Author: Jesse

It’s How You Finish – Peter Sagan Wins 2015 UCI Gold

September 29, 2015

This past Sunday, I witnessed an incredible feat that proved the old mantra, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.” My hometown of Richmond, Virginia, just hosted the UCI World Championships. The “UCI Worlds” are the annual global competition of the best road cyclists in the world. These are the cyclists who race…
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One Body, Many Parts

September 12, 2015

When I spoke at Camp Dixie last weekend, I was given the theme “Submerge,” which was focused on God’s deep love for us. As I was pondering some topics to go along with that, I learned a little bit about the creatures of the deep ocean. By the way, scientists say that we know more…
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Expect the Unexpected

July 30, 2015

I tried a new trick at Highland Lakes Camp near Austin, TX this week. I did an illustration where I tried to explain how we are weak by ourselves but when Christ is in us, we are strong (because it is no longer us, but Christ who lives in us – Galatians 2:20). I finished…
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Library Shows This Week in Richmond, VA

July 5, 2015

Here’s the schedule for my library shows this week in the Richmond, VA area (they’re actually in some of the surrounding counties around Richmond). These are all part of the Pamunkey Regional Library System. Click on the picture on the right for the library system’s website. Monday – Mechanicsville Branch (11am) and Atlee Branch…
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5 Fun and Easy Summer Camp Games

July 2, 2015

Millions of kids across the country are participating in some sort of summer camp experience this summer. Camp is such a meaningful time for kids because of the memories they make, the friends they meet, and the fun they have. Since I travel to many camps each summer, I get to see a lot of…
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Behind the Back Whip Catch with the Chinese Yo Yo

July 2, 2015

The kids and the shepards enjoyed having Jesse as our camp pastor again this year!! Posted by Sara Hangtagool on Friday, June 12, 2015
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Welcome the Little Children

June 30, 2015

Join me in New Albany, MS today and tomorrow for a fun early elementary day camp. Jesus welcomed the little children. Let’s do the same and tell them of the greatness of God and His love! The camp is from 3pm to 7pm today and tomorrow at Hillcrest Baptist Church in New Albany, MS. Click…
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Not Your Ordinary Vacation Bible School

June 23, 2015

Starting tomorrow, I get to share at the “Not Your Ordinary VBS” at the First United Methodist Church in Monroe, LA. My family is able to join me for this trip as well! Please come if you’re anywhere near central Louisiana. Programs are in the evenings for the next few nights and start at 6:30pm.…
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We Were Made for God

June 18, 2015

Sorry, we weren’t made for ourselves. God made us so that we can glorify Him (Isaiah 60:21). Got to share a little Westminster Catechism with over a thousand preteens this morning. That stuff was written for kids originally.
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Powhatan Fair

June 2, 2015

Want to know more about the Powhatan Fair in Virginia? Read all about it here: www.powhatanfair.org
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What I Really Love To Do

May 31, 2015

It may look like I love to juggle – which I do. But there is something about my job in life that I love even more – teaching kids about God and the Bible. Every summer, I have the privilege of speaking at camps and churches across the country as the “camp pastor” or the Vacation…
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Father Abraham for Today’s Kids

May 1, 2015

I was just sent this simple yet well produced lyric video of the old kid’s worship song Father Abraham. Kids today love lots of movement, color, and energy. That’s what you get in this video. They put a unique twist on the lyrics about moving your limbs without losing complete resemblance to the original, which…
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KidMin Nation Podcast – Worship Response Stations

April 29, 2015

I had the priviledge of being interviewed by my friend Keith Coast for his podcast about Kid’s Ministry (called KidMin Nation with Keith Coast). Here’s the link to the episode, enjoy! http://api.siteamp.com/podcast?key=0$n5Qp7DnXajc
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First Baptist Church of Woodbridge Show

April 21, 2015

A few weeks ago, I got to share my show with First Baptist Church in Woodbridge, VA. It was a cold Saturday in early Spring but over a thousand people still showed up! I did two shows – one in the large sanctuary before the egg hunt and a second in a small cafe-like setting…
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A Great Mother-Daughter Event Idea

March 25, 2015

We’ve all heard of the father-daughter dances, the mother-son camping trips, and the father-son fishing outings. But what about events for the moms and daughters? I was invited to perform at one this past Sunday and I’d like to share the idea with you. It comes from my friend Alan Phillips over at Richmond Community…
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The Power of Mister Rogers’ Shoes

March 19, 2015

I am a child of the 80’s, which means I grew up watching Sesame Street and Mister Rogers. Now I have a four year-old daughter and she is now requesting to watch Mister Rogers episodes ever since I showed one to her on YouTube. She watches Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, which is the modern day iteration…
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How to Find a Good Upward Sports™ Entertainer

March 2, 2015

If you are an Upward Sports™ league director, then you have probably run into the tough decision of finding a good speaker or entertainer for your closing ceremony. There are many very effective, talented, and Gospel-focused speakers out there. But there are also some entertainers floating around that are just not the right fit for…
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Object Lessons and Props are Biblical

February 28, 2015

I use a lot of props, tricks, and audience participation to teach kids about the Bible. Sometimes I wonder if I am just getting a kick out of doing fun things and somehow blurring the real message that needs to be taught. That fear can potentially lead me to want to ditch props altogether with…
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Where Do Kids Belong in Church?

