Are you really serving with conditions?

I have been a bad blogger.  More directly though, I have been a bad follower of God (since my blog is a major part of my devotion time.)  I am also supposed to be posting my sermon as promised from Sunday for those Rock N Roll marathon congregation people.  (I will do that tonight).  For now, I need to rant a bit.

Serving Neighbors Near and Far -- This is a statement in our Vision Statement at Christ the King Lutheran Church.  For Youth Ministry, I try to answer this with service projects both locally, statewide and globally.  Focusing our attention equally where we can.  There is always something that somebody does not want to do.  If I had my choice I would never pick up my aging dog's poop because it is gross.  The poor 12 year old dog is loosing control of when he can go and has never been good at alerting us of his bathroom needs.

Poop is gross, but sometimes you have to clean up poop.  The same can be said about when we go out and serve in the community.  If I sign us up to go help out an aging member of the congregation to help her rake leaves in her back yard or sign up to go downtown and work with the homeless, some of the jobs won't be pretty.  It may even involve some poop.

Recently, I have been told by some that they don't like serving at this one particular place because it is too hard.  We don't want to do all that is required of us.  We ONLY signed up to do this aspect of the serving.  We don't want to do that.  You know what people.... sometimes you have to clean up poop.  Sometimes you have to do the unmentionable jobs.  Heck, sometimes you have to get a little dirty.  We are not called to "Serve Neighbors Near and Far" by only doing the jobs we WANT to do in service.  Serving at any particular organization involves all areas, not just the pretty ones.

Sometimes you have to pick up the poop.