Radical-What?

Reading Francis Chan's "Crazy Love" has forced us to evaluate the facets of our life- including the attitude of our heart, the reasons we make life/daily decisions, the investments we put forth -in finances, in time, in prayer-and the ways we have viewed particular Christians as being 'radical', living a more extreme life for others than us--thinking about the service of Mother Theresa, martyrs like Jim Elliot, and evangelists like Billy Graham. All of these individuals resonate in some way of our thinking as being one that far outweighs our ability to follow Christ that 'sacrificially' and that selflessly.

We evaluate that in this culture there are a group of Christians that are placed in a category of living radical because they live life to what we coin, 'extreme' in the faith. Chan challenges the concept of downsizing so that others may be upgraded- A Christ follower or not, we believe that all could agree there is great pain and suffering in this world. The fact that injustice infiltrates our world is not merely a spiritual truth but a transparent need that others who are dying due to poverty are desperate for us to consider their plights and take action. Chan stated that he cannot say "everyone is supposed to be a missionary" or "you need to sell your car and start taking public transportation" to be part of downsizing for other's lives to be upgraded- What he was saying is that those of us who are Christ followers "must learn to listen to and obey God, especially in a society where it's easy and expected to do what is most comfortable."

We reflected that we were pulled into changing our priorities in order to feel more comfortable in our walk with Christ. What we realized is that there are no 'categories' of Christ followers recorded in the patterns lived by Jesus. Burdened by our idolization of 'saints' such as Mother Theresa and the like, we became consumed by thinking others could serve God more faithfully than us. When we look at our lives, we see that we either follow the example of Jesus, or we don't- Even though God has called us to the avenue of investing in Kenya we reflect that he has called others into the corporate world & other avenues to serve for the exact same purpose- There are truths that parallel for those of us who are Christ followers and follow after the selfless examples of those we uphold as being diligent servants for the Lord : We realize that if we are walking in the patterns set for us by Jesus, that we are to: 1) Love the Lord God with all our heart, our mind, and our soul and 2) Love our neighbor as ourselves- Often times, we ignore the literal truth of this second implication for our lives.

This realization in our lives, forced us to ask ourselves some really difficult questions: Do we really love others as much as ourselves? We can follow both of these commands wherever we are, whatever the avenue God places us in, but do we follow through? When was the last time we invested time with someone else in the amount we spend on ourselves? Have we ever spent money on entertainment/eating out/shopping and then gave the same amount to someone who was in need? These questions sounded so 'radical' and extreme to think that we should consider the ways we invest our time and our finances in the same way to others as we do ourselves- especially in the influence of our culture to always strive for success and for fullness. Then we asked ourselves that if we truly believe in the pattern set for us by Jesus then shouldn't we live out our lives in what the Bible teaches us? Rather than viewing this as 'radical,' isn't this a 'normal' reflection of how we should be as Christ followers?

"When people make changes in their lives like this, it carries greater impact than when they merely make impassioned declarations. The world needs Christians who don't tolerate the complacency of their own lives." -Chan

To state again, Oh Lord that our lives may count for something greater than ourselves. It is never a comfortable moment to evaluate the reasons we do certain things in our life- It is often times convicting, burdensome, guilt driven, and at times just plain depressing. In moments where we raise 'saints' and 'martyrs' as idols and closer to the Lord than us, we are convicted that rather than idolizing them, we need to spend that time before God listening to His direction for our own avenue of service for Him.

On the Move

On the Move is a book compiled of Bono's speech that he gave at a National prayer breakfast: a charge to aid the marginalized and the poor. In our preparatin for what lies ahead, this section of his speech resonated deeper within us, as it echoed the burden imprinted upon our hearts to answer the cry of the 'poor'.

"God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is in the silence of a mother who has infected her child with a virus that will end both their lives. God is in the cries heard under the rubble of war. God is in the debris of wasted opportunity and lives, and God is with us if we are with them, "If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday and the Lord will continually guide you and satisfy your desire in scorched places." (isaiah 58:9-11)

Our constant prayer is that our lives may count for something greater than ourselves. Oh Lord, that we may consistently be intentional for this purpose.

"Normal" is a Myth...

"Normal" to an American is having a spouse & kids, a consistent job, 3-4 Bedroom house, pets, Vacations, clean clothes, 3 meals/day, minivan for those "soccer" moms, and the list could continue. "Normal" to a slum kid is being orphaned or 1 parent dead while the other is living with AIDS, living in a 1 room shanty with a dirt floor with other 8 or so siblings. The dog outside aren't pets, they are eating the trash that has accummulated outside of their door. There's no breakfast waiting, so the parent borrows from the neighbor while the kids go and beg. Its a "good" day if there is 1 meal for every person. As far as a minivan goes, their feet are calloused from not wearing shoes and walking miles serves as their fuel and their transport.

