Eric Reamer's Illustrated Illusions
Ministry By Effect
This is the place where each month, I will either teach a new
trick, or actually perform one for/on YOU! These will most
likely not be EARTH-SHATTERING tricks, but I think you will agree
that the lessons they are designed to teach are extremely valuable,
and very practical for children's workers!
This page is dedicated to anyone who has ever had to teach children,
and wondered, "what am I going to speak on this
Sunday??". All materials are commonly available, and should cost
little or nothing to gather up and use.
Mobius
Madness
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The famous artist, M.C. Escher has long been an absolute favorite for
me. A good solid look at this, one of his marvelous drawings, sheds
light as to why.
Follow the ants on their journey, and you will soon realize that this
is a true optical illusion. Are the ants on the inside, or the
outside of the structure?
The answer is: they are on both - and neither, at the same
time! There is no "inside" or "outside", because
what you are looking at is a drawing of what is called a Mobius Strip. |
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A mobius strip doesn't have 2 sides - but in fact, has only 1 side,
which is both the inside and the outside, or if you prefer, the top
and the bottom at the same time!
And the best part is: YOU can MAKE one for yourself! And more
to the point - you can create an actual illusion with your mobius strip. |
How to
make a mobius strip:
1.
Cut or tear a strip of newspaper, about 2" thick, down the
entire length of page (top to bottom).
2.
Half-twist
one end (180º),
and glue
(or tape) it to the other end, forming a loop.
(make
some with no twists, and some with a full twist (360º) to turn
this into a great trick!) |
Making
it a Trick:
Now that you have made your mobius strip, you can show the audience
that it really does only have one side, by tracing your finger all
along the path. But with the strip in this condition, there's even
more that you can do!
If you tear a loop that has not been twisted, right down the center
of the loop, (don't tear it to destroy the loop, but rather, tear the
loop itself in half, so as to make two loops), it does just what you
expect it to do. It makes two loops the same size!
If, however, you tear your mobius strip in the same way, you will be
amazed to discover that it does not make two loops, but instead, it
makes one loop, twice the size of the original!
And, if you tear the strip that you made with a full twist, you will
discover that it makes two loops - BUT - the two loops that it makes,
are linked, one inside the other! This is a real fooler!
Note: In order for this to appear "magical", you
must not allow the audience to know that you have changed any of the
loops. The assumption should be that all the loops are the same,
which greatly enhances the effect.
Presentation:
(Pick up the non-gimmicked loop) I love circles! They are so cool!
They have no beginning, and no end, and that reminds me of God! The
word that describes that is, "eternal". Eternal means,
"without beginning or end... everlasting".
The Bible tells us of a time, when God sent His Son, Jesus, into the
world. And even though Jesus was born as a human, he never gave up
his deity, which means, He still had the nature of God! (tear the
ungimmicked loop, to show 2 separate, but identical loops).
(Pick up the loop that was twisted with a FULL twist). The Bible
tells us that God created us in His image and likeness. That doesn't
mean we are "eternal", because in fact, the very fact that
we are created means that we had a beginning. But there is something
about us, that is just like something about God, as shown by this
loop, that looks remarkably similar to the first loop I showed you.
You know, God sent Jesus, so that we might ask Him into our hearts,
and be eternally together with God! (tear the loop, and show that now
there are 2 loops linked).
(Pick up the loop that was twisted with a half twist). God must have
a lot of love for us to send His only Son, don't you think? How much
love would that take? I don't know, but it probably is BIGGER than we
can imagine! (tear the loop, and show that it has grown to double the size).
Note: This routine idea is just one of many that you can use. This
trick lends itself to lessons on fellowship, marriage, and many more
ideas! Have fun!
Some Archived Ministry Tricks
Stop by our On-Line
Catalog, and
pick up something new
with which to share the Gospel!
How can one be a Christian, and also an illusionist?
The answer may be found by clicking: What is Gospel Magic?
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