3...2...1...LIFT OFF!

One of the blessings I have in serving at the church is that I get to bump into the best and brightest this nation has to offer. Living next door to NASA has filled our church with people like rocket scientists, spaceship engineers and astronauts. When a ship goes into orbit it's not just a national event, for us it's personal. Tomorrow will be another example.

At 10:38AM (CST) the crew of the Discovery will launch from Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Two guys who belong to our church will be part of the crew - astronauts Doug Wheelock and George Zamka. My wife and I were invited to attend this launch but unfortunately were unable to go.

Please pray for these men and the entire crew as they prepare for their fourteen days in space. This mission will be to bring the Harmony module to the International Space Station which will provide attachment points for European and Japanese laboratory modules.

For our friends, Doug and George, this will be their first trip into space and what they have dreamed about since they were accepted into NASA's Astronaut Candidate Training Program in 1998. May God be glorified in the journey they are about to undertake. Blessings upon them.

Discovery's Crew for STS-120

*UPDATE: Flawless liftoff!!!