Dream !

Dream AGAIN!

Hebrews 11:1

Hebrews 11:1- Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Mark in your Bible – Faith is a dream

Faith is a propelling dream. It is that belief which causes us to live in a particular almost driven way.

Once again our nation has been touched with the unbiased hand of tragedy.

Yesterday just 16 minutes from touchdown, exhilaration turned into horror, relief gave way to sorrow and laughter to tears.

If you heard or seen any of the coverage, you are well aware of the names of the 7 lost crew members, you have no doubt heard about them,

2 of them have Valley connections,

Michael Anderson – attended Avondale Elementary

Rick Husband – Has a Brother who is an America West Airline Pilot.

They like countless others who have made this country great – were dreamers, who acted on their dreams.

They weren’t “wishing well” daydreamers who wanted to pay a small price for a big reward. They were willing to endure rigorous hours of training, committed themselves to competition to note their worthiness of the honor, they fought off the demons of doubt and fear to succeed in their dreams.

Some would say this is a good time to stop, The space program.

Tragedy – death.

The fleet is old,

The budget is overdrawn

The Space race has ended

We have reached our limits

Stop! --- But the dreamer says “keep on trying”…If those 7 were to be able to speak, they would say don’t give up on the dream.

BUZZ ALDRIN --- ‘The biggest tragedy – would be not to FLY AGAIN – We must show STS # 107 their sacrifice is not in vain.”

There is a call today to pray for the families, pray for wives, children, siblings, parents – who now must live everyday of their lives with a footnote of tragedy. Pray that God would give them a peace that passes all understanding.

Yet it is also a call to those of you who are sitting on the porch of life, looking into the stars and dreaming but not acting on those dreams.

I wish my marriage were better.

I wish my career was more what I like

I wish my walk with God were more real then religious

I wish. ……Fill in the blank. This morning

In early 1960 – JFK – challenged a nation that by the end of the decade the US would indeed put a man on the moon.

Mockers and disclaimers…But it happened – because some dared to Dream…

Michael Anderson’s sister – said, “It was more then a dream to Mike – It was a reality- He lived everyday just knowing someday he would travel in space”

You have live with your dreams in mind,

Michael Anderson – I don’t know a lot about him, but I do know he sold out to see his dream accomplished.

The true Christian life is a sold out life,

It taken up crosses – not just promises

It is going down – that we might be raised up

It preference of others instead of preferential treatment of ourselves

It is dying to live,

It understands the price might be great but the purchase is so much more wonderful.

Mike Anderson’s brother in law was asked the question – did he talk about dying? -- - “Frankly – YES he did. – but he said the research for the greater good was worth the RISK.”

Holy Ghost is ministering to someone right know----

Helen Keller – said the “only truly happy people are the people who have found a cause bigger then THEMSELVES to live for” and I add even to die for.

Ilan Ramon – Israeli pilot – war hero – son of prison camp survivors carried with him a picture drawn nearly 60 years ago – by 10 year old boy who one night looked out of that despicable –deplorable bunk house of the Aushwitz prison concentration camp and began to draw with pencil and scarp paper – the earth from the viewpoint of the moon…. he was dreaming in troughs of death…. shaved head – hard labor – cruelty and hatred – yet dreaming and years later Ilan Ramon was the eyes of that little dreamer….

He found and gave his life for a cause greater then himself.

Truly happy people are people who found a cause – who dare to dream a dream that is bigger then selfish pleasure and pursuits!

The day calls for a difference.

And there is a clarion call to the church for courageous living ……Only those with courage can make a difference.

What does courageous living look like?– Philippians 2?

1Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.