"Go ye therefore," with Special Emphasis on "Go"!

If you look up the word "patience" in the dictionary, you will NOT find a picture of my Dad. Patience was not a virtue for Tyre Denney. When he felt led to do something, especially if it was for his Lord, Dad was ready to go at that moment and many of those who weren't ready had difficulty keeping up with him. In his moving message at my Dad's funeral service, Brother Jeff Eaton pointed out that Tyre lived by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and many of us agree. Dad was all about "going" and he was on the go about every day as a pastor. At times, Tyre was inclined to go as fast as he could to get wherever he needed to be...a trait that most of his children inherited. But, more about his driving slightly above the speed limit at another time. One of his memorable mission trips was to Kenya in the fall of 1985. That trip had a profound effect on my Dad and he shared some of his feelings in an open letter that was published in the local newpaper, "The Anderson News". Tyre wrote a weekly article for the local paper for many years and some of his articles are well worth reading again. A few of Tyre's thoughts from his open letter about Africa, dated October 19, 1985, are copied below for your enjoyment.

• I've been living here since Wednesday afternoon in a place that, in a strange and touching way, reminds me of the home of my grandparents in Georgia. There is so much here that reminds me of home. The sandy, reddish dirt roads are almost identical to those I remember. The crops of cotton and corn and peas are just as scraggly; the yards are kept swept as clean as a whistle, not a blade of grass in sight. And as you come into their village, the children rush into the house to get a chair and bring it out and set it in the best shade for the Visitor (they capitalize it, not me) -who-has-come-all-the-way-from-America-Kentucky-not-even-stopping-in-Nairobi (where everyone who is anyone stops)-to-come-to-Sabaki-Melindi-Kenya-to-tell-us-about-God-and-His-Son, Yesu Christa. These are the sights and sounds and smells and hospitality that one associates with the deep south of the United States and they have touched my heart.


• There is no language barrier to a smile. Richard, the pastor of Subaki Baptist Church and Joseph, my translator, have been trying valiantly to teach me the "hellos", "how are yous", "I am fines", "good-byes", and "God bless yous" of Swahili. But when I forget, the big Wazungu (wah-zoon'-gue, their name for a white man that is most nearly translated as "people that go around in circles") just smiles or laughs out loud. It works every time. If you didn't bring that nice mirror your wife bought for you before you left home, you can comb your hair by looking at your shadow on the tent wall. But it helps if, (a) you don't have much hair, (b) you don't have to see the results, and (c) you have a cap to cover it with. A big Wazungu whose hair looks as though he just stuck his finger in the light socket is something else. And little children get the tummy ache if they laugh too much. You cannot, repeat CANNOT, shave yourself by looking at your shadow on the tent wall. This really isn't too bad. The Guriama (Goo-re-amma) people respect and revere their elders, those with gray hair and gray beards. And, in light of the aforementioned hair situation, a gray beard helps.


• Ferdnnand Katana was here this morning by the time I finished breakfast, saying, "Please, sir, may I walk with you today. I want you to teach me more from God's Word." Even as I write these words, he is sitting under the cashew nut tree, patiently waiting. He has the New Testament I gave him clutched in his hands. Less than a week ago, Ferdnnand Katana and I were separated by over 13,500 kilometers, race, color, culture and belief. Today, the God who bridges continents, colors, cultures and the consonants of language will be with us as we walk together among the people who live in the villages of Subaki, Kenya.


• And, with tears in his eyes and much joy in his heart, the Visitor-from -America-Kentucky-who-came-all-the-way-to-Subaki-Kenya (without even stopping-in-the-big-city-of-Nairobi)-to-teach-us-about-God says, "Bwana Asifiwe!" Which, being interpreted means, "Praise the Lord"! And the Subaki Guriama always say, "Amen!"

A Passion for Airplanes, Engines, and...People

If you look up "people-person" in a dictionary, you may find a picture of my Dad. He cared for everyone he met regardless of who they were or where they might be from in the world. He treated everyone like a long, lost friend and because of that, Tyre had many friends. He also enjoyed being around and flying in airplanes. Even more so than flying in airplanes, he enjoyed the engines that powered them. I think Dad was more interested in the airplane engines than the airplanes themselves but that is another story. Ken Jordan, a dear friend to me, my Dad and now our entire family, is also a "people-person". Coincidently, he is a pilot who owns a few airplanes. To Dad, Ken's friendship was truly a "match made in Heaven"! Ken shared some recollections of Tyre with those who attended Dad's funeral last week and he graciously emailed those memories to me for all to enjoy:

