Free
Gospel MAgic Tricks
The Tates Compass
This is a simple trick that you can make yourself. It may not mystify an adult audience, but it has great entertainment potential. The idea for calling this trick the Tates Compass came from an article in The Linking Ring, published by the International Brotherhood of Magicians.
Your prop is a two-sided square sign with an arrow on the diagonal (figure 1). I made mine yellow and black to resemble a road sign. Another popular design is a white octagon with a black arrow. It can be any size from 2'' across for close-up work to over a foot for stage presentations. The back is identical to the front, with the arrow turned 90 degrees from the one on front. The gray arrow on figures 2 through 5 shows the position of the arrow on the back.
By turning the card over on the axis (red line) shown on figure 2, you can show both sides pointing the same way. Use axis 3 to make it point the opposite direction.Pivoting on the corners (axes 4 & 5) will turn the arrow 90 degrees to the right or left. With a little practice you can go from any direction to any other direction without a second thought. I always show both sides pointing the same way before changing to a new direction.
Presentation
I tell the story of a Mr. Tate who had a property line disagreement with a neighbor. When a surveyor's compass proved the neighbor right, Tate decided to make his own compass. That way North could be any direction he wanted it to be. The idea caught on and he began to market the Tates Compass. Explorers began to use the Tates Compass while out in the wilds, and this led to the well-known saying 'He who has a Tates is lost.';-)
Application
This story lends itself to teaching the importance of getting accurate information and following established procedures (rules?) based on that information. It can apply in a variety of circumstances.
In Gospel applications I point out that God has given us His Word, the Bible as a compass for our lives. But many people have decided to ignore God's way and go their own. Many of man's ideas have been 'marketed' and we see the results in the chaos in the world around us. People who are 'lost' in a confusing mixed-up world can find direction by going back to God's standard, the Bible.
Restoration
The cut and restored rope has literally hundreds of variations. This is one of the first methods I learned. Practice it well and it will prove to be quite effective.
Effect A 5 foot rope is displayed and examined. The Magician holds both ends together to locate the center of the rope. The rope is cut in two and the cut ends tied together. Then the knot is removed from the rope which is again in one piece.
Method After the rope is examined, hold both ends in your left hand. Reach through the hanging loop with your right index finger just left of the center of the rope at point C (Figure 1). With your thumb and middle finger on the outside of the loop, lift the center as if to place it in your left hand.
As your right hand approaches your left hand, reach through the loop with your right thumb and middle finger and grab point D, a few inches below end B and pull it through loop C (Figure 2). Bring loop D up into your left hand, hiding the real center of the rope in the palm of your left hand (Figure 3). The audience thinks they see both ends and the middle of the rope above your left fist. Cut loop D and hold both ends of the small piece (B - D)that you cut off, letting the other ends fall (Figure 4). Tie a knot in the short piece at its location in the middle of the long piece and it will look like two halves of the rope tied together. To restore the rope just slide the knot off one end.
Presentation
There are multitudes of presentations for this effect. You may want to do a comedy bit with a volunteer trying to cut the rope with break-apart scissors, etc. Once the knot is tied you may want to find it off center and trim off the long end. Then secretly slide the knot so that the ends still are not even. To complete the restoration you can wrap the rope around your left hand, sliding the knot off with your right as you go. Experiment with it and come up with your own ideas!
Application
For Gospel applications I mention that we often have problems in our lives that are difficult to face. Sometimes the problems are the result of our own doing, and sometimes there's nothing we can do to avoid them. If we rely on our own resources, the best we can do often leaves "knotty" problems that continue to get in our way. But when we let God take over he can take us through. Sometimes He completely removes the problem, and sometimes He uses the problem to strengthen us, but He is always there to restore and renew us.
Turn “Wine” Into Water
Jesus performs a miracle by turning water into wine. Can we do that? No, we can not imitate it. But, as a gospel magician, we can "create" the other way of "the changing things" even it's not a miracle like Jesus do. We use only a trick.
What You Need:
• Two empty glasses
• Red food coloring
• Water
• Bleach
Presentation
• Put a small amount of bleach in an empty glass.
• Fill the second glass with water and a few drops of red food coloring.
• Pour the red water “wine” into the “empty” glass and watch what happens.
Easy to do and very amazing! Simply mix the chemicals into the water and the magic will happen.
Remember, your kids or you, shouldn’t drink this as it’s poisonous!
Application
1 Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (KJV)
What You Need:
• Two empty glasses
• Red food coloring
• Water
• Bleach
Presentation
• Put a small amount of bleach in an empty glass.
• Fill the second glass with water and a few drops of red food coloring.
• Pour the red water “wine” into the “empty” glass and watch what happens.
Easy to do and very amazing! Simply mix the chemicals into the water and the magic will happen.
Remember, your kids or you, shouldn’t drink this as it’s poisonous!
Application
1 Jo 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (KJV)