Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

Let’s be honest, a lot of us are doing everything right. We’ve got the job, the family, the house, the hobbies. Maybe even a decent morning routine. And yet…we’re not happy. Why? In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate digs into that question we all wrestle with but rarely say out loud. Why do we keep chasing the next thing, the next achievement, the next purchase, the next version of ours...

Have you ever sat with the question, “What am I supposed to do with my life?” You’re not alone. In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate wrestles with the big questions of purpose, vocation, and identity, and why chasing the “perfect” career or calling often leaves us more restless than fulfilled. Through scripture, stories, and some honest reflection, Nate reminds us of an important truth:...

Why doesn’t prayer work the way we want? You pray for healing, peace, or even a new job…and instead of a clear answer, it feels like God left you on “read.” If you’ve ever wondered why God doesn’t answer prayers, you’re not alone. In this episode of Together for Good , Pastor Nate explores the purpose of prayer from a Lutheran perspective, with a little help from three German theologians (Schleier...

Parenting is messy, beautiful, and exhausting. And for many of us, one of the big questions we carry is: How do I raise my kids in the Christian faith? In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate shares Christian parenting tips that he and his wife are learning as they raise their three kids; what’s working, what they’re still figuring out, and why faith has to be about more than just “good mo...

On today’s Together 4 Good , Pastor Nate pulls together two of our most recent conversations into one big theme: how to stop measuring yourself by the grind and start resting in God’s peace. First up: hustle culture. You know the drill: more hours, more hustle, more “look what I did.” Nate shares some personal stories (yes, including his grandpa’s trusty steel lunchbox) and the reminder that while...

On today’s episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate sits down with Pastor Carrie Bayless and her daughter Emmy for a conversation that was totally unplanned, and turned out to be one of the most real, funny, and thoughtful episodes yet. We talk about what it’s like growing up as a pastor’s kid (fun fact: Nate’s a PK too!), the expectations that come with being “the pastor’s family,” and why Emmy, a...

On this week’s episode of Together 4 Good, I sat down with Becky Robinson-Lavenburg. She grew up surrounded by music, sang with prestigious choirs as a kid, and now she’s studying to be a mental health counselor.  What I love about her story is the way music and faith keep circling back for her. She didn’t stick around church because she had to, but because she found a community she actually wante...

What does Division 1 football have to do with faith? A lot more than you might think.  In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate sits down with Michael Ziemba, former Indiana University football player, UPS “industrial athlete,” and Bethany member, to talk about how faith and football shaped his life.  From growing up in Florida, playing under Coach Tom Allen in the Big 10, to navigating inj...

In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate sits down with Susan Junge to talk about why, after 27 years, she’s still going to church. Her journey began in an interfaith marriage, sitting in a Lutheran church pew mostly so her husband could sing in the choir. But somewhere along the way, the Holy Spirit began tugging at her heart.  She was baptized as an adult, dove into the church choir, Step...

Four. Hundred. Episodes.  What a journey, what a milestone, what a celebration! That's a whole lot of conversation, curiosity, and community. To mark this milestone, Pastor Nate sits down with someone who's been part of this journey from the beginning, Pastor Gary Sandberg, for a deeply personal conversation about what keeps us coming back to church. Yes, the headlines continue to shout about chur...

Today on Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with longtime Bethany Lutheran member Sylvia Boedeker about her faith journey, from small-town Iowa to churches in Hawaii, Michigan, and beyond. Born to German immigrant parents, Sylvia shares how faith, family, and a deep reverence for nature have shaped her life and kept her rooted in church.  Sylvia opens up about working as a physical...

Scott Zimmerman didn’t join a bowling league when he moved across the country with the Navy—he joined the choir. Stacie Schubert joined a Bible study group that lasted 5 years and doubled as a Monday night dinner club and spiritual lifeline. Also, yes—there was liturgical dance. And calling cards. And a naked guy on a hike. (You’ll have to listen for that one.) This week on Together 4 Good , Pasto...

