And because I am prepping to preach about spiritual self-improvement, I thought I’d share my physical self-improvement experience with others, and use it as a jumping off point to talk about what it takes to overcome barriers that may be preventing you from finding meaning in your life and fulfilling that meaning.

But I’ve said enough. Here’s the video from this morning:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VF_b96mT8M

So what do you think? How do you feel about exercise? How does that connect with spiritual health?

Below are a few of his effects, as performed by me…

Panic:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxbkHCFI0Nw

Booya:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_OcFo-kiDc

The effect behind “Booya”, the One-Handed Popover:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj8l_8TOupI

And, finally, Secret Weapon:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEE4lNNczp4

Check out Aaron Fisher’s website, AaronFisherMagic.com.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxbkHCFI0Nw

This is one of those effects that feels magical even to the one who is performing it, and of everything I know how to do, this gets the best reactions. It was created by Aaron Fisher, a magician who has the additional talent of being able to think out loud in structured ways about the theory and psychology. My kind of magician. And thinker.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kLwUqb2l48

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1epCKxxMR8

And an oldie from a few months ago…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dEOLBVgWPo

In many ways, I find coin magic to be the purest form of the art.

This was presented to the whole school after chapel on the Friday before Thanksgiving.

Um, well. Anyway, here’s a little video about what I got for my birthday:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXAVBtkl2h0

Fooling around with a coin (or two), in celebration of my 39th birthday, today.

Music is “Return”, as performed by the most awesomest of bands, “With Eyes Like Ours”. (Dudes, move to Austin with me if you actually want to make it in the music biz!)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qanBKpQtgX8

The classic floating bill levitation trick, with my second son, Tommy, as assistant.

(Music is the TV Edit of “Tank!”, a.k.a. the theme to Cowboy Bebop, by the Seatbelts.)

But I couldn’t resist. The things are just too darn fun to play with! So I cranked up some Chili Peppers and put on a show. Enjoy:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PnyLcziIJM

In other news, I am working on a formal “Why the General Church Needs to Plant New Churches in New Places” argument. I’m writing it as a paper, but will also be putting together a power point presentation, and maybe a video. As I work this out, I may try just blithering ideas on video here at MacFrazier.com, as a way of getting my thoughts strait. I would love to have your feedback as I do so. So stay tuned….

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGmGxLzjVLc

This is my presentation of the classic, “Triumph”, under the title, “The Obnoxious Kid”. Now, I actually love kids, and NONE of the kids I teach are actually “obnoxious”. My students are AWESOME! But it makes for a better story, this way.

The song in the background, by the way, is “Kilimanjaro” by the band, Township Bamboo, from their 1993 album, Journal of Dreams. (THAT will bring back some memories for some folks!)

And now here is “Pulling a Card Through the Deck, Two Ways”:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcKLUtAsRls

A simple Card Through Deck effect, with some Tom Waits (“Russian Dance”) in the background.

Have a magical day!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CBhRfoAHs0

Originally, I was just working on my pass (which is much better than it used to be, thankfully), but then I started fooling around with some other stuff, including a still-in-progress sketch of an ACR, I’m calling the “Obnoxious Card”. Also included are a spin change, and a coin through card effect.