1. Looking for a great way to entertain and show appreciation to your staff and volunteers this upcoming Christmas season, or…

2. Looking to do something different than the same-old, same-old, holiday-themed Christmas outreaches for your community…

We just created the perfect solution:  The Gift.  It’s the same show that Andy Stanley’s team at North Point Community Church invited us to do for their team, (two nights in a row, because their team is so big), back in 2008.  I was in Thailand all last December, so I’ve waited almost two years to offer this show to you! Check out this short video about our 2010 Christmas Tour:

[Harris, III :: The Gift]

Only 10 dates are available, (unfortunately, Christmas doesn’t last forever), and these dates won’t be available long!  Now is the time to get in touch for more information.

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”   - Helen Keller

I love that everyone thinks it’s awesome that my wife, Kate, and I are “willing to go travel the world” and do missions work.  But so many times, the “I think that’s awesome” comments are followed by, “I could never do that.” And if you try to determine why they think that, it almost always boils down to comfort and security…

“It’s just too unsafe.” Baloney. (And that’s to put it nicely.)

The chances are good that most of the places in the world you think are unsafe, are still safer than walking through some cities in the U.S. It’s just that your obsession with security is a superstition.  Like one of my close friends in the Middle East once told me, “I’m where God wants me to be, and I’m safer in God’s will than I am anywhere else in the world.” Amen to that.

What are you scared of??

I agree with Helen.  Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.  Who wants to live nothing??

Do you need to change your perspective?

The famous artist, Leonardo Da Vinci, (who painted the Mona Lisa), was known for changing his perspective before considering one of his masterpieces 100% complete.  Apparently, when Da Vinci was supposedly 99.9% finished, his final step was to look at his painting in a mirror.  Simply by changing his perspective and how he saw the painting, he would notice needed changes in the painting that were impossible for him to see before.  Turns out, perspective is a really powerful thing.

I’ve always struggled with this.  Judging others is something I used to do a lot of.  My pride, arrogance, and selfishness always allowed me to look at other people and situations and immediately jump to conclusions.  I’d think, “That guy has some serious alcohol issues.” Or, “That teenager after the show tonight was ridiculously annoying.” Or, “I can’t believe the pilot of this plane didn’t show up, and now my flight is delayed until they find another pilot.” Or, “Why can’t I ever get ahead?? I never seem to be able to buy anything just for me.”

On the surface, those thoughts, though not perfect, don’t seem ridiculous.  They actually seem normal.  Until…

Until you change your perspective, and realize that the guy’s problem with alcohol is actually a problem in his marriage, and he doesn’t have any friends or help in figuring out how to deal with it.  So he drinks a lot to drown out the feelings of despair.  Doesn’t make it right, but it certainly changes my response.

Or, until you change your perspective, and find out that the annoying teenager is being raised by his single mom, because his dad left when he was 3.  And because his younger siblings need attention from his mom, he doesn’t get much attention at all.  So, he makes up for it by begging for attention at social gatherings.

Or, until you change your perspective, and realize that the pilot’s wife is in the hospital, because she was involved in a car accident that wasn’t her fault, and her husband rushed to the hospital instead of to work to fly my plane.

Or, until your perspective is changed by walking into a 10′ by 10′ home in another country, and are reminded that an overwhelming number of people live on less than $1 a day, and that the jeans you’re wearing cost more than their monthly grocery bill…and you bought the jeans at a thrift store.

Take a hint from Da Vinci in creating something beautiful.  Gaining perspective changes art.  And lives.

How has changing your perspective changed yours?

It’s videos like this one that make me realize the value and importance of illusionism.TV.  Magic is awesome for kids, for so many reasons, and I can’t wait to see what kind of aspiring magicians are born out of such an exciting project!  If you haven’t checked it out yet, be sure to take a look.  It’s child friendly, safe and secure, and your kids will love it! Check out the site, and learn magic tricks now: http://illusionism.TV

But first, you’ve gotta see this:  

Awesome, huh?  Please comment and tell me you almost teared up, then I won’t feel like such a softy.  ;-)

Got a kid who might be interested in magic?  Let them learn a FREE TRICK right now, without even joining.  Then, join by July 31st, and save 50%: http://illusionism.TV

I’ve been blown away by how people responded so immediately!  Everyone started tweeting, re-tweeting, posting to Facebook, making calls and sending emails, and before you know it, we had plenty of opportunities and invitations to make a huge dent in our July & August schedule.  We’re even going to Nicaragua for a week…more on that in a later post.

