I must admit, I don't read a lot of fiction, but every now and then I do take the opportunity for relaxation.

Whilst on holiday in Kefalonia I read Dan Brown's latest book, The Lost Symbol, and I couldn’t put it down! This is the second of his rapid-paced writings that I have read - they are real page-turners, and he can sure tell a good story!

His book The Da Vinci Code raised questions about the historical foundations of the Christian faith, while Angels and Demons had a poke at the Catholic Church. In his latest novel, The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown attempts to unravel Freemason mythology, and puts it in a blender with noetic sciences and a mix of religious ideas. In typical style, the story is a fast-paced unfolding of diverse story-lines culminating in a climatic moment, with a twist thrown in for good measure. He mixes in plenty of fact and fiction but with distortions about the Bible, whilst also unpacking some interesting historical perspectives on the city of Washington DC and the foundation of America.

As a pulse of what many people are thinking in our culture, spirituality, it seems to be a fair marker - not atheism particularly, but a syncretistic approach (combining different forms of belief or practice)..... ultimately leading to a search to try to find god within ourselves. Sounds like an old lie disguised in a new set of clothes. (see Genesis for that one)

The message of Christmas is the antidote to the old lie that we are gods and we have no need of GOD. As the world is seeking for faith assurances, let us make sure we are giving the truth mixed with nothing to our friends and neighbours this Christmas: that God in Jesus Christ breaks into our world to turn rebellious humanity back toward Him through Jesus Christ.