In this heartfelt episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with long-time Bethany member Stephanie Davy for a warm and honest conversation about the steady presence of faith and community throughout her life. Stephanie opens up about what it was like growing up at Bethany, surrounded by music, mentorship, and a church family that shaped who she is today. From her earliest days...

In this episode of Together 4 Good , Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Kate and Paige—two thoughtful and refreshingly honest Gen Z summer interns—to talk about what keeps them connected to church, and why so many of their peers are stepping away. They share personal stories about growing up in faith, the impact of the pandemic on their church habits, and what they’ve had to unlearn along the w...

Welcome to Together 4 Good, a podcast from Bethany Lutheran Church ELCA in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. This faith-filled podcast explores real-life topics through the lens of love, grace, and community, without judgment or expectations. Whether you’re feeling spiritually disconnected, deconstructing your beliefs, or simply looking for authentic conversations about faith, we’re here to walk alo...

This week on Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate welcomes a guest who’s not often in the spotlight but whose story is worth hearing. Josh Ehlers – Bethany’s accountant, runner, numbers guy, and quietly faithful presence in the church community, joins the podcast to talk about what keeps him showing up: to church, to community and to a life grounded in faith. Josh opens up about growing up in a small-town...

Questioning your faith? This episode explores deconstruction, doubt, and deeper Christian connection.  If you’ve ever thought, “I’m not sure I believe this anymore” or “Does asking questions make me a bad Christian?” — you’re not alone. And you’re not wrong for asking. In fact Pastor Nate Preisinger argues that asking hard questions is part of being Christian. What you’ll learn: What faith deconst...

Why is church work so exhausting? Nate and Kevin get honest about what’s working and what could change. In this episode, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Kevin Dragseth (aka Bethany Lutheran's Program Admin Extraordinaire and Volunteer Coordinator) to talk about what it’s really like working for the church, especially in ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America).  From youth ministry...

Feeling burned out? Discover how Sabbath rest and God's peace protect your soul in a world that won’t slow down. Let’s face it, peace can feel pretty hard to come by these days. The noise, the pace, the pressure to keep going…it adds up fast.  And suddenly we’re exhausted. Spiritually, emotionally, even physically. This week on Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger talks about what he calls...

Wondering if church still matters in today’s world? Pastor Nate Preisinger discusses why faith, community and worship are more important than ever.  We get it, church isn’t what it used to be for a lot of people. Maybe you’ve stepped away, felt burned, or just drifted. We’re diving into why church still matters, not just as a tradition, but as a life-giving, soul-nourishing practice. You’ll hear: ...

Pastor Nate explores a faith-filled morning routine, less about productivity, more about presence with God. So often, we’re told that the key to a better life is to optimize everything, including our spiritual practices. But what if faith isn’t something to "hack" or master? What if it’s about showing up, slowing down, and trusting God more than ourselves? Through Scripture readings, pra...

Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this week’s episode, Pastor Nate dives into the complicated intersection of religion and politics and why we need to talk about both. While these topics are often labeled “too divisive” for polite conversation, Nate offers a different vision—one grounded in humility, compassion, and the Gospel message. He explores how faith informs our values and civic li...

Welcome to the Together 4 Good podcast! In this deeply moving episode, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Kyra Morgan to hear her powerful story of transformation—from atheist and skeptic to active member of a faith community. Kyra shares her experience of religious trauma and alienation, and how shame shaped her perception of faith for years. But it was love—first through her husband and then...

In this powerful and deeply moving conversation, Pastor Nate Preisinger sits down with Bethany Young Adult Matt Pane, to explore how personal tragedy, doubt, and loss can shape a more authentic, resilient faith. Matt shares his remarkable story of walking through grief after the loss of a close friend, grappling with the "everything happens for a reason" narrative, and discovering how Go...

In this week's episode, Pastor Nate explores the beautiful, often-overlooked spiritual gift of wonder —those moments where imagination and reality overlap to reveal the presence of God. He shares personal stories, insights into how wonder shapes faith, and how practices like Lectio Divina and programs like Godly Play help reconnect us to this essential part of the human and spiritual experienc...