Archive for December, 2007

I just finished reading the book “The Forgotten 500” by Gregory A. Freeman.  The book chronicles the rescue of over 500 downed airmen from behind enemy lines.  It is a true story that is both incredibly thrilling and discouraging. 

The allies sent waves of bombers to destroy Romanian oil fields surrounding Ploesti.  Heavily defended, the Nazis shot down hundreds of our planes with many crews bailing out over Nazi occupied Yugoslavia.  Local Serbian villagers, led by General Draza Mihailovich, risked their lives to find and protect our airmen.  Called Operation Halyard, airmen and villagers worked together to build an airfield near Pranjane, in what was then Yugoslavia.  Several C-47 cargo planes were able to land undetected on this airfield and fly over 500 of our men to safety.  It was thrilling to read about this unparalleled rescue.

Yet, it was extremely discouraging as well.  A communist mole named James Klugmann infiltrated British intelligence and supplied them with false information that favored Tito, Communist leader of the resistance, over Mihailovich.  The information was so distorted that airmen were warned that

If you go down over Yugoslavia, look for the Partisan fighters, the supporters of Tito.  They wear caps with a red star.  Stay away from the Chetniks, the local peasants who support Mihailovich.  They’ll cut your ears off and hand you over to the Germans.  (50-51)

The Chetniks risked their lives to help our soldiers and faithfully protected them.  Klugmann had masterfully succeeded in spreading disinformation.

Even more discouraging, after the truth became known about all that Mihailovich had done to rescue our airmen, the U.S. government refused to acknowledge his role or support him in any way in the struggle against Tito.  Those who were rescued spent years trying to obtain at least some recognition for Mihailovich.  Two years after Tito criminally executed Mihailovich, President Truman posthumously awarded Mihailovich our nation’s highest award, the Legion of Merit.  The citation in part stated

Through the undaunted efforts of his troops, many United States airmen were rescued and returned safely to friendly control.  General Mihailovich and his forces, although lacking adequate supplies, and fighting under extreme hardships, contributed materially to the Allied cause, and were instrumental in obtaining a final Allied victory.  (p. 270)

Mihailovich lacked adequate supplies because the soldiers who knew better were prevented from supplying him!  The C-47s even dropped off supplies for Tito on the way to pick up our airmen on the airstrip built with the help of Mihailovich’s forces!  Further, the State Department prevented any publicity about the awarding of the Legion of Merit.  Not even the forgotten 500 were aware that he had been given the award.  Our failure to recognize Mihailovich properly is a shameful and discouraging saga of our history.

I finished reading this book just before Christmas as I was convalescing after surgery.  I couldn’t help but think of the parallels between the story of the Forgotten 500 and the good news message of Christ.

Like the 500 airmen, in a sense the entire world lies helpless behind enemy lines.  Unlike the airmen, who had a measure of freedom unless discovered by the Nazis, we are behind enemy lines in captivity.  Jesus tells us in John 8:34 that we who sin are slaves of sin (see also Romans 6:6, 17).  According to Galatians 4:3, we are in bondage without Christ.  Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:26 that we are held captive by the devil to do his will.  The captivity is so ruinous to us that the Bible refers to it as a spiritual death in which we physically live according to the dictates of Satan and are, by our very nature, “children of wrath” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

I realize some reading this might not accept what the Bible says about our condition.  Yet, anyone merely needs to take an honest look at the condition of the human race.  Murders, mass-murders, cruelty, injustice, perversity, and corruption abound and increase.  A malaise affects us in which we have a disturbing sense that we are far from home, whatever and wherever home may be.  Do you not feel the despair of captivity within your own being?

However, good news exists, for a rescue exists!  Read the words of Galatians 4:3-5!  God sent forth His Son at exactly the right time.  He did not come here to be served by us, to amass riches and comforts as so many false teachers do, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom (Matthew 20:28).  In a much bolder rescue attempt than the rescue of the Forgotten 500, Jesus gave His life on the cross for our sins and conquered our death by His resurrection.  We experience true freedom when Jesus makes us free (John 6:36).

