Preview

Many have probably heard of truck driver Larry Walters who on July 2, 1982, took 45 weather balloons, filled them with helium, attached them to his lawn chair, and successfully flew at 16,000 feet from San Pedro to Long Beach.  He flew close to LAX airspace and flew through Long Beach Airport’s airspace.  He was arrested and fined $1,500.00 but was invited to appear on The Tonight Show and Late Night with David Letterman.  He also received the top award from the Bonehead Club of Dallas.

But very, very few remember Father Adelir Antonio de Carli who on April 20, 2008, lifted off from Paranagua, Brazil, suspended by 1000 brightly colored party balloons filled with helium.  He was attempting to fly 450 miles INLAND to Dourados, Brazil.  When he reached an altitude of 20,000 feet he discovered he had not checked the weather forecast, was caught in a storm, and was headed in exactly the OPPOSITE direction of his intended destination. He had a GPS but didn’t know how to operate it. He was last heard on the radio eight hours after lift-off approaching the Brazilian coast.  Unable to give his position he crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.  His body was found 2 weeks later by the Brazilian Navy near an offshore oil platform. The act won him a 2008 Darwin Award (look it up! http://darwinawards.com/darwin/darwin2008-16.html)
As we continue our message series, “The Journey; What’s your next destination?” Some people have a very interesting definition of a journey.  Some journey’s end well and some tragic.   Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:15-23 to journey through life with wisdom, revelation and knowledge.  Before I preach on this section on Sunday take some time to read this scripture and remind yourself to attain wisdom for the journey!  Also, stay away from helium balloons, the only place you’ll go is Taft.

God bless,

Pastor Ed