The response to the trailer has been overwhelming!  People are really getting behind this project by helping us spread the word in a cool way…it’s exciting to watch.  Along the way, I’ve been asked multiple times, “So why Kickstarter? Why not take money from someone like a studio, label, distribution company, etc., just like bands do?”

It’s a valid question, and thus the purpose of this post.

If you’re new to Kickstarter, or any other form of “crowd-sourcing,” it’s basically a platform that allows an artist, performer, author, etc. to distribute the cost of a creative project to a large group of supporters, rather than take funding from a single source like, say, a musician might take from a record label in order to record and produce their album.  And thus lies the beauty of it.

I have multiple friends here in Nashville in the music business who talk of developing amazing visions for a project, only to see that vision tweaked, changed, and ultimately compromised after “getting signed,” all because of the power of the mighty dollar.  It’s also one of many reasons why an abundance of independent musicians are popping up around the world.  There’s certainly a “damn the man” mentality in the air in this season of the entertainment industry.  Things are changing, and have been for a while.  And people who are outside of industries like the music business, especially fans, are quickly becoming “insiders” thanks to independent artists and previous label executives who are openly sharing how things work via blogs and social media.

All of that said, not all record labels are bad.  And not all movie studios are bad.  I also have friends who have ministries that simply wouldn’t be the same without the support of their label, and they have teams within those record labels who operate with the utmost integrity.  But even if doing a deal with a major entity made sense for this project, it’s a hard sell. Those companies base their investments off of formulas and proven track records. There isn’t an existing formula, track record, or category for “Live Show/Film Project DVDs by Magicians who talk about deception and truth.”  We’re kind of trudging new ground here.

As we continued to work on this project independently with my management team, two things became increasingly clear:

1. We aren’t going to be able to finish and promote this project without more funding.
2. I’m not willing to risk having to compromise my message or my vision for this DVD by someone with money wanting me to water down my content for the sake of being “more marketable.”

So, I’ve turned to you guys, and I couldn’t be more confident that we’ve made the right decision!  Not only are we well on our way to securing the minimum funding we need to get this project completed, I’m realizing more and more how cool it’s going to be to release it, then look back on a group of people who are able to say, “We did that! We were a part of making this happen!” That’s so ridiculously awesome!

We still need help. So far, our KickStarter campaign is well underway, but we still have a long way to go!  Click over and watch the trailer, then jump in, back the project, and do everything you can to spread the word!  We can do this, and as a result of what we could only have done together, this message of deception and truth can go on to change far more lives that it ever could have changed without your support and backing.

Here’s the link:  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/harristhethird/harris-iii-master-illusionist

Thank you!!

Before you jump to negative conclusions, hang with me for a second…I have a video clip that’ll make you a little more comfortable with that concept…

I’m often amazed when I hear people say, “You’re doing their weekend services at their church?  I never thought about having you speak on a Sunday morning.”

I know it’s a little out-of-the-box…magic tricks in church?  Plus, we don’t usually picture “entertainers” being a part of our church services, but I actually speak at quite a few of them. In fact, I view myself just as much a speaker/communicator as I do an illusionist.  After all, the art of illusion is simply the medium I use to teach people about illusions and truth.  If you teach others how they’ve been tricked into believing lies, they’re able to gain the perspective necessary in order to see the truth, and more importantly, how to apply it in their own lives.  Since teaching is likely a primary focus of your services, why not teach in a creative way?

I recently had the privilege of being at a great church in Everett, WA, to help them wrap up a sermon series on deception.  We decided to post a clip from one of their services.  After I spend some time using illusions to show people how they’re deceived, I often share my own life story as a real life example.  The clip below is a portion of that testimony about how I was tricked myself, and how the truth set me free.

If you find this information relevant, take a few extra minutes to check out some of the videos on our media page for a better overview of the illusions I perform.  I think they’ll effectively make you aware of the excellence I strive for in both my performances, and my communication.  We’d be honored to come be a part of what your church is doing in your community!

