Together 4 Good: Making Sense of Life and Faith

Everyone’s talking about artificial intelligence, but beneath the headlines and hot takes, many of us are quietly wondering: what does this mean for our faith?

In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate explores our shared AI anxiety, that uneasy feeling that technology might outpace our humanity, and what Scripture has to say about it. From the story of creation to the healing miracles of Jesus, this conversation reminds us that the heart of the Gospel has always been about relationship, incarnation, and community.

As AI reshapes how we live, learn, and even pray, Nate challenges us to see the hope within the change, that God is still at work, calling us back to real human connection and reminding us that we are more than what we produce.

You’ll hear about:

• Why AI is changing everything — but maybe for the better
  

• How technology can push us toward deeper community instead of away from it
  

• What Jesus’ incarnation teaches us about the importance of being physically present
  

• The danger of idolatry when we start thinking we can “save ourselves”
  

• How faith invites us to hope beyond our fears of the future
  

💬 Whether you’re fascinated or fearful about AI, this conversation will help you see how faith still holds steady — even when the world feels like it’s upgrading faster than we can keep up.

Key Scripture:

Genesis 1:27

Luke 10: 25-37

Download the podcast here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

What if the moment you thought your faith was slipping away… was actually the moment it started growing deeper roots?

In this episode of Together 4 Good, Pastor Nate wrestles with a truth that’s both unsettling and freeing: sometimes, you have to lose your faith to find it again. He explores why doubt isn’t a failure—it’s often the beginning of a more honest, mature faith.

This episode unpacks how God meets us in our uncertainty, how compassion heals more than clichés ever could, and how even in the silence, God is already showing up, sometimes right in the palm of your hand.

You’ll hear about:

• Why “childlike faith” isn’t the same as childish faith.

• The harm in faith clichés like “God never gives you more than you can handle.”

• What it really means to suffer with someone (compassion’s truest definition).

• How doubt and belief can coexist and why faith actually requires both.

• A personal story about doubt, communion, and discovering God in the middle of it all.

Whether you’ve ever felt disconnected from church, uncertain about your beliefs, or frustrated by easy answers, this episode is for you. It’s a reminder that resurrection comes after death of faith, of certainty, of what we thought we knew.

Maybe what feels like losing faith is really God inviting you into something more real.

👉Share this episode with a friend who’s asking the same big questions.

Read: The Great Dechurching https://www.amazon.com/Great-Dechurching-Leaving-Going-Bring-ebook/dp/B0BN19KT5M

Download the podcast here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

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 ourselves, only to end up feeling restless again?

It’s what psychologists call the hedonic treadmill: the more we get, the more we want. And that cycle can leave even the most faithful among us exhausted and unsatisfied. 

But grace tells a different story. Grace says you don’t have to keep running. Grace says you are enough, right now, exactly as you are. 

Nate shares a real-life confession about stress-buying on Amazon (because we’ve all been there) and even pulls a surprisingly wise lesson from NBA star Kevin Durant. This episode paints a picture of how our endless pursuit of happiness, more stuff, more success, more “nexts” can blind us to the joy that’s already sitting right in front of us.

Because maybe the question isn’t “Why am I not happy?” Maybe it’s “What if I already have everything I need?”

Listen if you’ve ever felt like:

• You should be happier than you are
  

• You’re stuck chasing “the next thing”
  

• You can’t rest until life finally feels perfect
  

• You want to find a joy that actually lasts

👉Share this episode with a friend who’s asking the same big questions.

Download the podcast here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

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: you are already loved, already blessed, and already enough in God’s eyes. Instead of searching endlessly for the next big thing, maybe God is inviting you to notice what’s already in your hands.

You’ll hear about:

• Why our culture pushes us to believe something better is always around the corner.
  

• How the story of Moses and the burning bush invites us to look at the gifts we already carry.
  

• The difference between original sin and “original blessing” in understanding who we are.
  

• Practical ways to discern identity, belonging, and purpose through faith.
  

• Why gratitude and joy are linked—and how that can shift your perspective today.
  

This episode is for anyone feeling restless, burned out, or stuck in the constant “what’s next?” cycle. Instead of chasing greener grass, learn how faith roots us in the moment, teaches us to love what’s in our hands, and shows us that there is more than one way to live a purposeful life.

👉 Download the free devotional booklet Who Am I? for a simple introduction to the Enneagram and Bible passages to guide your journey. You can grab it here https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver or if you’d like a physical copy email [email protected] 👉 Share this episode with a friend who’s asking the same big questions.

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 (Schleiermacher, Tillich, and Martin Luther). Think of it as a crash course in “Prayer for Real Life,” with fewer halos and more honesty.

✨ What you’ll hear:

• Why prayer isn’t a vending machine (sorry, no button for instant miracles).
  

• How Christian theology explains unanswered prayers.
  

• Why even Jesus prayed for something and didn’t get it.
  

