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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
I have been requested to run a Gospel booth for a Halloween substitution event at the local Baptist Church, incorporating a magic presentation. I do not intend to present a "gospel magic effect" (none of that King of Hearts nonsense), but rsther tie in certain elements of the magic presentation into the gospel message.
I will be working for an audience of about thirty (several performances), and I will be using cards. Any suggestions for an effect that might lead into the matter of choices we make and choosing God? (No Calvinists need respond.) |
GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
It sounds like your doing the booth, using only a deck of cards without knowing what effect you're going to do. Maybe that's just an impression from the way you wrote your post. I would hope you plan on using more than a deck of cards while manning a booth. You could do an ambitious card routine and explain that as believers and attempting to follow God, we will face challenges and sometimes get knocked down or seemingly lost in the shuffle. But when we do get knocked down, the trick is not to stay there, become ineffective and give Satan a victory of rendering us useless. No, by prayer or repentance and making a deliberate choice, we draw back closer to God (not away from) and get up and go for it again. So, you could show how when we get knocked down, we can get back up again and be no top "so to speak". Just one idea.
I was wondering what you meant by referring to King of Hearts as nonsense? True, it's a simple pre-packaged little trick that any beginner can do. But it can still be effective in delivering a message and believe it or not... not everyone has seen this version of 3 card monte. Your quick dismissal seemed kind of harsh in my opinion. I would be curious to know what other effects you might be planning on sharing. I just finished doing 2 performances for a harvest festival type of event at my church this last Saturday. GlenD
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
1. I found out about the event yesterday, so, know, on such short notice I really don't have a completely clear idea as to what I wish to do.
2. No, I will just be using a deck of cards. Competence is a remarkable thing. I will do a five minute presentation of magic (1 effect, followed by a five minute gospel presentation.) 3. As the subject heading indicates, I do not intend to incorporate the magic into the gospel presentation; this always seems contrived. The magic is to preface, and thematically link to the gospel presentation. 4. I call the King of Hearts nonsense because I think it is nonsensical. "Let's find a mediocre card trick, call the card Jesus, and tack on a half-baked gospel presentation to trick the kids into thinking they're having fun instead of being proselytized." I find it dishonest at worst and vast diminishment of both the art of magic and the beauty of the Gospel at best. If we genuinely believe that sinners go to Hell, I ***ed (and yes, I do mean ***ned) well hope we can find better ways to keep them from going there than by doing a magic trick. |
ChrisG Elite user Batavia, Ohio 448 Posts |
Good luck John.
"Consensus is the negation of Leadership"
M. Thatcher |
ChrisG Elite user Batavia, Ohio 448 Posts |
John
How did things turn out? ChrisG
"Consensus is the negation of Leadership"
M. Thatcher |
GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
"If we genuinely believe that sinners go to Hell, I ***ed (and yes, I do mean ***ned) well hope we can find better ways to keep them from going there than by doing a magic trick."
No, it's a bit more simple than that... A simple thing called preaching, or sharing the good news by opening our mouths and speaking and the other person responding and choosing to believe (both actions which require the intervention and working of the Holy Spirit). Which sounds like what you intended on doing during your 5 minute presentation. God chooses the simple things to confound "the wise" and accomplish His purposes. Magic is not going to save anyone from hell and neither are we. We can only do what is asked of us and that is to tell people. And if using effects now and then to illustrate a particular truth, can help get attention and shed light on the message than all the better. I am curious to know how it turned out for you as well, John. GlenD
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
For those who have requested a report:
1. Overall a success considered simply as a performance. Six presentations reaching about 100 kids and approx. 30 parents, etc. of whom about half were members of the church. 2. Having never believed that anyone, let alone a child, can understand the demands of the Gospel in five (or fifty) minutes, in a manner adequate for salvific efficacy, I focused on offering the basic facts of the Gospel (sin, sacrifice, surrender, sanctification, salvation), with an invitation to meet Jesus through His body, the church. As I wasn't collecting "decision" cards or contact data, I cannot gauge the internal response of the hearers. 3. Being a devout Catholic, I found the decision to bring me in to present the gospel in a Baptist church (at least I had been a member there for twenty years-I wasn't a compleat stranger)a bit odd, but I was happy to oblige. 4. I acknowledge that I am quite curmudgeonly, particularly in matters that I consider impoortant. My vitriolic remarks about many techniques of evangelical marketing stem from a deep love for Our Lord, and a great sadness for the souls lost to a watered down Gospel and an abridged faith. |
JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
For those who are interested, I did a Peter Dufie "Lie Detector" effect, tieing in the idea of choices, to lie or tell the truth, Heaven or Hell, etc.
