Xtreme Faith

The X-Games™ have always been the place where over-the-edge athletes throw down adrenaline-pumping stunts that blow the minds of spectators. Those who really excel at these death- defying sports often embrace a dark and murky culture of dissent, dissatisfaction, and dissing anything that resembles rules or conformity.
But a few of these dare-devils have been raising an uncomfortable stir. Sponsors and organizers are nail-biting over what fans will think when they learn their bad-boy, rebel heroes have embraced Christianity. In this lesson we’ll find out who some of them are, and how it happened…

x-treme biker

When motocross racing newcomer Brian Deegan won the1997 LA Coliseum Supercross, he astonished the crowd by hopping off his moving bike at the finish line. It launched riderless into the air. That was to be the first of many shocking stunts from Deegan that would rock the motocross world. The move was immediately banned by motocross authorities and racing rebel Brian Deegan found his bad boy niche.

Deegan was 12 years old when his parents divorced. He found a vent for his anger in dirt biking, and turned pro by age 17. He left small town Nebraska for Southern California, FMX headquarters, promising his father he would come back home and go to college if he didn’t make it.

Brian soon switched from motocross racing to freestyle motocross (FMX), which is more about stunts and tricks than riding laps. He soon joined up with other riders who wielded the same revulsion for authority. With Larry Linkogle, Deegan co-created the “Metal Mulisha”, an FMX team that would eventually compete and perform around the world.

In an interview with Phil Bartsch of the Courier Mail, an Australian newspaper, Deegan said “We formed the Mulisha because we wanted to have our own group of guys who stood up against the (motocross industry) establishment. We’re against people trying to make you do things you don’t want to do, like dress and look how you don’t want to look.”

The Mulisha became known for their raucous, destructive behavior, shaved heads, tattoos, wild parties and busted hotel rooms. Deegan chose a skull with a Nazi helmet for the Metal Mulisha emblem, marketing the symbol in a multimillion dollar clothing line.

x-treme talent

The X Games (formerly known simply as “X-treme Sports”) began to include Freestyle Motocross in 1999. Deegan has taken 3 Gold and 7 Bronze medals, competing in at least one X Games event annually.

He was the first ever to do a 360 in competition – an aerial back flip on the motorcycle while ramp jumping. The trick was named the “Mulisha Twist”. Deegan became internationally known for his willingness to invent new tricks risking everything to entertain an audience.

x-treme attitude

“For me, I would say my whole life was being a rebel; trying to form an image of this guy who has done a lot of sins, a lot of bad things. (I was) trying just to build a name – basically glorifying being a bad person…” Deegan goes on to express his growing emptiness he felt inside. “ I just was hurting the people I loved and doing the bad things.”

x-treme pain

The Metal Mulisha packed stadiums wherever they went. But ripping on a bike in FMX competition has the potential to rip the rider’s body as well as take his life. Like ancient gladiator games, spectators are as eager to see a crash as they are thrilled with a successful death-defying trick.
In May of 2005 Brian Deegan attempted a back flip for the MTV cameras filming Viva La Bam. He tried to slice through a 40 mph crosswind. The jump went bad. He took the handlebars in the gut, exploding his kidney, lacerating his spleen. He crash landed and writhed in pain on the ground.

x-treme promise

“In my head, I knew I was dying.” recalls Deegan. Rushed to hospital, the surgeon told him that he might not make it. Then and there he made a promise to God. “That was the final moment when I said, ‘You know what? If I live through this, I am going to fully follow Christ.’”
The day after his surgery, his wife Marissa fueled his desire to live by announcing that she was pregnant with their second child.

x-treme change

In an interview with Chris Palmer of ESPN Magazine Deegan said, “ That was be being a dumb kid. I tried to uphold an image and shock people. We had to be gnarly all the time. When I realized how stupid that was, people called me a sellout. But I didn’t owe them anything.” He also said, “It took me years to realize that I was a [expletive removed] idiot. It took me another 2 years to get away from it.”
True to his promise, as soon as he recovered he found a church for his family to attend and began opening up his home for a bible study and faith sharing for his biking brothers.

x-treme influence

Soon other members of the Metal Mulisha joined Deegan in his search for God. “I was able to bring Jeremy Lusk into our bible study. Twitch was in our bible study, just our close friends that we really cared about and it started to grow.”
They started taking heat for expressing their Christian faith in a culture that despises religion. But they found strength to stand up for their beliefs in each other. “I think the main thing,” said Deegan, “ is finding people that you can associate with. I continued to grow. Through that, we (all) really started to learn about God and the bible. That was pretty much how our walk started advancing.

x-treme loss

Jeremy Lusk was one of Deegan’s closest friends and a teammate, and he had recently been baptized. On February 9, 2009, while performing a back flip trick called the “Hart Attack” at a show in Costa Rica in front of thousands of motocross fans, he crashed and crushed his skull. The Metal Mulisha were devastated, but continued in their public outpouring of faith.