February 25, 2015

I am fascinated by the variety of ways that churches integrate or segregate age groups for worship gatherings (the former is also known as “inter-generational worship”). Is there a right way or a wrong way to format this as a church? Do some churches have a better handle on how children and adults worship together…
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Quality Juggling Props

February 3, 2015

Just want to give a shout out to one of my favorite juggling supply companies: Higgins Brothers. I have worked with them for several years and they are great folks who will help you out with quality products at good prices. Check them out and have a great day!
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Children’s Pastors are Bible Translators

February 3, 2015

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the people of organizations like Wycliffe or New Tribes Mission who spend decades with an indigenous group of people. learn their culture and language, and then translate the Bible into that language. I believe that those who teach the Bible to kids (in any language…
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Fire and Ice Festival in Somerset, PA

January 19, 2015

Somerset, PA hosts an annual winter festival that features ice sculptures, fire pits, food trucks, family entertainment, a craft fair, and scores of historic main street shops open for business. This was my second year coming to entertain at the First Christian Church. This year I brought my family and we had a wonderful time.…
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WinterBlast 2015 at Camp Orchard Hill!

January 14, 2015

I can’t wait for WinterBlast coming up in a few weeks. There are still a few spots for the Elementary weekend (grades 2-6) on Jan 30-Feb 1.
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Vacuum Balance

January 14, 2015

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Remembering the Sabbath

January 14, 2015

Last week was a very busy week. There was office work, family obligations, booking events, and the ongoing process of fixing up our old house. And right now we are fixing up the kitchen! It will be great when it is done, but the process can seem long and laborious. So I try to find…
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Who Wants to Be a Volunteer?

January 7, 2015

When you ask that question to a group of adults, the crickets start chirping and everyone in the audience tries especially hard not to make eye contact with the person asking the question. Ask that same question to a group of children and just about every hand shoots up immediately. That’s one reason why I…
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Winter Fusion 2014

December 30, 2014

Last night was the kickoff for Winter Fusion, a retreat for youth from churches in Virginia. I got to perform my unicycle routine as a little teaser for the full show tonight. It’s been a lot of fun so far interacting with these young people and meeting their leaders as well. The fun thing for…
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Bob Bramson – The Great Hoop Juggler

December 16, 2014

I love juggling rings. So it is inspiring to watch one of the greatest large ring (hoops) jugglers of all time. His name is Bob Bramson. Check him out in this video from 1993. It starts off a little slow, but he gets going as the video continues. I love the five hoop juggle down…
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Socioeconomic Diversity in the Christmas Story

December 16, 2014

There are two primary nativity narratives in the Gospels – the Matthew version and the Luke version. Have you ever noticed that Matthew talks about the Magi (but not the shepherds) and Luke talks about the shepherds (but not the Magi)? Matthew was writing to a mostly Jewish audience while Luke was writing with Gentiles…
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A Psalm for Thanksgiving

November 27, 2014

Psalm 100 (ESV) Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with…
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The Power of Juggling

November 17, 2014

In my most recent newsletter (which you can access here), I told the story of how I had done a show for a high school where just days before I came one student stabbed another in the middle of class. A parent sent me a message after my show thanking me for bringing a little…
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Juggling Chainsaws

October 29, 2014

Here is a short video of me juggling chainsaws at an event. I got some grass stuck in one of the chainsaws at first, so I had to dislodge it while everyone waited. Then I got it out and juggled the chainsaws. Yes, they are sharp and running. They are Makita battery operated chainsaws with a…
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Another Bootleg Video

October 29, 2014

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Creativity is Closer Than You Think!

October 22, 2014

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of speaking and juggling at “Junior Jam” at Cedarville University. There were about 1,000 elementary-aged kids and all of their adult chaperones. It was a lot of fun. But one of my favorite parts was teaching a workshop to the adults about creativity. We started with Scripture: how…
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“What’s in the Bible?” Curriculum Review

October 15, 2014

I am somewhat of a bibliophile (one who loves books). And more particularly, I love to learn about and study the book of all books – the Bible. I guess that would be a more accurate use of the term “Biblio”-phile. So it is with excitement and anticipation that I share with you a new…
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The Power of a Family Camp

October 6, 2014

I recently spoke at a Family Camp at Camp Dixie in North Carolina. The idea is simple: create a camp experience that involves the whole family. Most camps offer programs for age-specific groups, particularly children’s and youth camps. But Family Camp is where all the members of the family come to camp together and enjoy…
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The Best Teachers are Lifelong Learners

