The Faughn Family of Four

2011 College Football Preview

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Adam Faughn • 10 Comments

It’s time for my ever-annual, always-wrong college football preview!

Why should you keep reading when I’m always wrong? So you can trash me on Twitter throughout the year! (You do follow me on Twitter, right? If not, why not?!?!)

Anyway, on with the preview.

We’ll look at the the six BCS conferences, then you can read my 10 bold predictions.

ACC

Let’s make this clear: if Florida State does NOT win this conference, it will be a totally ruined season in Tallahassee. The Seminoles play Oklahoma early in the year, and I think that might be the only game they lose (if they lose that one).

Big East

What the Big East needs the year before TCU joins is, well, respectability. They have a shot at it when South Florida travels to Notre Dame to open the season. They also have a shot to lose it right off the bat. If teams lose games they should win, the attitude of “same ol’ Big East” will reign.

My pick for this conference is South Florida. I know Pittsburgh is the favorite, but I like USF’s speed in the round-robin and short (only 7 conference games) season.

Big 10 (+2)

Yes, get used to it, the Big 10 now has 12 teams, not just 11. My Cornhuskers join the league, and they fit perfectly into the culture. Their schedule is murder, though.

I have no idea what the divisions are in this league (Leaders and Legends??? My vote was “Lakes and Plains”…how perfect is that for the Upper Midwest?), but I’m picking Wisconsin to beat Nebraska in the regular season, then lose to them in the Big 10 title game. The Huskers will play in the Rose Bowl as the Big 10 rep. That’s how weird this season could be.

Big 12 (-2)

The Big 12 now has 10 teams (and, soon, there will only be 9) and will not have a conference title game. Oklahoma is the favorite…by far. They will win this league, but not before struggling with Texas A&M.

Pac 12

Welcome Utah and Colorado to the ChangeYourNameWhenYouAddTeams-12. Utah will be the better addition this year, but Colorado means that the Pac-12 should be skiing champs every single year!

My pick in this league is Oregon. I know they have to travel to Stanford, but Oregon’s offense should be blazing by that point in the season. The Ducks play LSU to open the season, so we should know if they will be in the national title picture right out of the gate.

SEC

Yes, the SEC is strong. It is the best conference this year. I will ask the question that no one else is willing to ask though: If the SEC is always “so” strong and “so” rugged, how does someone always come through without a loss? It’s worth asking, right?

My pick is Alabama here. I don’t think they will go unbeaten, but I think they win this conference.

10 Bold Predictions

1. Boise State will go unbeaten…again. Yes, I think they will beat Georgia in week 1 (although it should be a wonderful game).

2. Boise State will be left out of the title game…again. And without good reason, I might add. (Here come the comments!)

3. There will be 4 undefeated teams at the end of the year. They will be the two teams I have in the title game (to be announced in a moment), Boise State, and Houston.

4. I’m agreeing with Pat Forde on an upset alert for the opening week: Murray State will upset Louisville to open the year, just as they did to open the Men’s NCAA tournament back in March. [UPDATE: My total fail there. Morehead St. beat The 'Ville in March. Thanks to Stuart for pointing that out in the comments. Just a total fail on my part!]

5. Auburn will finish 5-7 after winning the national title last year.

6. Ohio State, though on probation, will win at least 8 games. (That game with Miami sure looks like a great showcase of college football’s “best,” doesn’t it? After this off-season, I never want to hear about how “scandalous” college basketball is compared to football!

7. Notre Dame will play in a BCS bowl game, but with two losses.

8. Andrew Luck will not win the Heisman trophy. Landry Jones of Oklahoma will.

9. Before the 2012 season starts, the SEC will announce plans to expand to 16 teams, not 14. (Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, North Carolina and Duke are my choices to move.)

10. The BCS title game will feature two “OU’s”, as Oklahoma will defeat Oregon to win the title. My other top choices to play in the game (in order): Alabama, Boise State and Nebraska. Can you imagine the explosion in the Midwest if Nebraska and Oklahoma played for the title?

Enjoy the season!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

What Is Really There?

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Adam Faughn • 5 Comments

As I listened to a couple of lessons at Polishing the Pulpit recently, I was further convicted about something that I have been trying to work on for some time. It is so easy to find little phrases in the Bible that are worded in an interesting way and just start making applications from them. While the applications we make may be Biblical and needed, they may not necessarily be what is in that text.

Here is one that I am reflecting on this week as I study and prepare a sermon for Sunday night.

How often have we read and taught the book of Jonah? It is one of the most well-known stories in the Bible, and a wonderful reminder about human tendencies and God’s will being done. However, I think we sometimes teach something from the book that simply is not there.

When we talk about Jonah going to Tarshish (Jonah 1:3), we often state that Jonah was afraid of going to Nineveh. We back that up with historical information about the cruelty of the Assyrian nation and the fact that God stated in verse 2 that these were an evil people.

