Christmas, 2002

[Dr. Manuel recently provided me with the Christmas letters he and his wife Linda have sent each year since 2001.
One of the annual letters will be posted each day over the next two weeks.]

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Manuel

Christmas 2002

Dear Friends and Family,

Although a year has passed since the horrific events of the 9/11 attack, we still wrestle with the revelation that there are those intent on our harm who will not rest until they have destroyed us. Claiming a religious mandate from Allah, these followers of Muhammad would conquer the world for Islam, and it matters little if the method is peaceful or forceful. Is this, indeed, how God operates? Does He want His devotees to advance the kingdom of heaven by whatever means necessary?

The answer God provided is what we rehearse each year at this time: the birth of Jesus, who came in obscurity, who lived in humility, and who died in charity.

For God sent not his Son...to condemn the world,
but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)

For the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto,
but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45)

God patiently and persistently calls people to embrace this good news, but He coerces no one. He wants our willing commitment not our grudging compliance, and He expects those who serve Him to spread the good news accordingly.

It is amazing that the transcendent God would concern Himself with our iniquity and send His own Son as the remedy. He could easily ignore us, yet He does not. It is amazing that the omnipotent God would care enough for our integrity and want our acceptance to be only voluntary. He could easily compel us, yet He does not. This is how God operates, and this is how we receive eternal life.

Although two thousand years have passed since the humble event of the first Christmas, we still wonder at the revelation that there is one intent on our good who will not rest until He has delivered us. May what God did in the past to secure the future give you hope and peace this day and in the days to come.

Pastor and Linda