Maria Gonzalez- Jessica's mother in law who is very ill.
Diane, Junior, Jared and Josh- Juniors mom is also ill.
These are brothers and sisters in Christ who are saddened by circumstances occuring with the special people in their lives.
Please pray for strength and healing. There is nothing impossible for God!
If you have a prayer request please email me at debra.roman@gmail.com

Pastora Debbie

Read the article below and see if you would like to see a literary classic come to life on the big screen.


Tuesday, October 25, 2005
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE WILL CAPTURE HEARTS AND IMAGINATIONS OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE
'But please don't forget the deeper truth behind the story,' says Dr. Ted Baehr

By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries
HOLLYWOOD, CA (ANS) -- The hearts of millions will soon be captured with the release in movie theaters around the world of Walt Disney Pictures/Walden Media's new movie, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

Based on the book by C. S. Lewis, it is one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year, but Dr. Ted Baehr, chairman of the Christian Film & Television Commission has said in an interview that hopes that people who view the film will not lose sight of its “deeper meaning.”

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was written by C. S. Lewis in 1950, when he was a high-powered Oxford professor and perhaps the 20th Century's most famous convert to Christianity. An atheist from boyhood, he converted at age 33 to Christianity and devoted much of the rest of his life to writing about faith.

Dr. Baehr, who is also the publisher of MOVIEGUIDE®, said in the interview, “C.S. Lewis was the great Christian apologist of the 20th Century. His radio programs reached millions and galvanized a new revival in the 1940s in the United Kingdom during World War II. His books including The Chronicles of Narnia have been read by 90 million people, many of whom have seen a deeper truth in them.”

He went on to say, “It is in one of his last letters (5 March 1961) to an older child, Anne, that Lewis most fully explains his intentions for the Chronicles of Narnia. Anne seems to have written Lewis about a scene from Chapter XVI, 'The Healing of Harms,' in The Silver Chair. Aslan, Eustace and Jill are in Aslan's Country and they have just witnessed the restoration of the dead King Caspian to full life and youthful vigor. Jill cannot understand what she has just seen, so Aslan explains that Caspian had died and so had he.”

Baehr then quotes from the letter from C. S. Lewis who wrote:

“What Aslan meant when he said he had died is, in one sense plain enough. Read the earlier book in this series called The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and you will find the full story of how he was killed by the White Witch and came to life again. When you have read that, I think you will probably see that there is a deeper meaning behind it. The whole Narnian story is about Christ. That is to say, I asked myself 'Supposing that there really was a world like Narnia and supposing it had (like our world) gone wrong and supposing Christ wanted to go into that world and save it (as He did ours) what might have happened?' The stories are my answers. Since Narnia is a world of Talking Beasts, I thought He would become a Talking Beast there, as He became a man here. I pictured Him becoming a lion there because (a) the lion is supposed to be the king of beasts; (b) Christ is called 'The Lion of Judah' in the Bible; (c) I'd been having strange dreams about lions when I began writing the work. The whole series works out like this.

“The Magician's Nephew tells the Creation and how evil entered Narnia.
“The Lion etc. the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
“Prince Caspian restoration of the true religion after corruption.
“The Horse and His Boy the calling and conversion of a heathen.
“The Voyage of the 'Dawn Treader' the spiritual life (especially in Reepicheep).
“The Silver Chair the continuing war with the powers of darkness.
“The Last Battle the coming of the Antichrist (the Ape). The end of the world and the Last Judgment.”

Dr. Baehr said the source for this is from “Bluspels and Flalansferes: A Semantic Nightmare,” in Selected Literary Essays, Walter Hooper, ed. (London: Cambridge University Press, 1969), 426.

He then said, “The good news is that it is coming to be big screen, but the even better news is there are lots of great books coming out to help people understand the story. My friend Paul Ford has done an update of his famous Companion to Narnia. Michael Ward and others have presented deeper insights into The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the new book: Narnia Beckons: C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Beyond. In fact, there have been so many books that the press is losing track of them. However, according to Paul Ford and many other C.S. Lewis experts, one of the best books with a great selection of the best articles from some of the top experts is Narnia Beckons: C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Beyond by Ted Baehr and James Baehr, published by Broadman & Holman.

“NOT JUST A GOOD YARN. . .”

“Needless to say, on the other side of the church-state-secular-world-divide, some of the people behind the movie do not want the movie identified with a Christian message. They are trying to reach a broad audience and are trying to pretend that the whole story is just a good yarn. Frankly, we are happy that these people have made the movie, but we have also noticed that they have taken a hard stance against the publishers and others who want to get the truth out; the real story of Aslan. It's up to the People of God; up to the believers, to help people go deeper or as C.S. Lewis would say through his character, Reepicheep, 'Go further in and go further up.' We are happy that the people are producing the movie, but we don't want what the real message behind the story to be lost. After all, C. S. Lewis once said, 'Watered down Christianity is nothing at all.' We need to use this opportunity, whatever the secular world says, to present the truth of Jesus Christ.”

In this regard, Christian leaders have commended Narnia Beckons: C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Beyond to readers of all ages:

“Ted Baehr has done it again! Just in time for the release of the film based on the C. S. Lewis classic, Ted and his son have compiled a wonderful guide to Lewis and his literary creations, which communicate Christian truths so well. This book contains many gems – including C. S. Lewis's final interview.

“I wish you every success with this new book, Ted, and trust that your ministry will continue to flourish and bear much fruit for the Kingdom.” Sincerely in Christ, D. James Kennedy, Ph.D., Senior Minister, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


Also Check out the website
http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/narnia/index.html

Movie comes out on December 9th anyone up to a church outing to the movies?

