Author: Seth Barnes

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...

Something to die for

Written by Seth Barnes on December 11, 2005. Posted in Courage. 3 Comments on Something to die for

Eddie Rector had a gift and a dream. His gift was his acting and he ached to tour the world using it for God. His contagious passion spilled out from the stage on which he performed...

Discipleship is tough

Written by Seth Barnes on December 1, 2005. Posted in How to Disciple. No Comments on Discipleship is tough

I’ve been doing missions for 30 years now. My dream is that churches would be seized by a passion to raise up world changers from their midst. I’ve committed myself to...

We’re all volunteers

Written by Seth Barnes on December 1, 2005. Posted in Better Living. No Comments on We’re all volunteers

In previous generations, our survival was at stake. A drought could result in a famine. Most people spent 90% of their disposable income on food. They were subsistence farmers –...

My life with God so far

Written by Seth Barnes on November 30, 2005. Posted in My Life. No Comments on My life with God so far

When I was nine, my father left my family for a year to serve in the Viet Nam war. It was a sad day in our family when he left. We didn’t know if he would return one day in a body...

Retirement

Written by Seth Barnes on November 30, 2005. Posted in Better Living. 1 Comment on Retirement

At the moment my father is in the war-torn land of Afghanistan. This comes on the heels of mission trips to Viet Nam and Brazil and precedes his annual three-month trip to Kenya....

A Hawk

Written by Seth Barnes on November 29, 2005. Posted in Reaching Your Destiny. 1 Comment on A Hawk

A blustery autumn day. I debated until mid-afternoon about running, but with the sun out in a cloudless sky, I took off down the driveway. Acorns pelted the leafy pavement in front...

Remedy for a Sleepy Church

Written by Seth Barnes on November 28, 2005. Posted in Church. 4 Comments on Remedy for a Sleepy Church

My wife Karen and I witnessed Mike & Kristen Shaul get married this morning. It was a beautiful wedding set on a romantic desert island off the coast of Mexico. The whole thing...

Do Something!

Written by Seth Barnes on November 27, 2005. Posted in A broken world. 1 Comment on Do Something!

I just returned from Florida and a visit with Doug Giles and his church. Fishing was a highlight: an 8 foot shark, 3 barracudas, and a tarpon that leapt way out of the air when he...

Getting scammed vs. becoming a better giver

Written by Seth Barnes on November 6, 2005. Posted in Better Living. 5 Comments on Getting scammed vs. becoming a better giver

I got an email. Hanif from Pakistan is someone I’ve been emailing for about half a year. I met him over the web. He signs his emails, “Your well-wisher in Christ.”...

Following God to crazy places

Written by Seth Barnes on October 31, 2005. Posted in Vulnerability and me. No Comments on Following God to crazy places

Spent the weekend in Colorado Springs. The direct flight out of Atlanta was great. Karen and I flew there for no better reason than that God seems to be asking us to join forces...

What if God wants to talk?

Written by Seth Barnes on October 30, 2005. Posted in Listening prayer. No Comments on What if God wants to talk?

Allie wrote me from Kenya. She sent me feedback from students who are trying to listen for God’s voice. I am a proponent of “listening prayer.” I have found that while most of us...

Football folly

Written by Seth Barnes on October 26, 2005. Posted in Vulnerability and me. 2 Comments on Football folly

A much better day to run, even if my knee was tweaked a bit. Ten miles. And Dave Swan had my lawn mower working when I returned. He gets my MVP of the day award. Running affords...

Secrets and Healing

Written by Seth Barnes on October 20, 2005. Posted in Dealing with junk in our lives. No Comments on Secrets and Healing

Last year I was caught up in the tragedy that is the nation of Swaziland. Nearly 40% of the adult population is HIV-positive. They are dying by the thousands and we had the opportunity...

Messy compassion

Written by Seth Barnes on October 9, 2005. Posted in A broken world. No Comments on Messy compassion

I just returned at 4 a.m. from ground zero on the Gulf Coast. The devastation was total. I’ve been so encouraged by the sacrificial response of many Christians. At the same...

How AIM Started: Struggles Along the Way

Written by Seth Barnes on December 5, 2000. Posted in My Life. No Comments on How AIM Started: Struggles Along the Way

Several years later, Jocelyn Woosely, a young lady who helped at the Gateway, was killed in a car accident in Mexico. The staff retreat that year was painful as we mourned her passing....

How AIM Started: The First Days of AIM

Written by Seth Barnes on December 4, 2000. Posted in My Life. 1 Comment on How AIM Started: The First Days of AIM

So I didn’t close the door on ministry. I started AIM begrudgingly almost, while keeping my options open with a variety of other business propositions. At the same time, life...

How AIM Started: Dealing With Failure

Written by Seth Barnes on December 3, 2000. Posted in My Life. 4 Comments on How AIM Started: Dealing With Failure

In 1989 my heart was broken by a trust betrayed. I had thought that good intentions were enough. The ministry I had helped start with a friend and partner came to a fork in the road...

Seth’s Bio: A call to missions

Written by Seth Barnes on December 2, 2000. Posted in My Life. 1 Comment on Seth’s Bio: A call to missions

As I went off to college, I knew that my future lay in overseas work. I was convicted by God’s heart for the poor and oppressed in Isaiah 58 and determined to commit my life...