Sandra has written this booklet to raise funds for New Hope Community Church’s vision offering. You may be familiar with Sandra’s writing from the years in which she produced the newsletter and/or articles in local papers.

Gems is a booklet with colour photographs illustrating biblical meditation – what it is, and what it is not. ‘You know how to worry? Then you know how to meditate.’ (Rick Warren The Purpose Driven Life) Let God’s word go round in your head instead of your problems.

‘I encourage everyone to read the Bible. Just read it, like any book, from cover to cover, whole books and chapters at a time. Study the Bible. Read commentaries. Find out who wrote each book, when, in what circumstances, ask ‘who was it written for?’ But above all, meditate on the Bible. In fact, the Bible is such a book that you can’t read it or study it without sooner or later starting to meditate on it. It is the Word of God, and sooner or later, as we read the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth [John 16:13]. As we read we come closer to God.

‘Biblical meditation has been likened to chewing the cud. Relax. It can’t be hurried. Chew on each word and phrase. Chew and suck out the juices. ‘[The] Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone, rolls virtue around on his tongue. His heart pumps God’s Word like blood through his veins.’ [Psalm 37:30,31 The Message.]’

What is The Da Vinci Code about? What does Dan Brown himself believe? Is there any evidence that Jesus married Mary Magdalene? Did an earlier form of Christianity exist? Where does the truth lie?

"If you've been asked questions about your faith or indeed had your faith questioned by friends who have read Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code or have seen the film, then this short but in-depth booklet is a great aid in helping you answer their questions and will strengthen your own belief as Nicky Gumbel very clearly responds with biblical truth. I highly recommend it." Dave Flowers

*Nicky Gumbel is the author of the Alpha course and many other popular christian books and bible studies.

I would also like to point you to a very interesting article "the Da Vinci Code - the truth behind the myth" by Mark Carter, Youth Pastor at Portsmouth & Gosport Family Church. more...