Author: Seth Barnes

These people are crazy

Written by Seth Barnes on May 30, 2012. Posted in World Race. No Comments on These people are crazy

A couple of things I believe: That Jesus intended to change the world (using us to do it). And, that young people sense that. They sense that they were made for more than they’ve...

A story of kidnapping & rescue

Written by Seth Barnes on May 29, 2012. Posted in Amazing God Stories. 2 Comments on A story of kidnapping & rescue

I met Christian Norris at training camp. He has an incredible story. I had to share it. I was born in Ningxia, China on December 1st 1991. My parents had to keep me a secret,...

Healing at training camp & the skeptics

Written by Seth Barnes on May 25, 2012. Posted in Amazing God Stories. No Comments on Healing at training camp & the skeptics

As I reported in my last blog post, Wednesday night at training camp, Jacob McLafferty, a racer who had lost his hearing as a child, was healed. After an hour of prayer, he was able...

The deaf hear & the blind see

Written by Seth Barnes on May 25, 2012. Posted in Amazing God Stories. No Comments on The deaf hear & the blind see

I wish I could take the skeptics who say God no longer heals to see what he’s doing. We have been experiencing miracles lately through the World Race and it’s blowing...

The cost of comfort

Written by Seth Barnes on May 24, 2012. Posted in Comfort and Pain. 4 Comments on The cost of comfort

We’re all faced with a lot of temptations to cheat in our lives. Don’t cheat on your spouse, don’t cheat on your business partner and don’t cheat on your...

How to find your call

Written by Seth Barnes on May 23, 2012. Posted in Finding your call. 6 Comments on How to find your call

I believe you were made for a purpose and God is calling you to it. I can’t prove it to you, but if you take some time to look inside yourself and listen for God’s voice,...

Missionaries are crazy people

Written by Seth Barnes on May 22, 2012. Posted in Missions. 17 Comments on Missionaries are crazy people

The first missionary was a crazy man and Jesus has been recruiting crazy people ever since to be missionaries. What does Jesus do after he cast the demons out of the guy and into...

The time is short

Written by Seth Barnes on May 21, 2012. Posted in Better Living. 7 Comments on The time is short

I still remember when Billy Graham came to speak to our chapel at Wheaton College in 1979. His topic was “The Time is Short.” He emphasized how quickly life passes. And...

Check out the Kingdom Journeys book cover

Written by Seth Barnes on May 18, 2012. Posted in Journeys. 7 Comments on Check out the Kingdom Journeys book cover

My new book, Kingdom Journeys, has been completed for months (the writing portion), but we’re finalizing the design now. Pretty soon, we’ll be able to send it to print....

Sleep walking through life

Written by Seth Barnes on May 17, 2012. Posted in Finding your call. 2 Comments on Sleep walking through life

We were made to do work that makes truly come alive.   But too many of us feel stuck. We could care less about our jobs. If we could get out, we would, but we feel...

What a hero looks like

Written by Seth Barnes on May 16, 2012. Posted in Courage. 8 Comments on What a hero looks like

A few days ago, 22 year-old Hannah Luce was in a small plane with four guys flying to a Teen Mania conference. Something went wrong with the plane and they were forced to crash land...

Generation Ex-Christian

Written by Seth Barnes on May 15, 2012. Posted in Culture and Faith. 9 Comments on Generation Ex-Christian

The book Generation Ex-Christian by Drew Dyck (as summarized here by David Mays) depicts a scary future for anyone who cares about the Church in America. Young people are dropping...

“I don’t like my Jesus”

Written by Seth Barnes on May 14, 2012. Posted in Culture and Faith. 10 Comments on “I don’t like my Jesus”

John Hearn led a group of world racers that Karen and I coached. When we’d rendezvous with the squad in some obscure place in the world and ask how he was, his transparency...

Free this slave

Written by Seth Barnes on May 12, 2012. Posted in Poverty. 11 Comments on Free this slave

Three years ago, at age 7, Nila began working in the brick factory to try and help pay for her mom’s medical care. Nila’s mother, Rashida, became asthmatic as a...

Who am I to you?

Written by Seth Barnes on May 11, 2012. Posted in Discipling. 9 Comments on Who am I to you?

It's sobering to look back on your wasted effort. I've wasted a lot of time trying to make disciples in ways that didn't work. And I guess in that respect, I'm...

When your spiritual gift is not a gift

Written by Seth Barnes on May 10, 2012. Posted in Spiritual Formation. 4 Comments on When your spiritual gift is not a gift

Spiritual gifts can be wonderful and confusing – connecting us deeply to God and simultaneously dividing us from our brother. Whole denominations have sprung up focused on...

Go on a 40 day wilderness journey

Written by Seth Barnes on May 9, 2012. Posted in Journeys. 9 Comments on Go on a 40 day wilderness journey

Jonathan Little gave me the details on an opportunity yesterday that I thought I’d share on the blog. Some of you may know a young person who would benefit from it. It’s...

The ethics of slave-buying

Written by Seth Barnes on May 8, 2012. Posted in Poverty. 2 Comments on The ethics of slave-buying

If you had the money and could buy a child’s freedom from slavery for $1500 would you? If you’re like me, you’d want to know more details. Slavery from what? And...

Buying a child’s freedom

Written by Seth Barnes on May 7, 2012. Posted in Poverty. 6 Comments on Buying a child’s freedom

Sharjeel’s parents had a hard life. They were brick makers in Pakistan and indebted to their employer. To make ends meet, they had Sharjeel work alongside them. Then a terrible...

Sold into the sex trade

Written by Seth Barnes on May 4, 2012. Posted in Sex Trade and Sex Trafficking. 12 Comments on Sold into the sex trade

What does it feel like to be sold into the sex trade as a young girl? I can’t imagine the horror of a 12 year-old girl being forced to leave home and then be sold to a brothel...

Your kingdom call

Written by Seth Barnes on May 3, 2012. Posted in Finding your call. 1 Comment on Your kingdom call

Mark Twain said it well, “The two most important days in life are the day you are born and the day you discover the reason why.” Do you know why you were born? What...

Mourning pets & loving well

Written by Seth Barnes on May 2, 2012. Posted in My Life. 6 Comments on Mourning pets & loving well

Over the years we’ve had the following live at our country home: Two guinea pigs Three rabbits About seven dogs About 18 cats Two pigmy goats Two horses Six chickens Six ducks Those...

His eye is on the sparrow

Written by Seth Barnes on May 1, 2012. Posted in Comfort and Pain. 7 Comments on His eye is on the sparrow

Unexpectedly on my way home from work, I was witness to a minor tragedy. Because our mailbox only closes part way, an enterprising sparrow was able to get into it and build a nest....

Spiritual feedback systems

Written by Seth Barnes on April 30, 2012. Posted in Community and Covenant. 2 Comments on Spiritual feedback systems

Anything that lives is a combination of feedback systems. Even a one called amoeba operates according to stimulus response mechanisms. The more complex an animal is, the more sophisticated...