Ghost Wand Idea from Jon Bucher

“I have a gag I do with the Ghost Wand. I do it anytime I’m making a production from a bottomless tube of any kind. I look down into the tube, make a excited face and appropriate amazement comments “that there’s something in there”. I then reach through the tube and pull the table cover up and out of the tube as if I was producing it from the empty tube.  As I show it to the audience I comment that I have another one just like it and then I realize what the audience already knows; that it’s the table cover. It gets a laugh and subliminally says the tube is really empty.”
Jon Bucher, AR

The Open Hand of Prayer

An alternate presentation for the Hand & Eye Silks from Barry Mitchell Products
By Barry Mitchell

Main Point: A message about prayer

Props: The Hand & Eye silks are usually performed by changing the hand into the eye using a palmo ball.  In this presentation the eye silk is changed into the hand.

Presentation
Recently I had my eyes opened to the miracle working power of prayer.  (Show eye silk and begin pushing it into your fist.)  But despite the helping hand of God in our daily lives, many of us miss the mystery of prayer.  Allow me to give you a hand.  (Produce hand silk.)

Prayer is a conversation with God, not a formula.  But here is a memory tool that you carry at the end of your arm.

When we fold our hands to pray, the thumb is nearest to us.  We can begin by praying for those closest to us–our loved ones. (Philippians 1:3-5)

The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach and point the way for us to follow.  (1 Thessalonians 5:25)

The next finger is the tallest. It reminds us to pray for those in authority over us–national and local leaders, and our supervisor at work. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are weak and suffering. (James 5:13-16)
(Possible joke if it fits your personality to add humor: This finger is also the wedding ring finger.  So when you pray for the weak and suffering be sure to pray for the married.)

And finally our little finger is our reminder to pray for little ole me.  Ask God to supply your needs.  (Philippians 4:6,19).

If you have ever had a small child wrap all their fingers around just one of your fingers and give a little tug, you know how that feels in your heart.  That child’s slight grip and tug on your finger can’t help but tug on your heart.  In the same way, when we pray, we tug on God’s heart.

Special Thanks:  The idea for this mini sermon came from a daily devotional from “Our Daily Bread,” (www.rbc.org) and a sermon from my local pastor.

Making A Christmas Tree

By Barry Mitchell

Main Point: A Christmas tree is simply an arrow to God

Object Effect: Making a Newspaper Tree

Presentation:
(Paper is rolled and prepared in advance.  An extra sheet of paper is wrapped around the outside so it’s not visible that the paper has been cut in advance.)

When I was a child, he lived alone in a rundown shack.  But he was the richest man I’ve ever known and that’s a fact.

I visited him often when I was young.  Although he was poor in stuff like most people have, he was rich in wisdom.  I never left his home without learning a little something or at least feeling better about myself.

The holiday season was my favorite time to visit.  People would bring him food baskets and gifts because he was so poor.  It was one of the few times each year that he had a bounty of food in his home.  But he would always share - no matter how little he had.

I remember one Christmas, it was as if he was just waiting for me to ask about his Christmas tree.  He usually had a little tree that someone would give him out of their woods.  But this year, he had a rolled up piece of newspaper in the tree stand.  It didn’t take long for me to ask him about his tree.  He said, “I have a beautiful one right there,” as he pointed to the paper roll.  “It has good news and bad news and the funnies too,” he said.

I said, “That’s not a Christmas tree; it’s just old newspapers rolled up.”  He smiled, because he knew I was going to say that.  He said, “Son, this newspaper tree has everything and does everything that the finest tree in the President’s White House does.”  I said, “Well it doesn’t have any lights.”  He said, “There is a story in those pages of a little girl who found her lost dog because of the help of her neighbors.  That story lights my heart.”

I said, “Well, it doesn’t have any pretty ornaments.”   He said, “Pretty ornaments are just colorful balls.  When I read the colorful jokes in the funnies I have a ball.”

I said, “Well, what about the garland and all the decorations?”  He said, “There are advertisements on every page with pictures of people decorated in the finest apparel money can buy.”

I said, “But what about the star at the top of the tree?”  He said, “The star at the top of the tree is just a reminder of the true meaning of the tree.”  I said, “What’s that?”  He said in his gentle voice, “All Christmas trees serve the same purpose.  It doesn’t matter if they are short or tall, decorated beautifully, or not at all.  They can be homemade or designer priced.  But they all do one thing, they point to the Christ.”  Then with a twinkle in his eye he reached into the paper tube and made the biggest paper Christmas tree I had ever seen.  (Pull paper tree up.)

I’ll never forget that wise old man and I hope you’ll never forget that a Christmas tree is only special because it points to the Christ.

Making a Paper Tree
A paper tree is very easy to make.  There are several tools that some add to make it a little more efficient, however, they are not really needed.

Cut six sheets of newspaper.  This is accomplished efficiently by cutting the folded edge of several folded newspaper sheets about one-half inch from the folded edge.  After the cut, all will be single sheets.