Due to some unexpected actions outside of our control, we’ve had a portion of our Spring tour cancelled, and therefore, we have some great openings still available this Spring.  And let’s face it, “Hey, come to church with us this Sunday…there’s going to be an illusionist there,” is a pretty easy invite!

Hope you enjoyed the video above. Interested in letting me share my story with your church?  I’d be honored.  Just click here to get in touch…

This morning on my way to a breakfast meeting, I passed a father and child who were waiting at the end of their driveway for the school bus. It’s something I’ve seen what seems like a thousand times before.  But lately, I’ve been finding myself reflecting often on how I grew up, and the things I learned about life…specifically how it was that I came to learn them.

For some reason, as I passed by the waiting father and child, I instantly flashed back to my memories of waiting on my school bus.  My parents went to work before I was to be at school, so in the mornings, I would get up early with my parents and get dropped off at my grandparents house, who conveniently lived at the bottom of the hill we lived on.

Each morning, as it came time for my bus to come, I remember my grandfather waiting patiently with me in his driveway.  I don’t remember all of the specific conversations we had, but I do remember pieces.  I remember stories he told me, some of the funny jokes, and the way we would laugh together.  Right now at this moment, I can’t help but smile at the memory of the morning he taught me a little jingle to help memorize the spelling of “Mississippi”.  It was foggy, and freezing outside, and I can remember seeing my breath in the air as I sang the letters.

I have so many amazing memories with him that go far beyond those cold, foggy Tennessee mornings waiting for a school bus.  Thankfully, I’ve gotten to spend far more time with my grandfather than many people get to spend with theirs.  Now that we live a few hours apart, we don’t see each other as often as we used to.  It makes me realize how much I took the abundance of time we spent together for granted.

I learned so much from my “Paw”, and now in my late twenties, I continue to learn from him today.  He is one of the wisest men I know, and even though he’s still around, I think I’ll probably keep learning from him long even after he’s gone.  In the meantime, I’m going to soak up as much as I can.

I realized how blessed I am to be so close to all of my family, including the grandparents on both sides of my family.  I hope you’re blessed to have, or have had, the same.  If not, and you still have the opportunity, I hope you don’t take it for granted.

It’s never too late to start.  Or continue.

And, you’re never too old to learn.

The definition of the word “muse” is: To think.

Add the letter “a”, creating “amuse,” and you get the opposite:  To not think.

So what does it really mean to be “amused“?

We have amusement parks, where you can go “not think” for a day, or two, or three.  Not so bad…unless…

Unless you live in what I like to call a “Constant State of Amusement.”

We live in a world filled with deception, constantly selling lies and misdirecting us from the stuff that really matters.  And we too often buy those lies, simply because we choose to turn off our minds and let the world do our thinking for us.  

Maybe the best goal you can set for 2012 is simply to learn to think for yourself.  If you don’t, there are plenty of media and entertainment executives that will gladly do that for you.

How about you?  What do you do to participate in activities that keep you from living your life only on Facebook, in front of a television, or behind a People magazine?  Do you or your family have any systems in place that encourage engaging activities that actually promote thinking?

I’m sure you have plenty of things you’d love to do this new year.  But what would you like to do less of in 2012? Maybe “being amused” should be on that list.

Because it’s way too easy to be deceived…

Have you ever had a verse from the Bible seem familiar because it seems like you’ve heard it a million times?

Yeah, me too.

Have you then ever read the full passage that contains that verse, and been totally convicted after realizing that the meaning is far deeper than you previously realized when you only heard the smaller portion?

Yeah, me too.

That happened to me recently. And I walked away with one single thought, “Man, I do NOT want to be a goat!!” And trust me, you don’t want to be a goat either! I wrote this post because I’m afraid there’s way too many people out there who might end up as one if they aren’t careful. A goat? Yes, hold that thought…

This is serious stuff…

The passage that hit me wasn’t just about goats, it was also about the poor.

