Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Countdown to Prince Caspian!

I listened to a fabulous interview with Douglas Gresham this morning on Air 1 radio. If you'd like to listen to it, the link and instructions are below.

Douglas Gresham is the stepson of C.S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Gresham is the co-producer of the soon-to-be-released film The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian as well as The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. He is an unapologetic believer who credits the Holy Spirit with fulfilling of his lifelong dream of seeing these books become films.

Most of my friends know that I am a HUGE Narnia fan and have read each of the books dozens of times (I try to read the series every 2 years because they become more and more meaningful to me as I mature in my walk with Christ.) I encourage those of you who have not yet read The Chronicles of Narnia to read them now. If you haven't read them since you were a child, pray about reading them again and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal himself... and Christ... in a new and fresh (and bigger)way through these books.

"Welcome, Child," he said.
"Aslan," said Lucy, "you're bigger."
"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.

"Not because you are?"
"I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger."
For a while she was so happy that she did not want to speak.

From the book The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis. Copyright 1951 by C.S. Lewis (Pte) Limited. Copyright renewed 1979 by C.S. Lewis (Pte) Limited.

Although I had read the previous passage many times before, when I read it aloud to my children last winter, I got all choked up. I continued reading, but my heart prayed for my girls to someday have the same awed reaction to that passage; to know how high, how wide, and how deep is the love of Christ... and how profound it continues to be in its immenseness as we mature in our faith.

Please go out to see Prince Caspian when it comes to a theater near you. Don't wait until it goes to DVD. But please, take these next few days or weeks to visit or revisit the books. See how Aslan--the allegorical Christ figure-- gets bigger and how important it is to follow Him even when everyone else doubts or tries to lead you in another direction. There will be differences in the film version from the book, but I would ask you to pray. Pray that the the message of TRUTH, mirrored through C.S. Lewis's timelessly classic stories, would remain in the film versions of these books.

Support positive, faith-affirming films by going to see them. Even if your kids are too little to go with you, make it a date night, or go with a friend.

If The Body supports this film with our box office dollars, it will help ensure that the next book--The Voyage of the Dawn Treader-- is made into a feature film as well. Encourage all your friends to go see The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian to help ensure that a CHRISTIAN fantasy movie becomes a blockbuster this spring (only a few more days until its release!!!!!) and help ensure that the series of films continues!

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the next book in the series (after Prince Caspian) and it is my favorite of the Chronicles because I find my own reflection in the characters so easily. Voyage has an incredibly moving, allegorical salvation message using the character of a horrible little boy (Eustace Scrubb) whose selfishness and greed turns him into a dragon. Aslan has to painfully rip off layers and layers of sin... I mean scales....and wash him clean (even though it stings like crazy on Eustace's raw body) before he can be a boy again. By Aslan's painful, vicious tenderness, Eustace is transformed from his Dragon-self, both physically and spiritually, into a new creation; a kinder, more humble boy who must example his inward change to his shipmates before they accept it as authentic.

Characters from the previous books/films also have to deal with temptation in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and example the need for spiritual growth even though they have known Aslan for quite some time. (sound familiar???) I believe if Voyage is made next--and made with integrity (and Douglas Gresham as co-producer again)--it will be a mighty tool to spur discussion amoung our Christian kids and their unbelieving or on-the-fence friends about the reality of greed and selfishness and pride as sin and the redeeming power of Jesus Christ through the Gospel.

These films are a gift from God, by way of Hollywood, to help us know HIM more and to help us share Him with others.

I encourage you to go to http://www.air1.com/, click on "morning show" and then click on "interviews" and find "Douglas Gresham, Part 1 and Part 2" and listen to the interview. Then grab a Chronicle and find a comfy chair. Before you read, close your eyes and and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your imagination on your journey through Narnia; then open Chapter One and go "further up and further in"... because fiction mirrors truth.