Author: Seth Barnes

Enemy strategies

Written by Seth Barnes on January 23, 2006. Posted in Parenting. 1 Comment on Enemy strategies

I was talking to a friend whose 17 year-old daughter is a strong Christian. My friend noticed that she was growing distant and more defiant. “What’s up with that?” my friend asked,...

How to fight for your kids

Written by Seth Barnes on January 22, 2006. Posted in Parenting. 1 Comment on How to fight for your kids

Last week, when I came back from five days on the field, I woke up the next morning and found these negative thoughts about my family bombarding my mind. At first I mistook the thoughts...

Fighting for your kids

Written by Seth Barnes on January 21, 2006. Posted in Parenting. 3 Comments on Fighting for your kids

One of our five kids has always had a positive outlook on life. Everyone loves her – she brings light to their lives. Lately, though, she’s been struggling with thoughts. “What if...

Top 10 Discipling Decisions (cont.)

Written by Seth Barnes on January 20, 2006. Posted in Discipling. 1 Comment on Top 10 Discipling Decisions (cont.)

6.We decided that it was more important for Karen to be a mom than it was for her to have a job and we adjusted our lifestyle accordingly. We gained 40 hours a week of positive input...

Ten best discipling decisions I’ve made

Written by Seth Barnes on January 18, 2006. Posted in Discipling. 2 Comments on Ten best discipling decisions I’ve made

1. We decided to take our kids on mission trips that gave them a vision for the...

The God of the trash heap

Written by Seth Barnes on January 17, 2006. Posted in Poverty. 1 Comment on The God of the trash heap

I brought my running shoes to Mexico. Behind Bob Waag’s house is a giant trash heap – all the garbage of Matamoros piled into a huge mountain. It sits in a wide open field that stretches...

Awakening a generation

Written by Seth Barnes on January 15, 2006. Posted in World Race. 1 Comment on Awakening a generation

We saw a generation awakened to their destiny this morning. The World Race began at 7:44 a.m. central time, the three vehicles accelerating down the road south to Veracruz, Mexico. For...

Wrestling with pain

Written by Seth Barnes on January 13, 2006. Posted in Dealing with junk in our lives. 1 Comment on Wrestling with pain

The world is a painful place. We’re born screaming, we wrestle with the vulnerability of childhood and the awkwardness of adolescence. Then, we fight a losing battle against...

Reckless abandon

Written by Seth Barnes on January 12, 2006. Posted in Abandon. 1 Comment on Reckless abandon

I’m here in Mexico with 18 people between the ages of 22 and 35 who have sold everything they own to follow Jesus for a year, demonstrating the epitome of reckless abandon....

Living simply

Written by Seth Barnes on January 11, 2006. Posted in Simplicity Liberates You. 2 Comments on Living simply

Matamoros: As I walked out my garage yesterday en route to the airport, I stepped around three or four bags of garbage that I didn’t have time to take to the dump. I dismissed...

Books I’m reading

Written by Seth Barnes on January 10, 2006. Posted in My Life. 1 Comment on Books I’m reading

I’ve got a pile of books on my night stand. It is growing into an unwieldy tower. Here are some: Meditations from the Road by M. Scott Peck China Inc. by Ted Fishman Connecting...

How to journal

Written by Seth Barnes on January 9, 2006. Posted in How to Disciple. 2 Comments on How to journal

A hundred years ago in a less literate age, schedules were not so crammed and journals not as vital in facilitating the process of reflection. These days, we need more help. Here...

To exercise or not

Written by Seth Barnes on January 8, 2006. Posted in Better Living. No Comments on To exercise or not

A while back my doctor said I should lose some weight. Ever since getting in shape for the Tybee Island...

Why reflect?

Written by Seth Barnes on January 7, 2006. Posted in Vulnerability and me. No Comments on Why reflect?

In our crazy world, we react more than we reflect. This leads to a feeling of being out of control. That’s why reflection time must be planned out. If you are a normal American,...

Making champions

Written by Seth Barnes on January 5, 2006. Posted in Spiritual Coaching. 1 Comment on Making champions

Did you see that national championship game between Texas and USC? Wow! The Texas quarterback, Vince Young, was amazing! He put on the greatest performance by a single player that...

Dads – let’s get our acts together

Written by Seth Barnes on January 4, 2006. Posted in Parenting. No Comments on Dads – let’s get our acts together

Being a Dad is tough. When I’m busy at work, my mind isn’t in the game at home. All it takes is for some crisis to come along and I can become disconnected from Karen...

The wildest ministry I’ve ever done

Written by Seth Barnes on January 3, 2006. Posted in World Race. No Comments on The wildest ministry I’ve ever done

God has called me to some pretty crazy things in my life, but this one may take the cake. 2006 marks the beginning of one of the freshest, most innovative concepts in missions. AIM...

Starting a new journal

Written by Seth Barnes on January 2, 2006. Posted in My Life. 1 Comment on Starting a new journal

It’s time for a new journal. Fortuitously, the pages on the ’05 journal ended just as the year itself did. Rarely is life so tidy. Somewhere in this house is an empty journal that...

What parents are up against

Written by Seth Barnes on December 31, 2005. Posted in Parenting. 3 Comments on What parents are up against

Having raised five of my own kids (15 to 22 years old) and having a ministry that focuses on discipleship, I have seen firsthand that parents are the key, and particularly dads. Focus...

Discipling in a busy world

Written by Seth Barnes on December 28, 2005. Posted in Vulnerability and me. No Comments on Discipling in a busy world

It’s a typical morning during the Christmas season at our house. I stayed up too late watching “24,” so I drug myself out of bed late. The usual temptation of checking...

Barnes Christmas ’05

Written by Seth Barnes on December 26, 2005. Posted in My Life. 1 Comment on Barnes Christmas ’05

Christmas ’05 at the Barnes house was a success.

Why Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is great

Written by Seth Barnes on December 23, 2005. Posted in My Life. 5 Comments on Why Lake Atitlan, Guatemala is great

A 25th wedding anniversary comes along once in a lifetime. It is a cause for celebration. If I were to settle on a place, it would have spectacular scenery, a nice climate,...

Absence confirms value

Written by Seth Barnes on December 22, 2005. Posted in My Life. No Comments on Absence confirms value

My children have emptied the nest and are back for Christmas. There is more laughter in our house than ever before. Karen and I just pushed the pause button on our crazy lives and...

Purpose-driving to nowhere

Written by Seth Barnes on December 13, 2005. Posted in Better Living. 5 Comments on Purpose-driving to nowhere

The top-selling book, “The Purpose Driven Life” contains a lot of wisdom and has changed many lives. Type A people like me love the title. “What’s the point of following Jesus if...