Hi Julie and Everyone,

I would really like everyone's thoughts on the 
book, The Da Vinci Code. My sister, Sherilyn is 
reading it, and I told her it was not quite 
Biblical, and I have not read it, so perhaps I 
shouldn't have said that, as I have not read the 
book, but only for the knowledge as to whether it 
is or not, I should probably read it, knowing 
that it is not based on the Bible, so I have been told.

I hope that someone has written a book telling us 
why the Da Vinci Code is not based on the Bible 
and backing it up with evidense, and then I'll 
purchase that and send it to my loving Sister Sherilyn. She is not saved.

Thanks, and I'm looking forward to everyone's thoughts.

Love and Blessings,
Pat Ferguson



At 11:55 AM 4/27/2006, you wrote:
>Pat,
>
>thanks for passing on those good thoughts.  I 
>think it's easy to get more concerned about 
>being right than about winning people to Christ.  Good reminder of that.
>
>
>
>JulieMelton
>visit me at
>www.heart-and-music.com
>Keep smiling!
>
>
>
>
>
>>From: Pat Ferguson <[log in to unmask]>
>>Reply-To: The Electronic Church <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask]
>>Subject: Fwd: April 27, 2006  - Da Vinci decoded - Daily Devotional
>>Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2006 10:28:18 -0500
>>
>>
>>>April 27, 2006
>>><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/sendtoafrienddevo.aspx?articleid=1742>
>>>[]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Da Vinci decoded
>>>by John Fischer
>>>
>>>Well, I’m on page 243 of The Da Vinci Code and 
>>>it certainly is a page-turner. I’m reading it 
>>>because I want to be able to speak 
>>>intelligently to the interest that will surely 
>>>be on the rise as this blockbuster novel 
>>>becomes a major motion picture with a 
>>>high-profile team of actors including Tom 
>>>Hanks in the leading role. More than 40 
>>>million copies of the novel have been sold, 
>>>and the movie will most certainly drive that number higher.
>>>
>>>The controversial nature of its theme recalls 
>>>the movie The Last Temptation of Christ taken 
>>>from the book by Nikos Kazantzakis that 
>>>presents a confused Christ and an offensive 
>>>dream sequence from the cross involving his 
>>>relationship with Mary Magdalene. The intense 
>>>reaction of the religious community against 
>>>that movie amounted to a call to arms. 
>>>Theaters were picketed and boycotted, and a 
>>>march was organized on Universal Studios. (I 
>>>still wonder why Christians would expect 
>>>unbelievers to get the story right in the first place.)
>>>
>>>It is my understanding that The Da Vinci Code 
>>>has similar controversial interpretations of 
>>>Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of 
>>>Christ, and the Catholic Church. Still, it 
>>>would be better if cooler heads prevailed if 
>>>only for the opportunity to present another 
>>>more accurate version of the biblical account 
>>>as over and against becoming entangled in yet another culture war.
>>>
>>>Though the story is clearly fiction, it will 
>>>raise questions in people’s minds about the 
>>>validity of the sources through which the 
>>>story of Christ and his disciples has come 
>>>down to us. In other words: We have homework 
>>>to do. I suggest we turn this cultural event 
>>>into an opportunity for dialogue, not a call 
>>>to battle. Here are some things I think would be appropriate.
>>>
>>>1) Let’s not try and be experts about 
>>>something we haven’t read or seen. If we’re 
>>>going to have an opinion, make sure it’s an informed one.
>>>
>>>2) Bone up on the origin of our information 
>>>about the Scriptures and why we can trust them 
>>>as reliable historical documents and as God’s 
>>>Word. [See below for some recommended material to help you do this.]
>>>
>>>3) Use this information to bolster our own 
>>>faith, not fight a battle of wits with unbelievers we are eager to disprove.
>>>
>>>4) Use the information gained to address the 
>>>doubts of those who are genuinely seeking the truth.
>>>
>>>5) Above all, let’s use this interest in the 
>>>historicity of religion as an opportunity to 
>>>get people thinking about the possibility of a 
>>>real relationship with Christ ­ something we 
>>>have found to be our own personal validation of the truth.
>>>
>>>We don’t have to defend God or win a culture 
>>>war. God is perfectly capable of taking care 
>>>of himself. Dan Brown, and our culture in 
>>>response, has brought up the subject of Christ 
>>>and the early days of church history. By 
>>>making our conversation positive and seasoned 
>>>with grace, we can point people toward the 
>>>truth instead of driving them away from us.
>>>
>>>“But what does it matter? The important thing 
>>>is that in every way, whether from false 
>>>motives or true, Christ is preached. And 
>>>because of this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18 NIV)
>>>
>>>----------
>>><http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Resources/SmallGroupMinistry/Curriculum/DaVinciCode.htm>
>>>[]
>>>
>>>
>>>REMINDER: If for some reason you do not 
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>>><http://www.purposedrivenlife.com>www.purposedrivenlife.com, 
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>>>[]
>>>
>>>John Fischer is the Senior Writer for Purpose 
>>>Driven Life Daily Devotionals. He resides in 
>>>Southern California with his wife, Marti and 
>>>son, Chandler. They also have two adult 
>>>children, Christopher and Anne. John is a published author and popular speaker.
>>>
>>>[]
>>>
>>>[]
>>>
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