I am native to Minnesota. One of six children privileged to begin life on a working farm in Chaska. I moved from rural to suburban (Minnetonka) to urban (Southwest Minneapolis), during my school years. Upon graduating I enlisted in the US Navy, and after my discharge I attended and graduated the U of MN.

"Where have you noticed God's presence in your life? " That was a question I could not have answered when I grew up. Nor would I have cared to notice God's presence. I didn't think about God as a child and I surely wasn't aware of God's presence as a teenager. I quit going to church (Congregational Denomination) when I was an early teen. As soon as I graduated from High School, I met a friend of my father, who told me about how Jesus had made a huge change in his life. I had never heard anyone talk about a 'living God' who is involved in peoples lives in a positive way. But again, I wasn't very interested if God was real or if God had made the slightest difference in someone's life. The only change I thought God would bring in my life would be to meddle with my desires and my life! Nevertheless, a seed was planted which began to awaken in me the awareness of the living Jesus. Slowly, I opened my heart to Jesus, and I began to trust that God wasn't going to ruin my life but rather do just the opposite.

It's a rather long story about how I wound up in the Lutheran 'flavor' of Christianity, but suffice it to say that I pursued my graduate studies at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, and received an MDiv. in 1979.

My soul resonates with the Apostle Paul's desire-- to know Jesus and the power of His resurrection.

Other interests of mine include: history, travel- especially abroad, sailing, guitar, biking, blading, camping, boogy boarding, extreme park rides (Six Flag type), grilling (throughout the year), college basketball, theater, art museums, service projects, and much more....