Monthly Archives: September 2006

I’m Sad and Excited!

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I like to listen to conservative talk radio in my car. My favorite station used to be WLS AM Chicago, until Salem Communications came out with WIND 560 AM in Chicago. I like listening to Bill Bennet in the mornings on my way to work, and Michael Savage on my way home. If I’m out during the day, I might also hear some of Laura Ingram, Dennis Prager, or Michael Medved.

Anyway, I’m driving along last week, listening to Bill Bennet and during a commercial break, I hear a guy I know from church named Cisco Cotto on the radio announcing that he and Big John Howell (from my favorite FM radio station US-99 Country) are going to be co-hosting a new slot on WIND!

So, I shoot an email to Cisco, and sure enough i’ts TRUE! The sad part is that they will be replacing my current favorite show – Bill Bennett – in order to bring a local political and cultural focus with a Chicago area perspective. Such is life!

John and Cisco – I am excited about the show even though I am sad to see Bill go. Can’t wait to tune in and hear it!

The Reconciled Life

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I just returned from a Peacemaker Ministries Conference entitled, “The Reconciled Life” – held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where we participated in and received “Level Three – Conflict Coaching” training with 12-15 others from Calvary Memorial Church.

We heard some great speakers such as John Piper and Ken Sande, plus heard a wonderful worship band called “Heart of the City” lead by Dan and Sandy Adler. We have some new music to learn and teach for use in the Upper Room!

Some of our group also received “Level 4 – Advanced Mediation” training. This was very intense training involving many hours of presentations, demonstrations and role-playing. We are so proud of our friends: Reggie & Joan Winston, Laura Lange and Bob Boerman for completing this training.

Deb and I are very grateful to Calvary for providing this training opportunity to us. We hope that we can use the things we have learned to help others at Calvary, and in our families and work environments to deal with conflict in a biblical and God-honoring manner.

We also can’t say enough good things about Peacemaker Ministries, the caliber of their staff, the quality of their training and resources, and the humble, Christ-like attitudes and spirit they exhibit.

One Year Reflections on Steve

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Steve Meyer and Randy BirkeyIt has now been just over a year since I lost one of my best friends – Steve Meyer. He took his own life on September 14, 2005. I miss him.

About 2 months ago, I started talking with his wife Robin, and his sister Carol, about the possibility of a family and friends gathering to celebrate Steve’s life, to honor his memory and to share what he meant to us.

This event was held at our home and yard this past Saturday, September 16th. We had beautiful weather to be out in the backyard, and maybe 50-70 people came over the course of the time from 3 PM – 10 PM.

At one point around 6 PM, we had asked another friend of ours, Wayne Kuna, to share some thoughts from God’s Word, and to facilitate an open time of sharing stories and memories.

Wayne shared three main points about God’s character related to us and to Steve:

  • TEARS: It’s OK to shed a few. God made us that way and he created tears for our benefit.
  • HANDS: how the Bible describes God’s hand being so large that he measures and holds the oceans in that little “cup” area. And that because of this, “no one can pluck” one of God’s own, out of His hand!
  • HOPE: For a person who has committed their life to Jesus, God says that there is nothing that can separate that person from His love — NOTHING — not even suicide! This is a reason to have great HOPE!

After sharing these thoughts, Robin read a beautiful poem (I was so proud of her!) and then members of Steve’s family lit some candles in his memory. Then many friends and family shared memories and stories from Steve’s life. We laughed and cried a lot together.

At one point, Steve’s oldest daughter Briana shared how important it had been for her to hear the kind of friend Steve had been to so many people. You could tell that it had deeply moved her, and had encouraged her in a very deep and hurting place.

I shared a few thoughts and a memory too. All I could remember last week was a time when I let Steve down, and how much I regretted that. But I also said how much I appreciated what Wayne had shared, and that I knew it was all true and that I am convinced I will see Steve again some day.

We ended that sharing time with a recording made by Steve’s “Best Man” – John Hanrahan – of a song that Steve had been writing shortly before his death. It was called, “It’s All About Love.” Then we put on music by “The Beatles” as we continued celebrating his life together into the evening.

Some might ask if it was worth all the work, and why you would actually plan time to go over things that are painful and that dredge up hurts, darkness and discouragement?

I guess I would answer it this way.

Is it better to stay at home feeling lonely, hurting and discouraged as you inevitably come to that “one-year” anniversary mark? Or, is it better to enter into relationships with others who may be feeling similarly, and at least share that hurt and pain? I think sharing pain in the context of “community” and being real about it, is far better than staying separated and feeling it all alone. I think there is a deeper kind of healing to be experienced this way, than what one might hope for by keeping it all inside.

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — St. Paul writing in the book of Romans 8:38-39

The Path to 911 on ABC

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The Path to 911I watched the two-part ABC Made-for-TV movie on the events surrounding and leading up to 911. Overall I was pleasantly surprised and impressed. I thought that it did not paint the Clinton Administration in very good light (which it shouldn’t have), and seemed pretty accurate based upon what I know and have read.

What we did to the Afghan Northern Alliance leader Ahmed Shah Massoud was unforgivable. How we allowed inter-agency bickering and turf wars to impeed the gathering of information and the decision-making process was maddeningly embarrassing as an American.

I also have to say that watching the program, especially at the end, stirrred up that same anger that I felt 5 years earlier. I can’t believe that we as a nation have moved so far back into our complacency. We do not act like a nation at war, because in our collective heart, we aren’t. That saddens and frightens me.

It feels like the only thing that will wake us up is another tragedy. Our very future is at stake. I hope and pray it does not come to that, and that our leaders will start recognizing the enemy for who they really are, calling it straight and going after them with renewed commitment and energy.