Jesse Joyner, PhD

Hello all. Thanks for checking out my meager blog. I have this week off from classes for Thanksgiving. But I still need to put in many reading hours (and volunteer hours at the Catholic Action Center). The CAC is for my mentored ministry class. It is a homeless ministry. I’m learning that the men and women we often walk by in disgust on the streets are actually very fun people to get to know. I like playing cards with many of them (particularly Rummy and Spades). On Thanksgiving, Sarah and I will be having a meal with some folks at our church, and we’re inviting a few of our homeless friends from the Catholic Action Center. Someone in our group told us that homeless people don’t want a meal as much as they want someone with whom to eat the meal. Ponder that…

I’m trying to learn Spanish from a friend of mine named Augustine. I’m getting a few words and verbs. I never took Spanish in school but that should definitely be a requirement for elementary school kids these days (go Dora!).

Last night, I got to juggle for an Upward Event at Burlington Baptist Church in Northern Kentucky. I pulled out the unicyle for the first time in a show. I had a blast in the show – especially when I pulled four coaches up for the human table. They thought they were volunteering their wives when they raised their hands. Then I told them to come forward. I stole that idea from a friend of mine named Roger Fields 🙂

Also, Shawn Hoke, an eighth-grade juggling student of mine, got to come along and be my assistant for the evening. He was a great help. I know that I was greatly inspired to perform juggling and use it as a ministry when I saw other performing jugglers who were ahead of me in life.

One more thing – Sarah and I are graduating in May 2007. We still do not know our post-graduation plans, and we are currently in the process of gathering options and praying for the Lord’s guidance. Please keep us in your prayers. Right now, I am applying to four PhD programs in Biblical Studies (Baylor, Marquette, Notre Dame, and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School). Sarah is interested in some sort of family counseling with her Counseling degree. We would also like to explore options of international missions (YWAM or a similar organization). Virginia is an attractive location for us, because that’s where most of our extended families live. Or, I may just become Jesse the Juggler full time around the year (I love my job). We’ll let you know. But for now, happy Thanksgiving.

-Jesse Joyner