There are still a few dates left, and we’re still making our “Free Show” offer available for July & August, so check out these dates, and get in touch if you’re willing to give us the opportunity to serve you!  (It’d also be a good time to consider one of ONLY 2 DATES LEFT during our 2010 Fall Tour, Mayhem & Misdirection.)

Honestly, I can’t believe what’s happening.  Two years ago, if this would have happened, we would have rushed to put together some kind of “marketing campaign”, with some kind of “special discount offer”, and done my best to make a bunch of phone calls.  Instead, I’ve spent the past year doing my best to add value, serve others, and just build relationships with people right here, online.  And instead of putting together some kind of fancy piece of advertising, I turned to those who believe in us and what we do, and asked for help.  And you guys responded whole-heartedly, pitched in, and made some really amazing stuff happen.  How cool is that?

In my opinion, it’s very cool.  So to all of the Facebook and Twitter haters out there, I’ve gotta tell ya…without the power of social networking, what’s happening right now with our schedule and income just wouldn’t have happened the way it has.  It’s been absolutely unbelievable to see how God has been providing.  Thank you Web 2.0, and thanks to all of you who have embraced it, connected online, and followed along with what we’re doing. I can literally say, I couldn’t have done it without you!

And finally, a huge special thanks to my good friend, Bill Seaver.  He’s the one that talked me into jumping into this whole new world, and helped me understand the importance of blogging, and the potential community found through tools like Facebook and Twitter.  Check out Bill’s blog, and his upcoming Social Media & SEO Bootcamp here in Nashville.  No matter what kind of work you’re involved in, you should be there.  You’ll learn a ton, and you can’t beat the value.

Thanks for following along, and being a part of the journey.  I’m so thankful.  You guys rock!

For the next 30 days, I’m offering free shows! Is there a catch?  Of course!  Isn’t there always?  ;-)  Keep reading…

Obviously, this isn’t something I do very often.  And July is a tough month to do last second event planning.  People are busy.  But, this is a pretty rare opportunity, and there may be a whole bunch of people out there that want to take advantage of it.  I need your help finding them!

WHAT I’M OFFERING

It can cost thousands of dollars to produce one of our events.  There’s cast, crew, overhead, food, gas, hotel…it’s expensive.  However, for the next 30 days I’m going to scale it all back. I’m going to drive myself, load my own gear, call and talk to you personally, and whatever else I can do to cut back on expenses.  Then, my wife and I are going to show up and put on the same quality of show we do any other time throughout the summer.  And the beautiful part is, you get to name your own price, even if that means $0. But we do need something.  (After all, that’s sort of the point of this.)  But that could just mean an offering.  Really, you get to decide for yourself, and name your own price.

I don’t know what’s going to happen with this.  Maybe people will try to take advantage of us.  It’s certainly possible.  But I’ve spent the last few years of my life telling thousands of people to “Walk by Faith,” and I figured it’s good practice to walk my talk.  So, what do I mean by “name your own price?”  A few clarifications:

1. Please don’t take advantage.  I have to have the opportunity to make money somehow.  That means your church or organization needs to offer us something.  That could be a few hundred bucks.  It could be $0, but you’re willing to take up an offering after our show, letting us “pass the hat.”

2. Be smart. If you’re looking to do an event for your community in order to reach out to them, or “bless” them, make sure it’s not a bad idea to take up an offering.  If you live in a community where families are doing horrible economically, the city is depressed, and 50% of your people are out of work with no jobs, it’s probably not a good idea to invite those people to your church, then ask them for money.  That’s just not good for your church, or the kingdom.

3. Be realistic. The bottom line is, if you’re a youth pastor, I can’t come perform for your students for $50 plus an offering.  That won’t buy my gas.  I’m sorry, but when it comes to high school students and “love offerings,” there’s just not enough love!  What I’m trying to say is, I’m happy to come serve you, but I don’t have the money to cover the cost of doing so.  Please don’t put me in a position where I’ll “go in the hole.”  If students had money, I’d just go down to a huge beach camp, like BigStuf, and do card tricks for kids on the beach for tips.

