MORNING STAR
✳ JUNE 1 - 7, 2006
PAGE 25
The same old deception By the Rev. Todd K. Crofford Laurel Wesleyan Church
PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE
When you boil it all down, the ...don’t look in the DaVinci Code is based on the oldest lie going. Now I know it is packaged nice- DaVinci Code if you ly and the story carries you from are looking for genchapter to chapter. The quest uine worth in your own sounds exciting and the characters are alluring. But what about the life. It’s just not there. message? Here it is: as humans we are tionship to Christ, but in coming to know complete in ourselves. We do not need the secret mystical knowledge. ThroughGod. The book’s claim is that the perfect cir- out Brown’s book it is the Christians who are represented as the dangerous and uncle represents humanity. In addition, the learned and those seeking the grail as sacred feminine and the sexual rites that go along with goddess worship can lead to those being awakened by knowledge. But this lie goes back even further. It a moment of realization — a fulfillment was in the garden of Eden that the serpent and completion on our own. Exit God... told Eve that there was an opening of her we don’t need you any more. Now, in case you think Dan Brown has eyes that would come through disregard of God and his word. If she was only willing come up with something new. Let me tell to break free from the requirements of you where you can find similar ideas. God she would discover that she was sufLet’s work from the present backward. First you have the New Age movement. ficient in herself. It’s an appealing argument — one that Excited about crystals, altered states, medAdam and Eve fell for, and one that itation, self-realization and more, it was Brown uses subtly and craftily in his and is a revival of old fashioned paganbook. ism. Suddenly the church is demonized as The message: you don’t need to find this group of power hungry men trying to God. You are God. Its message is best keep the real truth from ever getting out. summed up in the 1987 miniseries, “Out Millions have flocked to the book and the on a Limb,” where Shirley MacLaine movie to see what is supposedly enlightstands on a beach with her arms outening. stretched and declares, “I am god, I am In reality it is the same darkness that god.” Christ came to dispel 2,000 years ago. We Sorry, God is bigger than that. The same lie recurs through Eastern re- are not sufficient in and of ourselves and were never meant to be. Fulfillment is ligions where so many are taught that we found within a relationship to a loving are all a part of the God-force. Luke SkyGod who has good plans for our lives. Acwalker spent his life discovering that the cess to that God comes through the cross. force can be used for good or evil — the So, through his writing, Dan Brown has famed dark side. To access this goodness made himself wealthy, but please don’t look to the power within yourself. look in the DaVinci Code if you are lookSorry, God is more powerful than that. ing for genuine worth in your own life. It’s just not there. This deception travels all the way back to gnosticism — a false belief that grew The Rev. Crofford is Senior Pastor at Laurel Wesleyan Church. His views do not necessarily represent the views of up in opposition to the early church, the congregation or Wesleyan Church International. You claiming that God was not found in relamay email pastortodd@laurelwesleyan.org
Prayer Breakfast Sponsors The Seaford Ministerium, Greater Seaford Chamber of Commerce, Seaford Historical Society and Seaford Kiwanis thank the following businesses and individuals for their support of the sixth annual Prayer Breakfast: • Dr. Susan Betts • Chambers Motors • Bank of Delmarva • Cut em Up Tree Care • Donald Dykes • Ernest and Catherine Raskauskas • Frank Raskauskas of Franklin Bank • Golden Corral • Home Team Realty • Integra Administrative Group • Johnny Janosik • Lo-Mar • Morning Star Publications • Pizza King • Scott’s Furniture • Soil Service • Trinity Transport Inc. • Whayland Company
What must I do to be saved? Acknowledge your sin and place your trust in Christ. All who place their trust in Christ in this way are adopted as God’s children. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. — Romans 3:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 6:23 God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8 If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. — Romans 10:9
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 543 N. BRADFORD ST., SEAFORD, DEL. • 629-7161
Rev. Michael A. Hopkins, Pastor MON. Youth Meeting SUNDAY 6:30 - 8 p.m. Sunday School ..... 9:45 a.m. WEDNESDAY Worship...............11:00 a.m. Prayer & Praise 7:00 p.m. Eve. Worship........7:00 p.m. Patch Club (kids) 7:00 p.m.
Messiah’s Vineyard Church Located at Tyndall’s Furniture Plaza on Discountland Rd & Rt. 13, Laurel 302-875-4646 PO BOX 60, LAUREL, DE 19956
PRE-SCHOOL - 12TH GRADE - Office 629-7161 Quality Traditional Education Since 1973 Fully Accredited By Middle States in ACSI
Dr. Carl G Vincent, Senior Minister Pastor Barry B. Dukes, Music Minister Sunday 9:30 am Wednesday 7:00 pm Children’s Church • Nursery
GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH
A Cooperative S.B.C. Church 805 Atlanta Rd., Seaford, DE
532 Stein Hwy., Seaford, DE 19973 Redemptorist Fathers • 629-3591
302-629-8434 • www.graceseaford.org
MASSES: SUNDAY: Sat. Eve. - Vigil 5:30 p.m.; Spanish 7:30 p.m. Sunday - 7 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m. DAILY: Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri. 9 a.m. Wed. 9 a.m. & 7:30 p.m.; First Sat. 9 a.m. HOLY DAYS: Eve. 7:30 p.m.; 9 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. NOVENA DEVOTIONS: Wed. 9 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. CONFESSION: Sat. 4:30-5 p.m.; Sun. 8-8:25 a.m.
