to say.  There are an estimated 1.2 billion children living in poverty.  That is the same as the population of China!  There are 143 million orphans in the world!  For perspective sake, consider this:  If these 143 million kids were holding hands in a straight line, and you got in your car and started driving beside the line of kids at 60 mph, you could drive 24 hours a day for over two months and still not reach the end of the line!  You would have gone around the world three times.

*  My church is participating in the OnePrayer series.  After this past Sunday I have a different perspective on the size of a church (even though that’s not what the message was about).  It’s easy to become complacent when things seem to be going good and your church is growing.  But when you realize how many unchurched people there are in the world it’s easy to get a sense of urgency!  I don’t EVER want to be complacent!

*  A friend of mine, Mickey, is going through something I hope I never have to go through.  His son is in a comma as a result of a serious car accident.  Mickey seems to have complete peace about the situation and knows that God is in control and that worry serves no purpose.  He has been an inspiration to me!

*  Another friend, Mike, is a very close friend and a man that I have always looked up to.  He has a brain tumor that has to be removed on June 25th.  Mike got this news on a Friday and was still at church volunteering on Sunday.  More than 300 men prayed for him during one of our services. 

*  For years, traditional churches have run from technology while others have chosen to embrace it.  One of my online superhero’s is this guy.  I watched this and had to keep reminding myself that I was watching a planning session for a church and not a major television network.  We have come a long way.  Who remember’s voting on whether or not the church needed a used copy machine?  I do.

*  Speaking of perspective, I had convinced myself that I was getting pretty good on the dirt bike because I kept riding with the same group of riders.  That was until I rode with a former Pro rider last Friday.  Seven laps and he was passing me for the second time!

*  And finally, THIS story made me laugh out loud.  I don’t endorse divorce but if it’s this bad just go ahead and end it!