I thought I'd share a funny story with you.

A couple of weeks ago, Lisa and I were out running errands. It was Friday afternoon, a beautiful spring day. We were coming out of the Academy Sports place where we had just bought a couple of things. I placed the items in the back seat of my truck, shut Lisa's door and started to walk around to my side.

On the other side of my truck was a white van, the kind that many of the service companies use for their employees. Standing between it and my door was a guy, probably in his mid 50s with salt and pepper hair. He had a big grin on his face and appeared to be very friendly. I expected him to greet me with a comment about the great weather or the new cooler I just bought.

His grin got even wider as he started to speak in his best Southern English:

"I got a good bird dawg I'll trade ya fer that purty lady in the truck there," he said, motioning towards Lisa.

I must admit. I was stunned. I didn't know how to react. I didn't know whether to laugh or get mad or to punch him or just to get in and lock the door. So, I said the only thing that came to mind, "No thanks. She's trained too well."

The look on my face told Lisa something was wrong. She immediately asked. I told her, "I can't decide if it's me or you or both of us but one of us has been violated."

Just goes to show there are fewer and fewer limits on what people will say in this world these days. I'm still not sure how I should have responded. But if any of you are looking for a good bird dog, I know just how you can get one...

This may not be a popular thought...

...but it's been expressed to me more than a dozen times this past week by senior adults, former politicians, a couple of friends and at least two strangers who were helping with clean up. I've thought it myself this week as I listened to the rising chorus of voices who were upset that the national media had basically ignored Nashville in the midst of it's worst disaster since the Civil War.

Here it goes. We don't need a federal government to bail us out, we just need each other. Now, before anyone screams, the money from FEMA will be a welcome assistance to families who experienced severe damage and loss. There is no doubt about it. But I will tell you (and I don't mind saying it) that, though my family has given financially and physically to help with clean up, the assistance we offered would have been exponentially more had I not had to pay taxes for a big government that doesn't know how to use the money I give them. (Feel free to ask me for examples of waste, I could spend several blogs talking about such things beginning with Health Care Reform...or Deform...I forget)

All we really need, as has been exhibited in Nashville this week, is each other. Before FEMA could start its paperwork or CNN could show up three days late or politicians could begin their posturing before the cameras, Nashville was rebuilding. Note that please...we weren't whining, weren't complaining, weren't looting or murdering or blaming others for what had happened. We were rebuilding. We were cleaning. We were serving each other. The bottom line, we were proving how strong the human spirit really is when it is exercised in loving others. Not standing in a line waiting for someone else to do what I am fully capable of doing myself.

I know. It's a controversial thought. I'll probably get railed on by many "anonymous commenters" telling me that I'm wrong or crazy. But I don't have to say much more as proof...I simply offer story after story of friends loving friends, strangers helping strangers and hours of video evidence that Nashville will still be Nashville when this is all done. She will only be stronger because of the hearts of its very fine people. Please continue to pray for the people of Nashville. And enjoy just one example of what we have experienced this week....

Flood Video

So many images

I'm sitting in my office this morning (Thursday) before we head out again to support the relief efforts in Franklin. I am reflecting on the images I have seen this week. Many will be impossible to forget. There were the homes in Hard Bargain--an area of Franklin filled with families that struggle to get the basics for life--flooded with muddy water...and families helping each other clean out their messes.

There was the image of mud and filthy water spilling from insulation in the home of a single mom who lived "far away" from the flooding because she wasn't "near a river." Her damage came from a storm drain that couldn't handle the rain and put 5 feet of water in her backyard.

There was the image of a dear friend of mine, a young woman, who broke down in tears as she was forced to throw away some of the last physical memories of her dad she loved dearly. More than just pictures, it's clothes, greeting cards and notes that can never be written in or worn again.

It's the image of people helping people. Complete strangers stopping to check on each other. It's the image of the Church being the church in a world that needs us.

