My Favorite Remembering Jar: Jesus in me
The Object Lesson "Jesus in Me" Tells what a person is like before they get saved
and how Jesus changes their life once they get saved, from Apple Sauce Kids.

    Fore instance, if you wanted to tell the story of Noah. You might use a large clear jar, like an old peanut butter jar, that has some water in it, some toy animals, a small stick of wood to represent the Ark (maybe a Popsicle stick), some toy people, a toy rainbow, and so on. You want to stack each thing in the jar so that you can easily take them out of the jar in the correct order. As you take each piece out of the jar, you tell how that piece reminds you of the story of Noah. Think of it as a kind of show and tell.

Introduction:
     Concerning the trick that I am about to teach you: PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PEOPLE (CHILDREN or ADULTS) THAT YOU SHOW THIS TRICK TO WILL WANT TO KNOW HOW THE TRICK IS DONE. IT IS A SECRET THAT IS ONLY TO BE SHARED WITH OTHER TEACHERS! IF YOU TELL EVERYONE HOW THE TRICK IS DONE, THEN EVERYONE WILL KNOW ITS SECRET, AND THE TRICK WILL NOT BE AS POWERFUL. I AM SHARING THIS WITH YOU IN THE UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU WILL HANDLE THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS TRICK IN AN ADULT MANNER, AND NOT TELL HOW IT IS DONE TO EVERYONE YOU SEE. REMEMBER, THAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO TEACH USING THIS TRICK TOO!

     My favorite Remembering Jar, reminds me of Jesus in me. To tell about Jesus and what He means to me, you need a jar that tells at least a little about Him. When God gave me this object lessen, He used an old wooden magician's trick called a "Ball and Vase," it really is perfect for this lessen. You might be able to save some money if you make one. I will tell you how to make a wood jar, and where to buy a "Ball and Vase", in a few minutes.

TELLING THE STORY: Jesus in me
(You might start by taking a few old things out of a box and talking about what they mean to you and what you remember about them. Then take the (Ball and Vase) Remembering Jar out of the box.)
    (Then, I'll start to talk in a soft voice.) Do all of you know what this is? This is my Remembering Jar. Yeah, This is my favorite Remembering Jar. Do you know why? . . . Because this Remembering Jar tells the story of Jesus in me. This Remembering Jar tells me how much Jesus loves me, and how much he cares for me and for you. It tells me that wherever I am He is right there with me, to help me, protect me, keep me, and you. See, the outside of the Jar (mine is smooth and shiny) is smooth and shiny wood. Well, Jesus died on the wooden cross for you and me. He didn't have to do that, but He wanted to give us a better life both here and in heaven. The cross that He was nailed to was not smooth and nice like this wood jar. His cross was rough, and had lots of splinters. You see, He took the bad so we could have the good. He took our sins and nailed them to the cross so we could be forgiven. And look at this, (Take both tops off of the jar, together), there is a red ball in here. (Take the red ball out so everyone can see the ball and the inside of the jar) This red ball reminds me of the blood that He shed for you and me on that old wooden cross. And see the ball, see how it fits perfectly into the jar. The ball is round, and the jar is round inside, so that only this ball can fit in the jar. You can't put anything that is square in the jar, because the jar is round inside. That is just like Jesus in me, nothing fills my life nothing makes me complete like having Jesus in me. You see, before I got saved, I acted like the devil. I never felt right. I always felt like something was missing in my life. The devil and all of the things he wanted me to do never made me feel complete. Kind of like trying to put a square block in this round jar. And look at how the jar stands up straight and tall, now that I have Jesus in me I am proud and feel good about myself because Jesus is in me. He helps me and gives me wisdom, health and strength and keeps me company. With Jesus in me I shine just like the outside of this Jar. Do you feel like something is missing in your life?