Everything for a successful rescue of the Forgotten 500 was put in place.  The airfield was prepared and the C-47s landed.  But the airmen had to get on the plane and allow themselves to be transported back to Italy in order to be rescued.  We also must allow Jesus to rescue us.  We must know that all the elements of our rescue from the bondage of sin are in place and we must place our faith in the Rescuer or better yet, the Ransomer (Ephesians 2:8-9; John 1:12-13).  We must allow the Son to make us free in order to be free (John 8:36).

Unfortunately, a mole exists far worse and more evil than James Klugmann, the communist mole was.  Jesus warned of the devil’s influence in John 8:43-44.  The devil will do whatever he can to keep you in captivity.  He will try to convince you that you have no spiritual need or that you can, by your efforts, rescue yourself.  Just as Klugmann lied about Mihailovich, Satan lies about Jesus.  He will be very content to have you believe that Jesus is just a man.  He would have you believe that the record about Jesus and His good news, the Bible, is unreliable.  He will promote any form of wonderful seeming spirituality as long as you never recognize your deep need and God’s full provision of a Savior to meet your need.  Satan succeeds in his deception with countless people who move toward eternity unaware they are in desperate captivity behind enemy lines.

The story of Christ is both thrilling and discouraging, like the story of “The Forgotten 500.”  Jesus Christ will rescue anyone who wishes.  How thrilling!  But so many believe the lies about Him and refuse to be rescued.  How discouraging!  I pray that you will be one who believes the truth about Jesus Christ and you will allow yourself to be rescued!

If you have further questions about receiving Christ as Savior, use the comment section or go to http://www.gotquestions.org/.

It is hard to believe that a week ago I was having prostate cancer surgery.  Time flies when you are having fun!  The surgery went well but I did have some problems with my catheter which involved an extra day in the hospital.  I came home Thursday.

Today, Dec. 10, I just got back from having my staples removed.  The pathology report indicated only a small area of cancer with the same Gleason score of 6 that I had at my biposy.  No cancer was observed in the outside area of the prostate.  My PSA level should begin dropping and remain very low if indeed the cancer has been completely removed.

I praise the Lord for these good results and am very grateful for so many who prayed.

I wrote this post on December 2, before my surgery on Dec. 3.  Didn’t post it until after the surgery. 

The words “Christmas” and “cancer” don’t seem to go together.  The word “Christmas” generates mental images of family gatherings, Christmas trees, quaint snow-covered villages and churches, Sunday School pageants, wreaths, and, of course, presents.  Cancer generates images of hospitals, doctors, bald heads, and perhaps even death.  Cancer should not even be mentioned in the same sentence as Christmas!

Yet for me, with my prostate cancer surgery tomorrow at the start of the Christmas season, my thoughts naturally connect the two.  And I wouldn’t have it any other way!

At Christmas, we should be thinking most of all about why Jesus came.  The reasons for His coming directly relate to cancer, to suffering, to all that is most difficult about our lives.  I could refer to many passages of Scripture but the passage that means the most to me now, one day before surgery, is Hebrews 2:14-18.

He came to help me and all who share in flesh and blood.  And what a help it was!  Through His death He rendered Satan ineffective, for He conquered death.  If I die from surgery or from cancer, I go to be with Him.  He came to become a merciful and faithful high priest.  He satisfied the wrath of God for my sins, so I will enter the hospital room basking in the undeserved favor and grace of God.  He came so that He would experience all the temptations involved with suffering so that He could provide the best of help to me.  What great reminders Christmas brings!

During this season we will hear of the depression that occurs during holiday seasons.  Although actually it is a myth that more suicides occur around Christmas, still many feel stress, loneliness, and despair during the holidays.  How I wish they could understand the relationship between Christmas and cancer.  How I wish they could have the joy that underlies all the Christmas celebrations-the joy I have as I anticipate surgery during the Christmas season.