Rolling the single newspaper pages into a tube is the next step.  A cardboard tube from a paper towel roll may be used as a rolling guide; however, it’s not really necessary.  Tape the sheets of paper together lengthwise as you roll them around the cardboard tube or eliminate the tape by simply overlapping the pages about six inches as you roll the pages.

If using the cardboard tube, remove it and tape the roll of paper together.  Now you are ready to cut the paper to make the tree.  Cut down the newspaper tube about half way.  Make three cuts which make four equal sections.

Bend back each section of paper strips so that you can see the inside of the roll.  Hold the base of the tube with one hand while reaching into the center of the roll with the fingers of the other hand.  Pull up the newspaper inside the tube to start the tree growing.  Keep pulling to make the tree grow taller and taller.

A Little More Magic
To produce the tree without cutting the sections in front of the audience simply cut them in advance and hide the cuts by rolling another sheet of newspaper around the outside.  At the point of production, simply tear the outer paper away and pull up the tree or pull it directly from the center without tearing away the page.

Big Fat Wallet

An alternate presentation for “Bank Bag Bounty,” from Barry Mitchell Products

Main Point: Biblical money management

Presentation
Do you ever worry about money?  Did you know that most people’s money bags are filled with fifty and one hundred dollar bills?  Your expression tells me that you’re not “most” people.  (Open money bag and remove 3” X 5” cards with phone bill, electric bill, and cable bill printed on them.)  Take a look inside mine.  Here is the phone bill, the electric bill, and of course the cable bill.  Other than that, my money bag is empty.  (Show bag empty.)

Did you know that the two biggest problems in America today are debt and obesity?  In other words, it’s not just our wallet that’s fat.  (Prepare to produce coins from the cloth.)  But that doesn’t stop us from spending.  (Start producing coins.)  We spend it like we can pull it out of the air.  A little here, and a little there, to pay for this and that.  Money really does grow on trees, that is according to the way we spend it.  (Finish producing small coins and remove hand full of coins from money bag.)  From the look of our possessions, we really do have it all.

We want the world to believe we make big money. (Produce large coins.)  But if people really knew the truth, they would see that the only thing inside our money bags is one really big line of credit. (Remove Vista card.)

Biblical Application
Many people don’t have a money problem, they have a management problem.  It’s okay to have things, as long as things don’t have us.  Our possessions are a trust given by God.  If we manage them well, God will be honored.

Special Thanks to Pastor Brent Freeman of Pathways Church in Sevierville, TN for inspiring this presentation idea with one of his sermons.

Possible Scripture References
Luke 12: 13-21 The Parable of the Rich Fool
2 Corinthians 9:8
Ecclesiastes 5:15
Matthew 6:25-34 Do not worry

The Magic of Giving

An alternate presentation for the You Bug Me effect from Barry Mitchell Products
By Barry Mitchell

Main Point: A message about giving
Scripture: Several suggestions below

Props: Ropes from the “You Bug Me” effect from Barry Mitchell Products, change bag, several 12 inch silks.  In place of the silks, knots may be tied in the rope.  Ordinary rope and silks may also be used in place of the “You Bug Me” ropes.  But why would you want to do that? The “You Bug Me” ropes are actually knitted so they won’t unravel and they stretch longer than twelve feet to fill the stage more. There are two three-foot ropes, one yellow and one red and one twelve-foot rope that is half yellow and half red.

Preset: Place long rope with silks tied to it in one side of the change bag.  Place four silks and the two small ropes in the other side of the bag.  Using a variety of colors of silks will make the effect even more colorful.

Presentation
(This presentation is perfect for the Christmas season to discuss the magic of giving.)

I have two pieces of rope, one red and one yellow.  Yellow is for the girls because they are beautiful like the sunshine.  Red is for the boys because they are always red-e to get into trouble.  No, that’s not it.  Red because they love to have fun just like a big red balloon is fun.

This is a story of giving.  (Hold up small ropes.)  Don’t worry it’s a short story.  Of course giving applies to both boys and girls. (Tie short ropes together. Emphasize the word “not” as you tie the “knots” in the rope.  In place of tying knots in the rope, which may not be seen by a large audience you may tie twelve inch silks onto the rope.)

NOT (Tie knot in rope or tie silk around rope) everyone knows that giving is easy.

NOT (Tie knot in rope or tie silk around rope) all gifts are the same.  Some are touchable and usable.  Some are from the heart like love and friendship.

NOT (Tie knot in rope or tie silk around rope) only is a gift great to receive but it’s even greater to give.

NOT (Tie knot in rope or tie silk around rope) sure about giving yet?  Let me help.

When we take the first step to becoming friends with someone else, we are giving our kindness.  When we donate items to charity, we are giving from our abundance.  When we give our time to help someone else we are giving our most valuable possession.  When we give money we are trading our treasure for a blessing.

When it comes to giving there are two laws.  1. It’s impossible to give without getting a blessing in return.  2. No matter how much we give, we can’t out give God.

(Tie knot in rope or tie silk around rope)  My suggestion to you is do NOT miss out on the blessing of giving.  (Place short ropes in change bag as you ask for helpers.)