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JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-11-01 17:04, GlenD wrote: I should have said "stupid magic trick". My complaint against effects like the King of Hearts, is twofold: 1. They're mediocre tricks. 2. They are contrived to "illustrate" the Gospel without actually making anything clearer. Let me put it this way: Shouldn't we have more respect for the Gospel than to settle for a cheap gimmick to make it more marketable? |
GlenD Inner circle LosAngeles, Ca 1293 Posts |
The lie detector effect is good. I've used that in Sunday school with high schoolers.
Even the simple tricks can have a place, sorry you feel that way about some of them. But everyone has different tastes and methods for what works and what does'nt and that's ok. Thanks for getting back and sharing. I am doing a presentation tomorrow (Thursday) at a local men's mission that my home church supports and would appreciate prayer support (maybe I will make new post). Take care, GlenD
"A miracle is something that seems impossible but happens anyway" - Griffin
"Any future where you succeed, is one where you tell the truth." - Griffin (Griffin rocks!) |
JohnWells Inner circle The Southern Wild 1791 Posts |
I have no objection to simple tricks, but to simplistic ones.
My prayers will be with you. |
WhoDeanie Loyal user 211 Posts |
I don't think your illusions HAVE to be gospel illusions at all. I did a show a bit back that only had two illusions that had a gospel theme, and those were indeed simple. One was where I use a TT and a red silk to say that what you will see is just an illusion, not MAGIC, and then get into the red silk as the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The other was just a professors nightmare rope routine that had a "using your talents to serve God theme." The rest were completely secular tricks in which I sort of tied it into storytelling that had a message. I'd do a trick, grab a Bible, read a short scripture, and then relate it to a story. People were completely riveted and quite a few tears during the stories. Sure, the tricks were entertaining, but it was all about the message...
Magically yours,
Dean Burgess |
WhoDeanie Loyal user 211 Posts |
I don't think your illusions HAVE to be gospel illusions at all. I did a show a bit back that only had two illusions that had a gospel theme, and those were indeed simple. One was where I use a TT and a red silk to say that what you will see is just an illusion, not MAGIC, and then get into the red silk as the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The other was just a professors nightmare rope routine that had a "using your talents to serve God theme." The rest were completely secular tricks in which I sort of tied it into storytelling that had a message. I'd do a trick, grab a Bible, read a short scripture, and then relate it to a story. People were completely riveted and quite a few tears during the stories. Sure, the tricks were entertaining, but it was all about the message...
Magically yours,
Dean Burgess |
Joe Marotta Special user Can You Believe I Have 944 Posts |
Hi John,
If you are looking for an effective explain the message of salvation to a child or an adult in 5 minutes, you need to check out http://www.wayofthemaster.com Best to you, Joe, your local Augustine/Luther/Calvin-ist friend |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
I would also recommend "Sermons in Chemistry" by Berg Christian Enterprises, they have a wonderful mix that I've used for near 20 years. It gets a great response because it comes across magicial, but it doesn't lose the message which is powerful...You have 3 glasses of "water" all clear, first glass you talk about how sin came into the world, you add some "sin" and the glass of water turns to black or dark blue (depending on your audience) the second and third glasses represent Christ and how He poured Himself into man and your pour one into the other and it turns red...you end up talking about how the blood of Jesus removes all our sins by pouring the red into the black and the black glass of liquid turns clear again. It is easily a 15 minute routine for me, but I add a lot of stuff to it, so it easily can be done in 5 minutes and I see adults and children saved through this every time I do it...
PM me if you want more info. Keep the Faith! |
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