[TruthTalk] Columbia disaster

[ShieldsFamily]

This was forwarded to me by a friend….  What do you think about Believers being taken in such An accident as the Columbia disaster?  I used to think that if we had “faith” things like that Would not happen to us—now I believe differently.  Izzy      A Precept student, Lorie Wiley, shares remarks of Steve Green at > > concert Saturday night, and it is awesome. This is lengthy but don't > > miss the last > > part about the videos! > > > > 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 an 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! > > > >