(-The next illusion can only be done if you are using a magicians' style "Ball and Vase"-)

     There are some people that think that Jesus would never love them. They think that they have done things that are so bad that Jesus could never visit, or help, or forgive them. Kind of like if I take this ball and hid it. (Take the ball and hold it up for everyone to see clearly, then put the ball in your pocket or hid it so everyone sees you hid it. Show everyone that your hand is empty.) What they do not understand is that Jesus will never leave or reject them, NEVER! But people do reject Jesus when they sin. They move away from Him. (Put the top, back on the Jar, wait a second, and remove the outer top. Leave the inner top on the Jar. This looks like the ball had returned from it's hiding place to the Jar.) What everyone needs to understand is that Jesus wants to be an active part of your life. Even when you do not see Him, He is right there with you. You can try too hid from Jesus, but you never can. He is everywhere. (Put the outer top, back on top of the inner top, which is already on the Jar. Wait a seconds, and pick up both the outer and inner top at the same time, together. Then show the Remembering Jar empty.) Jesus is not a bully. He will never push Himself on you. He will only help you, and be an active part of your life if you invite Him into your life. (Get the ball from it's hiding place, and show it to everyone.) This ball will never go into this vase unless you take the time, and make the effort to put the ball in the vase. The same thing is true of Jesus, unless you take the time and make the effort to invite Jesus into your life, Jesus will never force Himself on you. You have to want Him in your life and in your heart.

- - End of the illusion - -

Do you feel like something is missing in your life? Maybe you need Jesus in you like I have Jesus in me. Why don't you pray with me now? (Then I pray with them.)

- - End of Skit - -

Special information you will need to make or buy a Ball and Vase:
1. Because some people may prefer to do this skit with a Jar (Vase) that has a
     rough outside, I have instructions for home making the Jar with either
     a rough outside, or a smooth outside.
2. When you use the Jar with the rough outside you will have to change some of the things
    that you say in the above skit.
3. The homemade "Ball and Vases" do not have an inner lid (top) like the magicians'
     style "Ball and Vases." It would require some special wood
    working equipment to make this inner lid, and quite a bit of wood working skill.
4. Also keep in mind that all things made of wood swell and shrink with the amount of
     moisture in the air. While you would like both lids (tops) to fit on
     the vase perfectly, you do not want it to fit so perfectly that on a
     rainy or damp day it sticks so tightly that you can't get it apart.
     The answer is that you should practice with your "Ball and Vase."
     If the parts stick together, you should take some sand paper and sand
     the sticking parts where they are sticking together to loosen the fit.
     You should sand them in places that do not show or damage the finish.

     The Ball and Vase sets that we sell are a new and improved version that should not have that problem. OBVIOUSLY, if there is a problem with anything I sell you, you can send it back for a refund or replacement.

Buying a magician's style "Ball and Vase"
     There are several styles and sizes of Ball and Vases available at magic shops. They vary in price from very cheap to WOW!!

Making a Remembering Jar for the story: Jesus in me
    ROUGH OUTSIDE - Starts with a 6" to 7" long piece of 4"x 4" fence post. The size is not critical, so if yours is bigger or a little smaller it should not be a problem. Cut one end off so it is square and flat, this is the bottom. The other end, which is still rough, is the top. You could ask around to see if you could find someone in church, or maybe a neighbor that was going to install a fence or a deck. Ask them if you could have a piece of their left over scraps from a post. A sawmill or lumberyard may have a small piece of scrap post that they might give you. Next, you need to find a ball, red if possible. Sometimes you can find small (1.5" to 3"dia.) red rubber balls in discount stores. Divide the diameter of the ball by two and then add 1/2 inch.
Example: 3'' Dia. ball / 2 = 1-1/2" + 1/2"= 2"
     Measure this distance from the top end of the piece of wood, down the side. Cut the top end of the 4" x 4" piece of wood off at this mark. This makes the vase and the top. Using a router, cut out the center of the touching faces of the vase and the top so that the ball fits equally in both pieces. Because this Ball and Vase does not have an inner top (lid) like the magicians' style Ball and Vase, you will not be able to do all of the skit that is shown above. You would have to be a very experienced wood worker to make the inner lid that the magicians' style Ball and Vase has.
SMOOTH OUTSIDE - Is done the same way as the rough outside vase only it requires that you sand and finish the outside of the vase and top.