Pastora Debbie

We need to continue to encourage one another. This was sent by Karen Roman
Be encouraged today,,,
   
Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of
silver."
    This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered
what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
   
    One of the women offered to find out the process of refining
silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.
   
    That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an
appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the
reason for her
    interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining
silver.
   
    As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over
the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one
needed to hold the silver
    in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to
burn away all the impurities.
   
    The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot then
she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and
purifier of silver."
   
    She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit
there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.
   
    The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding
the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it
was in the fire.
    If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would
be destroyed.
   
    The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the
silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He
smiled at her and answered,
    "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."
   
    If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God
has His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in
you.
   
 

Encouraging words sent by Youth Pastora Rosa Carpio

I Am a "Kept" Woman .
You see, there were a few times when I thought I would lose my mind,
but GOD kept me sane. (Isa. 26:3)
There were times when I thought I could go no longer, but the LORD kept
me moving. (Gen 28:15)
At times, I've wanted to lash out at those whom I felt had done me
wrong, but the LORD kept my mouth shut. (Psa. 13)
Sometimes, I think the money just isn't enough, but GOD has helped me
to keep the lights on, the water on, the car paid, the house paid,
etc.., (Matt. 6:25-34)
When I thought I would fall, HE kept me up. When I thought I was weak,
HE kept me strong! (I Pet. 5:7, Matt. 11:28-30)
I could go on and on and on, but I'm sure you hear me!
Praise the Lord and pass the filet mignon! I'm blessed to be "KEPT."
Are you...or do you know a "kept" woman?
If so pass it on to her to let her know she is "Kept"

As I channel surfed yesterday, I saw a commercial for an upcoming Will And Grace. I have to say when the show first premiered I watched and laughed a lot. But then I felt bad that I was watching something that (I don't want to say promotes and I don't want to say tolerates) I don't know what word I would insert to complete the sentence but I am sure readers, that you know where I am headed. We need to be careful of every aspect of our lives. What we watch. What we listen to. Where we go, What we purchase. What we download and how we download it, What we log onto, What we read, Who we keep company with, What charities we support, Who we vote for,etc. You get my point.
We are in this world but we are not part of this world. It is hard but many times we justify our choices. We'll say things like "I'm watching the movie but I am not taking part in the adultery,fornication, murder etc." That's not the point. I asked a co worker of mine if she ever saw the movie Jeepers Creepers (this was after perusing the paper and spotting an article about the movie) she said she is in protest of this movie. I asked why. She said the creator of the movie is a child molester. Then I thought about Woody Allen, Roman Polanski and the creator of the movie "Powder" Who were also rapists, pedophiles and child abusers. We pay money to see these films that go in the pockets of the creators of these films.
We listen to songs carelessly without thinking of who the person is singing to or the intention in which they sing it or where the proceeds of the sales of their albums go to.
I am not trying to sound dogmatic although I realize that I do.
I listen to an occassional Jazz record. I watch secular movies. But I try my hardest not to be careless about my choices. We must What's behind the song? What type of person is singing it? What is the film promoting? or is downloading a Christian song illegal? Is reading the latest novel affecting me spiritually? Am I buying this t-shirt because everyone else has it and it's a name brand even if the message on it is inapproriate?
Just something to think about. The small choices we make every day, the choices we feel are simple and something that we do not need to think about may be the choices that ruin us spiritually, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly and without an awareness of the erosion taking place in our lives.

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will"

Left hand corner by the entrance

Trimming picked out by Rosie. Hung up by the guys! Cute wall hangings donated by Sister Rosie.

A view from the inside out so the little ones won’t feel like convicts:) Josue and the Pastor put this up. Isn’t it amazing the talent we have in our church.

The humble man behind this curtain is a blessing from God. What a helpful servant. A hard-working man and an enormous help and blessing to the Pastor and the church. Thank you soooo much Brother Josue Perez!

How adorable is this lamp. Come on!. Why a lamp? Because it is hard for little ones to sleep under clinic-like flourescent lighting. We need one more lamp for the other side of the room. Hint hint;)

We are trying to cover the care of ages 0-5. So we need to build up our library with some more Christian books and some age appropriate toys. Right now there isn’t much but God is beginning to bless and I feel He is also beginning to touch.

The sink is almost installed. While installing the Pastor and Brother Josue found the culprit to the leak in the women’s bathroom. Funny how that works! In order to keep the environment clean we need to have water. Employess must wash their hands at all times:)

The black blinds are gone!

At least there is plexiglass to let you guys get a look.

A sign of the times. We need to be careful. Babies are fragile and are very suceptible to germs. Security is a must as well. A good intentioned warning, believe me.

-Erwin's father-Peter Ramos

-The family of Isaac Soto a good-standing member of my last church for many many years. He died of a heart attack yesterday. He has been married to the same woman forever. He was a good father. He was a good man.

-Aidan- Who signs his name with 66* and throws chairs around the room. He is a scared little 6 year old who is going through a hard time.

- My co workers who as of lately have become more curious about the end times and the after life.

-All of those hwo are working diligently to make our church beautiful

- Ana Cruz, she's been feeling under the weather. I think it's the flu I'm not sure.

- The new mommies and daddies

- The future mommies and daddies:)

- Our church as a whole

- Sister Cleotilde Cedeno

- Peregrin, He will be returning to Puerto Rico soon. Pray for his continual spiritual growth and for strength.

-Pray for the Damas, Caballeros, Jovenes, Children, Royal Rangers and Sunday School.

-Jasmine

-Lucy

Feel free to add on to the list

God Bless You
Pastora Debbie