I guess it’s not hard to figure out where I got my drawing tendencies. My father loved to doodle, sketch and draw all his life. We think Dad was about 8 years old when he drew this. We’ve done some research and have not been able to figure out where he got this idea… this may have been a character of his own creation.

This skill, developed over time, eventually enabled him to supplement his pastoring and ministry income with sign painting on the side.

Professor Alec Tron - By Del Birkey - circa 1941

Another drawing probably done during his grade school years.

Del Birkey Drawing - Cartoon Character

Another one, perhaps from his teenage years.

Huba, Huba! - Dream Gal

I’ve been reading a lot of Dr. Terry Wardle lately. He writes, teaches and speaks about spiritual formation. Here are some things he says that resonate with me…

“God’s Word emphasizes the direct relationship between forgiveness and personal well-being. The importance of forgiveness Jesus taught, cannot be overstated and its practice overdone. It is God’s way with penitent people, and it needs to be our way to. Forgiveness is the doorway to incredible peace. And, conversely, unforgiveness is a guaranteed formula for emotional and spiritual torment.” – From “Draw Near to the Fire – Finding God in the Darkness” – page 130

Alan Baker Dillon, 1923-2009

Five days after my own father passed away, so did the father of one of my friends and business partners. David Dillon’s father, Alan Dillon passed away on May 18, 2009… on the same day as my father’s funeral.

There are some interesting touch points between the lives of our families:

• David’s father Alan attended Columbia Bible College, in Columbia, South Carolina, as did my father and mother, Del and Donna Birkey
• Alan and Myrtle Dillon were missionaries in Japan, as were my wife’s parents, Sam and Grace Wolgemuth, for a 2 year time period
• The two couples met and knew each other during these 2 years in Japan
• After serving in Japan, Alan and Myrtle lived in Rockford for a time as did my wife, Deb… and they attended the same church
• David Dillon and my wife Deb, met in Rockford at the same church, and attended a home Bible study together
• I met David in the home of the friends who hosted that Bible study group, through Deb
• David, Deb and I formed a musical trio called Windward and we performed in the Chicago area from 1980-1983
• David and I and another partner formed Headstand Media together in 2007

My prayers and condolences go out to the entire Dillon family.

You can find more information on Alan Dillon and the Dillon family at this website: http://www.alan-dillon.com

I have a friend named Hans who told me about this guy named Buddy Miller. I really like Buddy and his wife Julie too. He’s been around and played for some big name artists. But his album called “Universal United House Of Prayer” is just plain excellent. I especially like this song.

Today is a time to celebrate and a time to mourn.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

These words have taken on new meaning this past week. No sooner had I witnessed my father pass away in a hospital room, and spent a day with my Mom and brother making all the funeral arrangements, than I drove with friends and family to Pennsylvania for the weekend for my son’s graduation at Grove City College. I was drawn to this passage as I prepared for a short time of family worship Sunday morning before we headed back to Chicago. It has been quite a juxtaposition to say the least.

I’m very proud of Marshall and his accomplishments, as I am of each of my children. Marshall has excelled academically, graduating with two degrees from Grove City College: a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics… both with highest honors, summa cum laude. He was nominated to be “senior man of the year” (and made it to the top 10) by his classmates, and received several scholarships and special recognitions. He served in the worship and music ministry of a small church near campus, and was a leader in his fraternity… Beta Sigma. He has made some deep friendships with some really great guys and gals we have come to know and love as well.

Marshall is home now for a few weeks, then heads off to Washington D.C., to work for a year at the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation. Then he heads somewhere (yet to be determined) overseas to get his Masters in Economic Development, the result of a scholarship from Rotary International.

We celebrate all of this and at the same time mourn the loss of Dad, who would have loved to watch Marshall’s graduation, and would be very proud of his grandson. While we celebrate life, we also face the visitation, funeral and burial services for Dad today and tomorrow.

There really is a time for everything.

Obituary – Delmar G. Birkey

Del Birkey: 1933-2009

Delmar Gene (Del) Birkey was born Feb 16, 1933 at Foosland, IL, son of Alvin and Amelia Birkey. He died May 13, 2009, at Central DuPage Hospital at the age of 76. Del attended a one-room country school, then Fisher High School, graduating with the class of 1951.

In June 1952, Del married his high school sweetheart, Donna Schrock, and the couple moved to Columbia, S.C., where they attended Columbia Bible College (now Columbia International University). Del graduated in 1957, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Education. While in Columbia, he served as pastor in several churches. He was ordained in 1955.

During the years 1962-1967, Del was part of the ministry of Youth Gospel Crusade, Westboro, WI. His particular specialty was youth meetings in churches using chalk drawings and magic object lessons. In addition, Del served as program director at Camp Forest Springs for several years.

Del earned a Master of Arts in Biblical Education (cum laude) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, IL in 1969. This was followed some years later with a Doctor of Ministry in 1986 from Bethany Theological Seminary, Lombard, IL.

Del served as minister at several churches in the western Chicago suburbs, but his most significant ministry was His Community Church—a house church that met for 15 years and was the culmination of his passion for renewal. Following that experience, he wrote a book published in 1988 titled, The House Church—A Model for Renewing the Church.

Another of his concerns was equality for women, especially within the church. In 2005, his book The Fall of Patriarchy—Its Broken Legacy Judged by Jesus & the Apostolic House Church Communities was published.

