Brandon Ives

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Many find Jesus’ teaching on enemy love and forgiveness a stumbling block to faith. Because we find it too difficult to practice, we dismiss it as unrealistic and utopian. We should think again, and we should pray that it is not unrealistic, because this congruence of Jesus—the consistency between his teaching on forgiveness and his action on the cross—is really our only hope. It is all that stands between us and the consequences of our monumental frailty. Thank God today that Jesus died as he lived, because with those words, "Father, forgive..." he forgives us all, and he forgives us still.

From Listening at Golgotha: Jesus’ Words from the Cross

Too often I looked at being relevant, popular, and powerful as ingredients of an effective ministry. The truth, however, is that these are not vocations but temptations. Jesus asks, "Do you love me?" Jesus sends us out to be shephers, and Jesus promises a life in which we increasingly have to stretch out our hands and be led to places where we would rather not go. He asks us to move from a concern for relevance to a life of prayer, from worries about popularity to communal and mutual ministry, and from a leadership built on power to a leadership in which we critically discern where God is leading us and our people.

- Henri Nouwen
In the Name of Jesus

This is an article written by a father whose son recently was injured in Iraq...

Written January 5, 2008 at 8:30pm

Today I sit at the Walter Reed Army Hospital listening to my son who served his country to keep us free. He did this so that people and parents can watch their children grow up to reach goals and to have dreams.

Today his country gave him a medal called the purple heart. It is a little piece of purple cloth and a piece of metal shaped like a heart. Not one time has he blamed anyone or asked for pity because of his wounded leg.

He has tried very hard to make sure everyone is upbeat and not sad. He jokes around about how he is going to have a handicapped sticker and will be able to park close to the shopping malls. He is hoping that the purple heart on his license plate will help him in the future on speeding tickets.

As a father, my heart is broken to know that some of his dreams may not happen, but a couple of days ago I saw a very strong young man who took time to call a soldier's mom and tell her how proud he was to serve with her son and how sorry he was about him loosing his life trying to help him (J.P.) save his. He told me later, he wished it was him and not his friend because we would still have Ashley but this Mom had lost her only child. He then asked me to please go to Fort Stewart and represent him at the memorial dedication for her son on January 17, 2008.
Last night and many other nights I have watched him in pain and wished I could fix him. As a father, I feel this is part of my responsiblility. I am very proud of my son. I have always been proud of him, but these last few weeks he has shown me what a big heart he has. He has many more battles coming in the next few weeks.

I don't know how to thank everyone for all the phone calls, letters, and emails to my son. It has been so overwhelming with love there are no words to explain. Everyone has asked me if there is anything I need or anything they can do. So here is my answer, tonight I would like to ask that you pray for all of our service members and for all the wounded and a special prayer for all of the family members who have lost their loved one in this war. And if it is not asking too much, I would like you to hug your child or call them no matter how old they are to tell them you love them. For each son and daughter, call your parent and tell them how much you love them. The next time you see a service member, remember the sacrifices that they are doing for us.