It’s pretty clear that the Bible takes helping the poor very seriously, which obviously means that God takes helping the poor very seriously, which makes it kind of obvious why Jesus took helping the poor very seriously. In fact, it’s how He entered the world. He could’ve been born into a wealthy family of royals, but that isn’t what God chose. He chose a poor couple, from a small town, and ended up being born in a barn. Why? According to Luke, chapter 4, it was to “bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to the captives, give sight to the blind, and help those who are oppressed.” (Paraphrase.)

Maybe it’s just me, but it seems that if you “came to bring good news to the poor,” entering the earth as a poor person is a pretty good strategy. You don’t have to look very far these days to discover that poor people don’t like rich people very much, let alone have interest in listening to them.

So, Jesus was pretty serious about helping “the least of these.” And it turns out, He’s pretty serious about His expectations for us to help them as well. But you probably already know that, right? I mean, almost everyone has heard that phrase. “Whatever you do for the least of these, you do unto me.”

That’s pretty cool. I help and am nice to the poor, therefore I’m being nice to Jesus. Awesome. Until…

Until you read the entire passage, and realize that helping the poor isn’t just icing on your faith cake. Check this out…

Matthew 25: 31-46 (NIV):

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. ³²All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on his left.³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

⁴¹ “Then He will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴² For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

This isn’t just about being nice to Jesus. It’s about your eternity. I think that passage speaks for itself, doesn’t it? If not, read it again and let it sink in, and realize that your life depends on this. Probably not because being charitable is your ticket to heaven, but because God as your creator, wired you in a way that allows you to be humbled and changed by the perspective gained when walking with the poor and needy.

When you learn to love what He loves, He captures your heart. And when Jesus has your heart, everything changes…including your eternity.

Seriously, don’t be a goat. Do something.

If you aren’t taking Jesus’ call to help the poor as seriously as you should, maybe it’s time to get real. One of the best ways I know how is to partner with Food for the Hungry by sponsoring a child. They’re incredible at loving and helping the “least of these,” exactly how they can be loved and helped the most. And they’re doing it one child at a time, with a dollar a day. A dollar a day! Are you kidding me? Seriously, you can find a way to sacrifice a dollar a day, by giving up something that is far less valuable than both the life of a child, and your future. I’ve seen their work, and it’s life changing, for the kids, their families, and for you.

Click here to sponsor a child. Follow through. It’s time, don’t you think?

What is this Christmas about for you?  If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably the kind of person that has already heard that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” Like a thousand times.  Right?  Sounds cliche…but it’s true.  But you already know that, don’t you?  The problem isn’t that you don’t already know the truth, it’s that for most of us, our actions and lives don’t match up with what we know is true.  Alas…it is EASY to be deceived.  We get mis-directed every day…especially at Christmas time.

So what’s your mission this Christmas?

Will you focus on and celebrate the truth?

Or will you buy the lies?

Chances are, your family has already developed a focus for this season.  Want to know what that focus is?  Just ask yourself these two questions…  

1. How are you spending your time?
2. How do you spending your money?

The answer to those two questions determine not only what you value, but the current mission statement for your life this Christmas season.

Don’t buy the lies. Don’t be deceived. Re-discover the truth. And once you do, allow it to challenge you to a point of discomfort.  We’re probably all a little too comfortable, no matter how things seem.

Video| Advent Conspiracy :: Enter the Story :: 2011

Christmas isn’t Christmas without getting involved in the life of someone less fortunate.  There are hundreds of ways to get involved.  Here’s one of my favorites, that has lasting impact in ways that go far beyond what we can see, smell, taste, touch, or hear:  Sponsor a child through Food for the Hungry. Click here to get involved. It’ll change a child’s life. That’s pretty awesome. But it’ll also change your’s in the process.  Funny how that works, isn’t it?