September 30, 2014

So I’m taking a PhD course called Adult Learning Foundations. We’re reading authors such as John Dewey, Paulo Freire, Sharan Merriam, Malcolm Knowles, and David Kolb (as well as stuff about Mezirow’s Transformative Learning). One of the overall themes I’m getting from the content is that the idea of lifelong learning and continuing education (not…
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Bright Ideas You Can Use This Sunday

September 26, 2014

I’m happy to announce a new book to which I contributed. It is a collection of practical creative ministry ideas that you can use in your Sunday School, Children’s Church, camp, youth group, or other ministry setting with kids. The book categorizes the ideas so that you can find a quick and easy idea whether…
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A Bible Study Format for Adults

September 12, 2014

I am immersed in the world of Children’s Ministry, but sometimes I am reminded that there are adults in the world. A few weeks ago, I was asked to lead some breakout workshops for adults at a family camp. I will admit that I was a little nervous because I am more “at home” in…
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Presenting the Gospel to Children by Matt Rucker

September 12, 2014

This presentation of the Gospel comes from a friend of mine named Matt Rucker. Everything below is from him. I cut out a few of the diagrams (and their instructions) because they did not translate between his format and my format. But the core content is all here….. Gospel Message for Children *Before you present,…
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Praying for Missionaries

September 2, 2014

Another one of our worship response stations at camp a few weeks ago was a station where kids could pray for world missions and the missionaries scattered around the globe. This was a very simple station – we simply hung up a large world map on the wall – at the eye level of kids.…
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Prayer Counseling in Children’s Ministry

August 28, 2014

In a previous post, I explained the idea of worship response stations and their use in ministry to children. I am going to unpack each station in a series of posts, starting with the prayer station. The Bible teaches us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17), so I believe prayer is essential to Children’s…
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How to Memorize Scripture

August 12, 2014

I personally learn how to memorize things better when I associate the thing I want to memorize with something else that is unique and/or familiar to me. For example, if someone tells me their name is John (a very common name), I might quickly imagine that person dressed up as John the Baptist baptizing Jesus…
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Juggling Down a Zipline

August 8, 2014

Video evidence of my adventure juggling rocks while flying down a zipline! According to the laws of physics, the balls are flying forward WITH me as I toss and catch them. I don’t have to compensate for my forward motion. I simply juggle as if I was standing still in place. It’s actually quite amazing…
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Worship Response Stations

August 7, 2014

I recently returned from Pine Creek Camp in Gore, VA. I was the camp pastor for two weeks with several hundred preteen kids and their chaperones from Assembly of God churches around Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, D.C., and West Virginia. I speak at many camps each summer, but this one stuck out because of the format…
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Back to School Party

July 29, 2014

Looking forward to the Back to School Party in Bakersfield this weekend. Then the Kids Explosion event is on Sunday and Monday nights! Check out this video: http://vimeo.com/100754506
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Juggling for Palestinian Children

July 20, 2014

It was the middle of October, 2000. I was studying abroad for the semester. One morning, a local pastor picked me up at my school in Jerusalem and started the short five-mile journey towards the West Bank, one of the two Palestinian Territories. He had heard that I was a juggler and wanted to have…
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Whatever is Excellent or Praiseworthy

June 21, 2014

Paul finishes out his list of “virtues of the mind” with “if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things….” (Phil 4:8). Excellence is something we as Christians often put to the side. We figure that we are children of God, so anything we produce is going to be just fine without the same…
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Whatever is Admirable

June 11, 2014

The sixth virtue in Paul’s Philippians 4:8 list is “whatever is admirable.” When we say that we “admire” something, we are speaking of it as something we aspire to, something we want to be like, and something that is worthy of respect and honor. When we fill our minds with things that are admirable, our…
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Whatever is Lovely

June 10, 2014

God is love (1 John 4:8,16). So anything that is of God is lovely. And all things lovely are of God. This includes, but is not limited to, the love we share between one another in various relationships such as friends and family. In fact, all people are God’s creation and we are called to…
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Whatever is Pure

June 5, 2014

When Paul tells us to think about pure things (Phil 4:8), I believe he is talking about keep our thoughts free from clutter, dirt, garbage, and sin. Purity is about cleanliness. When we take a shower, we are cleaning off the dirt and starting fresh with a pure body. So also our thoughts become darkened…
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Whatever is Right

June 3, 2014

Paul tells us to think about things that are right (Phil 4:8). What is right? There is right and there is wrong. As Christians, we believe in a divine Creator who is also the moral standard for the universe. Without a moral standard, how can we know right and wrong in the first place? Does…
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Why Children Matter – Even in the Summer!

May 30, 2014

I got a phone call this morning from an old friend who currently volunteers with the 3rd and 4th graders at his church. He said that kids often get forgotten in church, especially in the summer time. And I don’t mean getting lost from their parents (though even Jesus did that once!). I mean that…
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