St Mark
Houston, Texas 77055
713-468-2623

• Education: Have a collge education from NOrthwestern College in Wisconsin, a Seminary education at Wisc. Ev. Lutheran Seminary also in Wisconsin, and have a colloquy to another Lutheran body in 1988.
• Experience: 35 years in poarish ministry, 5 years with Development and Public Relation in the Church, and 4 years of Managing a Lutheran Radio Station in St. Louis
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: May you find this a "grace place."
• Sermon or series that made a difference: The Purpose Driven Church The Purpose Driven Life
• One of my favorite illustrations: As I walked to the casket with a blind and retarded girl whose dad lay in the casket, I wondered how she would react to this with her dad as her only know relative. Tears were dripping on her white blouse as we approached the casket. She reached in the casket and stroked her dad’s arm and face. Then in a split second her sadness turned to a smile as she looked up at me with tears drying under her sunglasses and said, "Did you see what I just saw?" "My Dad just winked at me." Ready to launch into a theological discussion of the issue, she turned again to me and said, "You don’t understand very much do you?" " You see, I see with heart, not my eyes."
• Family: Have a wife Margaret of 46 years, 4 children and 5 grandchgildren
• What my parents think of my sermons: They are long gone to heaven. But they both thought that I was a better teacher than preacher.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: She has not commented in years. Early in ministry, she was my best and constant critic.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: "The acid test of my humility is found in the way in which I receive constructive criticism"
• Books that have had an impact: "Truly Transformed" and "The Lord told me, I think" Don Matzat Fresh Wind and Fire" and "Fresh Faith" by Jim Cymbala "Traveling Light" Max Lucado "Out of Mormonism" by Judy Robertson "Competent to Counsel" Jay Adams " Law and Gospel" by C.F. Walther
• Hobbies: Lawn and garden care and golf.
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: "God’s Grace is always sufficient, and His strength is always made perfect when we are the weakest."
• Something funny that happened while preaching: My second time in preaching in a congregation in Wiwconsin, was at the 3rd parish of my now sainted father. During the 3rd service (a pot-bellied stove was in the front of the church just in front of the left and right pews.) It was a cold day, furnace putting out heat...when a 8 year old girl vomited over the stove. The smell permiated everything. So we had to end the service.
• What I want on my tombstone: That He Was Found Faithful