"My profession at the time of my retirement in 2002 was a firefighter on the Lexington (Ky) Fire Dept. I first heard J. Tyre Denney one Sunday morning in 1994 on the kitchen radio in my Frankfort, Ky home when I returned from the fire station. What a deep southern voice this man had and the ability to capture my attention. He spoke softly and with much conviction about the Lord. I was between churches at the time, so I would listen to him. He didn't speak down to me, as some preachers have in the past. He spoke simply and to the point and always included himself when he would talk about human failings. I noticed that he would make reference to airplanes in his messages as well. Who is this preacher that shares a common interest in airplanes with me? The Lord works in mysterious ways, His wonders to preform! I have been flying as a private pilot since 1982. I bought and restored a 1946 plane and had been flying it since 1991. Three years later, Brother D comes into my life on the radio. I started attending North Benson Baptist Church in 1993. The preacher was young and from North Carolina. He and his family eventually returned to N.C. The church was looking for a new minister...enter- J. Tyre Denney!! This is the first time I had met Brother D. It was a meeting that would give me a long time friend- not just a minister. Brother D and I shared another interest- singing the old Gospel Hymns. I never met anyone who had the gift to sing so many songs from memory. I always need a book or the words a least. Brother D had a wonderful baritone voice!! That's something else we had in common. The same voice range. We would sing in the church choir side by side in the bass section. Another thing I enjoyed was how he would reference songs in his messages. I have always thought hymns were mini-messages from God. I would sing specials from time to time before Brother D's message. One of these songs was "My God and I". Brother D would always talk about his "sweet-heart, Betty" and throw up his fingers to name his children- all those "J's". I see why he did that. He was such a loving husband and father that he did not want to leave anyone out! Several years ago, Brother D asked me to ride with him to visit a deacon's mother in a nursing home west of Indianapolis, Ind. On the return trip we were talking about songs and he asked me to sing "My God and I" at his passing. He said this song is how he felt about his Lord. I said I would be honored to do this song for him. We shared many short flying trips together. Some of my pilot friends had the big bi-planes with open cockpits and with the big round engines. He enjoyed several rides with the leather helmet and goggles. He loved the sound and smell of the big round engine. In his early days, he had been a round engine mechanic for Delta Air Lines. Brother D was an encourager to all. He helped me through some difficult times in my life. Brother D is my TRUE FRIEND. How many people are blessed with a true friend? My true friend will not leave me--he abides in my memory......."

"I'll be 36 in Six Years Anyway!"

At my father's funeral on February 18th, my cousin, Art, recalled the response above that Tyre gave to my Uncle Willis when these brothers discussed my Dad's decision at 30 years old to accept the Lord's call for him to become a Baptist preacher. Willis tried to reason with Dad by reminding him that he had a beautiful wife and three small children who Dad would need to support while he attended college for at least four years and seminary for another two years or so. Willis pointed out, "Bud, you'll be 36 when you finish!"

Willis would not leave it at that and questioned how Dad could give up his good job with benefits and security, work part-time while in school, and then support a growing family on a preacher's salary. Although I had heard about this conversation between these two brothers many years ago, I did not remember my Dad's response and I sincerely appreciate Art reminding all of us of a point that we should all engrave into our memory for years to come. To use Art's words, Dad said to Willis, "It doesn't make any sense to hold on to something I cannot keep and to give up something I cannot lose."

Never had a Reason to Blog

I could have lived the rest of my life and never blogged. I don't do Facebook, I read far more emails than I send, and I never thought I had anything important to say on a blog website...until, my father passed away on Valentine's Day, 2010. I realized after his funeral that there were so many good things to remember about him that short of writing a book, a blog was perhaps the best way to record the memories of my Dad.

Or, I should say our Dad and grandfather and great-grandfather, and uncle, and brother, and pastor, and friend, and husband because we all have fond memories to share, including my Mom. This site can only truly recount the life and legacy of Tyre Denney if all those who knew him share their stories and recollections of him with all of us. Please comment as much as you like to these postings or email your stories to denneyjt@gmail.com and I will post them for you.

So, for this posting, what is my fondest memory of my Dad? I'm not ready to recall my fondest memory. The few minutes my family shared with him a few days before he died were very special and I will remember those precious minutes for the rest of my life. But, that is not my fondest memory. My memories of Tyre Denney are of a gentle giant of a man, not the frail person my father turned into during the last few weeks of his life. For most of my life, my Dad was over six feet tall and very near 250 lbs. A giant in stature with a booming voice, an infectious laugh, and not a mean bone in his body. As many recounted at his funeral, Tyre Denney had a smile that could light up any room he entered.

He left an impression on everyone he met and most of the time, it was a memorable impression. His obituary listed some of the many accomplishments and contributions Tyre Denney made during his 50+ years as a pastor and minister to thousands of lost souls. My father seldom spoke of his accomplishments as a man of God. Although he was giant in stature, he was humble in heart and he only wanted to be remembered as a servant of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. This site is dedicated to the memory of a gentle giant; a servant of God who is well worth being remembered, my Dad.