Why Did Jonah Go East Instead of West? (picture via http://jonah.bmk.ee/mystory.htm)

The fact of the matter is, it is never said that Jonah ran due to fear of these people! In fact, if we dig more deeply into the book, we are told why he ran, and it has nothing to do with fear of the Assyrians or of the citizens of Nineveh. In Jonah 4:2, after the prophet has preached and the city has repented and been forgiven (Jonah 3:6-10), Jonah states,

This is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah was not afraid of the citizens of Ninevah. Jonah was afraid of perverse, evil, Gentile people being forgiven by a compassionate God.

Are there texts that teach that sometimes we are afraid and run from the assignments God has given? Of course there are, but Jonah 1 is not among them. Just another reminder that we need to study the text to figure what is really there. I am no expert in this for sure, but it is something I am truly making an effort to improve upon. Hopefully, this little post helps you do the same.

Filed Under: Church Life

The August 10: Monthly Roundup

Posted on August 26, 2011 by Adam Faughn • 0 Comments

What a month August has been. It’s hard to believe this month is over. We hope you enjoy this fun and informative roundup.

Come On, You Weren’t That Busy in August, Were You?

Yes. We went to Polishing the Pulpit for a week. We started homeschooling. I was involved in a blog guest writing contest.

And there were plenty of “regular” things to fill the month, too!

I have my first fantasy football draft tonight. Needless to say, I have no idea what I’m doing–not that that’s anything new, but at least I have an excuse this time.

Cool Blog Updates

One of the things that has made August busy is that I have also been trying to make some updates to our blog. Here is what has been done, that we hope you’ll enjoy and use:

First, we have added a new page to our blog. Up top, you’ll now see a sermon outlines link. When you hover your mouse over that, two choices will drop down. The first is “textual sermons,” and the second is “topical sermons.” I suggest you go to the sermon outlines page first. There are only 2 sermons there to start, but our goal is to add between 2 and 5 new sermons per month. These are free to use.

Second, we have added more advertising. Our goal on our blog is not to make tons of money, but we are open about the fact that this blog does cost us money and we are trying to make that back. The new ads are for products and sites we think you will enjoy. If you click on the ads we do not make money, though. We only make money if you purchase products from these sites. So far, there are four (with more to come next week):

Bluehost.com. This is the site that “hosts” our blog. It is not the least expensive hosting site, but the customer service is out of this world. If you have thought about having a self-hosted blog, click on that ad and check out Bluehost.
Roku. This piece of equipment has saved us a ton of money. We no longer have cable or DirecTV, but we use a Roku box to stream Netflix. If you’ve thought about doing this to save money on your cable bill, click on that ad.
The other ads are for sites where you can buy toys or educational supplies for your kids. Check out MelissaAndDoug and Discount School Supplies for good deals.

Enough with the Sales Pitch. Let’s Read Some Links, Already!

Ok. Here are the first five links for August.

1. This first one may be more for ladies, but I found it to be very well done. Nicoll Burleson shares her thoughts on what it means to truly be “A Successful Woman.”

2. Lane Widick uses a great illustration to ask us if we are really living the Christian life. Enjoy “Model Christianity or True Christianity?”

3. John Acuff’s blog is very encouraging and makes me think. His post “The Big Reward of a Small Kindness” really made me step back and ask how friendly I am. I hope it causes you to think as well.

4. As you can imagine, I have seen scores of posts over the past few months on the issue of homosexuality. One of the best I have seen was written by my friend Dale Jenkins. Take a few minutes and read “Does God Hate Homosexuals?” with an open mind and open Bible.

5. Another article on homosexuality also made our August 10. Albert Mohler gives a similar view, but with more of a “worldview” viewpoint than Dale’s article. Here is the post “Evangelicals and the Gay Moral Revolution.” [Note: We rarely link to two articles on the same topic in our monthly 10 posts, but these two were both worth inclusion.]

Wow…Those Five Were Great, but I Need a Break.

Well, good, because we had a break planned after the first five posts.

How about a YouTube video? Need a little music break? Ok! Enjoy some wonderful musical entertainment:

Hey, Adam. I’ve Got a Blog Question For You. I thought you were going to do more lists.

Um, that’s not a question.

Ok, smart guy. Are you going to do a list anytime soon?

Yes. I’m working with three friends on one that should run in September. Hope you enjoy it! Right now, that’s all I can say.

Enough of That. Let’s Get Back to the Links.

6. Do you ever get frustrated with people who complain from “afar”? My dad wrote a great article about that in his post, “How Far From the Ball am I?”

7. This is a short post, but one that is very helpful. The Covenant Eyes blog shares with us “10 Things You Should Never Do Online.”

8. Jessica Markwood has been writing great posts lately. My favorite is this wonderful and important reminder, which she called, “When You Run.”

9. Roger Johnson talks about how we are under dry, hot, drought-like conditions in many parts of the country this year, then uses that for a great reminder. Enjoy his post “Global Warming.”

