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>God is an awesome God. So glad we serve Him.
>Below is a story about Captain Rick Husband of
>Columbia. I received this from a trusted friend.
David
>
>
>Dear Friends:
>
> >I had the privilege of attending a Steve Green concert
on the night of
> >Feb.1, just 12 hours after the loss of Columbia and
her crew of seven.
> >What a surprise to learn that Steve Green (a Christian
artist) was a
> >close friend of Rick Husband's, the astronaut who was
selected to be
> >captain for this mission. Their friendship began a
number of years ago
> >when Rick and his wife stood in line to meet Steve
after a concert in
> >Houston. As Rick told Steve how much he enjoyed his
music, Rick's wife
> >whispered to Steve that Rick was an astronaut. Steve
said he (Steve)
> >made a big deal about that and soon the people were
lined up to ask
> >Rick for an autograph instead of Steve! Thus, their
friendship began.
> >
> >Steve was in attendance for Rick's first shuttle
launch several years
> >ago and was also in attendance for this launch. He
sang both times at
> >pre-launch receptions. He said the reception for the
Columbia launch
> >was very Christ-honoring, and that there were many
unbelievers in
> >attendance. Steve described Rick as a quiet,
unassuming man who was,
> >however, very vocal about his faith. He said Rick did
not miss an
> >opportunity to give glory to God and mentioned that
when Mission
> >Control said it was a beautiful day for a launch, Rick
responded with,
> >"The Lord has given us a perfect day!" A suit
technician shared the
> >following story with Steve. He said that after the
astronauts suit up
> >they walk down a hallway and then open a door to "face
the press!"
> >Rick stopped the crew before they opened the door and
said he wanted to
> >pray for them. Later the technicians talked about this
and one said
> >that in all his years he had never heard of a captain
praying for and
> >with his crew.
> >
> >The spouses of the crew each get to pick a song for
them to wake up to
> >one of the mornings they're in space. Rick's wife
selected "God of
> >Wonders" by Steve Green. Steve played a tape for us of
Rick
> >communicating with Mission Control after the song was
played. The
> >conversation went something like this: Mission Control
- "Good
> >morning. That song was for Rick. It was 'God of
Wonders' by Steve
> >Green." Rick - "Good morning. Thank you. We can really
appreciate
> >the lyrics of that song up here. We look out the
window and see that
> >God truly is a God of wonders!" (Unfortunately, we
probably won't hear
> >that one on the news.) Steve also shared part of a
e-mail he received
> >from Rick, transmitted from outer space! Did you know
that was
> >possible? I didn't! Anyway, Rick wrote about how
overwhelming it was
> >to see God's vast creation from space. He said he had
never cried
> >while exercising before, but peddling on the bike and
looking out the
> >window at God's incredible creation brought tears to
his eyes.
> >
> >Steve also shared that he had been in Texas for a
concert about a week
> >before coming here. While there, Steve and his "crew"
spent the day
> >with Rick's wife, Evelyn, and their two children and
also Mike
> >Anderson's family. Mike was also aboard Columbia.
During the concert
> >that evening, Steve had the two women stand and he
asked the audience
> >to pray with him for these women while their husbands
were in space.
> >It was encouraging to hear Steve say that there were
at least three
> >astronauts (including Rick and Mike) aboard the
Columbia who were
> >believers in Jesus.
> >
> >It was a moving concert and a welcome surprise to
learn all these
> >things. What a blessing to know that at least three of
these
> >astronauts loved Jesus! Steve did not name the third
person or mention
> >if there was a family left behind. But two of the
families, at least,
> >will be relying on God to carry them through this and
will have
> >opportunity to share God's love with families/friends
of the other
> >astronauts. Steve mentioned that before President Bush
talked to the
> >families, they had formed a circle and were praying.
> >
> >Steve was even able to share with us pictures of Rick
at different
> >stages of his life, his career and family. He and
Rick's wife had put
> >this together to be set to one of Steve's songs. They
had done it
> >awhile back for some special event. Steve had it with
him and shared
> >it with us. He also gave us all a challenge from
Rick's life. He said
> >that astronauts lead extremely busy lives, and he
(Steve) had been
> >impressed with Rick's commitment to discipling his two
children. Steve
> >asked us to think about if our lives were to end
tomorrow and there
> >would be no more opportunity for us to disciple our
kids. Would we be
> >happy with what we had done, or would we have regrets?
> >
> >I'm guessing, from the pictures Steve showed, that
Rick's son was
> >around 5 years old and his daughter 10. I may be off,
but that gives
> >you an idea. They certainly are not close to
adulthood. Rick made 34
> >devotionals, by video, before he left on the Columbia.
There were 17
> >for his daughter and 17 for his son, one for each day
he was to be
> >gone. So each day his daughter and son had their own
"devotion with
> >Dad" by video. What treasures they will be to his
children! Thank
> >you, God, for leading Rick to do that!
> >
> >Well, I think I've given you every bit of information
Steve gave us.
> >It was certainly an encouragement and comfort to hear
these things. I
> >wanted to pass it on to bless others and to help you
know how to pray
> >for these families in the days ahead. God IS at work
in His world!
To Him belongs all glory!
> >
> >Thanks for reading. Feel free to pass this along to
others.
David Matthes
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