Monday, January 23, 2006

The Other Name of Aslan...Letters of C.S. Lewis

"In The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Book 5), the great Lion Aslan tells the two Pevensie children that their adventures in Narnia have come to an end. They will not be returning to this country again. Edmund and Lucy are horribly upset.
"It isn't Narnia, you know", sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"
"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.
"Are-are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.
"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."
Years ago, after reading this passage in Dawn Treader, a little girl named Hila wrote to C.S. Lewis, asking him to tell her Aslan's other name. Lewis responded,
"Well, I want you to guess. Has there ever been anyone in this world who:
1) arrived at the same time as Father Christmas,
2) Said he was the son of the Great Emperor,
3) Gave himself up for someone else's fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people,
4) Came to life again,
5) Is sometimes spoken of as a lamb (see the end of Dawn Treader).
Don't you really know His name in this world? Think it over and let me know your answer."
Edmund and Lucy's adventures in Narnia helped them come to know Aslan (Jesus) better, and our adventures in Narnia can do the same for us. But sometimes, like little Hila, we may miss the deeper truths behind the stories.
It is my hope and prayer that this book will help those who want to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of The Chronicles of Narnia, and that having read this book, you will love the original series all the more. Ultimately, may you find yourself developing an even deeper love for the source of Lewis's inspiration: The Word of God. (Christin Ditchfield)

ISBN # 1-58134-515-1 and available at www.crossway.com From the Foreword - "One of the best things about being a parent is having an excuse for reading the Narnia books all over again." Jesus had Lewis's heart, and Lewis's head was filled with biblical knowledge. In writing these stories, Lewis wasn't allegorizing Scripture, however. As he says, "With me all fiction begins with pictures in my head"-some that had been there since he was sixteen. But as he spun the tales, because his mind was so thoroughly suffused with Scripture, he wrote, second nature, stories of profound theological heft. It was simply part of who he was and how his mind worked. In this sense, Lewis worked from the Bible to the stories. Lewis took seriously the Bible's command to bring "every thought captive to...Christ." (Wayne Martindale, Professor English at Wheaton College)

Wow! Looks like this website is getting viewed all over the planet, HA!HA! "Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." (Psalm 115:1)

Kerey Smith and Joo-Yeun chilling at Starbucks. I got a message in my guestbook from Sarah who married my cousin, Ben Praught. Apparently, her cousin, KEREY SMITH referred her to my website NOT KNOWING THAT SHE MARRIED MY COUSIN, Ben!! What are the chances?! I have been hanging out with Kerey for several months not realizing that both our cousins are married!!!! Isn't that amazing?!

Dave & Jacquiline-what a wonderful couple! I bumped into them in Itaewon on the way to Starbucks. (and later at the Express Bus Terminal!) Jacquiline returns to Jinju for another 3 week camp. In 4 days, Dave heads off for Malaysia. These 2 will meet up in HongKong and will be traveling a lot-Keep them in your prayers!

Jessica Matchett joined us for church on Sunday at SIBC. Jessica is in Seoul for a month taking Korean lessons! So-Yeun, Jeung-Yeun, Jessica, Kerey and Joo-Yeun (Hey, where did Dusty go?!)

Everyone's FAVORITE camp memories, HA!HA!

this is an audio post - click to play

just read the sign!

Hmm...not too sure I like this image of me in the Alpha Class section of the Memory Album, ha!ha!

Now THIS is an image I am glad to see. If there is ANYTHING I wish to be associated with and remembered for, it would be THE CROSS OF CHRIST!!!

Every student, teacher, counselor and mentor was given this lovely memento. Sweet! (As you can see in the top right corner, this was the 11th such camp at GSNU. Amazing that I was given the opportunity to serve on 4 of these camps!)

Final Delta Class photo for the Memory Album (Hmm...Jae-Hun-Sang-Bum...Are those supposed to be horns or a halo behind my head?! ha!ha!)

Ahn Jung-Gan (great guy from Alpha class) accepting a certificate from Daniel Lynds (camp director) as representative of all university students.

Each group of students stood up in turn (university first as seen in this photo) as a representive accepted a certficate on their behalf. (Each got their own certificate and a memory album after the ceremony was over.)

Closing ceremony of GSNU's 2005 winter camp

Min-Young and Dong-Hiun at the bowling alley near GSNU.

I had a great time with Delta on our last evening together!

Kyung-Chul and Young-Seong

Min-Young feeding his hungry teacher some tofu

Dong-Hiun, Soo-Ryeon and Il-Je

Seung-Min and Sang-Bum

Seong-Yong, Jong-Saeng and Do-Hyun enjoying themselves at the restaurant!

Jae-Hoon cooking up the Sam-Giup-Sal on our last evening together. Delicious stuff!!!

It was hard to squeeze in a good-bye party, oral exams, classroom clean-up and handing out ESPT test results all between 9 and 10:30 and getting the class over to the auditorium for the 11am closing ceremony. (But by the grace of God, it was done!)

I came in at 9am on Saturday expecting the students to be ready for their final oral exam and this is what awaited me: An end of camp cake & beverages to say thanks! Wow! Delta class rocks!!! (& yes, we did still have the exam but nice try, ha!ha!)

Hong Yu-Ri ("glass" in Korean! :-)) from Epsilon class on her birthday, Saturday, Jan. 21st, the last day of camp. Happy Birthday, Yu-Ri!!!

Ahn Jae Hyoung was the head mentor (and Class H Mentor) for elementary/middle school. He remembered me as he was one of my students in the 2001 English winter camp. Jae-Hyoung just got his certificate allowing him to teach elementary kids in the province of KyungNam. Congratulations & Great to see you again, Jae-Hyoung!!!

The village like area next to the English Only Zone Building through Delta class window (on the 6th floor). Trains would go by throughout the night which was a little disturbing. The worst was when a train broke down right in front of our dorm and they worked on it loudly for an hour at about 2 am!

Bowling with Delta class late on Friday afternoon as a kind of farewell event before ending the camp on Saturday.
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