I just learned about a neat website that lets you listen to live streaming audio of your local emergency responders. Listen in by clicking on your local area at this website: http://www.scanamerica.us/index.php

Those are the dates of the bloody battle of Gettysburg. On Monday night, I had the privilege of sharing my juggling presentation at First United Methodist Church in Lancaster, PA. On the drive home Tuesday, I took a few hours to stop and look around in Gettysburg, which is only about an hour away from…

Here is one of my favorite lunches. It is quick, easy, simple, and healthy. The Red Pepper Avocado Sandwich. Ingredients (for two sandwiches):1. 1 Avocado2. 1/3 Red Pepper3. pinch of Celtic Sea Salt (to taste)4. 4 slices of Ezekiel bread (or any kind of sliced bread), toasted Make two sandwiches, using half an avocado (sliced),…

“God orders what we cannot do, that we may know what we ought to ask of him.” -Augustine of Hippo

If you’re familiar with the inside back-cover of Consumer Reports, then you know about their ongoing column of the humor and irony often found in a company’s attempt at advertising. For example, I saw a used car dealership ad the other day that boasted, “Brand Spanking Pre-Owned!” vehicles. Now, something about that phrase sounds out…

“The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible-and achieve it, generation after generation.” – Pearl Buck

A friend of mine and I are reading through Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion this year. I got the book (which is two volumes in one) from my Dad for Christmas. We get together on Wednesday mornings at Starbucks and discuss what we’ve been reading. It looked overwhelming at first, but we use a…

Here is a recipe for Chocolate-Chip cupcakes that is AMAZING. First of all, I used the Nestle-Tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe as my base, then I innovated from there. Secondly, there are NO BUTTER cupcakes – and they come out amazing. What do I use instead of butter? Not margarine….not shortening (yuk)….but I use apple…

I agreed to write a review for the brand new “Bible Study Magazine” in exchange for a copy of their inaugural issue. I’m not one for long reviews in prose form, so I will put what I see as pros and cons about the magazine in list format: PROS:1. The articles are both scholarly and…

Have you ever called a customer service number and had that 10-minute conversation with the computer-automated voice? She asks you to input numbers (followed by the “pound” sign, which you always mix up with the “star” key). She also asks you to clearly answer her questions with your audible voice. Have you ever kept hitting…

Today, Sarah and I enthusiastically voted – after standing in line for a mere hour and a half. I’m sure there are plenty of other people in this nation who waited much longer than that today. It was drizzling and a little cold, but it went by fast, especially since we had one another’s company.…

In an article from U.S. News and World Report, “children’s services” was on a short list of industries which are condusive to making millionaires out of those who run such industries (http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/small-business-entrepreneurs/2008/10/07/how-to-make-a-million.html). I work in a field called “children’s ministry,” where the goal is to reach kids with the message of God found in the…

The other night, Sarah came shrieking out of the kitchen, “There are two enormous cockroaches crawling around in the kitchen!” I, superhusband, went to the rescue, slightly aggravated that my wife had gotten so worked up about these two innocent creatures. They were long gone by the time I got to the kitchen, but we…

Announcing the release of the very first DVD from Jesse the Juggler! It is sensibly called “Live Show” and I just did my first run of 50 copies to see how this flies. If it goes over well, I’ll get more duplicated. For now, I’ll take it around with me to my juggling programs and…

Hurricanes are typical for the coasts, but rare is the one that reaches far inland with strength to really damage much. I was traveling from Sweetser, Indiana to Richmond, Virginia yesterday (about an 11-hour drive). Instead, the whole trip lasted about 15 hours due to Hurricane Ike’s trek through the upper midwest. I was low…

“Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together.

Last Saturday night, I had the pleasure of attending my 10-Year High School Reunion (Godwin High, Richmond, VA, Class of ’98). Not only did I attend, but I also got to be on the planning team for the event, which gave me a unique perspective on how High School Reunions are fabricated (or at least…

You probably know someone who is going through orientation for their first year of college right now. These fresh 18 year-olds are in for quite a ride, including the pressures of parties involving alcohol. In an effort to curb college binge drinking, there is a movement of around 100 college presidents (from institutions such as…

I surprised Sarah in two ways this past week. First of all, I won 2 golds and two silvers in the world joggling championships in Lexington, KY (I got in the local paper too). Joggling is the sport of running and juggling at the same time. I won a silver in the 5k (overall), a…

I’m teaching at a VBS in Salisbury, MD (near Ocean City, MD) this week and had a rare challenge on the first night – teaching 2-3 year olds. Now, I have most of my teaching experience with k-5th graders, with a little bit of experience with the preschool age. But my prior interaction with 2-3…

Hey folks, I am now merging my two blogs into one on this site. This simplifies my postings since the subject matter that I covered on both blogs had a good deal of crossover. By the way, there is an incredible free web tool called “Google Reader.” This thing is amazing. You can subscribe to…

Google has done it again – something very practical, widely-used, and free. This time it is a feature called “Street View” on Google Maps. Google has mapped out every street and block of certain cities in America with a rotating camera on top of a car. That means you can type in any address in…

Shot taken directly outside our fire escape (no pun intended) in our 12-unit apartment building – this scene sits by my friendly neighbor’s door.

