New Year 2004. So far, so good. I remember when the book "1984" seemed like it was set in the distant future. It was 20 years ago that I finally moved away from home. Although, just up the road to Evanston. One thing is consistent. The Cubs & Sox have never won a World Series in my lifetime, although the Sox came close when I was 6. Even the moon landings are 35 years in the past. Now they're talking about sending someone to Mars. I hope I see it.

I read "The Da Vinci Code" over the weekend. As a mystery/suspence novel it is a good read. Unfornately, it is so filled with out-dated theories, half-baked ideas, and outright lies about Christianity and the Church, that it's one of the worst books that I've read since "The Celestine Prophesy", another novel of dubious research. I fear that after reading this book, there are going to be weak-minded people with little faith who will start cults worshipping Leonardo Da Vinci and/or Mary Magdalene. The whole premise of the book is wrong! If the Church was suppressing women, or specifically Mary Magdalene, as not being worthy, then why is Jesus' mother Mary held in such high regard? Secondly, if Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, how does that prove that Jesus was not divine, but that Magdalene was a goddess? That is really twisted logic. The truly devious part of the book is that it portrays the Church as the enemy. Therefore, if anyone from the Church were to comment about the book, it seemingly undermines their argument. I think the reason that the Church has followed Jesus is because he was the one with the message of Love which seems to be the only answer. His message is clear and holds up to the light. In addition, there were over 180 prophecies about his birth and the mutliple miracles he performed during his life which no one has been able to dispute. A much better book that is also on the best-seller list is "The Purpose Driven Life". It has more truth in one of its chapters than within the over 100 chapters of 'The Da Vinci Code". On the other hand, the Bible is not the all-time best-seller for no reason. Check out the New Testament sometime. It makes Dan Brown and people of his ilk look like hack writers.