Comments on: A Chance to Serve

By: Nick Seipel

Nick Seipel — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:26:30 +0000

@ Scott,

Thanks for posting once again Scott. Always appreciate your feedback!

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:07:20 +0000

Nick,
If this is double-posted you have my apology and just blow this copy away. My first, similar effort, didn’t appear in the comment section of your blog. I do appreciate your blog because it always is intriguing and thought provoking.

The tone of both your “serving” threads comes off like this to me… “Unless kids and parents choose to drop all other previous commitments and come and rake leaves (or serve in any selected item as needed) then they sit in my judgment as being right-minded in Christ.” Or, that that we somehow are less caring about the will and teaching of the Lord.
Last week in your weekly e-mail to students and parents ( which is very much appreciated by the way) you make a comment similar to “kids…if you committed to raking leaves, you should keep that commitment!” I couldn’t agree more! In the two threads above, you encourage our kids to “skip b-ball practice to help some old person rake leaves…or skip piano lessons by reprioritizing leaf raking to a higher priority”. Are you kidding me? You can’t encourage ‘keep your commitments’ in one written document and encourage ‘break commitments’ in another document!
If I ever find out my kids have blown-off volleyball, soccer, babysitting, piano, or any other previously planned commitments by “reprioritizing” into another activity without Kelly or my approval, I’ll “blow a gasket’, ground my kid, and ensure they apologize to all involved.
Serving the community has to be intricately woven into the other valuable activities in our family life. I hope that in all chosen activities we are having a service attitude and attempting to uplift the Lord.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 03:25:25 +0000

Nick,
What have you been smoking ?
Even if the kids wanted to come and rake leaves , their teachers / coaches do not want them to do so , at the expense of practice. If they were to choose to rake and miss practice , I am sure the consequences would be known by all , and just to make the point , the teacher/coach would make sure no one else wanted to rake leaves , ever again !
I think most of these kids are overloaded in activities ,(as most adults) so you are going to have to think BIG picture . As they learn about true Christain living ( and the truth about the distractions of the world) you will have more kids attending service projects .
I think your thoughts about servant leadership are on the mark . Just thinking about some of the men (and women) from Christian history will remind us that most of these brave , courageous , and focused on Jesus people went at it alone .They simply were sold out to their savior , and all they did and said reflected such . Perfect ? No ! Just certain of the Big picture plan to live sold out for their savior .
You are young and have lots of energy , continue to seek our savoir for wisdom and direction . Let His gentle hand guide your desisions and actions.
God’s Voice,,,Obey

Scott