This is a shameless plug for the best new conference of 2008 – the first annual Christian Juggling Conference. The Christian Juggler’s Association has been around since the mid-90’s and I believe that a conference has long been a desire of the leadership. Now, we get to see that desire come to fruition with this…

I just posted a couple of new videos on YouTube. They are the first two videos listed on the left bar of this blog page. I just met with a great buddy of mine this morning for some fellowship and accountability. Wow, I have missed brother-to-brother fellowship! I had some great brothers-in-Christ while in college,…

I found a very entertaining book at my friend’s house last night. It is a compilation of real-life grocery lists discovered at grocery stores across America. I guess this author found the lists himself and collected lists sent in by fans. Here is the website (www.grocerylists.org). This is a fascinating subject – the left behind…

Since I still have this web address, I’m going to keep this blog and write about slightly different topics than what I discuss on the “Great Idea Blog for Children’s Ministers“ So I’ll blog about things like what I’m studying currently in the Bible or just about anything else (humor, random thoughts, etc.). Here’s my…

Hey, thanks for coming. I have shifted all my web presence elsewhere to a new website and new blog. So head on over to www.jessethejuggler.com Have a great day! -Jesse

Samuel diesPeople mournDavid movesTo MaonNabal’s meanGot lots of foodAbby’s niceAnd in a good moodDavid sendsTen men to NabalThey ask for foodInstead get shoed David hearsOf this let-downSharpens his swordTo kill this clownAbby hurriesTo gather foodBefore Dave killsAny of Nabal’s dudesAbby fallsAt David’s feetAnd pleads for peacePleads for peace David putsHis sword downAbby’s courageDeserves a crownNabal…

Sarah and I are enjoying some down time in West Palm Beach right now. I’m juggling at 2 churches while on this trip, but most of our time is spent hanging out in the area. Our primary purpose for coming down was to let Sarah shadow a counselor at a place here in town called…

Hey folks, I just finished an August tour that took me from Indiana to Ohio to Missouri to Pennsylvania. I got to minister at a Wesleyan church, an Assemblies of God church, a Baptist church, a Missionary church, and two Salvation Army venues. By the way, the Salvation Army is a church – they are…

The Parable of Joy: Reflections on the Wisdom of the Book of John by Michael Card I have not yet finished this fine book, but I love it enough to share it as a strong recommendation. I am actually using this as a daily reading in the mornings. Michael Card, the prolific and poetic singer/songwriter,…

Storytelling is an art form. And some of the greatest storytellers are the ones who do it naturally, without trying to be an artist at it. This especially includes people from the great generation who were born before World War 2. I spent last evening having dinner with three people from this generation. I believe…

I write to you from Fort Wayne, Indiana. I am currently at First Missionary Church near the campus of Taylor University Fort Wayne (go Trojans!). I don’t have time to share all my fun experiences at camps and churches this past summer. But I will chronicle the locations in case you care where I was…

Book Review: Total Abandon by Gary Witherall and Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse This is the gripping story of a modern-day martyred Christian missionary. The martyr is Bonnie Witherall and her widowed husband Gary (who has since remarried) tells the story from his perspective. The book tracks the life of this young Christian couple from when they…

I just got back from a great summer camp in Lake Placid, FL. I had the priviledge of sharing the gospel through juggling for a group of kids from various Nazarene churches from central Florida (Tampa, Orlando, and between). God really moved on Thursday night when we put forth an invitation for the kids to…

"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced byfaith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope inour Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess 1:3, NIV). People always ask me, "How did you get into juggling?" I tell them that afriend taught me in middle school. I learned how to…

In all my years of serving in children’s ministry, I feel that I have just stumbled over something that I have missed for so long – the importance of genuinely connecting with the kids. I have tended to think sometimes that a dynamic children’s ministry should be focused on having creative and impressive object lessons…

So my wife and I just discovered Facebook, the connectivity engine for plenty of humans between the ages of 15 and 35. It started as something exclusively for colleges and universities, thus leaving out a large portion of the population. Now, it is open to the public, and it is way cool. It is very…

My brother, BJ, theorizes that during the days of Westward expansion andsettlement in America, the most ambitious people made it all the way tothe West Coast. Then they had to stop because they couldn’t go anyfarther. The result is that you have “established” people on the EastCoast, “the give-ups” in the Midwest, and the crazy…