Again, I know this is a last-second request.  However, you ALL know SOMEONE.  Everyone reading this, if you really think about it, is connected.  Together, we can all pitch in and spread the word, and FLOOD the internet with this news!  This could be an incredible opportunity for churches and organizations who would never be able to afford to host one of our shows otherwise, and honestly, it’d be an absolute honor to serve them.

Think about it…who do you know?  Tell your friends who are leaders. Tell your pastor. Tell your school leaders.  Send them a link to this page. Post all over Facebook that “the illusionist, Harris, is going crazy, and offering free shows next month.”  Tweet it. Blog about it.  Make it known!

The way I see it, I now have nothing to do next month.  And while I guess that’s not technically true, I’d way rather be out there doing what I do best, what I was created to do, and serve a whole bunch of people along the way.  Maybe, just maybe, through that, our needs will be met, and I’ll have another incredible story to add to my collection of how God provided, all because a few people stepped up to the plate, got proactive, and together, made something happen.

It’s simple really: Just spread the word.

Tell anyone you know that I’m available to do an amazing and effective 1 hour show or less, anytime between July 1st and July 31st, for whatever they can afford to pay me. We’ll get creative.  Send people to this blog.  Have them watch this short video trailer on YouTube.  Have them fill out this form, and I’ll call them back personally.  Just have them get in touch!

Thanks in advance for your time.  If only I could accurately express to you how much it really means.  You are so greatly appreciated, and your help isn’t taken for granted.  Again, seriously, thank you!!

Until I found my life falling apart at the age of 21, and through a long series of events and circumstances, I no longer had a choice.  I couldn’t fake it any longer.  I did what was to date, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do: I had to ask for help.

I had to confess my pain, short comings, and failures, and my need for help from others.  It was a season of life in which I was greatly humbled, and quickly brought to my knees.  It sucked. I cried.  A lot.  And the illusion I’d created for those around me to see, immediately started to crumble.  The curtain was pulled back, and my failures became visible to others.  Trust me, illusionists do not like getting caught.  But it turns out, us magicians aren’t alone.  It’s hard for all of us when our secrets are revealed.

That was over five years ago now, and though learning to be authentic was a difficult journey, I’ve actually found a lot of joy and freedom in the process.  Some of the most incredible things that have ever happened to me have happened over the past few years, simply in response to my willingness to ask someone for help.  Maybe it’s something you need to do, right now.  I’m about to ask you for help, but maybe you shouldn’t keep reading.  Maybe you’re struggling with an addiction.  Maybe there’s an illusion you’ve been creating and living.  Maybe you have a secret that needs to be told.  Maybe you should stop reading right now, and go get real. I’m tellin’ you, once you taste the freedom of living authentically, you’ll never go back.  Plus, if you’re willing to get real, you’ll be helping yourself get healthy, and it’ll be much easier for you to help others.

Please don’t get me wrong…I’ve still got issues! (Don’t we all?) But thankfully, I’m no longer too prideful to ask you for help, especially when I genuinely need it.  That’s what the church is for, and it’s a beautiful thing when people live in true community with each other, pitching in whenever necessary, and helping others when possible.  Over the next few days, once a day, I’m going to be asking you to do just that.

HERE’S THE DEAL

Just a couple of short weeks ago, I got news that our tour in Thailand had been cancelled. We were supposed to be spending about 6 weeks there, beginning at the end of June, performing at 28 different colleges and universities throughout the country.  Well, seemingly out of nowhere, government protesting starting taking place, and a group of people started bombing buildings and burning malls.  Travel warnings were immediately issued after the violence. Within days, 21 people were dead, and 874 were injured.  It’s the worst political violence in nearly two decades, and is causing all sorts of issues. The Thai government also put an immediate rule in place forbidding any form of large, public gatherings of people, and unfortunately, that includes really cool magic shows.  So, now there’s no tour.

Where does that leave us? Well, we now have the entire month of July, and much of August open on our calendar, with nothing to do.  It also cancels out any potential income and/or support.  But I’m not asking you for money, and this is most certainly not a fund-raising letter.  The last thing I’m looking for is a hand-out!  But I’m going to get creative and make this work, and I think some really beautiful things are going to happen as a result of your willingness to pitch in!  I’ve quickly gone from the “Oh no, now what are we going to do” freak-out stage, and am now just flat out excited about the potential of what could happen if all of those who believe in us and what we do, all worked together!

