Walking the Camino: Faith, Family, and Doing Hard Things: A Conversation with Dave and Jll McLain

Walking the Camino: Faith, Family, and Doing Hard Things: A Conversation with Dave and Jll McLain

What can a 173-mile pilgrimage teach a family about faith, resilience, and life together? Dave and Jll McLain join Pastor Nate on Together 4 Good to share how they walked the Camino de Santiago from Porto, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, with their four children. Along the way, aching feet, welcoming villages, fellow pilgrims, and small acts of generosity open into a conversation about family sabbaticals, resilience, faith milestones, and why shared challenges can make strangers feel like family. In This Episode •    The Camino’s Christian roots and its modern life as a global pilgrimage route •    Why the McLains chose the Portuguese Way and walked 280 kilometers in 13 consecutive days •    How physical challenge creates resilience, perspective, and lasting family memories •    The scallop shell, pilgrim passport, and rituals that build connection along the way •    How hospitality and generosity let entire communities participate in a pilgrimage Key Takeaways •    Hard things become part of our toolbox. Completing a difficult journey gives us evidence that we can face the next challenge. •    Pilgrimage is communal. The marked path, shared symbols, fellow travelers, and hospitality of local communities remind us that faith is never practiced alone. •    Milestones matter. Camino stamps and certificates echo the faith markers—baptism, confirmation, a first Bible—that help us remember where we have been. •    Travel and time together are intentional investments. Encountering other cultures can nurture empathy while meaningful family experiences strengthen relationships into adulthood. Chapters 00:00  Coming up — A Christian pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain—and what it reveals about faith and parenting. 01:22  What is the Camino? — Dave traces the tradition of the Camino de Santiago and its modern revival. 04:40  Following the Way — Jll explains the route markers, pilgrim infrastructure, and villages that welcome walkers. 10:55  A family rhythm of sabbatical — Dave shares how extended family adventures grew from a commitment to work to live. 14:42  Why this journey, why now — Their oldest daughter’s idea becomes an invitation for the whole family. 16:45  Planning lightly — Experienced travelers, last-minute gear, and a willingness to figure things out together. 17:52  Thirteen days and 173 miles — The physical reality of walking about 14 miles a day—and when it finally began to feel possible. 20:08  We can do hard things — Challenge, shared struggle, and the experiences that equip children for real life. 22:00  Going through it — Why pilgrimage is not a resort experience, and how difficult moments can reshape us. 24:44  The scallop shell — A visible sign of belonging creates camaraderie and practical care among pilgrims. 27:26  Arriving in Santiago — The cathedral square, pilgrim’s Mass, passport stamps, and certificates of completion. 31:11  Generosity along the path — A box of plums becomes a picture of hospitality offered without recognition or thanks. 32:39  A microcosm of faith — The Camino reflects the highs, lows, community, and milestones of a life of faith. 33:43  Travel and empathy — Shared meals and cross-cultural experiences help form curiosity, tolerance, and love. 34:58  Choosing time with adult children — Dave and Jll reflect on the privilege, sacrifice, and joy of saying yes to time together.

Sunday School Remix: Why Did Jacob Wrestle With God?

What if Jacob wrestling with God is not about refusing to let go, but about releasing the person he has always been? In this episode of Sunday School Remix, Pastor Nate explores Genesis 32 and the night Jacob wrestles with a mysterious stranger. Jacob leaves the encounter wounded, renamed, blessed, and finally able to face his brother with honesty instead of control.What You’ll LearnWhy Jacob’s history with Esau changes how we read this storyHow Jacob moves from deception toward honesty and vulnerabilityWhy God’s blessing appears at the moment Jacob’s strength failsWhat Jacob’s new name, Israel, reveals about faith and struggleHow wrestling with God can help us recognize grace in othersChapters00:00 What if Jacob needed to let go?00:42 Who was Jacob wrestling?01:02 Why Jacob’s past matters02:15 How Jacob stole Esau’s blessing03:29 Esau is coming with 400 people04:29 Jacob is left alone at night05:28 Jacob wrestles at the Jabbok River06:25 Why the physical struggle matters07:44 A mysterious man appears08:43 Wrestling in darkness09:40 Jacob’s hip is wounded10:23 When strength and control fail12:03 Jacob asks directly for a blessing13:09 “What is your name?”14:04 Confession means telling the truth15:08 Jacob receives the name Israel16:39 Faith does not mean never struggling17:42 Living without complete answers18:04 Jacob recognizes grace in Esau19:05 Why Jacob walks with a limp20:08 The blessing of living honestlyLike this episode, subscribe to Bethany’s YouTube channel, and share it with someone who has ever wrestled with faith, identity, or letting go of control.Connect with Bethany:📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org

