FCM Atlanta Chapter Minutes for October 12, 2017 The October 12, 2017 meeting for the Atlanta Chapter of the FCM was held at the home of John and Julia Jefferson. Those in attendance were: John and Julia Jefferson; Leland Davis; Randy Burt; Judy Neyland; Ricky Henson; Lynn Fox; Mark Childers. We were so very blessed to have Mark's wife, Melissa come to our meeting. We felt like we already knew her from the wonderful stories Mark has told about his precious family. Also, we were delighted that Ricky brought his great nephew, Blake Bartlett, an aspiring magician. What a great evening with 2 very special guests!! We missed several of our members. Hopefully all will be able to attend our next meeting---JANUARY 12, 2018 as we will take a break for the busy holidays! Remember 6:30 p.m. (or sooner if you would like!), at the home of John and Julia Jefferson. Judy's desserts were the hit of the meal. We're so glad she likes to make sweet treats for us! Our meeting was great--so much sharing, so much caring as always!! The following is a summary of our meeting. Keep the "SON" Shining... John Jefferson MINUTES: Leland opened the meeting with prayer. John then reminded everyone of the magic auction on October 16 at the Punchline Comedy Club in Buckhead sponsored by the IBM ring of Sandy Springs. John then gave out copies of the trick Mike showed us last week Combination to the Pearly Gates. He demonstrated the way he would present it and said the patter is in the Voice by Del Wilson. It is a great gospel effect that can be written on a napkin or performed on a stage! What can you make from 17 Mardi Gras beads on a string? Well, a dog, of course that is if you are Randy Burt. Thanks, Randy for sharing. Children of all ages love to use their imagination with an adorable puppy! Randy then gave each of us a trick where a toothpick floats on a playing card! Thanks, Randy. Another great pocket trick! Bread, anyone? A couple of years ago John was trying to buy a box full of sponge bread at the FCM auction. He was going to buy it for Ricky and surprise him. Somehow John and Ricky wound up bidding against each other!! John "won" the bid to the tune of well, too much, and gave it to Ricky. What fun! Anyway, Ricky decided it was time to make a gospel trick using the "Bread of Life". Ricky asked someone to choose a number 1-7. He then counted the bread and discovered that she chose the piece of bread that had a picture of Jesus on it!! Great choice! He then proceeded to show the backs of all of the other pieces as they were all different. She could have chosen the 10 Commandments. It is very good to try to obey God's Law, but simple obedience to the law is not how we get to heaven. He turned over each piece in turn and explained that all of the options she could have chosen were great: giving money, attending church, etc. but were not enough on their own to be able to go to heaven with Jesus. A creative way to use a magician's choice and Keys to the Kingdom! Blake was next. He said he will bring his cards next time and share a trick with us. Thanks, Blake. We will look forward to it. Leland then quizzed us. We weren't very smart as it turns out! He asked us what God created during the 7 days of creation and the order in which he created them! Well, we all said light was the first thing but it was all down hill from there. Leland explained the order: light; firmament; land and vegetation; sun, moon, stars; birds and fish; animals and man! As God created these wonders, he spoke them into existence and said that they were good. Leland then asked us to think carefully and decide which day would there have been a sound made? We decided that the answer was probably when the birds were formed. Well, had we been listening carefully, we would have remembered that from the very first day "And God SAID"! Yes, on the very first day, there was sound. Then the mad scientist brought out a glass bowl with plastic wrap over it. He sprinkled sugar on it. Next came a giant metal bowl and a wooden spoon! Next, noise! The vibrations from the sound of the bowl hitting the metal bowl actually moved the grains of sugar!! Leland wasn't finished. He gave someone a metal spoon around which he had wrapped some string, enough to reach her ears. He instructed her to hold on to the string and put her fingers in her ears, then swing the spoon and gently hit the table. When she did, her face lit up and she said the sound was like a loud gong! Another great demonstration of sound!! We almost didn't get to finish sharing as everyone wanted to try it. Magical science is, indeed, fun. Next Mark, the masterful card magician, asked someone to take a card from a deck and tear it in half. Someone else tore the card again and again making 8 pieces. He then asked Leland to hold one of the pieces. Mark's message began with asking how many times we have asked God to help us. We are supposed to ask for help and be anxious for nothing. God wants us to cast all of our cares on Him. Mark said that we do ask God to help, but we usually have a difficult time waiting and trusting Him, to the point of trying to "fix" the problem ourselves. We hold back part of our problem and yet want all of the peace, joy, etc. that would come if we would surrender all of it to God. Mark then brought out a pretty gift box and produced money - representing all of the earthly things we feel we need. Even with so much that God gives us, we may still be missing something. Mark produces a card with one small piece missing. He asks Leland to complete the card with his small piece, it fits perfectly. The card is a perfect King of Hearts. When we totally and completely surrender our lives to God, He will make our lives whole and will provide all the desires of our heart. Thanks, for explaining how you performed such a great gospel effect, Mark! What a joy it is to have you as a part of our fellowship. Mark then showed us some basement bargains he obtained on super sales. One was a bouquet of spring flowers. Melissa said she would use different color flowers in her classroom to illustrate that all of us are different, but are perfect in God's eyes. Special teacher, special message. Judy did her magic in her kitchen. She made us an apple pie that fooled us. It was a delicious "Mock Apple Pie", with Blue Bell ice cream!!! Could we possibly have any more fun? John asked Leland to hold a jacket and asked Scott and Blake to check out two ropes. John then proceeded to put the ropes through the sleeves of the jacket. Leland put on the jacket. John tied another knot in the ropes to secure them. John asked the boys to hold on to the two ropes. John asked Leland to slowly move forward. He did so and the ropes "magically" melted through the coat and Leland was free!! Wow! John explained that it is the same principle as the cups on a rope effect he showed us a few months ago. What a great effect: neat, clean and very surprising! John used the effect in our Life After Fifties meeting, great response from the audience! The gospel message John used relates to Paul and Silas, in a Roman prison, who were singing about and praising their God. A great earthquake broke the chains of all of the prisoners and the guard was ready to take his own life. Paul stopped him, saying that all of the prisoners were still there. The guard realized that the God of Paul and Silas was the true savior. He asked Paul, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul replied: "Believe in the Lord Jesus,and you will be saved" you and your household. As a result of his belief, he and his family were baptized. What a wonderful miracle that our Lord performed. Let us be aware of the miracles God performs for us each and every day. The rest of the evening was spent in more sweet sharing and fellowship. We are always blessed to have such a wonderful group of Christians in our home. We are looking forward to next year. Safe travels, and wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas times are wished for all of us. Grace be to you, Julia