2 Years

Posted on September 23, 2007 by rbirkey

Steve,

Hey man, I can’t believe it’s already been two years since you left! I went to visit your spot at the cemetery the other day. It was nice to see that marker which I had not seen yet. Very nice! I should thank your family for that. As you know, I brushed it off, read it, looked around at the trees, the grass and the view and listened to the breeze. It’s a nice spot, don’t you think?

Did you hear what I said to you? I hope so, because its true. You were a good friend to me. I know you lost your way there at the end. I know everything is clear for you now. I still love you and wish you were here.

As you know, the Illinois Republican Party has gone to hell. Boy do we need a house cleaning! I know you know that!

Oh yeah… have you written any good tunes lately? I’ll see you when my time is up. Let’s jam!

Your pal,

Randy

The Bard is getting married!

Posted on December 7, 2006 by rbirkey

Our long-time friend, James Bardwell (The Bard) is engaged to be married to Lieve Nuyens! Check out their website here! James and Lieve. We met James many years ago at the Chicago International Evangelical Free Church, and have been friends ever since. He is like an older brother to our kids.

James met Lieve at the same church in 2005, when she was in the US attending the Moody Bible Institute. Even though Lieve returned to her home in Belgium in 2006, James kept pursuing her, and one thing led to another and … !

Congratulations to James and Lieve! We are excited for you and are looking forward to your wedding day on February 24, 2007!

Friday the 13th

Posted on October 13, 2006 by rbirkey

Today is Friday the 13th. OOOOOOOhhh – I’m scared! Did my workout at Loyola this morning… I’m tired! CTI is coming in today. Had a great lunch with Brian and Renee, and Chris. Thanks, you guys!

Erin Thomas Visit

Posted on October 12, 2006 by rbirkey

Erin Thomas came to dinner last night! I hadn’t seen her since Taylor & Laura’s wedding in August of 2005. It was fun to have her share dinner with us, and hear about her college years at Word of Life, then Prairie Bible Institute in Canada, and then this past summer of ministry in Slovenia. She showed us a slide show on her laptop of her summer there. What a beautiful place!

Who Can Doubt?

Posted on October 6, 2005 by rbirkey

I am listening to a pre-release CD by Von Matthews and Proclaim, called “Who Can Doubt?” Great job Von & Proclaim! What a wonderful piece of work this is! I can’t wait to get final production copies so I can give it to lots of my friends and family!

I met Von at our church about 5 or 6 years ago. Von is a talented and gifted singer-songwriter, keyboard player and worship leader. Von and his wife Vilma, and many friends and family started attending Calvary some years ago. Their music group, Proclaim, started singing and leading worship as well. Our church was blessed by the new life, energy and spirit they brought to worship.

We started having “potlucks” at our home after church on Sundays, so that we could get to know them all better, and to facilitate them getting to know more people at our church. Those were some great times with lots of memories.

Von would finish his food, and then sit down at our grand piano in the living room, and start playing. Soon others would finish their food, migrate to the piano and start singing along. Many times, this would develop into a full-blown Gospel Sing, that I am sure the entire neighborhood could hear!

I am helping Von by setting up a new website for himself and Proclaim at www.VonMatthews.com.

Album Song List

Able – Haunting harmonies by Von and Vilma Matthews
Touch the World – What can I say? Keith Johnson says it all!
King of Kings – One of the great Proclaim pieces we learned to love and enjoy at Calvary
Who Can Doubt? – I just LOVE to hear Vilma sing!
Worthy of Our Praise – Another great Proclaim choir number
He Cares – This is the first time I’ve heard this one. A great caring evangelistic song by Keith and Von. Good work men!
Jesus You Came – Another great song we loved at Calvary!
Without the Love of Jesus – Great choir vocals, and message focusing on God’s Grace and Love for us through Jesus.
New Song (Revelation 5) – Great lead vocals by Donna Williams. I can hear the voices in heaven singing this one!
Home – Thanks Von, heaven is where I want to be too! We are going to have some great fun doing music together there!

We Laid Steve to Rest

Posted on October 6, 2005 by rbirkey

**Cemetery** Today, at 10 AM, we met as a small band of family and friends, to lay the ashes of Steve Meyer to rest. It was a beautiful, cool, end-of-summer day. His remains are buried between two Maple trees in a quiet corner of Concordia Cemetery in River Forest, Illinois. I think Steve would like this spot.

Dr. Ray Pritchard shared some thoughts and memories of Steve. He ended by reading this incredible passage from 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18.

“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.”

Robin read a letter to Steve. It was an awesome, from the heart, love letter. There was not a dry eye after that was read. Deb sang “Jesus I am Resting, Resting,” and I accompanied her on guitar. Ray ended with a prayer.

As the crowd broke up, I took a moment to kneel and touch the box containing Steve’s ashes. I prayed and thanked the Lord for making Steve and for his friendship to me. I placed Steve completely in the Lord’s care and said “good-bye,” until we see each other again in Heaven.

I love you, Steve. You will always be with me in my heart and memory. You were a good man and a good friend. I hope that I can be as good of a friend to someone else, as you have been to me.

Wait for me. I will meet you in heaven and I’ll bring my guitar. Can’t wait to see and hear what you’ve been composing!

No more tears.