S2_Episode 4: What does it really mean to be blessed—especially when life doesn’t feel that way at all?

S2_Episode 8-Fig Leaves with Matt Krisko

In this episode of The Builder’s Blueprint, Pastor Ben is joined by Matt Krisko for a thoughtful conversation on Genesis 3:7–21. Together, they explore the “fig leaves” we still use to cover our sin, shame, and vulnerability. As they reflect on Adam and Eve’s response to the fall, they also point to the deeper hope found in God’s gracious response—His mercy that covers what we cannot hide and His promise that meets us in our brokenness. This episode invites listeners to consider both the false coverings we cling to and the lasting grace of God that truly clothes His people.

S2_Episode 7_Gasping for Breath: Taking Our Spiritual Design Seriously (with Dale Lehrke)

In this episode of The Builder’s Blueprint, Pastor Ben is joined by Bethany’s assistant principal, Dale Lehrke, for an honest conversation about what it feels like to be spiritually depleted—starving, dry, and sometimes gasping for breath. Together, they reflect on how easy it is to live as if we’re only physical beings, while neglecting the reality that we are designed as spiritual people who need the living breath of God. With stories of struggle, setbacks, and growth, Pastor Ben and Dale walk through Ezekiel 37—the valley of dry bones—and explore how God meets us in seasons of emptiness with His Word, His Spirit, and His promise of new life.

S2: Episode 6-Being Salt and Light in Our Daily Vocations (with Meghan Vogel)

In this episode of The Builder’s Blueprint, Pastor Ben is joined by Bethany’s Interim Principal, Meghan Vogel, for a practical conversation about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5—and what they mean for everyday life. What does it look like to live as someone who is blessed, salt, and light… not just on Sunday, but in your real vocations Monday through Saturday? Together they reflect on how Jesus reframes the way we think about being a dad, a mom, a spouse, a student, a worker, a leader—and even what it means to show up on hard days when you don’t feel very blessed. If you’ve ever wondered how faith connects to diapers, discipline, deadlines, and dinner tables, this episode is for you.

S2-Episode 5- "Walking in the Truth" with Ingrid Lewis

In this episode of The Builder’s Blueprint, Pastor Ben is joined by Bethany’s Youth Director, Ingrid Lewis, for a conversation on intentional faith formation in the home and the role Lutheran education plays in shaping the next generation. As part of National Lutheran Schools Week, they reflect on the partnership between parents, church, and school—and the beauty of how these different pieces work together. Anchored in 3 John 4, the Bethany school’s theme verse for its 90th year, the discussion centers on what it really means to encourage children “walk in the truth.” What does that look like in everyday life, beyond classrooms and church pews? How do we faithfully model, teach, and live out the Gospel so that faith is not just learned, but lived? This episode is an encouragement for parents, educators, and congregation members alike as we invest together in the spiritual lives of our kids.

S2_Episode 4: What does it really mean to be blessed—especially when life doesn’t feel that way at all?

In this episode of The Builder’s Blueprint, Pastor Ben sits down with Samantha Vogel to explore Matthew 5 and Jesus’ surprising words: “Blessed are…” Spoken not to the comfortable, but to the hurting, the grieving, and the weary. Together, they unpack how Jesus redefines blessing—not as ease or success, but as God’s deep, hidden work in the middle of our hardest moments. Through honest conversation and pastoral reflection, this episode wrestles with a powerful question: Can we be blessed even when it feels like we’re barely holding on? And more than that—how does Jesus give us a lens that allows us, looking back, to see that God was present, active, and generous in ways we never could have imagined at the time? If you’ve ever struggled to reconcile faith with pain, or wondered where God is in seasons that don’t feel “blessed” at all, this conversation is for you.