I was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, but moved regularly as a military brat. My parents divorced, and my brother and I moved in with my grandmother in St. Cloud, where my mother had attended college and earned her degree in education. My mother accepted a teaching position in Buhl, MN, on the Iron Range, and I spent my last three years of High School in Hibbing, MN. We were members of First Presbyterian Church in Hibbing. I cherish my time in Hibbing and have great respect and love for the people of Hibbing.

I received my B.A. in Religion and Speech Communication, Theater Arts from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. I received my M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. I’ve served congregations in Manitowish Waters, WI. Merrillville, IN, and Waterloo, IA, and I am currently serving Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, IA. I was also a two-term Municipal Judge in Manitowish Waters, which meant I could pass civil and religious judgment, but I never got to pass judgment at home!

I am blessed to have been married to Jill since 1987, and we have one daughter, Hannah, who is married to Justin, and they have two children, Gordie and Brooks. We love them very much, even if I joke that our only child, Hannah, was our birth control poster child, and the boys are “Goofballs.”

My hobbies and interests are varied. I enjoy reading thrillers, history, biographies, current affairs, science fiction, and theology. I force myself to exercise most days, and I used to play the guitar; I want to pick it up again soon. We love spending time with family. Over the last decade, I have come to embrace writing as a personal and professional joy. I write for myself and let others eavesdrop.