All Grown Up

Posted on October 18, 2010 by rbirkey

I put my youngest child and only daughter on a plane last night. She’s headed to Cape Town, South Africa as I write. It’s a weird feeling and somewhat sad to know that I won’t see her for many months and that she will be on her own doing new challenging things she has never done before.

But, we raised her to take this kind of a positive risk and encouraged her to do hard things. So, even though it’s emotionally hard to let her go as a parent (and over-protective Dad), it is also satisfying and exciting to see her growing up before my eyes.

I’m thrilled about what she will be doing, helping to serve the needs of kids through YFC World Outreach. You can follow her adventures at http://kathrynbirkey.com

Breaking Down the Stereotypes

Posted on November 20, 2008 by rbirkey

I am very proud of my family. Why?

Debbie Birkey tutoring at Breakthrough Urban Ministries

Yesterday, our local Oak Park paper, The Wednesday Journal, contained an article about my family’s involvement at Breakthrough Urban Ministries, in Chicago’s west side Garfield Park neighborhood [Link to Pouring Love, Breaking Through article].

The article was very well written by Abigail Cramton, who reported the topic with balance, intelligence and clarity. It featured many quotes by my wife, Deb, as well as Josh Hawkins photos of her and our son Noel tutoring some kids from the neighborhood. Kathryn, myself and our other sons are mentioned, as well as other friends (Cindy and Mo Russo) who also serve and volunteer in this ministry.

This kind of service is not a big deal for us Christians to be doing! Most of our neighbors would never do something like this… and they don’t. Yet, Christians do these things regularly and often, and are still too often perceived as being uncaring, separate, uninvolved, hate-filled and politically conservative. The same paper that featured this article often portrays us that way.

“Modeling and teaching service to others is one of our responsibilities as parents. The same way we are servant leaders to our kids, we want them to be servant leaders in their own worlds.” – Debbie Birkey

What I am most proud of is that we can be a part of breaking down the stereotypes that many in Oak Park have toward evangelical Christians who attend our church – Calvary Memorial. I think that this article more accurately and clearly communicates the worldview that we hold to and practice. I am all for breaking down and challenging those myths and barriers that many of our Oak Park neighbors have. I am for clearly presenting and modeling the teachings and example of Jesus by serving others, caring for the poor and oppressed, freeing slaves and prisoners, and declaring the good news that we can be reconciled with God.

Yes indeed, I am very proud of my family!

Arloa Sutter also commented on this article yesterday in her blog [Link to Blog Post].

Week Three

Posted on October 26, 2007 by rbirkey

MORNING
Week three is almost over. Today I need to finish up a scope document for our first client: Sunshine Gospel Ministries, as well as meet with Derek Taylor and Benjamin over lunch.

I remembered to bring in my tools today, so we can take down a workstation wall that will allow Benjamin and me to see each other from our desks. We are wanting to open things up more in our work area for easier communication and collaboration.

AFTERNOON
We had a good lunch break with Derek Taylor today. He came on over to the Headstand Media office and shared some good Maggiano’s Italian food! This reminded me that I did some illustrations for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises some years ago for Maggiano’s. I’ve included a few of those sketches here.

One of the things we discussed over lunch was how to manage and keep really good web developers. Derek had some experience at one of his former jobs of losing key people because as the marketplace changed, and management didn’t really keep up with those changes. They would give key people minimal raises, then those people would find much better jobs elsewhere. Management would also go through phases of staffing up, and would pay new people more than the people who had been there and earned their stripes. This would tick off the people who had ben there and sacrificed already, and they would quit and move on. All of this kind of change is a huge disruption to a company, the momentum and the team building that you need to maintain in order to grow. I had some of my own experiences along these lines to share as well. It was good to know that we are not alone and that many companies are facing similar challenges in today’s changing marketplace.

EVENING
This evening is the Breakthrough Urban Ministries annual fund-raising benefit dinner, with guest speaker Tony Evans. I will be leaving the office early to get there on time, since Deb and I are table hosts. I am looking forward to having Michele Dillon join us, the Guyer’s, Miller’s (great news you guys!), Jeb, Kathryn and Noel, as well as seeing Arloa, Von & Vilma, Brenda, Keith, Donny and Mary, and many other friends who will be there.

