Friday, December 2, 2005

Good Morning!

Article in this morning's Birmingham News about the Narnia movie and church groups.

Today's Overview: Chapter 11 -- Aslan Is Nearer

Peter, Susan and Lucy make it with the Beavers to the Stone Table. There they meet Aslan and his people. Aslan sends off a rescue party of animals, including winged horses, to go and rescue Edmund. One of the things that the kids and the Beavers notice is that the snow is beginning to melt everywhere -- I sign that the White Witch's spell is beginning to break.

Meanwhile, Edmund is beginning to see the White Witch for who she is -- someone who is cruel to all, and who has no love in heart for anyone or anything. Edmund begins to feel compassion for some of those whom the White Witch mistreats. This is partly because the White Witch's powers are beginning to wane, including the spell she has over Edmund, but also because something new is awakening in Edmund.

The scriptures today focus on the joy of God's deliverance, which is a reflection of where we are in the story --- all of Narnia is beginning to emerge from the years of eternal winter as the White Witch's spell is breaking due to the arrival of Aslan. One thing to note -- the Easter story is essentially a spring story -- there is a lot of symbolism in how the new growth of spring emerging from the cold and dark of winter is evocative of the story of Jesus. Lewis uses that same thought in this story as the return of Aslan brings a new spring to Narnia.

Today's Scriptures

Psalm 98; Joel 2:21-27; Revelation 15:3-4

Today's prayer request: Friend of Nicole McKinney

From Nicole: "I have a prayer request for a friend and her friend's family. A dear friend of mine lost her best friend, Cathy Swimelar, to cancer earlier this week . Of course, she is very sad about losing her and she is very concerned for Cathy's family. Cathy also left behind a daughter, whose 10th birthday was this week. . I can not imagine what they are going through. Any prayers are needed.

Today's class member prayer:

Christie Peebles

Have a great day.

Jay