Ray Tierney: Blog

I haven't posted anything here in a very long time... and I have no idea if it is ever read but God is doing so much in me that I need a place to share it... so here goes....

So much of what I thought I knew I didn't know.... we make it way more complicated that it is suppose to be.. It is more important to listen than to speak ... In the long run it is easier to trust and obey than to control and resist ... I said in the long run... Jesus is my Savior and He wants to be my Master... Being a slave to Jesus is true freedom ... no temptation can over take me if I immediately run to Him ... the wider I crack the door to sin the harder it is to close it again.... so many long testimonies wind up giving glory to us and not to God ... He created the whole everything in six days so keep it short and simple.... don't make statements that aren't in the Word and say them like they are the Gospel ... God will prove to you over time that only He knows everything perfectly... Words you've spoken taste bad when you have to eat them... if you look long enough at the thing you are judging someone else for you will see yourself.... outward holiness shows how we think things should be.. Inner holiness shows how God wants us to be.... God's holiness produces fruit not rules... I can turn away from sin only long enough to turn to the only One who can keep me from it.... I want to live in the Presence of God ... I know that is what He wants for me too... so I will ask Him to do that in me. If the only things I accomplish in this life are to love God, my wife and children and be a friend and example to those he gives me I can rest in peace.

On June 10th my wife, Linda, and I were in a head on car crash. Four kids crossed the double yellow line and had a profound impact on our lives. They weren't paying attention to what they were doing and it literally changed our lives for the immediate future if not longer. Linda suffered the most from the crash. Her heart was bruised by the airbag, her knees were injured and the chronic pain she suffers with regularly has intensified.

We both know that our Father has His wonderful hand on us. He kept us and the boys in the other car alive and He will see us through to the other side of this valley but things have changed. The actions may have been unintentional but they have influenced our lives forever.

It makes me think of the actions that I perform daily and how they either influence people for Jesus, away from Him or just fail to say anything when given the opportunity. How many times do we do things unintentionally that show mercy or judgment, kindness or bitterness, gentleness or harshness, the love of God or our own ill temper. I know that there are times you would have a hard time seeing that I am a believer and a lover of Jesus.

I have a license plate that says WORSHP .. one day as I sat waiting in traffic and getting aggravated with a lady walking in the street; I read her lips as she read my License plate. Immediately I was aware of my attitude and that I was influencing someone. I knew that my words and my actions had to match up or I would have a negative influence.

I pray that I will be more aware in the future of how I am walking out the Gospel. Lord that my attitudes, actions and words would always say that I am Yours and that I would have a positive influence on people for Your Kingdom.

Psalms 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

In 2001 I met a young boy at a camp in Ukraine. He was eleven years old and lived in an orphanage not far from the dead zone around Chernobyl, where one of the worlds largest nuclear disasters had taken place. His name was Ivan (pronounced Eevon) and he was just a stranger to me, a boy with no home, no prospects and little love being flowed his way. For the most part Ivan was a sweet kid but the world was pulling him into the pit of the streets of Kiev and it would not have taken much to push him over the edge into a life of drugs and crime.

Last night I watched this same boy, the boy they said would never go to school, march proudly across the stage as part of the graduating class of 2008 to receive his North Providence High School Diploma. My buttons were popping and my eyes swam with tears to see what God and His love can do in the heart of a person if we will just share what He has poured into us. Eevon Robert Tierney has been our son since that meeting in Ukraine and he has grown in wisdom and grace. He teaches us daily as we guide him as parents and I am so blessed that God called us to be father and son … Thank you Father … thank you Eevon !!!!!!!

I prayed for my friend Mike today. He was rushed into emergency surgery in the early morning hours and underwent a serious operation. Lynette, our friend and his wife, called us at 2:30 in the morning to ask us to pray for him. As I prayed I was overwhelmed with concern for my friend and I couldn’t keep from asking, why Mike Lord, why my friend. He is a good man, one of the best I’ve met; one of those people that you meet and realize they are the real deal, one without guile. Why is it that the good ones suffer? I think, if we are honest, there are times when it is impossible not to ask God these questions. Yes I trust You Lord and I know the Scriptures; I know that all things work together for good and I know that You have our best at heart but right now I love my friend and I don’t like the circumstances one of Your faithful ones finds himself in. I don’t like it when those that I love suffer.

Later that day I sat with Mike. He had just awakened after coming out of recovery. I realized how honored I was to be allowed to pray for this man. As we talked and prayed we both knew that, though we cannot see it right now, God has His wonderful hand in this situation. It became obvious to me that it is a privilege to stand with one you love and pray them through the suffering. We can't rob them, in our desire to fix things. of this moment, walking in the grace of God, found only in the valley of the shadow of death. But, we can let them know they are not alone and that we are the expression of God’s understanding and concern for their human condition. Mike will come out of this better than he went in because he will cooperate with the One who made him, the one who is the lover of his soul. I am blessed to know what many do not, a friendship so close that I weep when he weeps and I laugh when he laughs. God is a master at using our helpless estate to build character in us and make us more loving and kind.

