Contents
May/June 2006
FEATURES
Guardian angel on alert Chuck Ferrara discovers something beyond the badge.
John Wesley and United Methodist renewal James V. Heidinger II appeals to the wisdom of Methodism’s founder
The emergence of confessing Christians Thomas C. Oden encourages mainline renewal.
Anne Rice: The dark wing of night Trish Teves inquires the once gothic author about her conversion.
Holiness Manifesto The Wesleyan Holiness Study Project makes an appeal.
Columns
Editorial Why membership matters
Next Generation The answers are right, but the life is wrong
RENEW Women’s Network The tie that binds
The Great Commission The world in high resolution
From the Heart Tell
DepartmentsLetters to the editor
Straight Talk
News
Re-thinking ‘doing church’ to reverse membership decline
Prayer event brings unity to community
U.S. church opens arms to Iraqi girl with birth defect
Culture in View
Family films with a message
Walking the line into a ring of fire
Exactly thirty years ago in July of 1976 one of history's greatest rescues took place. Air France flight 139 took off from Ben Gurion airport en route to Paris via Athens, Greece. The plane was hijacked by a branch of the PLO demanding the release of 153 convicted terrorists being held in various countries. Diverted from their intended destination, all aboard became hostages in Africa. It became apparent that the Israeli passengers were the target and that the Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin, was an active partner in the plot.
The IDF or Israeli Defense Force combined several elements to make this mission a resounding success. 1. Determination. They wanted their people home. 2. Forethought and Preparation. They made a mock-up of the Entebbe airfield from blueprints procured from an Israeli builder. And, they practiced their plan. 3. Camouflage. The assault team looked like the culture they invaded, dressing in Ugandan military uniforms and driving an identical match of the black Mercedes limo that Amin used regularly. 4. Surprise. Five C-130 Hercules aircrafts and two Boeing 707's loaded with assault personnel and equipment made their way through the stormy darkness. 5. Swiftness. The operation, which was estimated to take one hour, took 58 minutes.
The risky endeavor was successful because it met the expectations of the commanding officer, Brigadier General Dan Shomron. But, it was costly. Lt. Col. Yoni Netanyahu, brother of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was fatally shot by a sniper. Two hostages were also killed in airport terminal crossfire. And, passenger Dora Bloch, who tried to protect herself by demanding a hospital visit, was later executed by Amin's henchmen. She was not with the other hostages when the rescue team arrived.
The Scriptures clearly proclaim that Jesus is our rescuer. Colossians 1:13 says: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." By God's determination he brings us home. Through forethought and preparation he made the way for us to connect with him. He started with the covenant, the law and the prophets. Then Jesus camouflaged himself. He "made himself nothing" and "though being in very nature God", he "took the very nature of a servant." He was "made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-7).
God surprised us with his love. Though we didn't deserve it, he came for us anyway. "While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And, he operates with steady swiftness. 1 Peter 3:8-9 says: "With the Lord a day is like a 1000 years, and 1000 years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise.."
Jesus' rescue operation met the expectations of The Commanding Officer and it was costly. We were "bought at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20) and "purchased with his blood" (Revelations 5:9). "By his wounds (we) have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
Yes! Jesus longs to set us free. The question is: What do you need rescue from? And, further, what do you need freedom for? Perhaps you are in financial bondage or spiritual chains. Maybe you need release from darkness, sin, death, trials, mire, deep waters, shame, guilt, pursuers, things that devour, worldliness or passionless living.
Isaiah prophesied centuries ago about the aim of the Messiah's rescue mission. "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me.. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners" (Isaiah 61:1).
And, what are we to be rescued for? Moses declared the answer before Pharoah: "Let my people go, so that they may worship me." God wants to dream through us. He wants to make his appeal through us. He wants our hearts to be his home, so he can hug with our arms and speak using our tongues. But, hostages don't do those things easily.
If you haven't been rescued yet, why not? Perhaps you have known Jesus as Savior for years but still you live a defeated life. Sometimes we look to lesser rescuers; things of our own making. Things like sports, shopping, sleeping, busyness, over-work. Sometimes, like Dora Bloch in Entebbe, we try to take care of it ourselves. Or maybe we become sympathetic to our captors-our private "Stockholm syndrome"-and resign ourselves to the fact that no one has it any better.
The truth is clear. Jesus is our rescuer. His record is impeccable. He rescued Zacchaeus from cheating ways. He freed Mary from a life of looking for love in all the wrong places. He caused a paralytic to walk. His touch on one man's heart saved an entire household. He ran to a wayward son. He prodded accusers to lay down stones aimed at an adulteress.
God is freeing me too. Freeing me from bitterness and unforgiveness, freeing me from a spirit easily offended, from needing the approval of people, from having to teach anybody anything, freeing me from never being able to say "no" and living under the expectations of others. He rescued me in 1972 when he revealed himself to me for the first time and he continues to rescue me today from any empty way of life not in his plan for me. It continues to require an admission of need and a desire for him to touch it. So, what about you?
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
Click here to send your response plus the title of this article to us at Good News.