But one image that will never leave my mind came yesterday. We were helping a lady whose home was a complete loss. When we arrived yesterday, there were young men standing in the yard that I assumed were local college students. I would soon find out that these were young soldiers from Fort Campbell, KY who had volunteered their time to come and assist. Here's the thing...they leave next week for Afghanistan. It would be easy for them to check off "serving" on their card. They are doing their part. But they wanted to do more. So they gave of their last week in the U.S. to give back even more. As they were preparing to leave, the lady began to say her good-byes and hug their necks. She said, "Would you guys do me one last favor? Would you lock arms with me and allow me the privilege of praying for you as you prepare to leave?"

I'm not gonna lie. I teared up. I watched as a dozen young men from varied backgrounds locked arms with a lady they had not known 8 hours before and respectfully bowed their heads to listen as she prayed blessings over them. It was a powerful image...one that won't get air time on the news or even make the local paper. It's one that I will carry with me for a long time as one of the most powerful of the Flood of 2010.

What a day

Wow! I don't know who originated the phrase but it's absolutely true: there is nothing quite like the Church when it is being the Church. It's been a thing of beauty to watch over the last few days as Middle Tennessee has waded out from under the worst flooding in over 100 years. I am one very proud pastor...and an even more proud follower of Christ! The Ridgeview family has been right in the middle of it, getting their hands dirty. The needs have been as varied as the people who are meeting them, but that's what makes the body of Christ so beautiful. Here are just a few of the ways our Ridgeview family has been involved since Monday:

• housing displaced families
• providing transportation for individuals who lost their cars
• buying and delivering cases of water to relief workers
• kenneling the animals of flooded families
• comforting a man who lost not only his home but his business in the flood
• volunteering with the Red Cross, Graceworks, United Way and other relief organizations
• moving furniture out of homes...moving furniture back into homes
• taking clothes donations to shelters
• providing meals to families and relief workers
• ripping out drywall in the homes of single moms
• making cash donations to organizations that are providing relief
• and on and on and on

Thank you so much, Ridgeview family. I am very blessed to serve as your pastor. But now is not the time to let up. As we prayed this morning in our staff time, I asked them to focus specifically on praying for the long term recovery. It's so easy to jump in and offer assistance in those first days after disaster. Let's remember that the recovery (emotional, financial, physical, mental, spiritual) will go on for weeks and months. Let us not forget to be Jesus in every corner of our community. We cannot fail to pray, to go, to serve and to love in the days after the world has forgotten this flood.

For my friends outside Middle Tennessee who are asking how you can help, here is your answer. Don't ever underestimate the power of your prayers for the people involved...both the ones touched by the disaster and the ones who are helping to stabilize the victims. Your prayers are the energy source for the Church as she demonstrates Christ to this community. Also, if you feel led, donations to the area are welcomed. You may donate to the Red Cross, the Salvation Army (Nashville's branch was hit hard by the flood) or to our assistance fund here at Ridgeview. I am so proud of our churches...every church in this area that proclaims the name of Christ...for the way they continue to respond. If you follow Christ, you should be as well.

And the rains ceased...

...finally. I don't think I've ever lived through a rainier 48 hours in my life. Based on what I've heard, this area of Thompson's Station (where we live) got over 13" of rain during that period. The funny thing is this, I've never seen a brighter, sunnier day than I have today.

Those dark days enable you to appreciate the sun and warmth so much better. I'm not talking about storms or flooding any more. I'm talking about life. I'm talking about having everything put into perspective. I'm talking about the realities we all face and how we can blow them out of proportion. Everyone has a story to tell (believe me, standing in the Chic-fil-a an hour ago I was laughing at the SUV mom's telling their "stories" from the weekend.). Everyone has dark days and storms. We begin to realize that a few inches of rain (or five leaks in your roof) are nothing compared to homes destroyed or, greater still, the loss of a loved one. Darkness, you see, can be relative. We simply hang on knowing that the sun will come and, when it does, we'll be much more thankful for its presence.

Thanks for all the prayers for Middle TN as we recover from the rains. Clean up has begun and will hit full force tomorrow and the days after as the rains subside and we are able to move in and assess the damages. To my fellow Ridgies, thank you for having a heart to serve and to love this community. Please continue to call the office if you are available to serve. We will do our best to keep you abreast of the needs as they are made known to us.

Put your arks away for another day. The sun is back...and, oh, how sweet it is to see it.