My childhood athletic hero is Cal Ripken, Jr. I had the privilege of going to Baltimore as a child and watching him play many times. Today, he and Tony Gwynn were elected into the Hall of Fame, baseball’s most distinguished honor. Whereas baseball has gone through strikes and steroid abuse, Ripken and Gwynn have been…

Things to do in 2007 (one per month): 1. Make a new juggling video (January)2. Attend the Marriage Retreat with my wife (February)3. Stand in Michael Kaspar’s wedding (March)4. Celebrate my wife’s birthday (April)5. Graduate from seminary (May)6. Attend Ichthus Music Festival with family in town (June)7. Go to the 49th annual International Juggler’s Association…

I have recently been grappling with the whole Calvinist-Wesleyan debate recently. I have read a great deal of John Wesley’s original works this semester. He is a great preacher. But some of the key points of his theology fly in the face of Reformed/Calvinistic doctrine (to which I feel attracted in my heart/spirit). I grew…

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…

I don’t know what our name will be (The Thoroughbread Jugglers? Wildcat Jugglers? The Garbanzo Brothers?), but I’m trying to shuffle together this club with some cool local jugglers I’ve found through different means (internet, bumping into on the street, my school, etc.). Juggling clubs are so cool because you make immediate friends with everybody…

I have attended school every Fall since I was 4 years old. I am now 25, and I am used to this ritual of strapping up the backpack, kissing someone (it was my Mom, now it’s my wife), grabbing a banana if I can, and rushing off to school. Thankfully, Sarah and I live so…

I’m embarking on a brief tour through Indiana and Illinois over the next few weeks. This will be exciting because I will pass through my old college stomping grounds. I have the opportunity to begin this trip at the Illinois State Fair with the Child Evangelism Fellowship tent (Aug 14-15). Through the medium of juggling…

Before I tell you about my trip this past week, I’ll tell you about this picture. This is my first attempt (after a practice run) at the armor of God with balloon animals! The kid is holding the shield of faith sideways, but I must admit that the shield came together much better than I…

My wife, Sarah, is working out of state right now – for a two month period. We have just passed the one month mark and there is still another month of distance for Sarah and I. I just want the world to know that I miss her. I really respect couples who do this for…

I want to introduce you to a tremendous friend of mine named Michael Kaspar. His blog is unsafeobedience.com or you can try (www.kaspar.typepad.com). This man taught me how to persist even when you do not feel like moving ahead. He is one of those dynamic people who will always lift you up when you chat…

Jim and Guy are two individuals in this world who imagined the unimaginable – and we all must thank them for being role models in the field of creativity. I am talking about Jim Henson, founder of “The Muppets” and Guy Laliberte, founder of “Cirque du Solei.” Just peruse the portfolios of these two guys…

I have been known to say that the younger you are, the faster you can learn how to juggle. While that may be true for some, I think I was proved wrong today. I held some lessons for some really young kids in the morning (some were probably four or five) and then some lessons…

I was chatting with some other jugglers the other day and one of them told me about a college class (in Florida, I believe). This was a Psychology class for college students. Apparently, for the final exam, the professor will grant an “A” for the exam only if the student can hold a juggle of…

Lots of people have been asking me, “Where’s Sarah?” That’s my wife if you do not know. I have to say, “She’s working in Kansas City.” And then I proceed to tell them why she works so far away, the duration of her stay, and if I’m going to see her soon. We at least…

One crazy event that has occurred recently is the misidentification of two young women involved in the fatal Taylor University van crash back on April 26th. In that accident, 5 people died, and several more were injured. It turns out that one of the injured (Whitney Cerak) and one of the dead (Laura VanRyn) looked…

I just published my new website (www.jessethejuggler.com). I would like some feedback from those of you who know me (and even if you do not). This page used to be where I sent people, but it seemed unofficial because it had the long “.blogspot” in the name. So now I will make this page daily…

859-825-8333 Kids speak the language of colors, symbols, and fun. That’s what juggling is all about! Here is a fun family-friendly event that will bring the message of Jesus through the enticing sport of juggling. Come and enjoy… • audience participation • juggling balls, rings, clubs, and DANGEROUS objects • illusions, balancing, spinning, and other…

I have the blessed opportunity to preach this weekend at my church. The pastor asked me and I was both humbled and honored. But most importantly, I feel slightly nervous with the task of preaching God’s Word to God’s people. The irony is that I push the importance of children’s ministry so much, but don’t…

Like I promised, there will be some juggling information on here. If you have never juggled before, then stop depriving yourself of this great hobby. Some people call it art. Some people call it sport. I call it both (that’s good seminary exegetical logic for you). Juggling does many things – it relaxes the brain…

There must be a greater reason than just literary structure and clarity as to why more copies of the Bible have been purchased and published around the world in plenty of languages.I must quote a book I have been reading for class recently. It is called The Mystery of God’s Word by Raniero Cantalamessa. The…