Thanks to: Ken W., Chris A., Kyle W., and Derek T. – for visiting us this week!. To Taylor B, Noel B, Marshall B, Nicole H, Patrick F, Karen N, Laura and Debbie B for feedback on logo designs! To Russell K: thanks for calling me at my new office number!

Popeye Moments & Calling

Posted on August 24, 2007 by rbirkey

Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision
By Bill Hybels / Zondervan

One thing I am learning the older I become, is that life is full of changes. There is no getting around it. There is no such thing as “security” or “settling down” or a “bowl of cherries.” The real question is… how will I handle the inevitable changes that will come, usually when I don’t expect them, and with details that are really irritating and inconvenient? Will I allow these “curve balls of life” to get me down with discouragement and disappointment, or will I accept them as new opportunities for growth and maturity?

I recently read a book by Bill Hybels that was initially sparked in his life by the question, “Why do people do what they do?” In the book he talks about the idea of a “Popeye moment.” This idea comes from the old cartoon character, “Popeye the Sailor Man”… who I am old enough to actually remember watching on Saturday mornings at my Grandpa & Grandma’s house! You may be interested to know that my family did not have a TV until I was in Junior High – by choice!

In each episode of Popeye, some “curve ball” would arise in his life, and you would watch the inner tension rising, his pulse racing, and the adrenaline get pumping. At some boiling point he would blurt out… “That’s all I can stands, and I can’t stands it no more!” At that point, he would rip open a can of spinach, wolf it down in one gulp, and become a super-charged sailor man of overwhelming power for good. He would always save the day, bringing life back to a more “normal” state. He’d end the program singing “I’m strong to the finich, ’cause I eats my spinich, I’m Popeye the sailor man.”

Hybels proposes that we ask ourselves the “Popeye Question… What is it that you can’t stand?” He asks what is the “one thing” or the “pesky preoccupation” of our minds… “the things that keeps us up at night, and that ignites your heart and imagination.” It is the force bringing sorrowful tears, or the kicking and screaming inside of you… this he says, is the foundation of your “Holy Discontent,” the title of his book.

The Call
By Os Guinness / Thomas Nelson

I am now reading another book by Os Guiness, entitled “The Call: Finding and Fulfilling the Central Purpose of Your Life.” What does Os mean by “the call?” He states on page 4 that “calling is the truth that God calls us to himself so decisively that everything we are, everything we do, and everything we have is invested with a special devotion and dynamism lived out as a response to his summons and service.”

Recently there have been some “curve balls” in my life and I am in the process of understanding my “Popeye moment” and figuring out my “calling.” In my case it revolves around my work, career, business and skills and talents. I desire to use the gifts and abilities God has given me for the greatest impact for good and in service of others, as possible. I am not sure where this journey will lead, but I am definitely on a ride I did not expect even a year ago.

In the words of singer-songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman, “I’m diving in, I’m going deep in over my head, I want to be caught in the rush, lost in the flow, in over my head, I want to go, the river’s deep, the river’s wide, the river’s water is alive, so sink or swim, I’m diving in.”

Jesus Videos

Posted on June 17, 2007 by rbirkey

Jesus Video These videos were produced in 2001 by “Vintage21,” a Christian community of “God seekers, God followers, God doubters,” located in Raleigh, NC. This “church” decided to do a 4 week sermon series, taking a deeper look at the person of Jesus Christ, what He claimed and what he did. Knowing that it is often difficult for us to get beyond our “Sunday School” and enculturated perceptions of Jesus, they took a satirical look at these misconceptions in order to better understand the real Jesus.What they actually did was to take old “Jesus Films” and cut them up into smaller segments. Then then overdubbed new audio track with conversations between Jesus and his disciples. The results are humorous, satirical, hilarious, as well as deeply thought provoking.Here are links to view these videos on Google’s YouTube.