SEAFORD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Sunday School 9:30 am Worship 10:45 am & 6 pm Children’s Church 10:45 am SPANISH Worship 10:45 am Wednesday Activities 7 pm Pastor: Homer McKeithan Youth: Ben Colegrove Music: Jim Burket “The Cross Is Grounded In Grace”
Laurel, Del.
LAUREL-MT. PLEASANT CHARGE
“Come and Experience JESUS!”
Passing on God’s Love and Grace in Laurel, Delmar & Surrounding Area
Sunday Morning: Worship 10:00 AM Wednesday: Prayer & Praise 7:00 PM Located in Hickman Commercial Park www.LivingWaterLaurel.org 302-875-7814
YOU ARE INVITED! Come into This Church and Gather in Christ’s Name to Worship Him! Psalm 95:6 Sun. School 9:45 a.m. • Worship 11 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wed. Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Pastor, Stacey Johnson
VICTORY TABERNACLE CHURCH OF GOD
“A Growing Church For All Ages”
2 miles N. of Laurel, DE on Alt. 13
302-877-0443 410-957-4696
The Atlanta Road Alliance Church 22625 Atlanta Rd., Seaford, DE (302) 629-7693 • www.atlantaroadcma.org Rev. Ron Mayers • Rev. Andrew Kerr SUNDAY WEDNESDAY 8:30 Worship 6:45 Pioneer Clubs (age 3 9:45 Sunday School to grade 6) & Divorce Care 11:00 Worship/Kids Church 7:00 Prayer Service & 7:00 Evening Service Youth Group (grades 7-12)
To Come! Revelation 2 ime 2:1 T The Ark 7 It's Seaford Wesleyan Church
United Methodist Churches
Worship Sun. Sch.
King’s Gordy Rd. .......... 8:50....10:00 St. George’s St. George Rd. .... 10:10..... 9:00 Mt. Pleasant Mt. Pleasant Rd...11:30....10:15 Pastor Barbara Auer
River of Life Christian Center 17 W. Market St., Greenwood, DE 302349-9420 Pastors Joseph & Yvonne Dixon WORSHIP SERVICE: SUN. 11 AM BIBLE STUDY: WED. 7:30 PM
Proclaiming Faith 4 pm Sunday on WKDI 840 AM Radio
Food Outreach Emergency Food
www.river-oflife.org
Sailor’s Bethel United Methodist Church Bethel, DE Rev. Ron Wuest, Pastor Sunday School - 10 am Praise Service 10:45 - 11 am Worship - 11:15 am Nursery Provided office 875-3628 parsonage 875-2996
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church The Rev’d. Jeanne W. Kirby, Rector
Sunday School - all ages 9 a.m. Worship 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Rainbow Day Care / Pre-School Rt. 13 South, Seaford, DE 302-628-1020
Mount Olivet United Methodist Church Serving Christ in the Heart of Seaford since 1830 315 High St. • Seaford, DE
Sunday Services: Informal Worship in Chapel 8:30 a.m. Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. Sanctuary 9:45 Sunday School Pastor: Rev. Thomas Gross • 302-629-4458 PROFESSIONAL NURSERY CARE PROVIDED
Laurel Wesleyan Church Rt. 13A, Just North of Laurel Sunday School - 9:30 & 10:45 Worship - 9:00 & 10:45 Sunday Evening Worship and Children’s Ministries 6 p.m. Wednesday Youth Ministries 6:30 p.m. Church 875-5380 • Sr. Pastor Todd Crofford Assistant Pastor Ken Deusa Asst. Pastor/Youth: Sue Boyce Children’s Pastor: Marilyn Searcey
Holy Eucharist: 9:00 a.m. Sunday School & Adult Forum: 10:30 a.m. Front & King St., Seaford, DE 629-7979
Seaford Church of Christ Acapella
(Rm. 16:16)
N. Dual 13, P.O. Box 783, Seaford, DE 19973 302-629-6206 Evangelist - Anthony Melakian - 629-3633 Elder - Don Birch - 629-8949 Elder - Ron Russell - 629-6033 Sunday School 10a.m. Sun. Worship 11 a.m., Sun. Evening 6 p.m Wed. Evenings 7 p.m. Live For God, Love Each Other, Light The World
Connecting People with Christ since 1804
CONCORD
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 25322 Church Road, Concord Seaford, DE 19973 Sunday Worship - 9 am Sunday School (all ages) - 10:30 am For More Information call 302-628-8114 Rev. Diane E. Melson, Pastor