Can We Stop Trying to Earn God’s Love and Acceptance? A Conversation with Rev. Alex LaChapelle

What happens when we stop trying to prove that we are good enough? Pastor Nate talks with the Rev. Alex LaChapelle about law and gospel, the pressure to fix ourselves, and the freedom of trusting that God’s love is already present. Together, they explore why the church is bigger than any building, how grace changes the way we see ourselves and our neighbors, and why God continues to see possibility in us, even when we only see our mistakes. What You’ll Learn Understand law and gospel in everyday language Recognize when faith becomes another form of pressure See sin as separation from God, ourselves, and one another Practice viewing yourself and others through grace Trust that God meets us in difficult and imperfect places Chapters 00:00 Introducing the Rev. Alex LaChapelle 00:55 Friendship, theology, and the Crossings Conference 04:45 Is the church a building or the body of Christ? 07:20 Why church survival cannot be the main goal 11:05 What do law and gospel mean? 12:15 When the gospel becomes another set of rules 13:35 Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection 18:55 Why self-improvement advice often leaves us discouraged 20:40 Understanding sin as separation 24:20 Loving your neighbor also means loving yourself 27:15 A World Cup example of grace 33:10 The Parable of the Sower and God’s generosity 35:40 Seeing good soil in one another 38:10 God sees possibility when we see failure 43:10 Why acceptance can lead to transformation 45:25 Your struggle is not your identity 48:15 What should people hear when they leave church? 50:25 God meets us in the rocky soil Like this episode, subscribe to the channel, and share it with someone who needs a reminder that they do not have to hold everything together alone. Connect with Bethany:📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [www.bethany-denver.org]

Sunday School Remix: What Does David and Goliath Teach About Power?

Pastor Nate explores how this familiar story from 1 Samuel 17 challenges our assumptions about power, leadership, fear, and faith. David does not defeat Goliath by becoming stronger than him. He refuses to fight according to Goliath’s rules. * Why King Saul is an important part of the David and Goliath story * How fear can grow through repeated displays of power * Why David refuses to wear Saul’s armor * How faith helps us see beyond outward appearances * What this story teaches about trusting God instead of worldly strength 00:00 Is David and Goliath really an underdog story?00:45 Goliath’s challenge and Israel’s fear02:10 Why King Saul matters04:00 Two different understandings of power05:15 The ritual of fear and intimidation06:20 David enters the story07:00 Faith changes how David sees Goliath08:00 David remembers God’s faithfulness09:20 What happens when we trust appearances10:45 Why David removes Saul’s armor11:35 Goliath cannot recognize another kind of strength12:30 David refuses to fight by Goliath’s rules13:15 The battle belongs to God14:15 The part Sunday school usually leaves out15:00 David breaks Israel’s fear16:00 What the story asks us to trust Like this episode, subscribe for more conversations about faith and life, and share it with someone who may see this familiar story differently. Connect with Bethany:📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org] What You’ll LearnChapters

How Can Digital Ministry Tell a Better Story of Faith?

In this episode of Together for Good, Pastor Nate Preisinger joins Carolyn Tarr of the Collective Narrative Project for a conversation about digital ministry, storytelling, and what it means to create spaces where people can share their stories. Together, they talk about Bethany’s podcast studio, DU Campus Ministry, and how faith communities can offer something hopeful and grounding in a noisy digital world. This conversation explores why stories matter, how generosity can create new possibilities, and why church can still be a place where people with different backgrounds and viewpoints choose to stay, listen, and learn from one another. What You’ll Learn * How Bethany’s podcast studio became a tool for digital ministry * Why storytelling can help people feel seen, known, and valued * How faith communities can offer hope in online spaces * Why relationships matter more than perfect metrics * How church can become a “village” in a divided world Chapters 00:00 Coming up on Together for Good 01:08 Welcome to the Collective Narrative Project 02:36 How Bethany’s podcast studio began 04:48 Why digital ministry matters now 06:10 Podcasting as relationship-building 07:20 The Collective Narrative Project 08:25 Generosity, grace, and shared space 10:05 DU Campus Ministry and Bethany’s partnership 11:00 Trying something new is messy 12:15 Why relationships matter more than metrics 14:00 Christianity, story, and sacred questions 16:00 Why do people connect with faith? 17:30 Faith, nature, and village-style community 19:00 Church as a place to stay in relationship 21:20 Unlearning narrow ideas of Christianity 23:00 What helps people show up? Like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who cares about faith, community, storytelling, or what church can look like now. Connect with Bethany: 📍 Bethany Lutheran Church – Denver, CO 🌐 Learn more: www.bethany-denver.org [http://www.bethany-denver.org]