Vintage 21 Jesus Video 1

Vintage 21 Jesus Video 2

Vintage 21 Jesus Video 3

Vintage 21 Jesus Video 4

Nickel, Birkey & Company

Posted on June 5, 2007 by rbirkey

My sister recently scanned and sent me these two photo images from the past. They were taken back in 1972-1973 when I was freshly graduated from York High School, and involved in a music duo/ministry with a friend named Ray Nickel. We called it Nickel, Birkey & Company. We both played guitar, sang and performed at churches, camps, retreats, banquets, weddings and the like. Notice the nice long hair, cool shirts, jeans and boots. Very hip!

At the time of these photos, I had been playing guitar for only a few years, after picking it up my Freshman year of high school, after dropping out of playing trumpet in band and orchestra at school. I started playing on my Dad’s 1948 Martin D-18, then saved up enough money to buy a Guild F-112 12-string from Biasco Music for about $250, with a hard shell case (pictured here).

Those were quite the days. We played some Simon & Garfunkel, Seals & Crofts, Peter, Paul & Mary, Bob Dillon, and many others, as well as many jazz and pop standards. We played for worship in our church, as well as added more artistic/creative friends to help us put on “multimedia” shows with our concerts, using slide photography, projections, lighting, art, illustration, drama, and music. We were really on the cutting edge!

Costa Rica – Day Nine

Posted on February 3, 2007 by rbirkey

6:30 AM
I am awake, so I quietly got up, showered, dressed and headed up to the main house to type this blog, while Steve and John Tanner were asleep in our cabin. I guess I am too excited to go back to sleep, plus I have to start preparing to change my internal clock again back to my usual 4:30 AM rising. It’s another beautiful morning here in Costa Rica – sunny and clear and cool up here in the foothills. Perfect weather for me.

Mark Edwards is already up here making coffee and talking with a youth pastor named Darrel, visiting from the US and planning a future trip to CR with his youth group. The main room is set up in a circle for our morning meeting right after breakfast. We will have a time of sharing, reflection and communion together lead by Pastor Bob.

MUSINGS
Things I’ve thought about or learned on this trip:
• Working with concrete
• Latin American culture and the ministry of Sonlife and International Teams
• Getting to know some other guys in a deeper way is really good for my soul
• God is a Master Architect and Builder, who has a plan, and has blessed me immensely by making me a part of it. I am a living stone.
• I need to personally focus on obedience to God’s plan for me.
• I love Pat’s jokes! He makes me laugh! That’s good!
• Christians around the world in different cultures believe the same basic doctrines (orthodoxy), but differ greatly in how that doctrine is lived out in their cultures (orthopraxy). “It’s not right or wrong – It’s just different.”
• There is a special bond created between men when they work together physically and hard, toward a common purpose and goal.
• The world is a very big place, full of people who desperately need to hear the Good News of Jesus the Christ
• Bob Boerman is my “Senior” Pastor. I need no other.
• I usually think more highly of myself than I ought.
• I can often take pride in my humility
• I have a long way to go in my spiritual journey to be more like Jesus
• It takes a lot of hard work to love people in a different culture over a long period of time.

7:15 AM
I hear more people and activity ramping up as I have been writing this. Breakfast is at 8 AM today.

8:45 AM
Breakfast is over and we are either packing or doing our “devotions.” I am reading and thinking about the scripture for today in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

11:00 AM
We left the campus and drove toward the airport and stopped at a restuarant calledf Rosti Pollo for lunch. It was a good time of fellowship shared around a table. After that, we said our good-bye’s to Mark and Stewart who are staying on an extra week in CR, and our friends Mark and Karen Edwards. We also said good bye to Ken Bylsma, our foreman, who is staying on to oversee another work group next week.

2:30 PM
We made it through all the ticketing, taxing and security at the airport and waited for our flight to board. Some of us did last minute shopping in the duty free area. I picked up a Ken Follet paperback thriller called “Whiteout” and a Snickers bar. I ate it on the plane, and started the book. It’s good.

