I'm currently serving New Hope Lutheran Church in Comfrey, MN.  Prior to then,my family and I were at Peace Lutheran Church in South-Central Nebraska; Toledo, Ohio; and the Silver Valley of Idaho.

I was also on staff at North Heights Lutheran Church in the Twin Cities for five years while studying at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul.

Good question. A bit of a funny story really. Of course, I'm big (and have more than enough weight to lose) .... BUT, from 2017-2019, I worked in sales, and one day I just kinda blurted that phrase out when cold calling on a small business. It made the owner laugh and set her at ease... and it stuck. In a way, it became my calling card if you will; and it’s become part of my personality.

I served in the US Navy from 1988-1997. Now, while that certainly isn't unique, for four of those years, I served aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, one of the world's largest aircraft carriers.

For a time, I stood watch at the helm (steering the ship), and during one of those times, I was behind the wheel while we navigated through a MASSIVE hurricane off the coast of France. The ship was being tossed around like a little toy boat. Aircraft were double chain and chalked. NO ONE was allowed outside on the weather decks. And more than not “lost their cookies” that day.

Suffice it to say, driving an 1100' ship through waves crashing over the bow was a memorable experience, LOL.

Oh goodness... when I make the time, I truly love grabbing my camera gear and capturing God's creation in all its splendor — landscapes and the night sky especially.

And while this might be nerdy, I enjoy making videos and writing. Check out my blog.

But truly, if I can just sit a spell with my wife and enjoy a movie or two with our boxer dogs sandwiched between ua, well that makes for a perfect evening.

I do. I have three daughters, all grown and out of the house. My oldest is an officer in the US Navy. She's married and just had a baby. She made us grandparents in July 2024.

My middle daughter is tri-lingual, and earned two bachelor degrees (both Cum Laude) from one our nation's elite universities. She's currently working overseas teaching English as a foreign language.

My baby girl is in her final year of college, studying interior design at the University of Cincinnati. (Go Bearcats!) She's engaged and will be married two months after she graduates.

Most importantly, my girls are all wonderful young women who love God with all their hearts. I couldn't be prouder,