Because it’s already December, (which I can’t believe btw…can you?), I’ve already begun to reflect over the past year.  I randomly asked myself, “Out of everything I’ve read this year, what was the book that challenged and impacted me the most?”  

Without a doubt, it was When Helping Hurts, by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.  The sub-title of the book is, “Alleviating Poverty without Hurting the Poor…and Ourselves“…hard to give it a better description than that…that’s exactly what I felt empowered to do after reading it.

We’ve partnered with a lot of non-profit organizations over the years through our different tours, and Kate and I have been very actively involved in caring for those living in poverty ever since our first trip together out of the country to a third-world country back in 2005. It was a recent trip to Haiti that a leader from Food for the Hungry, (our favorite organization in the world!), recommended I read When Helping Hurts.  Turns out, it’s often used as a sort of handbook in much of the work they do.

Not only did it expand my perspective, but it changed the way I see the world, and my role in it.  It challenged me, made me think, and inspired me to take a more effective approach to helping others in need. You need to read this book, because one of the greatest ways you and I are deceived, is how we’re misdirected into focusing on stuff that just doesn’t matter.  This matters.

Because I read the book while on our tour in Egypt last month, I didn’t have the time available to blog or share any thoughts along the way.  But I loved it so much, I’m currently re-reading it and digesting it even further this month, while on our Christmas tour.  I can’t think of a better season than Christmas to be challenged to help and serve the very people who Christ came serve and reveal himself to…the poor, the sick, the broken.

I can’t wait to share more thoughts with you as I go back through it. Why not join me?

Because if you care about the poor, you need to read this book.
And if you don’t care about the poor, you need to read this book.

Grab your copy asap. It will challenge and change you.  Seriously…it’s the best book I read this year.

Question: What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?  Maybe I’ll make it the first book I read next year…

[Can't see the embedded video? Click here to watch it.]

TOUR DATES
12/1/11 –  Owasso, OK
12/2/11 – Huffman, TX
12/3/11 – Rockwall, TX
12/4/11 – Needville, TX
12/7/11 – Rainsville, AL
12/8/11 – Barnwell, SC
12/9/11 – Bel Air, MD
12/10/11 – Essex Fells, NJ
12/11/11 – Waynesboro, PA
12/14/11 – Midland, MI
12/15/11 – Ludington, MI
12/16/11 – Muskegon, MI
12/17/11 – LeRoy, MN
12/18/11 – Waukee, IA
12/19/11 – Marshall, MO

Be sure to check out the Tour Schedule for tickets and more information!

At the beginning of November we found ourselves back on tour in Egypt. Like last year, we performed at an international arts festival in Beit El-Wadi, Egypt, just outside of Cairo.  Over 30,000 people of all ages and religious backgrounds fought their way into the 3-day event, not to mention the hundreds of thousands around the Middle East that could catch the event via television.  It was the biggest year yet for the 4-year-old festival and our shows alone saw over 6,500 people a day.  Thousands not only heard about Jesus, but gave their lives over to Him.

After the festival, several of the performers packed themselves and their gear into a small van and trekked 10 hours South to Upper Egypt. (For those who don’t know, it’s called that because the mighty Nile River actually flows North towards the Mediterranean Sea)  For the first time in the history of Assiut, the people got to experience the festival that they had watched on television live. Some 9,000 people packed into a 6,000 person venue vying for a glimpse of the table that could float. (Word travels quickly!) The response was beyond what anyone could have predicted, and despite our exhaustion, we watched hundreds ignore the prayer calls of Islam for the Biblical words of the God that created them. Watching that take place brought me to my knees in awe of God’s relentless love and beckoning to our souls.