9:15 PM
We are in the air somehwere north and east of Charlotte, N.C. on our way to Chicago. The flight from San Jose to the US was uneventful. The connection at Charlotte was a bit nerve-wracking. Once we deplaned in Chalotte, we had to first wait in long lines and go through U.S. Customs, then pick up our baggage, then re-check it in on the connecting flight, then run to the new gate (which was far away) to board for the next flight. We were not sure if we would all make it because there was only one hour between floights in which to do all of this. However, U.S.Airways delayed the flight a bit and we all made it – even John Tanner, who was originally booked on a later flight! Eddie and Mike were seated in First Class for some strange reason!

I called and spoke to Deb a couple times about the delay and that we were in fact on the plane. She is picking us up at O’Hare tonight. Speaking of O’Hare, once we landed and taxied to the jetway, our captain notified us that it appeared that the jetway motors were on fire! We sat for at least 45 minutes while they scrambled to put out the fire and move us with a “tug” to a different jetway. What a shock top walk off into the subzero temperatures! Welcome to Chicago! It also took a whole to get our baggage. By the time Pat and I got ours, and Deb drove us back to Oak Park, we didn’t get to bed until 1 or 1:30 AM. A very long day!

I am so grateful to all those who supported me for this trip. Thank you to each one of you! You know who you are! I’ll post some additional thoughts in the next week as this trip soaks in more and I process it off-line. Thanks for reading. Feel free to post your comments.

Costa Rica – Day Eight

Posted on February 2, 2007 by rbirkey

7:30 AM
I wake up to a new day – sun streaming into our hotel room. Out on the balcony the air is already hot and humid – just what you would expect in a tropical climate! Time to go get some breakfast and hang out on the beach and around the pools until we need to check out at 2 PM.

MORNING
I spent a good extended time at breakfast with Steve Tanner and Ken Bylsma, just getting to know each other more. Following that, we wandered to the beach and in between dips in the ocean, pool and the sun, I talked more with Bob Boerman, Mike Rytanek, Pat Italia, Stewart Nelson and Mark Dodgson. I love the unhurried time to just talk and get to know others on the team in a deeper way.

Stewart came up with this photo of a lizard living on the grounds of the hotel!

12:00 NOON
I am at the center bar/restaurant area where the WiFi is, to update the Calvary site and my blog. I also download all of Eddie’s photos from his camera for him.

2:00 PM
Checkout time from the Fiesta Resort hotel. We pile back in the tourismo bus and head back toward San Isidro. On the way, we stopped at a town called Sarchi to do some shopping. I bought a mini-coffee bag.

Then we stopped at another town to eat at a Tico-Pollo (Costa Rican Chicken) fast food place – which was pretty good.

On our way to San Isidro, we got to talking about ice cream, and we asked the driver if he had time to stop one more place. He did, so we then stopped at a place in Heredia called “Pops Ice Cream.” After some confusion in ordering because we did not have a native Spanish speaker among us, we decided to put the order on Eddie’s credit card because they would not accept American dollars – go figure! I ordered a chocolate milkshake which was only okay. To be up to par, it needed more ice cream, a little more chocolate sauce (Hershey’s brand would be best) and some malt added. I think there is a great business opportunity for such an American ice cream parlor here in CR!

8:30 PM
We arrived safely back at the campus in San Isidro. It felt a bit like coming “home” even though tomorrow we start the process of going all the way home. Costa Rica and the experience here has been great, but I am looking forward to getting back home to my family.

ONE THING I LEARNED
One spiritual lesson I learned on this trip was from my friend Pat Italia, while on the Tourismo bus somewhere between Pantarenas and San Isidro. I learned God’s first name!

Forrest Gump died and went to heaven. St. Peter met him at the Pearly Gate, and said, “I’m sorry Forrest, but there has been a change in plans. You have to answer three questions correctly before you can enter Heaven.”

Forrest was at first disappointed, but made the best of it by saying, “OK, what are the questions?” St.Peter replied, “The first question is, how many days in the week start with the letter ‘T’? The next question is how many seconds are in a year, and the third is what is God’s first name?”

Forrest scratched his head and said, “Can I think about these and get back to you tomorrow? “Sure” answered St. Peter.