10. Neal Pollard shares with us a statement that members say, and gives a very good reminder to each one who hears a sermon. Enjoy “Were You Preaching to Me?”

Finally, we’re starting a new tradition here. Since this post is always on Friday, and we love Friday, why not enjoy a different video of a song about Friday each month?!?! Here’s the first installment. It’s The Cure’s “Friday, I’m in Love,” featuring graphics to the lyrics. I love it!

Have a great weekend, and be looking for our next “Monthly 10″ in September!

Filed Under: Links Roundups

“Greater Things” Thursday #33: Crisis Care Class

Posted on August 25, 2011 by Adam Faughn • 0 Comments

Lebanon Road’s 2011 theme is “Greater Things.” For an introduction and video to this theme, click here. Each Thursday, we are highlighting a different area in which we are striving for greater things.

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For over a year, Lebanon Road has been placing an emphasis on helping those who are going through times of grief. One of the ways this is being done is through a class that has been offered in the past, and will be offered again, starting in September. The class is called “Crisis Care: Hope for the Hurting.” The lessons are DVD-based, but are more built around discussions from the lessons. [The picture below is of a workbook from the series]

It was thought that this might be a one-time class, but the response was overwhelming, so our elders decided to have the course again, and it will start in September. One of the things that makes this class unique is that there are many in the class who have gone through (or are going through) seasons of grief, while there are others taking the class simply as a way to learn how to better minister to the hurting. That blend is a wonderful thing to see.

I would highly recommend this class, and my prayer is that many will take advantage of these sessions. Grief is part of our lives, and any help we can get in learning how best to deal with grief will be a blessing to us.

I am also sharing this in our “greater things” series to encourage your congregations to think of doing series like this on Wednesday nights. What an opportunity we have to teach practical Christian living in these sessions, not just about grief, but about a myriad of topics that will help our members.

Filed Under: Greater Things Thursdays

Seamless Technology in Worship (PtP 2011 Presentation)

Posted on August 24, 2011 by Adam Faughn • 0 Comments

Last Wednesday, I was asked to speak at Polishing the Pulpit on the topic “Seamless Technology in Worship.” The class was specifically designed for deacons and was on the “technology track,” but there were members of all types in the room.

For this 45-minute presentation, I gave 10 steps to take. The idea was to go from (literally) square one, and then to walk all the way until technology is not only in use, but helpful. Here are the ten steps I gave, with a very brief explanation for each.

Before You Flip the Switch, Take These 10 Steps

1. Plan, and Plan Some More. With technology being something that changes so often, it is going to take planning to make sure that what is being purchased and used is just what is needed. It is also important to consider what needs to be done within the overall plan of the congregation (your congregation does have a long-range plan, doesn’t it?).

2. Prioritize. In other words, take those plans, and make some short-term and long-term goals. Not everything can be done at once, but some things might add great value in the short-term for not a lot of money.

3. Prepare a Clearly-Worded Description for These Goals. Please do not use “tech speak.” Write these in a way that the common person can see not what you want to buy, but why these will add value. If a “non-tech” person doesn’t understand your description, write it again.

4. Price Stuff. In other words, comparison shop. Far too many tech guys are tied to one brand, one distributor, or one store. Remember, you are dealing with the Lord’s money, and stewards are to be found faithful!

5. Present the Reasons to the Congregation. Yes, before the first switch is flipped on, take some time to share with the congregation–not the “what,” but the “why”–for these purchases and changes. If an elder is willing to make this presentation, it will have far more impact. Again, this needs to be done in everyday language.

6. Practice. Before starting Sunday morning worship, make sure you know how the new projection system works. Practice will all the new microphones or speakers before the song leader gets up and blows everyone out of the back wall. Worship is about God, not testing new technology.

7. Don’t Promote It, Just Use It. It’s okay to point out something new or useful, but far too many guys spend all their time pointing out the great sound system or the cool new computer system. We are not in worship to Dell or Apple or Microsoft. We are there to worship God. Our goal is seamless technology. The less attention we draw to it, the better.

8. Pass On It. In other words, sometimes don’t use it. You do not have to make a PowerPoint presentation for every service. Sometimes, sing from memory (or from those old-fashioned things called “books”). It might be wise to not record every sermon. Some are on sensitive or “in-house” topics that might not need to be broadcast online for the entire world.

9. Don’t Play with It. If it’s not working, just move on. Don’t spend 3 minutes of your sermon time trying to play with cords to see why the PowerPoint isn’t working. Instead, just “preach the Word!”

10. Pray for Guidance. We need to remember that we are in worship to adore God. We want to make technology a non-issue, by having it be an aid to glorify Him. This takes wisdom and patience, and we need to pray for both.

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What would you add?

Filed Under: Church Life, Tech, Uncategorized

Monthly Archives: August 2011

2011 College Football Preview

What Is Really There?

The August 10: Monthly Roundup

“Greater Things” Thursday #33: Crisis Care Class

Seamless Technology in Worship (PtP 2011 Presentation)