I need a couple of helpers to hold the ends of my giving ropes.  If each of you will hold an end, I’ll show you the real magic of giving.  Very slowly pull out a little rope.  (Switch change bag and assist each helper to pull the rope evenly from the change bag.)  When each of us does a little, it will NOT go unnoticed.  Keep pulling the ropes.  (Allow ropes to be pulled out of change bag revealing a long rope of silks or knots.)

Christmas ending  When it comes to giving sometimes it’s nice to be naughty (knot-e).

Scripture references

Galatians 6:7 (NIV) Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Proverbs 11:24-26 (NIV) One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing crowns him who is willing to sell.
Proverbs 22:8-9 (NIV) He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.  A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.
Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Prayer Bag

Darren Casteel shared this wonderful presentation to teach prayer with some of the silks in our Fishing for Friends effect.  Darren says this is the basic outline of what he does with the bait silks.  He does not use the fish or children’s faces silk.  He says it gets a great response.
Thanks Darren, great ideas.

(A change bag or other production prop may be used.  Or simply hold up the silks as you discuss them.)
This is my prayer bag.  It is a reminders me of how we pray and what we pray.

(Produce heart silk.)  We need to pray with a right heart.  The Bible says the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

(Produce money silk.  Kids will usually say we can’t pray for money.)  Wait, we can pray for money when praying from the right heart.  The Bible shares that we do not have because we don’t ask. (James 4:2)  When we ask for something like paying a bill or money that has a good purpose it’s certainly okay.

(Produce smile silk.  Turn silk upside down to make a frown.)  We pray for people to be unhappy, right?  (The kids will scream to turn it over.  Follow with all the popular “turn it around” gags.)  We pray that people have the joy of the Lord.

(Produce quill silk.)  Did you know that God keeps his promises?  This quill reminds me of the strength of a promise written in ink.  I pray that I will also keep my promises and become a trustworthy person.

(Produce soap silk.)  We can also pray to be clean.  The Bible says, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to cleanse us from our sin.  (I John 1:9)

Flu Fishing

By Greg Wood
Greg Wood sent us a GREAT idea he uses with our Fishing for Friends props.  Below is his presentation ideas.  You’ll be amazed by the creative way he has given a different and educational message to the effect.

Greg writes:
We were asked to come up with something to help re-enforce what is being taught in school to avoid a pandemic of H1N1. It seems to be such a hot topic right now. I thought I’d share it with you.  Fishing For Prevention The usual gags and jokes from Fishing for Friends are used and we added a Peachy Keen foam burger prop for a joke about catching a whopper. The kids don’t always get it but the teachers do.

Here’s the basic script ideas:
You know when you’re fishing, you’re trying to catch something but with the flu you’re trying NOT to catch something. What can we use as bait to NOT catch something.

Smile - While a nice smile can be beautiful, there can be many germs in that smile. That’s why it is important to always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Cough into your elbow or better yet behind your knee, or use a tissue. Throw the tissue in the garbage after you have used it and don’t put it back in your pocket.

Heart - Stay healthy, eat well, exercise, take your vitamins

Quill Pen - Stay home when sick – This is the kind of pen we used in my day to do our homework…by candlelight. When you are sick, you need to stay home from school so that you don’t spread it to others. As a matter of fact, you should stay home for at least 24 hours after you no longer have a fever. It’s a good idea though to get your homework sent home because we need to keep up on our work so that we don’t fall behind.

Money – Think about something like money. Most people like it. I like it, but so many people touch our money before we touch it and they may have passed germs onto the money. Peter Ender, a scientist who has studied the germs on paper money said, “The germs on money comes from our hands.” A few years ago Dr. Ender got dollar bills from people waiting to buy food at a basketball game. Seven percent of the bills showed traces of harmful bacteria. Eighty-six percent carried less harmful germs that rarely cause illness among healthy people but can be very dangerous to some people. Only seven percent of the bills had no germs.  Money isn’t the only thing that is touched by a bunch of people before we touch them. And these things can also easily carry disease as well. We can’t just stop touching things but we can be careful not to touch the T part of our face, our eyes, nose, or mouth after touching things. Dr. Ender said he doesn’t worry about handling money with his bare hands because he washes his hands “dozens of times a day.” Me too, so if you want to give your money to me, I’ll take it all….

Soap - Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Follow these instructions for washing with soap and water:  Wet your hands with warm running water and apply liquid soap or use clean bar soap. Lather well.  Rub your hands vigorously together for at least 15 to 20 seconds. You can sing the ABC song.  Scrub all surfaces, including the backs of your hands, wrists, between your fingers and under your fingernails.  Rinse well.  Dry your hands with a clean or disposable towel.  Use a towel to turn off the faucet. Hand sanitizers, which don’t need water, are also good too, particularly when soap and water aren’t available. If we follow these steps, hopefully, we won’t catch anything. Hey we caught something though, we caught a whole school full of healthy, happy students.

Thanks to Greg for his willingness to share this routine with others.