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I'm getting set to go out and do a little cross-training today on the bike.
Hope you are having a great day!

The Gift of the Blue Schwinn Collegiate

You'll see in this post a picture of Steve Roenfeldt and Kirsten Nelson Roenfeldt. They are standing behind a recycled, restored Blue Schwinn Collegiate which is a gift to me from them. Kirsten has spent the past two years working/serving at Bethany Lutheran Church (www.bethany-denver.org) in what we initially called a "discernmentship." The improvised word was to describe a cross between internship and discernment. She will officially start her real internship at Evergreen Lutheran Church in Evergreen, CO on November 1, 2009. For the past two years or so it was my pleasure and privilege to be a "supervisor" or mentor to Kirsten. Along with my colleague, Pastor Ruth Ann, we served together in lots of different situations. Kirsten took the lead in providing
some amazing energy around faith formation and adult learning opportunities.

As a "thank you" gift Kirsten blessed me with this recycled, restored Blue Schwinn Collegiate.
Steve did the work on bringing it back to life. Words cannot adequately express what joy I had when Kirsten gave the bike to me. It took me back to being a kid again in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. I'll post in a few days of what the young RTG looked like back then. Anyway, it is one of the best gifts I've ever received. I'm very grateful for it.

You'll note on Steve's shirt the word "saint." If you turn the picture upside down the word
reads "sinner." My sense is that if you turn most of us upside down we too read "sinner." For as my friend Peter Mayer sings, we are "this bittersweet concoction of fear and grace."

So what's all this got to do with "revup?" I think it comes down to a couple of things: (1) I'm grateful for friendship (and especially this cool Blue Scwhinn Collegiate; and (2) I believe it's good to be a receiver. So, many thanks to Kirsten and Steve. And here's the bonus point: It's God's Work. Our Hands.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

It's been some time since I've written on this blog. So, welcome back to you and to me.
On Thursday, September 3, I walked 18 miles.
I'm on track to walk the marathon in Portland, Maine on October 4th. Sue Ann and the other hand recently experienced a setback to her training. She has a hairline fracture in her left foot. Consequently, she has been wearing a "boot." Too bad Vera Bradley or some one like that has designed an attractive and fashionable covering for the boot. So, she's totally bummed by the situation, but will be joining us to be our cheerleader from the sidelines.
Her experience does remind all of us how fragile life is and can be at times.

My walking on Thursday was difficult. I need to be more diligent in stretching. So, if you happen to see me in person or want to drop me a note to remind me of that need and responsibility, I'll be open to your exhortation. I'm hoping and praying this weekend is a good one for you.
Blessings,
rtg