Author: Seth Barnes

Should short-termers benefit from their mission experience?

Written by Seth Barnes on May 25, 2006. Posted in Spiritual Formation. 1 Comment on Should short-termers benefit from their mission experience?

Outtakes from yesterday’s interview Question: To the critics of short-term mission trips, what do you say to those who are concerned that these are mostly for the benefit of...

Me vs. the mainstream media – chalk one up for them

Written by Seth Barnes on May 24, 2006. Posted in Vulnerability and me. 8 Comments on Me vs. the mainstream media – chalk one up for them

I had the wonderful experience of being misquoted in the national press with an article coming out tomorrow. Ugh!! The reporter’s name is Jeff MacDonald. When I saw what he...

The difficult road of reckless abandon (part 2)

Written by Seth Barnes on May 24, 2006. Posted in Spiritual Formation. 4 Comments on The difficult road of reckless abandon (part 2)

This issue of abandon is not necessarily one of physical leaving. It is about your heart. Where is your treasure? Are you motivated by things of the kingdom or are your motives more...

The difficult road of reckless abandon (part 1)

Written by Seth Barnes on May 23, 2006. Posted in Spiritual Formation. 7 Comments on The difficult road of reckless abandon (part 1)

Leaving and cleaving. We do it when we marry, but how do we leave the world behind and cleave to Jesus? This first task of leaving is a tough one. Luke 12:13-34 is Jesus’ slap at...

Why we must learn how to abandon

Written by Seth Barnes on May 22, 2006. Posted in Spiritual Formation. No Comments on Why we must learn how to abandon

There’s something in all of us that loves the easy chair, that wants to sink back into the Jacuzzi, that melts when massaged, that delights in having grapes brought to us as we lounge....

Jesus offended people and I’m pretty offensive myself

Written by Seth Barnes on May 21, 2006. Posted in Mobilization. 2 Comments on Jesus offended people and I’m pretty offensive myself

I need to apologize to those who felt I was attacking “Bill” in yesterday’s email when really I was trying to get the would-be “Chads” of the world...

Choose a radical career track

Written by Seth Barnes on May 20, 2006. Posted in Reaching Your Destiny. 4 Comments on Choose a radical career track

My point isn’t to knock “Bill” below – it’s to make a case for the rare people like Chad who will take Jesus at his word and live a life of radical...

Da Vinci Code: False alarm

Written by Seth Barnes on May 20, 2006. Posted in Mobilization. 2 Comments on Da Vinci Code: False alarm

The Christian establishment worked itself into a lather this past week over the movie “The Da Vinci Code.” Yes, it (and the book on which it is based) is a heretical mess. Sermons...

A warrior moment

Written by Seth Barnes on May 19, 2006. Posted in Reaching Your Destiny. 6 Comments on A warrior moment

To have a “warrior moment” you have to first love something so much you’ll die for it. I know I love Karen and the kids that much. I love the Lord that much and many of my friends,...

Keith Green was a modern day John the Baptist

Written by Seth Barnes on May 18, 2006. Posted in Church. 7 Comments on Keith Green was a modern day John the Baptist

Keith Green was 29 when he died in 1982. He was not only a forerunner in the Christian music scene, he also had a clear sense of Jesus’ radical call and didn’t shy away...

I’m going to go with the goers

Written by Seth Barnes on May 17, 2006. Posted in Spiritual Coaching. 6 Comments on I’m going to go with the goers

Yesterday I wrote about why it’s hard to disciple adults. Today, I’d like to illustrate my point with an experience trying to disciple a man I’ll call “John”...

It’s time for churches to stop abusing youth pastors

Written by Seth Barnes on May 17, 2006. Posted in Youth Ministry. 7 Comments on It’s time for churches to stop abusing youth pastors

Mark Oestreicher is an old friend and a great thinker (that’s him in the box, but usually he’s thinking outside it – I thought the picture was nicely representative...

Why is it so hard to disciple adults?

Written by Seth Barnes on May 16, 2006. Posted in Discipling. 3 Comments on Why is it so hard to disciple adults?

Thomas Hobbes said, “Life is nasty, brutish, and short.” When we’re born, this is what we’re up against. So early on we begin the quest to minimize pain and...

God is looking for whole-hearted seekers

Written by Seth Barnes on May 15, 2006. Posted in Reaching Your Destiny. 4 Comments on God is looking for whole-hearted seekers

So much of what we do is half-hearted. Our parenting is often half-hearted. We’re so busy with other things that we don’t really give our children what they need – a listening ear,...

A few missions resources

Written by Seth Barnes on May 14, 2006. Posted in Missions. 4 Comments on A few missions resources

Some of you want to learn more about missions, but don’t know how. Here are a few links to get you started. For a good overview, find out where in your area the Perspectives...

4 things I love about my mom

Written by Seth Barnes on May 14, 2006. Posted in My Life. 3 Comments on 4 things I love about my mom

4 things I love about my mom: She’s intrepid. She’s currently in Afghanistan for a month with my Dad. This past week, she needed 2 kilos of apples for an apple crisp...

Entertainment addiction is dumbing down a generation

Written by Seth Barnes on May 13, 2006. Posted in Mobilization. 8 Comments on Entertainment addiction is dumbing down a generation

My friend Andrew Lewis and I were sitting at a café drinking some great Colombian coffee last week when he made a remarkable statement, “26 year olds today have the emotional maturity...

Receiving our spiritual inheritance

Written by Seth Barnes on May 12, 2006. Posted in Reaching Your Destiny. 4 Comments on Receiving our spiritual inheritance

The Pharisees confronted John the Baptist and his response was profound, “A man can receive only what is given to him from heaven.” (John 3:27) Later, Jesus himself says,...

Learning to be a spiritual father

Written by Seth Barnes on May 11, 2006. Posted in Fathering & Men's issues. 8 Comments on Learning to be a spiritual father

I went to a Jason Upton concert over the weekend. He talked a lot about his little boy and sang, “I don’t know how to be a father.” Who does? Once the Lord told me, “This is a fatherless...

How to turn an orphan into a world changer

Written by Seth Barnes on May 10, 2006. Posted in Orphans. 2 Comments on How to turn an orphan into a world changer

Jessica Sisson writes the following today from an orphanage in india: “Travel down a dirt road to the middle of the desert. On that large plot of dirt and dust, build a long...

The best picture I’ve seen of the kingdom of God

Written by Seth Barnes on May 10, 2006. Posted in Kingdom Reality. 5 Comments on The best picture I’ve seen of the kingdom of God

Our World Race team is in a Delhi orphanage this month. Kim Kinsley writes the following: “As I lie in bed at night, the faces of these precious children flood my head. To...

Cyber-discipling: round 2

Written by Seth Barnes on May 9, 2006. Posted in Discipling. 4 Comments on Cyber-discipling: round 2

Five days ago I offered to start another cyber-discipling group. Since then, nine of you have signed up (though only one did so on line). So now I’m closing the door on this...

Parents, here’s how to set a higher bar for your kids

Written by Seth Barnes on May 9, 2006. Posted in Parenting. No Comments on Parents, here’s how to set a higher bar for your kids

Steve Kinsley wrote a great letter to Christian parents who struggle with releasing their children to serve Jesus in the nations. Here is an excerpt: “God asks us as parents to...

Jesus wants to break your heart

Written by Seth Barnes on May 8, 2006. Posted in Orphans. 3 Comments on Jesus wants to break your heart

You don’t really belong to Jesus in the sense that he can control your actions on a daily basis until he has broken your heart. You may not understand that statement,...