x-treme wake-up

“At this point, I’d say Jeremy Lusk passing away – you know I see my best friend, and just seeing him laying there – you know after he passed, down there in Costa Rica, I was just like, you know what? I go, this has to be the strongest awakening for me going, ‘You better figure it out, you better just follow Christ from this day on.’ It just really made me see how short that life can be and you don’t know what is going to happen the next day, and so why not live your life to where when you’re gone, you can be like, ‘Man, I lived the best life I could possibly live. I affected people in a positive way.’

x-treme witness

Deegan, when asked about his making his faith public, told The New York Times, “In the end I said, ‘who’s more radical than us?’ Everything we do is full-on. Once we went to church, we were full-on Christians, too. And we’re going to go for it. On the mic, I’ll say it. On TV, say it. The next thing you know, I have way more people pumped on me.”
So many fans began to question what it meant to give one’s life to Christ that Brian Deegan was moved to share his faith with his fans in an interview posted on YouTube called “Faisst Pastor PJ and Deegan Gospel” part 1 and part 2.

x-treme struggle

Brian De­­agan spends a lot of time up in the air flipping motorcycles. But his life is becoming grounded in Christ. He strives to be a better person with God’s grace. “You know we had our ups and downs. We have done a lot of bad stuff and it still happens. I am still a sinner, I’ll admit it. I have my moments. I’m not happy for the things I’ve done. I feel bad the next day and I don’t want to do it again. The thing is, I am trying to become a better person, a better dad, a better husband, a better friend.

x-treme sacrifice

X-treme motocross has something in common with the real Cross. When an FMX biker, rally car racer, or any other extreme sport athlete performs, they offer every bit of themselves to their sport. Risking great injury and maybe even death, they pour it all out on the altar of that dirt track; to feed their fans hunger for a rush, and to gain their prize: the medal, respect, and money.
When such radical people come face to face with the intense, “full-on” love, giving, and selfless sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross (and we witness at Mass), they have a deep understanding of what it takes to do that. They get it, they respect it, and want to follow it.
God’s love for us, and giving that love to others, is the missing element that they were searching for but could never satisfy with an adrenaline high. Their desire to be unique is answered by Christ’s individual love for each of us. And as they continue their Christian walk, they find themselves more radical and different than ever before.

Saints and Heros

St. Joseph Cupertino

Joseph was born in 1603, to a very poor family. Joseph was prone to sickness and injury, which made him an expensive child to take care of. He was also prone to daydreaming and getting lost in his thoughts, and this made him so unreliable that he couldn’t even accomplish the simplest chores. So his mother sent him away to live with an Uncle who was a Franciscan priest. His uselessness made him unwelcome there as well, but his humility earned him another chance.
Joseph struggled with his problems and found humble tasks to do in the stable. Through his sufferings, Joseph grew closer and closer to God. Though he was a terrible student, in Seminary he was miraculously only asked questions he knew and the Bishop skipped over testing him at the final exam, so he graduated and became a priest.
Over time, the poor and sick became aware of this special, humble man and flocked to him. Rumors spread that he could heal the sick. Afraid that Joseph would become a circus act and embarrass them, his order and the Bishop tried time and again to hide him away.
No matter what, people found him and listened to him and brought their sick for healing. IOnce when the shepherds he prayed with were too busy to come to the chapel, he called the sheep and they all came and actually said “Bah” when it was time to respond to the prayers. All the while, Joseph continued to accept the ridicule and censorship put on him by his brothers.
Joseph was also known to do aerial stunts, although he didn’t use a dirtbike. When he prayed sometimes he would get so excited to talk to God that he would literally float in the air. Once some men were trying to set up a very heavy crucifix at an outdoor chapel. Joseph saw them struggling, flew over and picked up the cross that many men could not lift, and flew it to the top and set it in place for them.
Joseph lived a hard and troubled life, but was always humble and concerned for others. He was not afraid to be radically different or to embrace the cross. H­e is the patron saint of air travel and people with mental disabilities.

Mother Dolores Hart, OSB

Dolores Hicks was born to aspiring Hollywood actors, and says that she always wanted to be part of the Hollywood scene. Dolores’ childhood was marked with pain due to her parents marital troubles. She was an exceptional young girl though, and at a a very young age she was already on her way to being a movie star.
She had gone to college, and was engaged but realized that the marriage wasn’t right for her, so she broke it off.
Her biggest break came when she was cast alongside Elvis Presley in a movie. She instantly became a teen icon with the stage name Dolores Hart.
She was shooting two movies in Rome, and met the Pope. He had a profound effect on her, as did being in ROme and playing St. CLare in a movie about St. Francis. While starring in a broadway show, she began taking trips from NYC to Connecticut to visit a famous Benedictine Monastery of nuns there on her breaks. She was in love with the peace she found there. The extraordinary woman who was in charge of the abbey helped Dolores realize that her heart was longing to be more closely united to Jesus. Even though she loved movies and acting, she loved the peace and joy of being with Jesus more. So in 19…. she left it all behind and joined the convent, and has been there ever since.
Dolores has continued to reach out to fellow Hollywood stars, sharing her experience and wisdom with them. She devotes her time to giving the gift of theatre to her local community, and is currently the only nun who is a voting member forbv the Oscars®.

