A glorious tribute
The following was written by the wife of Ken Barth, who died two days ago in Bloomington, Illinois. Ken was the music director of Calvary Baptist Church in Bloomington, and his ministry was fruitful and far-reaching. It's strange to think of his being gone from this world because I still imagine Ken a bubbly, smiling, chord-banging, scale-ripping, high-note hitting, choir-leading man with a heart set in God's hands. Now he's gone, ya know? I'm feeling in one of those check-your-reality moments where i analyze if i've got my perspective on this life right.
We think about souls leaving this world as we think of a switch going from "on" to "off." He's here; then he's there. But it's not really that way. We have already made the change from our earthly to heavenly citizenship, belonging. Only heaven is suitable for us; only heaven is home. We are meant to be gathered in Christ and His eternal Life, for He is life.
Ephesians 1:13-14--"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation..." And what a trust that is! To trust in what you do not see but have only heard about and felt in your heart and soul that it MUST be, it MUST be what is. "...in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption fo the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." We're like a package lying in wait at the train station with a receipt inside that says "paid for by the Redeemer." In the station we wait, but it is most certain that He who purchased the package is on his way, and the road between Him and us is Time.
Anyway, here's the letter that Ken's wife, Mona, wrote:
Matt. 25:21 "Well done,thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD." While in the hospital, Ken made the decision to stop all treatments and said, " I am ready to lay my sword down." It brought to mind II Timothy 4:7,8: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only , but to all them also that love His appearing." Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 2:00 am Ken said to our son Mel, "I am going home , I'll see my new house and there will be no yapping dogs." (There are two very yapping dogs next door to us and they disturbed him greatly.) April 11,2006 at 4:00 PM, he went quietly and peacefully to His new Heavenly Home and entered into the Joy of his Lord.
The Lord was so gracious and kind to give us a few days with all the family here and Ken unusually alert and funny. What a precious time we had one afternoon as we gathered around his bed singing "God Is So Good" and reading scripture together. Ken very softly joined in for a few phrases. There are many good-bye tears, but being in the presence of the Lord as He sweetly ushered Ken into heaven was far better then watching him suffer just to have more time with him here.
As most of you know, for many years Ken has been busy at the Easter season directing the Easter Pageant. It was the great passion of his ministry for the last few years to make the story of Jesus come to life. Every year he tried to improve it, and the last couple of years he had a dream to add a scene to conclude the presentation that would demonstrate what it must be like as believers are welcomed into heaven. He was always determined to get the "heaven scene" just right. Isn't it amazing that at this moment he is experiencing for real what he was trying so hard to imagine. Easter will never be the same for us, but heaven will be more real.
As I was looking through an old Bible of his, I read in his handwriting:
"I dedicate my life to finishing strong. K. Barth 7/21/96."
That is what he did. He finished strong in love for his God, in his faith, his love for his family, church family and all those whose lives he touched. He never brought disgrace to his name or (more importantly) to God's name. For this we are praising God.
Thank you for all your love, concern, prayers & support.
Mona and the family
We think about souls leaving this world as we think of a switch going from "on" to "off." He's here; then he's there. But it's not really that way. We have already made the change from our earthly to heavenly citizenship, belonging. Only heaven is suitable for us; only heaven is home. We are meant to be gathered in Christ and His eternal Life, for He is life.
Ephesians 1:13-14--"In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation..." And what a trust that is! To trust in what you do not see but have only heard about and felt in your heart and soul that it MUST be, it MUST be what is. "...in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption fo the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." We're like a package lying in wait at the train station with a receipt inside that says "paid for by the Redeemer." In the station we wait, but it is most certain that He who purchased the package is on his way, and the road between Him and us is Time.
Anyway, here's the letter that Ken's wife, Mona, wrote:
Matt. 25:21 "Well done,thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD." While in the hospital, Ken made the decision to stop all treatments and said, " I am ready to lay my sword down." It brought to mind II Timothy 4:7,8: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me at that day and not to me only , but to all them also that love His appearing." Saturday, April 8, 2006, at 2:00 am Ken said to our son Mel, "I am going home , I'll see my new house and there will be no yapping dogs." (There are two very yapping dogs next door to us and they disturbed him greatly.) April 11,2006 at 4:00 PM, he went quietly and peacefully to His new Heavenly Home and entered into the Joy of his Lord.
The Lord was so gracious and kind to give us a few days with all the family here and Ken unusually alert and funny. What a precious time we had one afternoon as we gathered around his bed singing "God Is So Good" and reading scripture together. Ken very softly joined in for a few phrases. There are many good-bye tears, but being in the presence of the Lord as He sweetly ushered Ken into heaven was far better then watching him suffer just to have more time with him here.
As most of you know, for many years Ken has been busy at the Easter season directing the Easter Pageant. It was the great passion of his ministry for the last few years to make the story of Jesus come to life. Every year he tried to improve it, and the last couple of years he had a dream to add a scene to conclude the presentation that would demonstrate what it must be like as believers are welcomed into heaven. He was always determined to get the "heaven scene" just right. Isn't it amazing that at this moment he is experiencing for real what he was trying so hard to imagine. Easter will never be the same for us, but heaven will be more real.
As I was looking through an old Bible of his, I read in his handwriting:
"I dedicate my life to finishing strong. K. Barth 7/21/96."
That is what he did. He finished strong in love for his God, in his faith, his love for his family, church family and all those whose lives he touched. He never brought disgrace to his name or (more importantly) to God's name. For this we are praising God.
Thank you for all your love, concern, prayers & support.
Mona and the family
posted by Radar | 10:58 AM
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