Author: Seth Barnes

Are megachurches too big?

Written by Seth Barnes on December 21, 2008. Posted in Church. 5 Comments on Are megachurches too big?

Dr. Scott Thumma wrote Mega Church Myths.* He answers some of the critiques leveled against them based on a survey he did for his book. It’s good fodder for discussion. What...

My anniversary & my wife

Written by Seth Barnes on December 20, 2008. Posted in My Life. 18 Comments on My anniversary & my wife

It’s my anniversary today – our 28th. Most married guys I know secretly live in dread of forgetting this big day – the ultimate faux pas for someone whose romantic...

The devil is God’s devil

Written by Seth Barnes on December 19, 2008. Posted in Fighting your enemy. 7 Comments on The devil is God’s devil

There is this story in the Old Testament that I find both funny and illuminating. Check it out – it’s one of the best exchanges in scripture – it will surprise...

Jesus’ missionary heart

Written by Seth Barnes on December 18, 2008. Posted in Missions. 4 Comments on Jesus’ missionary heart

Jesus looked out over the crowds and his heart broke with compassion for them. That’s one of the reasons he moved around so much. He was the original missionary, leaving...

Missional churches

Written by Seth Barnes on December 17, 2008. Posted in Church. 7 Comments on Missional churches

A few days ago I asked a guy about his faith and he responded, “I think organized religion has done more harm than good.” I responded, “Well that’s OK, our...

If you could do anything

Written by Seth Barnes on December 16, 2008. Posted in Dreaming. 20 Comments on If you could do anything

If you’re feeling stuck in a logjam in life, then here’s a question that can help you get unstuck: “If you could do anything in life, what would it be?” We...

Shattered dreams

Written by Seth Barnes on December 15, 2008. Posted in Dreaming. 5 Comments on Shattered dreams

I expected to be bored by the sermon. The preacher was young and looked over-eager. But then he said something that lodged in my spirit: “nothing leaves shrapnel in a soul...

Christmas parties past

Written by Seth Barnes on December 14, 2008. Posted in My Life. 2 Comments on Christmas parties past

Good morning. It’s a gray day in Georgia. The season of Christmas parties is upon us. Last night at Jerry and Heather Goode’s house, we feasted on way too much food...

What life is like for a Swazi orphan

Written by Seth Barnes on December 13, 2008. Posted in Eswatini / Swaziland. 5 Comments on What life is like for a Swazi orphan

Swaziland is home to 130,000 orphans, a number that, incredibly, is growing approximately 10% a year. AIDS is killing the adults, leaving behind the children. The average age of...

Covenantal relationships are hard work

Written by Seth Barnes on December 12, 2008. Posted in Community and Covenant. 3 Comments on Covenantal relationships are hard work

I’m here in CO Springs. Ali Page’s wonderful mom, Tammy, got me an unbelievable deal to stay in the Broadmoor Hotel. What a treat. While here, Andrew, Gary, Tom and...

2008 AIM annual letter to donors

Written by Seth Barnes on December 11, 2008. Posted in My Life. 6 Comments on 2008 AIM annual letter to donors

Here’s my year-end letter to those of you supporting our ministry here at AIM. It’s been a good year. Dear Friends and Supporters, As we approach the end of 2008, my...

Stop praying against the enemy

Written by Seth Barnes on December 10, 2008. Posted in Fighting your enemy. 10 Comments on Stop praying against the enemy

This morning I fly to Colorado – it seems I’m always leaving somewhere. And in a way, that’s not bad. In an earlier blog I wrote about God taking us out to bring...

The truth will set you free

Written by Seth Barnes on December 9, 2008. Posted in Vulnerability and me. 13 Comments on The truth will set you free

This is a hard blog to write, but I felt God saying that some of you could benefit from our experience, so I’m going to risk it. Life can be hard to navigate and sometimes...

Postmortem: lessons from the Lakeland revival

Written by Seth Barnes on December 8, 2008. Posted in Revival. 16 Comments on Postmortem: lessons from the Lakeland revival

Here’s a final postmortem on the Lakeland Revival. It burst onto the national consciousness like a skyrocket, and then fell from sight just as suddenly when its leader stepped...

7 years old and HIV positive

Written by Seth Barnes on December 7, 2008. Posted in Orphans. 2 Comments on 7 years old and HIV positive

What some of these orphans go thru just to survive will blow your mind. For example, M—— is a seven year old boy that was born HIV positive. He is very small for his...

Top pics from the World Race

Written by Seth Barnes on December 6, 2008. Posted in Missions photos. 4 Comments on Top pics from the World Race

Cambodia – October 2008 – “this little girl asked me to buy her shampoo because her lice is so bad”. – photo by Natalie Montgomery Cambodia –...

Coffee for orphans

Written by Seth Barnes on December 5, 2008. Posted in Orphans. 3 Comments on Coffee for orphans

I love what some Christians are doing to minister to widows and orphans through imaginative ways. Take Product(RED), for example: Bono saw the consumerist tendencies of Americans...

How to return home from the World Race

Written by Seth Barnes on December 5, 2008. Posted in Mobilization. 7 Comments on How to return home from the World Race

Here’s a letter I wrote our returning World Racers. Although I write it to them, because their year abroad looks more like Jesus’ model of discipleship than anything...

A lot to be thankful for

Written by Seth Barnes on December 4, 2008. Posted in My Life. 12 Comments on A lot to be thankful for

Thanksgiving was great at our house. What a spread Karen put on for us – the food was awesome, the turkey as moist as it gets. And afterward the conversation flowed late...

Here’s how you know you’re getting old

Written by Seth Barnes on December 4, 2008. Posted in Vulnerability and me. 13 Comments on Here’s how you know you’re getting old

At a conference in Pittsburgh last month, I got an elevator to come downstairs and looked at the guy in it with me. I had a vague feeling I knew him, but no name came to mind, so...

You have to go out to go in

Written by Seth Barnes on December 3, 2008. Posted in Short-term missions. 10 Comments on You have to go out to go in

“He brought us out from there to bring us in.” Deuteronomy 6:23 We’re having a staff conference at the office this week. I spoke to them yesterday afternoon...

Loss and redemption

Written by Seth Barnes on December 2, 2008. Posted in A broken world. 8 Comments on Loss and redemption

We think it’s funny to make light of another person’s incompetence. We make our thumb and forefinger into the shape of an “L” and proclaim them a “Loser.” ...

Our despair and God’s timing

Written by Seth Barnes on December 1, 2008. Posted in A broken world. 28 Comments on Our despair and God’s timing

I love, as Paul Harvey says, to be able to share “the rest of the story.” A little over a year ago, I posted a blog about when God is silent. A woman named Jessie responded,...

Bangkok airport turmoil strands World Racers

Written by Seth Barnes on November 30, 2008. Posted in Short-term missions. 2 Comments on Bangkok airport turmoil strands World Racers

This article about World Racer Ali Page showed up in a Colorado Springs newspaper. Our World Race squad has been stuck in Bangkok for the better part of a week waiting for the turmoil...