Bible Blurbs

“…the LORD declares, ‘… I will honor those who honor me…’”

1 Samuel 2:30

“I gave them your word, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world but that you keep them from the evil one.”

John 17:14-16

“Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.”

1 Corinthinans 9:25

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost.”

Luke 19:10

Catechism Clips

1432 “The human heart is heavy and hardened. God must give man a new heart. Conversion is first of all a work of the grace of God who makes our hearts return to him…”

440 “the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ…, either to unbelievers… or to the faithful.”

1229 “From the time of the apostles, becoming a Christian has been accomplished by a journey…”

1285 “…[the baptized] are… as true witnesses of Christ, more strictly obliged to spread and defend the faith by word and deed.”

Pope Quotes

“Be prepared to put your life on the line in order to enlighten the world with the truth of Christ; to respond with love to hatred and disregard for life; to proclaim the hope of the Risen Christ in every corner of the earth.”

Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for World Youth Day 2008

“…the Spirit of Fortitude and Witness… gives us the courage to live according to the Gospel and to proclaim it boldly.”

Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for World Youth Day 2008

“Those who allow themselves to be led by the Spirit understand that placing oneself at the service of the Gospel is not an optional extra, because they are aware of the urgency of transmitting this Good News to others.”

Pope Benedict XVI,
Message for World Youth Day 2008

“But you, my dear young people, do not be afraid to proclaim the Gospel of the Cross on all occasions. Do not be afraid to go against the grain!”

Pope John Paul II, April 4, 2004,
Palm Sunday Address to Youth

Virtuous Verbiage Verification

adrenaline – a stimulant chemical produced by the body to help it cope with stress or trauma. It has many effects on the body and brain, including raising the heart rate and extreme mental focus

awakening – a moment when one comes to a new understanding of things they didn’t know or care about before.

baptized (baptism) - the first sacrament of initiation into the church, when someone is accepted into the family of God, the stain of original sin is washed from their soul, and they become a Christian.

bible study – when a group of people get together and read, discuss, and learn more about the bible. Usually the people talk about how to really use what is said in the bible in their daily life.

dissent – conflict or division when one or a few members of a group of people disagree with the popular opinion or rebel against what the group thinks is normal.

faith sharing – when people discuss with each other their experience of God and their faith, and how God has touched their lives.

gnarly – beyond extreme, totally outside of what is normal or expected, even in a grotesque way, but also interesting and demanding attention.

image – a way someone portrays themself, the way someone wants others to see them.

motocross – when a witness tells their story about what they saw or experienced.

radical – extreme, beyond the normal.

raucous – loud, rough, rowdy, disturbing the public peace.

revulsion – violent feeling of disgust.

selfless – more interested in the good of others than in one’s own good.

Discussion Questions

1. Brian risked his reputation, losing his teammat­­es, alienating his fans, and ruining his career when he took his faith “public”. What are some things we might risk if we spoke up publicly about our faith? Are they as big of a risk as Brian took? Does it give you hope that in the end Brian didn’t lose anything, but actually gained support for his faith?
2. Brian and his fellow Metal Mulisha members, as well as many people involved in Xtreme Sports, often take unnecessary risks in their quest for a thrill or a rush. Is this risky behavior healthy? What are some other ways people act out this kind of risk-taking behavior? What are some healthy ways we can feed the desire for that adrenaline rush, without putting ourselves in danger?
3. Brian Deegan attributes his entrance in to dirt biking and extreme sports as a release for anger he felt when his parents divorced. Do you, or does anyone you know, engage in risky behavior out of anger? Is this a good way to handle anger? Who ends up really getting hurt if we respond this way when someone makes us angry?
4. Brian’s story, how he ignored God and faith until he was faced with death and then had a change of heart, is not uncommon. Many times people don’t see a need for faith in their lives until they come face to face with death. Is it the best thing to put God off until tragedy strikes? Wouldn’t it be smarter to have a strong faith all along? What if we put God off until later, and never get the chance to turn to God until it is too late?

Activities

1. Host your own “X-treme Believer” awards… Make a list of people you know or know of who make their faith public and aren’t afraid. They can be your priest, teachers, parents, grandparents, or even famous people. Collect the ballots, vote, and give some sort of award or certificates to the winners. You might even find a place at your church or school where you can publicly post the results.
2. If you have a facebook™ or MySapce™ account available, see if you can find a page for Brian Deegan or Metal Mulisha, and post a comment that you appreciate their openness to sharing their faith.

Journal Writing

Pick one of your favorite celebrities. Write a fictional story about what might happen to them and their career if they turned to God and spoke out about it. How would the media respond? And their fans? What kind of positive influences might they have? How would it affect you?

Debate

Split in two teams. The topic for the debate is:

Should we start believing and following Jesus now, or will there be plenty of time for that later, after we do what we feel like?

Be sure to use information from the lesson, the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, your Parish priest, and other reliable resources to back up your arguments.