The next day Forrest came back to the Pearly Gate and St. Peter met him there. “Do you know the answers?” he asked. “Yes, I do,: said Forrest. “Well then, how many days on the week start with the letter ‘T’?” Forrest answered, “Today and Tomorrow!” St. Peter smiled and replied, “Well, that wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but you are correct and I’ll have to give it to you!” Then he said, “How many seconds are there in a year?” Forrest answered, “That was easy. There are 12: January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd…” St. Peter chuckled louder this time, and said, “Well Forrest, that also was not the answer I expected, but you are correct again. I’ll have to give that one to you also.” “How about the last question? Do you know God’s first name?”

To that Forrest replied, “That was the easiest one! His first name is ‘Andy’! St. Peter frowned and said, “Forrest, where on earth did you come up with that answer?” Forrest replied, “Well, a song my Momma always sang and taught to me goes, ‘Andy walks with me, Andy talks with me…”

TRANSLATIONS
Language funnies we experienced in Costa Rica:
• While shopping for souvenirs in a gift shop… “You break it, You pay it”
• When offered a free sample of food we said, “No, Thank You,” to which the reply was, “You’re Welcome!”
• While shopping for souvenirs, Steve captured this sign…

Costa Rica – Day Seven

Posted on February 1, 2007 by rbirkey

7:00 AM
The alarm went off, but I was already awake. I headed up to breakfast at 7:30 and had coffee, Post Honey Nut cereal (with almonds), fresh papaya, strawberries, and scrambled eggs with cheese..

8:00 AM
Steve Tanner and I went to work on forming up our “circular” concrete form for a branch of the driveway. We had left a section of wood soaking in water overnight to make it more pliable. We were able to bend it to the radius we desired and stake it down in place. That took most of an hour, then we spent time cleaning up around camp and the shop.

10:00 AM
We had pretty much finished up our work and cleanup. We went to our rooms and started packing for our trip to the beach. I spent some time looking at our scripture for the day, 1 Cor. 3:9, “For we are God’s fellow workers,” and made a sketch of my thoughts.

11:30 AM
Lunch was served at the main house (Casa Grande). It was good food from our cook all week, Marlin. At the end of the meal, Donald and Erika Solano presented each of us with a hand painted piece of wood… each unique with some natural element of Costa Rica. Mine was of a tree frog. Beautiful! They are such a beautiful Costa Rican couple.

12:30 PM
We all gathered at the main driveway and loaded our overnight bags into a Tousimo van. We took a group picture including Donald & Erika because we would not be seeing them again. Then we drove through Costa Rica to the west coast and checked into a nice hotel for some R & R around 2:30 PM. I am writing this at the moment from an outdoor cabana that has wireless connectivity. Amazing!

6:00 PM
We gather for dinner at the Fiesta Resort in Pantarenas, along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Great food! It’s like a cruise ship on land!

7:45 PM
We gathered in Bob’s room for our evening crew meeting to discuss our thoughts from the day based upon 1 Cor. 3: 5-19. It was a good time of sharing and thought provoking discussion.

Costa Rica – Day Six

Posted on January 31, 2007 by rbirkey

6:00 AM
The alarm rings. We get ready for a quick breakfast before the concrete truck arrives! I also eat “monkey brains” at breakfast!

7:00 AM
We are busy getting forms and areas ready for fresh concrete. I spend the morning floating and edging new concrete driveway and walkway sections.

11:30 AM
We break from work. I jumped in the pool and swam a few laps to cool off! Felt great!. Then I spent some time reflecting on Jesus as our Chief Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20 – and drew a picture to illustrate my thoughts.

12:30 PM
We gather or lunch at the Casa Grande.

1:30 PM
We work on framing up additional sidewalks and another section of driveway. We clear out areas we are done with, and fill in gravel. I “marked” our sections of concrete with a cross and then Calvary 07 – as has become my expected job. While working, I had a nice chance to talk with Bob about the future direction of Calvary and where God is leading him and us as a church.

4:00 PM
We take a break and have ice cream sandwiches – they tasted great!

4:30 PM
We work on framing up a circular section of the driveway. We end by leaving one section of ripped 1×4 soaking in water in a drain overnight to soften up. We hope this will enable us to bend it easier and stake it in place tomorrow.

5:15 PM
Time to clean up for dinner and our evening crew meeting. I need a shower!