As a professional juggler, you spend your time doing weird things, like searching “can you check a chainsaw in your luggage on an airplane?” on Google. So I did that today, and I found the most fascinating website I’ve ever seen.  It is sponsored by the TSA, and it is their blog about all the…

Dear Children’s Pastors and all who work with kids in ministry, You’ve learned to twist balloons, do a few magic tricks, how to do some modern dance moves, and how to run large group games with any number of kids. But have you learned how to juggle? Don’t be afraid of this skill. It’s really…

A great team working towards a common goal is like a freight train that cannot be stopped.  The synergy between the team members produces a result that is like multiplying everyone’s gifts rather than just adding them together. I have the privilege of working on a Children’s Ministry team at my church, where each person…

Dick Van Dyke came out with his memoir My Lucky Life In and Out of Show Business not long ago. It’s a quick read because the narrative is engaging and the content of Dick’s life is, well, interesting. I have long been a fan of this man whom Craig Ferguson calls a “National Treasure.”  I…

Have you heard any of the brilliant talks about education and creativity by Sir Ken Robinson?  Do yourself a favor and take 20-30 minutes to listen to any of these talks by him.  His talk on how schools kill creativity is currently the most viewed (over 11 million views) video speech on the TED talks…

This is a puppet show written for use in church.  It requires two characters plus a caterpillar and a butterfly.  In this skit, the two main characters (Eddie the Explorer and Larry the Lizard) are exploring species of animals in the Amazon rainforest. You may freely use this and make copies of this routine so…

A few weeks ago, President Obama spoke at a firehouse in Roanoke, VA and proclaimed, “If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in…

My daughter is about to turn two.  A friend of mine recently asked what ten things I would want to pass on to her.  That’s a great question.  Here’s what I was able to come up with… 1. To know that she is created by, loved by, and forgiven by God through Jesus Christ. 2.…

Uncle Charlie’s newest CD project, “Shine On” is a spectacular high-energy worship set for kids of all ages. As a personal friend of Charlie (who didn’t ask me to blog about this), I am proud to say that I was the second person to receive a copy of this CD (his mother was first).  We…

When I was a child, I wanted to grow up and be a scientist/inventor who played professional baseball (and worked as an archaeologist on the side) with a family and a dark green Bonneville (I’m not joking). Well, I got the family, but really nothing else in that list.  I have somehow landed a life…

When I say, “easier”, I am talking in terms of speaking to them and keeping them safe, controlled, attentive, and participatory.  I just finished speaking to 1,000 kids tonight (and will do so all week).  And here’s why I would take this number any day over a room of 8 kids.  Granted, there are plenty…