Author: Seth Barnes

The story of proposing marriage to Karen

Written by Seth Barnes on December 16, 2010. Posted in My Life. 15 Comments on The story of proposing marriage to Karen

The Bible says, “without faith, it is impossible to please Him.” My paraphrase: “without taking risks and engaging in kingdom adventures, you won’t please...

Before committing yourself to someone else’s plan…

Written by Seth Barnes on December 15, 2010. Posted in Finding your call. 10 Comments on Before committing yourself to someone else’s plan…

Watched Inception again tonight. In the last scene, the son says to the father, “You were disappointed I wasn’t you?” “No,” says the father, “I...

The Gateway: Requiem for a dream

Written by Seth Barnes on December 14, 2010. Posted in Short-term missions. 13 Comments on The Gateway: Requiem for a dream

It’s a season of violence that has scared all but the most intrepid American teams away from the Gateway. The drug wars have spilled over onto the streets of Matamoros and...

Why do 20-somethings fear failure?

Written by Seth Barnes on December 13, 2010. Posted in 42nd Generation. 18 Comments on Why do 20-somethings fear failure?

Yesterday I posed the question, “What should I teach about next month in Spain?” Another way of framing the question is, “What do 20-somethings need to be successful?”...

What should we teach in Spain?

Written by Seth Barnes on December 12, 2010. Posted in 42nd Generation. 21 Comments on What should we teach in Spain?

On New Year’s Day, Karen and I will fly to India to launch the T squad. It’s a long flight that will have us touching down in Paris and Oman. And on the way back, we’ll...

Strongholds

Written by Seth Barnes on December 11, 2010. Posted in Fighting your enemy. 3 Comments on Strongholds

Os Hillman has got great insights into the Scriptures. Here in an excerpt from one of his blogs, he describes what often holds us back in our spiritual growth. One day God took me...

Muslim’s testimony

Written by Seth Barnes on December 10, 2010. Posted in Courage. 20 Comments on Muslim’s testimony

How do missionaries go to Muslim nations? Here’s one story – a man I’m getting to know. He shared his story with me this week. Of course we have to keep his identity...

Free resources for cross-cultural workers

Written by Seth Barnes on December 9, 2010. Posted in Missions. 4 Comments on Free resources for cross-cultural workers

I ran across this web site (thanks Mark Vanderhoven) and wanted to share it with those of you who are involved in either sending or going. Compiled and written by Dr. Ron &...

How would Jesus disciple today?

Written by Seth Barnes on December 8, 2010. Posted in Discipling. 13 Comments on How would Jesus disciple today?

I’m constantly challenged by Jesus’ model of discipleship – a model that reaches its greatest intensity as described in Luke 10. It’s a model where in no...

Understanding Generation Me – pt. 2

Written by Seth Barnes on December 7, 2010. Posted in Mobilization. 8 Comments on Understanding Generation Me – pt. 2

Yesterday’s post introduced Generation Me, a book by Jean M. Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University. The notes below are summarized by...

Understanding Generation Me

Written by Seth Barnes on December 6, 2010. Posted in Intergenerational connection. 7 Comments on Understanding Generation Me

Generation Me is a book by Jean M. Twenge, an associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University. She writes about the generation born in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. She...

M.A. Thomas – at home with the Lord

Written by Seth Barnes on December 5, 2010. Posted in Missions. 6 Comments on M.A. Thomas – at home with the Lord

Dr. M.A. Thomas, one of the true Christian heroes of our times passed away yesterday. He brought the hope of life in Jesus Christ to millions of his countrymen in northern India...

Church planting lessons from Guy Muse

Written by Seth Barnes on December 4, 2010. Posted in Church. 3 Comments on Church planting lessons from Guy Muse

Guy Muse is a church planter in Ecuador. He shares practical advice on his blog. Here’s some. A few things picked up over the years working alongside the saints in planting...

Hunger for a father’s love

Written by Seth Barnes on December 3, 2010. Posted in Fathering & Men's issues. 7 Comments on Hunger for a father’s love

A few years ago I met Eric and Jen Peterson at a conference we held at AIM. Since then, God has called them to Swaziland. They are doing a great job there as they consistently show...

Intergenerational mission trips are better

Written by Seth Barnes on December 2, 2010. Posted in Intergenerational connection. 5 Comments on Intergenerational mission trips are better

Tim Schmoyer is a top-rated youth ministry blogger. He just wrote this blog post after a trip with AIM to Haiti. When I felt like I needed to return to Haiti, I announced I was...

Throw them in the deep end

Written by Seth Barnes on December 1, 2010. Posted in Discipling. 13 Comments on Throw them in the deep end

Here’s a thing Jesus did with his disciples that we don’t do nearly enough in America: He threw them in the deep end. His disciples hadn’t been with him very long....

Teenagers struggling to find mentors

Written by Seth Barnes on November 30, 2010. Posted in Discipling. 9 Comments on Teenagers struggling to find mentors

When our children were growing up, especially during their adolescence, Karen and i sensed that we needed help. Things were actually going well for us as parents. None of our five...

Watching cataracts fall off a blind man

Written by Seth Barnes on November 29, 2010. Posted in Amazing God Stories. 11 Comments on Watching cataracts fall off a blind man

Jess Orr-Davis is a young woman I’ve been mentoring some this past year. She is a woman of integrity – you can believe what she shares. I always look for those who are...

Children raising children

Written by Seth Barnes on November 27, 2010. Posted in Poverty. 12 Comments on Children raising children

One of the things that moves me the most as I travel the world is to see children having to raise their younger siblings. Something happened to mom and dad and now they are the breadwinners....

What is your family culture?

Written by Seth Barnes on November 26, 2010. Posted in Community and Covenant. 3 Comments on What is your family culture?

We had a blast at the Almands for Thanksgiving. I posed the question, “Does the culture we were raised with in our family of origin need to be the culture we give to our children?” The...

‘The van rolled 3 times & landed on me’

Written by Seth Barnes on November 25, 2010. Posted in Amazing God Stories. 9 Comments on ‘The van rolled 3 times & landed on me’

Last weekend, Tommy Sullivan’s World Race team was looking forward to a weekend at Lake Malawi. All eight of them packed into a van and were driving along the road when the...

Does God ever speak in an audible voice?

Written by Seth Barnes on November 24, 2010. Posted in Amazing God Stories. 13 Comments on Does God ever speak in an audible voice?

I love reading Dick Eastman’s books. Eastman inspires you with his stories of a powerful God. If you’ve ever wondered if God speaks audibly, read this story from The...

Dodging bullets for the gospel in Matamoros

Written by Seth Barnes on November 23, 2010. Posted in Courage. 6 Comments on Dodging bullets for the gospel in Matamoros

AIM has had a ministry based out Matamoros, Mexico for almost 20 years. During that time, our leaders have been friends with a woman named Manuela, the sister of the notorious Tony...

Don’t get frustrated

Written by Seth Barnes on November 22, 2010. Posted in Better Living. 7 Comments on Don’t get frustrated

The light turns red when you are in a hurry to get home. The problem is, you expected to go faster. An important check is late; you’re...