The Faughn Family of Four

5 Things to Remember When Doing Something Creative

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Adam Faughn • 1 Comment

Routines are my friend. I work well when I know what is coming up, and work best when it is fairly “normal.” As a preacher, a “normal” schedule is hard to define, but I work very hard to make each day as regular as possible. I just work better that way.

I also do not like to step out of my routine very often. I was not blessed with a creativity gene, or at least mine doesn’t display itself very often! While I am involved in several different projects, they are usually things that I already liked before beginning. For example, I started blogging because I liked reading the blogs of other people. I started a podcast with Dale Jenkins because I loved listening to podcasts (and enjoy working with Dale!). I like to write because I like to read.

But there are times when I want to try something new, and I chicken out. I do not like to fail, but there are times I really believe something has merit, so I must step out. (And, yes, I am working on a project like that now, if you wonder where this is coming from. … And, no Lebanon Road folks, it does not involve moving!) Often, these things involve a certain level of creativity, which is not natural for me. But I do feel like there is a place for them, so I have to step out of my comfort zone and be somewhat creative.

Here are five things I have been trying to tell myself as I get near the end (at least I hope it’s the end) of this creative-for-me project.

1. Focus on the Bible. Whether this idea ever takes off or not, the goal is Biblical. Some people get the idea that anything that is a little different has to be unbiblical, but that is just not the case. Think of men like Jule Miller. His filmstrips (now on video and DVD) were very outside-the-box when he made them, but the content was clearly Biblical. Due to his work, thousands have put Christ on in baptism, and all because his focus was on the truth.

2. Benefit from the Process. If your work is to write, then remember the process is to learn and to become a better writer. If it is a creative endeavor like a video or audio production, remember to look at the details and learn what makes it work. Even if your project never gets off the ground, you have benefited from the process in a way that will help either you or someone else in the future.

3. Think of Others. In other words, do not try to do something different just to “be seen of men.” How will this benefit the eternal destiny of those you are trying to reach? Are you trying to teach? encourage? warn? inform? equip? Think about how this will do that for other people. (If you want a wonderful example of this, look no further than House-to-House, Heart-to-Heart. They know their purpose, and creatively fulfill it with every issue.)

4. Have an End Goal. What is a reasonable, but pressing, time to finish each part of the project? Personally, this is one I am having to work on. I like deadlines, but I don’t like putting them on myself! But when you write down, “Finish taping of video by June 14,” you have made yourself accountable. (By the way, if you struggle with goals, follow this link for an excellent article on writing goals.)

5. Don’t Let The “Novelty” Consume You. It is way too easy to get caught up in how “cool” or “slick” or “cutting edge” something is, and to lose out on the content. Nothing will make up for bad content, especially over time. Focus on the quality of your message, and then let your creativity tell the story.

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I am blessed to be around creative people, and I love those who have that talent. I’m not blessed with it very often, but I hope these suggestions will help us all stay focused on what is really important when we have a moment of creativity.

What other suggestions would you have for working through a creative process?

Filed Under: Church Life, Family

So…How Did You Do?

Posted on December 28, 2025 by Adam Faughn • 4 Comments

About a year ago, many of us sat down and thought of goals for the coming year. Those resolutions for 2010 were ideas of things we wanted to complete, mature in, quit, save for, of a myriad of other things. We wrote them down (or typed them) and put them in a place where we would see them.

And then… January 2nd came.

For some goals, they were already shot. Some made it a few weeks. Some never got off the ground. Some were completed.

If you wrote down more than 2 or 3, you probably finished a few, didn’t finish a few, altered a few, and never started a few. I will admit that I did a few of each. Some were highly personal goals, and, thankfully, I can say I at least showed improvement in those. But some were never even started.

Here are some of my goals that I don’t mind sharing, and how I did with them:

1. Keep and up-to-date prayer list (and I had specific areas to focus on). I did better on this than I have in the past, but never really wrote the list down. I continue to struggle with this, and will “re-up” that goal for 2011.

2. Read at least 50 books (and I had a few categories to work on). As of Sunday, that one is done! This was a major goal, since I used to strive for 40 in a year, and raised it to 50.

3. Exercise at least 25 minutes per day (for overall health). I didn’t start this right away, but have been doing it for the last 4 months or so. I altered this goal a little, as I only focus on exercise during the “work week.” For me, this is a major step forward.

4. Take Mary Carol on “daddy/daughter dates” starting with her 5th birthday. I waited a few weeks after her birthday, but this goal is underway, and I am glad!

5. Memorize one book of the Bible. I didn’t do this, but I altered it. Instead of a book of the Bible, I memorized the Sermon on the Mount.

6. (For Leah and me): finish emergency fund of 3-6 months expenses. When I make our next run to the bank, this will be done.

There were other goals, but they were quite personal to me. I hope you understand me not sharing those in such a public format.

So, how did you do in 2010? What are some 2011 goals?

Filed Under: Church Life

10 Reminders for Congregational Resolutions

Posted on December 30, 2025 by faughnfamilyof4 • 1 Comment

Resolutions. Goals. Points of Emphasis.

Your congregation does have them, right?