• What prayer is really about: connection, trust, and God’s presence in suffering.
  

Whether you’re searching for “why doesn’t God answer my prayers,” “Christian teaching on unanswered prayers,” or just curious about how prayer actually works, this conversation is for you.

👉 Stick around to rethink prayer, not as a cosmic wish list, but as a way to root yourself in God’s promises, even when nothing changes.

Download the podcast here:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

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 morals.”

You’ll hear stories about family traditions that nurture Christian faith (like Christmas Eve hikes with hot cocoa), simple rituals that help children connect with God (their sign-language mealtime prayer is a favorite), and why curiosity, awe, and wonder might be the best tools parents have for passing faith to the next generation.

In this episode

• How to raise kids in the Christian faith without just teaching rules

• Why “faith is caught, not taught” matter for parenting today

• Family traditions and rituals that ground children in faith

• Simple ways to teach children about God through wonder and curiosity

• Why asking “when did your heart feel full?” is a better spiritual practice than focusing only on morals.

If you’re looking for practical ways to raise kids with faith, love, and humility, this episode will give you encouragement and ideas to bring into your everyday family life. And if you need to hear it today: you’re doing a great job.

Special Bonus: As a companion to this episode, you can also watch or listen to a bedtime story of God’s love, Bible stories for sleep, relaxation, and faith. A gentle way to end the day and remind your children that they are deeply loved. You can tune in here: https://youtu.be/xYUWupzgZrY

📌 Listen & Subscribe:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

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 hard work is good, it’s not what gives us our worth. That’s where Sabbath comes in, God’s gift to remind us that we’re already loved.

Then we shift gears into what happens after you step off the hamster wheel: how do you actually protect that peace? Enter “spiritual sunscreen.” In a world that won’t stop shouting at you to buy, produce, and perform, God flips the script with grace first, then gratitude.

✨ You’ll hear:

• Why hustle culture always leads to burnout and despair.
  

• How Sabbath is resistance against being defined by what you do.
  

• The Exodus story as a guide for a new way of living.
  

• What it means to put on “spiritual sunscreen” and guard your peace.
  

• Why grace—not hustle—is always God’s starting point.
  

📌 Listen & Subscribe:

Listen to both episodes here: The Gift of Rest Breaking Free from Hustle Culture ​​https://open.spotify.com/episode/43stU5H146OLa1y74k2YTv?si=f5ec073fae80444b and Spiritual Sunscreen: Protecting Peace in a Busy World https://open.spotify.com/episode/3SUFqrgljExpcnQnXA3USn?si=a665d300432b4189

Download the full podcast here: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

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 high school senior, is still showing up for church when so many of her friends aren’t. Along the way we swap stories about pajama pants vs. church clothes, why kids especially 6-and 7-year-olds are the most hilarious part of Sunday school, and how church can feel like home.

This episode is about faith, family, and purpose, and why being known and welcomed in a church community makes all the difference.

You’ll hear:

• Honest stories about what it’s like to be a pastor’s kid and how expectations shape faith.

• How church challenges us to grow and why that’s different from checking a box on Sunday.

• The difference between school friends and church friends and why it matters.

• Why church is still the one place we gather around love, belonging, and Jesus.

Download the full podcast here: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

And keep up with us in the Bethany Connect app available in your app store!

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 wanted in her life.

We get into everything from what Bach can teach us about freedom in faith, to why being a Christian isn’t a destination, to how choir rehearsals and youth soccer practice teach kids about showing up and working together. 

Becky’s story is thoughtful and real, and it’s a reminder that faith isn’t about “arriving,” it’s about choosing community, staying curious, and letting God meet you right where you are.

Download the full podcast here: 

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/together-4-good-conversations-on-faith-family-and/id1529196060

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0aFHcs9xjcRK54uXJzUBbH?si=VwBUEjyQQnieXyKHdkcfvA

Follow Bethany Lutheran Church on social media for all the best moments from the show: https://linktr.ee/bethanydenver

And keep up with us in the Bethany Connect app available in your app store!

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 injuries, career changes, and a move to Colorado, Michael shares how faith, hard work, and community have carried him through. His story is one of optimism, perseverance, and trust that God really does have a bigger plan. 

You’ll hear:

• How football taught Michael about teamwork, trust, and accountability.

• The way coaches and mentors wove faith into everyday life on and off the field.

• What it looks like to lean on God in the face of injuries, setbacks, and big transitions.

• Why community, whether on a team or in a church, is the key reason he’s still here.

Michael’s story is down to earth, heartfelt, and full of reminders that faith isn’t just for Sunday mornings, it’s lived out in locker rooms, delivery trucks, and all the everyday places we show up. 

Listen in, share with a football fan in your life, and be reminded: it’s always about the people, and it’s always about God’s bigger plan.

Connect with us at Bethany-Denver.org or follow us on Instagram @Bethany_Denver