As I look around and sense the season we are in I can’t help but wonder how people live without Jesus. How do they survive the pressure of this world and all its disappointments, temptations and empty promises? Even as a believer it is a challenge to keep my eyes focused on Jesus and His promises to me and not on what is going on in the world. Our eyes fool us at times. We see things as they appear and not as they really are. The perspective we have is limited by our humanity and our culture but God sees the end from the beginning. Scripture says that He will keep us, that even if our mothers abandon us He won’t let us go, that He will be with us in the fire and in the flood but He does not say that it will be easy. The vision of being a Christ follower in our western culture seems to be one of comfort and convenience. I wonder how long we would last in Eastern Europe or in China where life is hard and being a Christian means loosing your family, being imprisoned or giving up your life. How many American Christians would have made it through Nazi Germany or the arenas of Rome? I wonder how long I would last in a Muslim country where giving your heart to Jesus could cost you your head?

I remember leading worship at a church one day and sensing God saying “ You don’t want me enough.” I thought He was talking about the congregation I was leading in song but weeks later I realized He was speaking to me directly. I wanted the things of Jesus, the healing the good feeling the protection but He wants me to want Him. I pray we will learn to want Him with everything in us for every moment and every thought for every day.

Mike and Danny Vieira from Crimson Rain joined me for the evening ... I remember Danny being 5years old watching me play in Brethren and Mike has been a friend for so long ... now to see Danny playing like a man for Jesus .. wow .... and what a songwriter !!!!! God has plans for you Danny ...
great night .. thank you guys....

Thank you Linda and crew .. Ralph on sound .. you guys really make everyone feel special ... great night .. love to worship with you ..

Thank you to Pastor Dennis Monroe Jr.and all the wonderful folks at Packerville Church ... what a history .. the church was built in 1828 and is still going strong ... just like all who have gone before them, these current Packerville worshipers are the real deal ... thank you for a great night ... please have me back.

Feb 2nd we recorded 21 songs live. Pastor Monroe of Faith Tabernacle in North Scituate RI allowed us to use their sanctuary and showed a true gift of hospitality. They loved us as Jesus and provided for our needs in a way that showed His love. We invited worshipers in and it was an awesome day in the presence of God. Friends Mark McGrail on drums/ vocals – Rick Ottman bass/vocals – Don “Smitty” Smith vocals/drums – Stephen Bell guitar – Lisa Boisclair and Jon Tierney vocals – Manny deMello keyboards.

Thank you Mark and Dawn Jarrell from Dogwood Studio for all your hard work recording... I look forward to a long relationship.

What a great day thanks to all my friends and all those that came to worship. 10 more songs and it will be complete

We will be doing a live recording on Feb 2nd ... many friends are coming together to help me ... The plans are to do live recordings of 30 songs ... it will be two CD's when we are done .. please keep us in prayer .. thank you

Blessings to you and yours on this wonderful day. Jesus is our hope and our salvation .. what a gift of love from the Father....
Our home is filled with peace and joy today because He is here with us .. what a blessing when your whole family shares in this relationship with Christ.... have a wonderful day.
P.S. Marina is here

Thank you to Pastor Dennis, Heather and all the wonderful folks at Crossway. What a great night of worship and fellowship. A day you make new friends in the body is always a good day. I pray this will be the first of many times we share together.

What a great night last night .. good friends ... great move of the Spirit .. thank you for your hospitality !!!! blessings to Rich, Jean, Mike and the whole crew.

The Way Cafe is a great place to play... I always feel like I am with family and they are so open to what God wants to do ... there is a real spirit of worship there .... thank you

I had been working in the studio recording over the summer .. but I just knew something was missing ... so after praying and waiting I am starting over ... in January I am planning on sitting down with Mark McGrail, Rick Ottman and some other worshipers and record a worship set live ... whatever happens happens ... keep us in prayer

it was the 8th year anniversary for TGIF ... what a great night ... Mark McGrail and Rick Ottman joined me in ministry and I don't know about everyone else but I had a great time .. good crowd and God was in our midst ... thank you Linda and crew .. you guys are awesome.

had a great night at the Well in Worcester ... Ken and Shelley do a real good job .. thank you for your faithfulness .. your being true to your calling allows me to be true to mine.. a great picture of how the body works.

played the One Way Jam in North Brookfield Ma yesterday ... Unity (the band) was awesome.. Raging Grace three of the best ... NBJ my old friends from Brethren days amaze me every time ... and my brothers Mark McGrail and Rick Ottman are back out what a sound .. they not only finished the day off but they along with Smitty from NBJ backed me up ... I had such a great time .. we need to look for God in the service and friendship and love between brothers rather than in the noise and TV and stuff he threw out of the temple in the first place .... Ron Olson did his usual great job of serving .. I can learn so much from him... Please pray for my brother David O'Rourke he fell off a roof and needs us to support him in prayer ..I know Jesus is in that too....

Played at The Salvation Army tonight ... thanks to Shawn Dennison ... what an awesome night ... better than anything I've done lately....open hearts .. looking for Jesus... I am humbled.

Shared the duties with Shawn Dennison at Damascus Road Coffee House tonight .. what an honor to sit with a gifted brother and share music ... great crowd .. thank you Paul ..we pray for you to feel better

I am taking the summer to minister to my wonderful wife Linda and to enjoy the last summer my son Eevon will have before graduation and new things ... so I will be seeking God for the next season .. recording and sitting by the sea ... peace

It is always and honor to lead worship for this group ... they understand the importance of family and influencing the next generation for Jesus ... I also get to see my four grandchildren get thier awards and move on to the next grade .....

What a great night of worship and healing .... Pastor Monroe and his church make you feel like you belong .. it is always a joy to worship with them ... thank you

Thank you Linda and crew at TGIF .. as always you treat me as family .. I am grateful ... The presence of God was evident ... I am thankful to be useful and do what I love to do .... sing and play for my King ....