On our last day, we drove back up to Cairo and went into the heart of Old Cairo to Cave Church.  Cave Church is the Coptic church’s epicenter for worship in Cairo. It sits in the middle of Garbage City where hundreds of thousands of people sort through trash, and there is a 12,000 seat amphitheater carved into the side of the mountain.  Dozens of Bible stories are carved into the side of the mountain alongside the amphitheater as a witness to the people who can see it. For the first time, the Coptic church got alongside the Evangelical church to tell people about Jesus. Not only that, but my husband and I were the first people ever in the history of the church to perform on the stage of the church. One Egyptian translator kept reminding us that we were, “a part of changing the future of Egypt”, that day.  “It’s Egypt’s day” was echoed by every Christian there.  Over 15,000 people flooded into the event, and 12,000 of them were a part of the two shows that we performed. Insanity doesn’t even describe what we experienced standing on that stage.

As I sat on the plane back to the States, I was hit with the overwhelming understanding of what has been taking place in Egypt and the magnitude of what we were a part of during our time. “Today is Egypt’s day.” The people are longing for something, anything, that can give them peace, and they are discovering that Jesus is that thing. To be a part of something that can reach literally hundreds of thousands in a matter of days brings perspective of God’s majesty. Seeing not only thousands stand at the feet of God for the first time, but hear about Him for the first time and to know that you had the opportunity to share it with them is beyond humbling. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the people of Egypt.

Note from Harris:

Do you believe in our ministry, and how God is using it in places like Asia, Africa, and throughout the Middle East?  If so, you’re among the few.  What we do is a little outside the box, and isn’t always embraced by everyone.  If you feel led to support this kind of missions work around the world, please consider partnering with us financially!  A lot of resources are sacrificed in order to make this kind of ministry a reality, and a constant need of additional funding exists.  You can support our international missions work by making a tax-deductible donation.  All of our time is donated for these trips and times of ministry, and we do not profit at all, so your support is needed and appreciated!  Simply mail your donation to:

Ministry Arts for Global Impact
PO Box 3547
Brentwood, TN 37024

Thank you!!

P.S. A highlight video of our trip is coming soon! Stay tuned! (Click here to watch our mini-documentary about our trip to Thailand in 2009.)

“Where can I get a copy of your show?”
“Why don’t you have a DVD?”
“Did someone record this? I REALLY wish my friend could have been here to experience it!”

Well, it’s finally happening.  I’ve purposefully waited for well over a decade, because I wanted to make sure the timing was perfect and that it could end up being everything I dreamed it could be.  But yes, I’m finally releasing a live show on dvd.  And trust me, it’s going to be absolutely amazing!

It’s going to be so much more than just a live show.  We’ve been filming for the past few months all over the place, including places like England and Scotland.  We took a trip to the U.K. a few months ago just to work on a section of this project.  We’re investing in it that much!  Why?  I truly believe it’s going to be an incredible resource for others, and has the potential to change lives.  And when a project has that kind of potential, why wouldn’t you give it everything you’ve got?

This is an amazing opportunity for you to be a huge part of this project!  On October 23rd, we’ll be filming a live show at the beautiful Paramount Theater in Anderson, IN!  It’s in the Indianapolis area, right outside of the city.  Not only would I love to see you there, we need to ensure that we have an absolutely PACKED house that night!  If you just can’t make it, the chances are, you know someone who lives in the area.

In fact, why not take a moment right now to send them information about the show and help us spread the word?  You don’t want them to find out about it after it’s over, see it later on TV or dvd, then discover that you knew about it all along, do you?  No need for anyone to regret not being there…let’s all spread the word and pack this place out.  It’s a unique opportunity for everyone to be involved in something that has the potential to be really, really special.

Plus, I’ll be risking my life that night attempting something for the first time that has never been attempted before.  Even Houdini himself refused to try it.  But I will…and I want you to be there to experience it being attempted for the first time. You can be a part of history!  Trust me, you do not want to miss this show!

Details are on the poster/image above, and you can CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT.  Once you have it reserved, you get the whole seat…but you’ll only need the edge!  ;-)