Del is survived by his wife, Donna; three children, Randal (Debbie), Cynthia, and Barry (Jenny). He also leaves thirteen wonderful grandchildren: Taylor (Laura), Noel, Marshall, and Kathryn Birkey; Ashley, Bethany, Ian, and Zachary Hernandez; Christy, Jenny, Katie, Jonathan, and Julie Birkey. Also surviving are four siblings: Carroll (Minerva) Birkey, Margaret Oyer, Floyd (Jean) Birkey, and Viola Stacey. He is also survived by Donna’s 97-year-old mother, Laura Mae Schrock.

The visitation and funeral will take place on Monday, May 18, 2009 at Hultgren Funeral Home in Wheaton, Illinois. Visitation begins at 3 PM. A memorial service will begin at 7 PM.

A burial service is planned for Tuesday, May 19, 2009, at East-Bend Mennonite Church Memorial Gardens, near Fisher, Illinois, beginning at 10:30 AM. – VIEW MAP

More Information

• Read Del Birkey’s Obituary – Hultgren Funeral Home
• Sign Del Birkey’s Guestbook – Hultgren Funeral Home
• Visit Del’s House Church Book website
• Read Champaign-Urbana News Gazette Obituary
• Read Bloomington Pantagraph Obituary
• The Schrock-Birkey Connection (Family History Info)

Memorial Gifts

Del was an avid supporter of both of these fine organizations. Memorial gifts may be directed to either:

Global Action
7660 Goddard Street
Suite 200
Colorado Springs CO 80920
www.global-act.org

or to

Christians for Biblical Equality
122 West Franklin Ave
Suite 218
Minneapolis MN 55404
www.cbeinternational.org

Please memo the gift in memory of Del Birkey.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Del Birkey

My father is dying.

Those are words I did not expect to be saying and thinking and feeling at this point in my life. I am 55 and my father is 76 and in otherwise good health. Last week he had a stroke that has robbed him of his mind and the ability to communicate verbally. He is currently on a ventilator with feeding tubes and IV’s, some of which we as a family will very soon need to decide how long to continue with.

Dad is a committed follower of Jesus Christ. He has spent the largest part of his life in Christian ministry doing youth work, pastoring churches, teaching and studying the Bible, writing and thinking about Christian topics, issues and theology. He is not without faults and failures, but he is a man whose legacy is one of growth and change as he trusted and followed his Master… Jesus Christ.

I am proud to be his son, and to have learned about who Jesus is from him (and my Mom) since I was a little boy. My concept of God as my Father, and Jesus as my Savior and the work of the Holy Spirit in my life have been in large part formed by this man… listening to him, and watching him live out his life. Needless to say, his life has had a significant impact on me. I am going to miss him.

Yesterday I was reminded of some foundational truths that Dad taught and exemplified in his life, as I read to him aloud out of the 8th chapter of Paul’s letter to the Roman church as found in the Bible:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, as I look into the future with the high probability of life without Dad physically present, it is good to know that neither of us will be separated from God’s love, nor will a physical separation between us be very long in the grand scheme of eternity. You see, there is a very real thing called Hope, that is based upon the above words being True. Christians believe that Jesus is real and that he actually is GOD (as he claimed to be) and that He exists today and the words recorded in the Bible are actually True. We gamble our entire lives and future on that fact. As Paul said, “…if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”

So, as I watch my father in the process of passing from this life into the next, I am even more convinced that what he believed and lived and taught me is ultimately True… not less true. His dying does not make me believe less because I see HOW he is dying. His example in life and during the process of dying increases my Hope and Trust in Jesus as Lord. His Lord becomes my Lord even more.

Dad is an example of a life well-lived for Jesus Christ. I can only hope to live a life half as well. I pray that I will be able to leave a similar legacy when my days are up.

Even though today was Mother’s Day, I spent time with my Mom in the hospital caring for my Dad. He was not doing as well today as he was yesterday. He seemed very agitated and restless and would not stay asleep longer than about 15 seconds. It was hard to watch as he really needed the rest in order for his brain to heal.

After over an hour of trying to calm him down, my wife suggested we try singing to him, She led us in some old hymns that Dad would know… and HE STARTED SINGING ALONG! It was unbelievable. He can’t talk or really put his thoughts together, yet when he hears the old favorite gospel hymns such as: It Is Well With My Soul, Great is Thy Faithfulness, How Great Thou Art, Jesus I am Resting, and many more – he actually went right into singing them with us!

It was another reminder that truth can be deeply rooted by a lifetime of study, application and celebration within the family of Christ. It was heart-warming to see him finding a connection with us in this way, even though he could not in any other way.

I ended my day much differently than I expected. Just got home from the hospital where I visited my 76-year-old father who is suffering from the aftermath of a seizure or “stroke” caused by a condition in his brain called “Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy.”

Here’s an article a doctor friend of mine found for me that is written in layman’s terms. http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Strokes/2485 Even if my father recovers from this bout, there is no “cure” for this condition and it will most likely eventually take his life.

When I woke this morning, I never dreamed this would be how I ended my day. It is sobering. It is also a reminder of how precious each day of life and health really is, and who I know and have to thank for it.

At the close of this day, my advice is to hug those you love and tell them that you love them. Demonstrate that love every day. Walk the walk. One never knows when it will be your last chance. Better to have stated and demonstrated your love, and to have no regrets should a loff or tragedy occur. I’m recommitting myself to this.

I love you Dad. I am praying you will pull through. I leave you in Our Father’s hands.