"Normal" is a Myth

We have officially began our training & the intensive nature forces us to be stretched with many of these realities: striving toward the American dream vs. striving toward relieving plights of others much different from ours in other parts of the world. Be thinking/praying for us as we wrestle and embrace these necessary realities.

Humility Demonstrated

Brennan Manning in the Ragamuffin Gospel states that "We are all, equally, privileged but unentitled beggars at the door of God's mercy!"
"Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet..." (John 13:5)
Jesus humbled himself to bestow honor and to exalt his disciples in the appropriate time. We were reminded of this example as our faithful brother/sister bestowed such humility over us, as they washed our feet in the most appropriate time to bless our journey to Africa. Prayers of direction, of vision, of focus, of strength, of grace, of mercy, of diligence, of fulfillment, of endurance suddenly were poured over us. This moment of service imprinted and sealed the portrait of Jesus sitting at his disciples feet. We are reminded of the abundance in our lives and the ways God has allowed us to witness His consistent provision. Our friends poured wisdom into our spirits as they proclaimed us as the feet of the body, stepping into Kenya to follow in Christ's example. We are all serving in love together, as we all represent different parts of the body. "...the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable...those we think less honorable we bestow greater honor...our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty..." (1cor.12:22,23) We may be the feet stepping forth in this particular journey to Kenya, but we need your many parts to complete this task. Your prayers are invaluable to us & greatly coveted. An example we heard today that is relevant to who we will be working with: You would not hear a marathon runner once winning a race complimenting only his feet for hitting the pavement and not giving acknowledgement to the rest of the body. It takes all of the parts of the body to accomplish the win. We view you as completing the entire body we need & want to thank you for being an active part in what lies before us.

And the Migration continues...

It is with great readiness and immense thankfulness that we are moving forward in this migration of change. The time has come for us to move to Sylacauga, Alabama (Monday, January 26th) and join with Vapor.
Many of you are amazing encouragers & we love receiving mail from you:) You can send us any personal mail at the address below:

Vapor Sports Ministries
C/O Brett & Trishia Ralston
100 Technology Loop
Sylacauga AL 35151

We will write more once we get all settled in.

Love,
Brett & Trishia

Community Driven

In reading this book Simple Spirituality by Chris Heuertz, he quoted an Indian mystic Sadhu Sundar Singh on the discipline of community by stating "No one can live without the help of others, and in helping others, we receive help ourselves."
Brett & I have begun to diligently pray for the needs of our community. We have particular prayers for each of you that lie on the surface of new transitions, awaiting opportunities, financial freedom, relationship direction, etc. Even though these are all things that we value being able to pray for you about, we desire to go deeper into the battle of prayer on your behalf.
So, we would love for you to take the time & email us deeper prayers that you feel released to share with us, so that we may sit at the throne, in community, for you.
Brett & Trishia: brett@vaporsports.org

For us when you think of us to pray:
Brett & Trishia:
--prayers for a consistent, disciplined prayer life: filled with that of intercessory, thanksgiving/praise, wants/needs, struggles/challenges, forgiveness. May we be consistent with that of Scripture meditation.
--Through reading, we have been valuing growing deeper in different perspectives on spiritual matters, humanity, and service. Pray that we are able to distinguish opinions with that of the Word, that all resonates with us in Truth.
--Prayers for a fearless spirit in regards of speaking on behalf of the Lord: that the Lord may strengthen our ability to communicate the Word and the ministry of Vapor.
--Pray that we will gain the ability to connect with children on a spiritual level, learning the ways to encourage and to strengthen their faith
--Wisdom & discernment in battling a different culture that we will be facing in Kenya. The ability for us, as a married couple, to overcome the attacks of our flesh that will be faced: for protection over our union as husband and wife.
--prayers for community, across the miles, to support us while we are away. Community while in Kenya that will be part of sharpening our faith and our walks with the Lord.
--prayers for quick minds to absorb & to recall the language of Swahili.

We love you immensely, Brett & Trishia

Brett's journal entry..."We get too comfortable"

We Get Too Comfortable:
Its just too easy to get complacent and life becomes a routine real fast. I think we (Americans) forget the world around us and how our (American) actions and decisions affect the rest of the world.{ Ex.Sweatshops: children forced into making things "for our needs"} We act naive even after we've learned how our actions affect other nations. Ive heard so many sermons on loving people, but I've rarely seen it done. I don't get it! It all seems so clear, but people live like we've never heard it. God, convict us more when we deny or ignore injustice, because I don't want to be one of those who gets sucked in to the "perfect American life."
Matthew 25:40:"The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." Jesus

Shane Claiborne:
"We can admire and worship Jesus without doing what he did. We can applaud what he preached without caring about the same things. We can adore his cross without taking up ours."
"All around you, people will be tiptoeing through life, just to arrive at death safely."