Sadly, many congregations do not. I’m thankful that Lebanon Road’s elders do have goals. I can’t share all of them yet, but I can share one. Our elders want to make the goals more well-known!

Since many are thinking of personal resolutions, I thought it might be good to share some basic reminders for writing congregational goals. If you haven’t written yours yet, start now! (Who ever said a congregational “year” has to be from January through December, anyway?!)

1. Be specific. “Increase attendance” is not a goal. If you have 100 on the first Sunday in January and 101 on the last Sunday of December you may or may not have met that goal. You may have just had a family give birth during the year! Instead, set specific goals. Use a percentage or a specific number for these. “Be more mission-minded” is not a goal. “Establish two new mission points” is.

3. Be positive. I mean, think big! Certainly, you need to be realistic (see #3), but you don’t need to put a damper on a congregation with talent. If you have people, you have talent! Think of those talents and set some big goals to strive toward.

3. Be realistic. I fully agree that, with God, we can accomplish much (cf. Philippians 4:13). However, if you have 25 people in your congregation and you are way out in the country, it is probably not a realistic goal to want to grow to 200 this year (although it might not be a bad long-term goal!). This is where percentages might be a good idea.

4. Don’t just think of attendance. While it’s the easiest to think of, set goals in every area of the congregation. Think of goals for VBS. Think of goals for the family aspect of the congregation. Elders need to set goals for themselves, as well!

5. Set a time table. Yearly goals are great, but so are “mini-goals” for the short term. If you have a goal of increasing the budget for the Bible school program, for example, why not set a goal of increasing it just a little bit each month. Then, as you do, share that with the congregation and let them see that the goals are being met.

6. Be open. Share the goals as they are met, and be honest about goals that are not being met. If you have an elder that has a way with words, it might be good if he speaks to these goals. He will know how to approach sharing them without “talking down” to the congregation when a goal isn’t going to be met.

7. Set long-term goals. A year is great, as are the mini-goals, but so are 3-year and 5-year goals. This is especially true with capital improvements or with matters of “culture” change. For example, if your congregation has had trouble dealing with single mothers, then it might be good to have a long-term plan for reaching them, instead of making that a goal for just one year.

8. Pray, pray, pray. Goals are fine, but if they are nothing more than our ideas on paper, then they aren’t worth anything! Pray that the goals are what God would have the congregation to do. Pray that He would, through His providence, help the congregation press forward. Pray for patience when a goal isn’t reached. Pray for wisdom as goals are evaluated. Wrap the entire process with prayer.

9. Evaluate. It’s great to set goals at the beginning of the year, but what do you do when the year is over? Many just throw the list away. If you do that, you may have missed the most important part of goal-setting: evaluation. How has the congregation done in each area? Why did it do well or not do well? Can any goals be updated and used again? Do some need to be scratched? Do some need to made short-term or long-term instead of one-year goals?

10. Don’t focus on one goal. If your congregation has 10 goals for 2010 (that’s kinda catchy, isn’t it?), don’t just always announce one of them! Share them all at different times, so those who are better equipped to help with a different goal will be motivated to continue on.

What suggestions would you add?

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Friday Links Roundup: Two Cool Numbers Edition

Posted on November 6, 2025 by faughnfamilyof4 • 1 Comment

I love numbers. Yes, I liked the TV show (Numb3rs) when it first started, but I’m just talking about numbers in general. I’m a sports stat freak, and I like math quite a bit.

So, this week’s roundup deals with two numbers that were significant in the last few days.

First, the number 27. As a Yankees’ fan, that’s now an “old” number, because the Yankees won their 27th World Series title Wednesday night. When they were 13-14 to start the year, I was actually worried. Then A-Rod came back, and the rest is a 103-win season history! I’ve been a fan of the Yankees since the early 90s, when they couldn’t beat anybody, so these past few years have been a lot of fun.

The other number is 31. That number became significant on Wednesday, too, because our blog was ranked #31 among church of Christ blogs in the world by Matt Dabbs! He does these rankings every few months, and it’s the first time we’ve ever made the list. I find it exciting, but also humbling, that we are there. Here’s the full list.

On to the links for the week:

1. The story made the rounds this week of a Planned Parenthood worker who quit after seeing an ultrasound picture. The truth is, this technology has kept a lot of abortions from occurring, thankfully. Let’s pray that trend continues. Here is a news video and interview with the former Planned Parenthood worker.

2. David Brumley shares a great story from his Bible school class of one of “those” moments, when the kids “get it.” Enjoy “I, Barabbas.”

3. Robbie MacKenzie posts a great article about not comparing where you are with where others are. Read and learn from “Avoid the Comparison Game.”

4. Dale Jenkins presents some very good thoughts on alternatives to just automatically firing a preacher. This is a great read for elders.

5. I love thinking big. I love dreaming big. Some, though, just like to “keep house.” Matthew Morine challenges that way of thinking in a brief but excellent post, “There Has to be a Bigger Goal.”

We hope you have a wonderful weekend. We are praying for a harvest at Lebanon Road this Sunday, and we hope you are thinking the same way no matter where you are.

Don’t forget the Lord at any time, but especially on His day.

Filed Under: Uncategorized