“The last of human freedoms is to choose ones attitude in any given situation.”

Vicktor E. Frankl penned these words in his book, Man's Search For Meaning. He was discussing his own imprisonment at the hands of the Germans. His home had become a concentration camp with thousands of other Jews, who really had no hope. Frankl noticed a difference between those surviving and those who were dying. The one's who were most healthy were the ones that decided that they still had some kind of control over their futures. A simple decision of what to eat first on their meager plate was enough to keep some sane. Those who were dying by the day, were the ones who had given up and conceeded all hope and most of all, all choices. They essentially were the walking dead.

Most of you know that we have been discussing the relationships we have with our parents during Jr. High youth group. You might be asking yourself what Vicktor Frankl has to do with getting along with parents. No, their lives are not like concentration camps. However, the attitude that they chose to address this relationship with, will determine the outcome; just as Frankl noticed a connection to attitude and survival.

In Philippians 2, Paul reminds us that our attitude should be the same as Jesus. He goes on to explain the humble and service oriented attitudes that Jesus displayed. The word translated attitude was used back then to mean the "diaphragm." The muscle that cause the lungs to inhale and exhale. The diaphragm determines the nature and strength of the breath and hence the human spirit and its emotions. Therefore, our very nature, our very essence, should be the servant attitude displayed by Jesus in John 13, when he washed the disciples feet and ultimately his work on the Cross.

I challenged the Jr. High kids to take this servant attitude home to their parents, as an example of who they are following. Easier said than done.

Then we threw Marshmallows in the air and tried to catch them. The guys caught 66 from Ian (who washed his hands first), but the girls didn't do as well.

Spiritual Fatigue

Many years ago, I was blessed to have been able to run with some good guys on the Seaman Cross Country team. I stunk at it. I have since seen video's of myself running then that makes me question their friendship. If they were truly my friends, they would have told me to take up something that would fit my athletic ability a little bit better, like competitive cup stacking or something. To this day they are some of my best friends. On our long runs as a team, I remember getting so tired that throwing myself under an 18-wheeler looked appealing. We used to have discussions about the proper entry angle so as not to kill yourself, but at least limit the use of your legs so you wouldn't have to finish the six mile run.

Last weekend, I was able to go watch the MCC-Ozark Soccer game. Seeing a lot of those guys helped me to remember simpler days, where the theory of theology caused a lot less headaches than the practical theology that I face today. Relationships are difficult, and quite frankly more work than I had ever imagined. A couple of summers ago, I was faced with a difficult relationship as I worked with CIY. Nate Karnes taught me a lot about how to deal with it. That was 3 months of awkwardness and misunderstanding. But it was so much simpler knowing that relationship would come to an end...these now must go on indefinitely.

Relationships are hard work, needing constant maintenance. I am now starting to realize how much of your spiritual health affects the relationships you have and vice versa. When I am tired relationally...I notice that instead of running to scripture, it is easier to run away. When I am tired spiritually...I avoid relationships. Spiritual health is celebrated communally. It is shared communally.

Spagetti Dinner

I serve a church of about 300 people. There are 4 full time staff members and three part time. simply stated, a little over 1 percent of our congregation is full time staff and a little over 2 percent are any kind of staff at all.

Under these circumstances, it is simple to see that a church without the support and input from a volunteer contingent would suffocate itself to death.

Tonight, we celebrated our youth sponsors; the people who do all the little things to make this youth group go. The people who spend countless hours teaching, praying for, and leading our kids.

We cooked them spagetti and had a dinner in their honor. We talked about Acts 6 and the idea of those being set aside to do specific tasks. I find it no coincidence that one of the servants was the first to be killed for his faith. The Romans knew what subsists the church, the servants, the volunteers, is what keeps the Church afloat.

Tonight I hope they were honored.