After our dad died this winter, my brother bought a motorcycle. And I took up running (again).
After a hiatus of 15 years, I decided if my body is going down anyway, I might as well go all the way with it. I was easily persuaded to run a 5K last Saturday benefiting breast cancer research, and I talked my daughter into running it with us.
The last race we ran together was a week before she was born; she doesn’t remember it. In that race we crossed the finish line at the exact same moment; in Saturday’s race, she crossed way ahead of me. (Maybe I should have bought a motorcycle instead.)
2. Sunflowers in the fall
If these sunflowers wouldn’t bloom so crazy gorgeous each fall, I’d cut them all down in a heartbeat. They spread like crazy; they make me itch; they fall down too easily in the rain. 
3. Photo Op
So we take advantage of the sunflower backdrop every year. If my youngest daughter keeps honing her photography skills, we’ll never have to return to the fire department photo shoots again. (That’s as close as we get to professional photographers.)
4. Reading is not an end in itself
After posting Seth Godin’s rant on Wednesday that people don’t read enough (I agree), Zach Nielsen followed it on Thursday with this video of Al Mohler explaining why we should read for a higher purpose. It’s funny. It’s serious. It’s good.
“It is the way God has chosen to help his people grow and it’s been that way from the beginning.”
5. How (not) to invite someone to church
Since I’ve been writing about church this week, I knew I’d have to use this video when I saw it on Mike Cope’s blog two days ago. It made me laugh. And made me sad.
But it made me think: there’s gotta be a better way to share the good news. What do you think?
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What’s been a favorite of yours this week? Please share.
23 comments:
I so love your sunflowers, family photos and fun.
Wow! you and your daughter look like sisters. That's a gorgeous sunflower. Love your family photo.
I can read faster than you can talk lol!
That's very funny, Al Mohler vid is. Neat discussion.
You have a beautiful family. The photo looks awesome in front of those flowers.
#1 made me smile the way you wrote it. Wonderful that you and your daughter were able to do that together in spite of her being cheeky and beating you over the finish line. :v)
That family picture is beautiful!
I love the Al Mohler clip - and I too agree whole-heartedly!
The OTHER clip? Uhmmmmm... my first thought was ... bizarre! Not sure it would have any effectiveness one way or the other... certainly didn't stir anything in ME other than to wonder how many people would view it and take it WRONG. *sigh*
Congratulations on your SECOND 5k with daughter!!! LOL! That is so cute... I hope someday... oh maybe SOMEday... to be able to RUN a 5k! That would be SUCH a celebration!
Congratulations on your run - and with your daughter - very special!
A gorgeous family photo!!
Happy weekend!
That Mohler clip on reading keeps popping up so I'm going to have to watch it. =D
In the meantime, great family photo and great job on the running! I, who do not run, am very impressed. ;)
Enjoyed this post, Lisa! Congratulations on your run! How awesome, and what a blessing to have your daughter by your side. :) The family photo is beautiful. We have lots of sunflowers on our roadsides in NM, and I'm always disappointed to see them disappear.
Just read Seth Godin's piece...so true, and I'll be watching the Mohler clip later. Lots of great stuff!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Your daughters are even more beautiful than the sunflowers!
Good for you to FINISH a 5 K run! Never mind where you placed.
I'd like to watch the videos, but they take up too many MB ..... maybe if we get to an internet cafe this weekend. They sound so interesting, though!
What a lovely family photo. We have a bunch of sunflowers in the yard as well. But, ours stopped blooming a while ago...up here in N.H.
Good for you for completing the 5k! I love the contrast you made between last time you ran it with your daughter and this time.
That photo is so nice! Who needs a professional studio?
I had seen that Mohler video on several blogs this week and just stopped to listen to it now. I agree.
Also agree that none of those are good strategies to invite someone to church!
Loved your fav fives...especially your family photo...
Kudos to you on your run...you have obviously been through a lot in the past year, and yet it's exhilarating to see you running the 5KM.
I loved the video clip on reading.So true...staying in tune.
That's quite the video on inviting someone to church. Sounds like so many "rote" formulas we've had drilled into us in Sunday School or church for evangelism.
Beautiful sunflower pics. They can be messy plants but they are sure gorgeous when they cooperate.
Those sunflowers are gorgeous! What a great backdrop for family photos!
Happy FFF! Praying you have a wonderful weekend!
Sunflowers are on of my favorites! Great list!
Those sunflowers are so pretty! And the family portrait is great, you have a beautiful family!
I watched the Al Mohler video this morning - it was funny and good!
And that church video is funny. I think it's poking fun at how the church tries to be relevant when really the Gospel message is all you need to bring people to church and really that's what they should be coming for too!
Thanks for stopping by my blog again as we read along together. I'm glad that you found my summary helpful; I was afraid to post my thoughts as my foggy Mommy mind doesn't always articulate too clearly in this season of life.
It's great that you and your daughter can do these things together!
I agree with the others that your sunflowers are gorgeous. Sunflowers always make me smile. How kind of God to give them to us!
I also placed Mohler's video on my Friday Favorites; it's a great reminder! :)
Have a blessed weekend as you seek to honor our Father!
Congrats on your run!!
The sunflowers are beautiful, and so is your family. Great picture.
Love reading, love the video, love Al Mohler! Great point to make to my students' parents.
Happy week ahead.
Wow, Lisa! What gorgeous daughters you have!!! And GREAT blog!!!
Thanks, Melanie. Your girls are beautiful, too - I see them on Facebook.
I started reading your book last night! And as soon as I get some math out of the way, I'm going to curl up with it and a bag of popcorn tonight to read some more. You are such a gifted writer.
Wow, love the sunflowers - of course! I think it was a great backdrop for your family picture.
How cute that this was the SECOND time you and your daughter raced together. The nerve of her beating you!
I like the Al Mohler video. I can totally relate to reading faster than your teacher talks.
I love sunflowers!!
Wonderful family photo, Lisa. And I agree with you on those sunflowers -- they are stunning. But so sorry they irritate your other senses!
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