3rd February 2003

This gives a little perspective on at least one of those on board the shuttle on Saturday. My daughter received this from a good friend at Liberty University: Saturday night, John and I were able to attend a remarkable Steve Green concert. We have heard him in concert before, but never like tonight… when we learned he was close personal friends with Rick Husband, Commander of the Space Shuttle Columbia. I want to share with you some of the awesome testimony Steve Green gave about Rick Husband and end with the entire speech by President Bush given today. I’ve highlighted the end of it, which is another awesome testimony to God in a time when hurting people are actually listening and grasping for hope. This is just my memory of what was said tonight, but I thought it was a neat view of the situation when the world is hurting and searching for good in a tragic happening. Steve sang “May all who come behind us, find us faithful” and it certainly sounds like Rick Husband was a man who walked with God. As we learn more about the crew in the week to come, I am hoping some of this testimony will be shared. I am thankful that Steve Green chose to share a very personal night with us rather than canceling the concert. At least 3 of the shuttle crew were Christians, including Rick Husband and Michael Anderson. Steve Green was at Rick’s shuttle launch three years ago and at the one 17 days ago. He sang, by request of Rick, at both of them. Each family is allowed to select a “wake up song” for the crew during the mission. Rick’s wife chose “God of Wonders” by Steve Green. Rick’s remarks broadcasted back to earth after the song were focused on God and his creation. Rick had gotten permission for Steve Green to email him often while in space. Rick shared with Steve about the awesomeness of God’s creation of the earth he could see out the window. He listened to Steve’s praise music while working out on the exercise bike in the space shuttle. He said it was the first time he had cried while exercising…when he could see the view of the earth and listen to songs about the awesome God we have. Rick, in the busy life he had as an astronaut, took time to create individual video tapes for each of his children with daily devotions with dad. Each child would view these in their rooms daily… 17 of them. What powerful priorities this man had as he put the spiritual welfare of his children at the top of his list. After donning their flight suits, the crew walks a long hallway to a doorway to the press area before boarding the shuttle. Pausing before opening the door, Rick stopped the crew and said he wanted to pray with them. A suit assistant said never before had a commander stopped the crew for prayer before the flight. Steve said that was just like Rick. He was a quiet person, but outspoken about God. When the lift-off personnel mentioned on air that it was a beautiful day for a flight, Rick piped back that God had certainly made a beautiful day for them. What a testimony this man left! President Bush’s remarks Saturday on the space shuttle Columbia, as provided by the White House: “My fellow Americans, this day has brought terrible news and great sadness to our country. At 9:00 a.m. this morning, Mission Control in Houston lost contact with our space shuttle Columbia. A short time later, debris was seen falling from the skies above Texas. The Columbia is lost; there are no survivors. On board was a crew of seven: Colonel Rick Husband, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Anderson, Commander Laurel Clark, Captain David Brown; Commander William McCool, Doctor Kalpana Chawla and Ilan Ramon, a colonel in the Israeli Air Force. These men and women assumed great risk in the service to all humanity. In an age when space flight has come to seem almost routine, it is easy to overlook the dangers of travel by rocket, and the difficulties of navigating the fierce outer atmosphere of the Earth. These astronauts knew the dangers, and they faced them willingly, knowing they had a high and noble purpose in life. Because of their courage and daring and idealism, we will miss them all the more. All Americans today are thinking, as well, of the families of these men and women who have been given this sudden shock and grief. You’re not alone. Our entire nation grieves with you. And those you loved will always have the respect and gratitude of this country. The cause in which they died will continue. Mankind is led into the darkness beyond our world by the inspiration of discovery and the longing to understand. Our journey into space will go on. In the skies today we saw destruction and tragedy. Yet farther than we can see there is comfort and hope. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all these? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” The same creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; yet we can pray that all are safely home. May God bless the grieving families, and may God continue to bless America.”