There are 3 very simple, practical ways for you to help and support our work.  Cool?  Yes?  Maybe?  I promise, if you had the ability to discover, visit, and read this blog post, then you can handle these any one of these 3 things.

So please, stay tuned.  I really need your help!  And finally, I’m not afraid to ask for it.  ;-)

[Note: If you're interested in learning more about what's happening in Thailand, and the violence taking place, there are news stories all over the internet.  Click here to see an example.]

- An Unnamed American Pastor, speaking at a European Conference

Thank you Stuart McAllister, and the team at RZIM for your podcasts.  They are challenging, thought-provoking, and needed.

Sometimes America is more of a market, than a nation. Hopefully, we can turn that around…

That’s what happened recently in Ohio.  I’ve driven by this statue what seems like hundreds of times while traveling that stretch of interstate on tour.  Here’s what the news article had to say:

MONROE, Ohio – A six-story statue of Jesus Christ was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, leaving only a blackened steel skeleton and pieces of foam that were scooped up by curious onlookers Tuesday.

The “King of Kings” statue, one of southwest Ohio’s most familiar landmarks, had stood since 2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.

The lightning strike set the statue ablaze around 11:15 p.m. Monday, Monroe police dispatchers said.

The sculpture, about 62 feet tall and 40 feet wide at the base, showed Jesus from the torso up and was nicknamed Touchdown Jesus because of the way the arms were raised, similar to a referee signaling a touchdown. It was made of plastic foam and fiberglass over a steel frame, which is all that remained Tuesday.

You can read the whole article here, on Yahoo! News.

Apparently, the statue cost about $400,000 to construct.  Maybe it was allowed to be struck by lightening because God might not be cool with wasting a whopping $400k on concrete? For the record, I have no idea. Just wondering. I’m also not saying that God always causes natural disasters.  But I’m not sure how you could deny that certainly “allows” them.  Again, I’m just wondering…

They’re also already making plans to rebuild it, wasting that kind of money, plus more, all over again.  I mean, I’m not God, so I won’t pretend to know or always understand what he does, or why he allows certain things to happen, but I do know of a whole list of better uses for a few hundred thousand dollars.

And, I’m not the only one. A lot of them are a book called the Bible….maybe this church should read it.  If they do, they might learn a lot about Jesus, the guy they’re making statues of, and in the process, how he encouraged us to live.

What do you think?

]]> http://www.harrisiii.com/observations/jesus-got-struck-by-lightening/feed/ 10 http://www.harrisiii.com/tour/to-arkansas-and-back-in-a-swagger-wagon/ http://www.harrisiii.com/tour/to-arkansas-and-back-in-a-swagger-wagon/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:31:23 +0000 Harris III http://www.harrisiii.com/?p=1290 If you follow my wife or I on Twitter or Facebook, you’ve likely heard about all the vehicle problems we’ve been having lately.  We tour in a Toy Hauler. It’s like a moving truck + tour bus + RV.  We definitely got the “lemon”. We’ve had nothing but problems, very few of which the manufacturers have dealt with.  We keep getting shrugged off by both Chevrolet, (the makers of the chassis, cab, and engine), and Gulfstream, (the company who converted and built it out).  It’s been an absolute nightmare for the full four years we’ve owned it.

Anyway…we had an event in Arkansas last night at Harding University, and it was out of commission.  We couldn’t make repairs over the weekend, so we ended up renting a vehicle to get us to Arkansas and back.  Tried to find a cargo van, but couldn’t. And every rental car company in Nashville was out of SUV’s.  So, we rented one of these…and yes, I drove it with pride:  

[Note: Facebook readers, click here to see the video. Facebook does not automatically embed videos when importing these notes from my blog.]

If you watch the video on YouTube, it shows over 3 million views.  But surprisingly, every time I mention the phrase “Swagger Wagon”, I’m shocked to find out that most people still haven’t heard about these commercials.  Word is rapidly spreading, and I’d wager to say that Toyota already is, and will continue to get an incredible return on these ads.  They’re absolutely hysterical!

So parents, take pride in your ride. Turns out, mini-vans are pretty cool after all.