Narnia: Begin The Adventure Series

Next weekend, Disney Studios will release a film that they believe will be their most widely-watched film in history.

The story is a compelling one. Disney studios are betting over $180,000,000 that it will become their best-selling movie of all time. “It’s an expensive bet—but a bet worth taking.” LOTR and Passion together. Why?

Well-loved story written in 1950. So far, 86 million copies have been sold, with more than 1 million being purchased every year from that day until this. Hoping many of those will show up.

I read at 18 or 19. devoured all other CS Lewis after. Why? Why this book in the series? Why not the beginning of the story—Magician’s Nephew? Why this one first and most loved? Not even my favorite. But a compelling story.

Narnia is a place where animals walk and talk, and the land is ruled by a wicked witch whose magic spell keeps the entire land always winter, but never Christmas. –

The four children who discover Narnia are Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. This may sound a little strange to those of us who haven’t experienced the story yet, but the children discover Narnia by walking through an old English wardrobe (what is that?) that is a kind of secret passageway into this alternative world.

Lucy discovers Narnia first. And then Edmund. On Edmund’s first visit to Narnia, he stumbles into the White Witch, who pretends to be his friend and feeds him large doses of Turkish Delight and promises to make him a king.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the children, Edmund aligns himself with the witch and plots to bring his brother and sisters to her. Unbeknownst to Edmund, the witch intends to turn them all into stone. How story begins.Not long before discover not stumble into world—Aslan brought them. “Why, don’t you know? He’s the King. The Lord of the whole wood. The Son of the Emperor Over the Sea. The Great Lion.” The subject of an old prophecy. Whole land is waiting for Him.

Brought in bc of another prophesy. “When Adam’s flesh and Adams bone sits at Cair Paravel in throne, the evil times will be over and done.” Two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve. And so brought on adventure to fulfill other phophesy.

“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight, at the sound of His roar, sorrows will be no more, when he bares his teeth, winter meets its death, and when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.” Sounds like another prophecy.

“The time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light—a light that will shine on all who live in the land where death casts its shadow. For God will break the chains that bind His people. Never again will uniforms be bloodstained by war. For a child is born to us. A son is given to us. And the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end.” Isaiah 9:1-8

Adventure Begins—children in Narnia had an adventure. Not sure if they wanted it. We also have an adventure between two worlds.

Advent and adventure—not coincidence—same root. To Arrive. Find adventure you were born to, you will have arrived where you belong.

Christmas story was an adventure, not a lullaby. Young girl—expects ordinary life, til Gabriel shows up in her room.

Joe—he does too, nice girl, settle down, helped ladies cross street. then forced to flee home as a fugitive because of a baby.

Shepherds—always been shepherds, same sheep, same fields. seeing UFOs, changing jobs quickly in mid-life

Magi—trip w/no destination. Like vacations in magazine. Only not so fun. No ETA. Not pre-planned on mapquest and preregisted w/super 8. only faith the adventure—the arriving--was worth it.

It’s a story prophesied hundreds of years before. Some, like magi, saw the adventure and took it. Some saw the lullaby and slept through it, like the innkeeper.

Will we see it? Or sleep through it? Asleep in the light.

Christian life is an adventure. Lot of us stopped believing that when our busy, daily lives interrupted. Stopped believing jer 33:3, 29:11, Jn 14:12, “Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done and even greater works.” stopped believing we really matter, can change anything

That when He says “come” we’re actually going anywhere significant.

Criticism that Christianity is boring—sometimes it is. Asleep in light. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Helen Keller. Is your life an adventure for Him?

I’m too young, can’t do anything!—remind you of Mary’s age.

Too old, had enough adventures. MT 87. Not till you’re dead. Some folks are dead long before they die.— Too busy, scared, comfortable. Or just don’t know how.