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…