About Nate Preisinger

Rev. Nathaniel Preisinger (he/him/his) earned his Bachelor’s Degree at St. Olaf College and received his Master of Divinity and a Certificate in Theological Education for Emerging Ministries at Wartburg Seminary. Pastor Nate previously served as a Mission Developer for Organic Faith, worked at United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia as Director of Admissions, and as the pastor at Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo, NY and Reformation Lutheran Church in Philadelphia, PA. Nate is married to Amanda and they have three children, Evelyn (12), Solomon (10), and Miriam (6). Together they have fun creating and playing board games, watching movies, hiking around Colorado and doing science experiments. Additionally, Nate enjoys listening to music, running on the High Line Canal, going to the library, reading multiple books at the same time, yoga, and basketball.

“Surprise Me God”

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I know that it seems like we have had just one too many surprises over the course of this past year.  2020 has been the most surprising year on record for about a dozen different reasons that I won’t go over in this blog post because I’m sure, like me, most of you are tired of being reminded of all the “unprecedented” things that have happened since January. 

While surprises might seem like a bad thing in the context of 2020, I want to remind us all that during normal-er times surprises were actually kinda fun.  Surprise birthday parties, surprise visits from friends, surprise letters in the mail, remember all of those things? 

A while back a friend told me about an unique approach to their prayer life.  Apparently, everyday, this friend would wake up in the morning and say a very simple prayer: “Surprise me God”.  (Apparently, it’s from a book called “Surprise Me” by Terry Esau) 

It’s a really interesting prayer especially when you consider how asking God to surprise you could change your entire approach to the day.  By asking God to surprise you, you are letting God be in control.  Rather than trying to have everything go your way, rather than being disappointed when life doesn’t go the way you had imagined, when you pray, “Surprise me God” you are letting God be in control and you can approach the day with a confidence and a sense of trust. 

But not only that.  When you pray, “Surprise Me God” you are also opening yourself up to the possibility of surprise.  You’ll go about your day with a new perspective.  What small ways has God answered that prayer?  Where is God breaking in with a surprise?  

Give it a try today.  Really ask God to surprise you and then live this day with a sense of trust and a sense of hopeful expectation, because God is in control, and what God can accomplish in your life, just might surprise you.      

“Surprise Me God”2020-08-27T12:01:20-06:00

Pastor Nate’s sermon this week is about fear and worry.  As we think about Vocation this week (as part of our Seasons of Life series) the children’s sermon talks about the ways that following God’s call can sometimes make us worried or afraid. What does Jesus have to say about our worries?

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:51:24-07:00

Pastor Nate’s full sermon from 8/16/20 is based on readings from Jeremiah 1 and Matthew 4.

2020-08-26T15:21:16-06:00

“Infinite Forgiveness” by Justin March

Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.

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“Then Peter came to
Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins
against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not just seven
times, but seventy-seven times!’” Matthew 18:21-22

Over Memorial Day
weekend my family and I bought a hot tub. We were excited to learn that it
would only take 4 weeks for our outdoor adventure to be manufactured, and as
the delivery date drew near, our anticipation of having a new home feature was
growing. We could not wait to have something the entire family could enjoy,
especially in a time of lock down, and it was going to be special and bring us
closer together.

That four weeks never
happened. As I received the first phone call, telling me it would be six weeks,
I was understanding, forgiving, and gracious as I understood things were now
taking longer than normal. As I received the second phone call, telling me the
color we ordered was no longer available, I still was understanding, forgiving,
and gracious as I understood the plastics were becoming more difficult to
procure. And as I received the third phone call, telling me the hot tub was now
going to take 10 weeks, my anger started to grow, but I was still
understanding, forgiving, and gracious as I understood it was becoming harder
and harder for manufacturers to keep up with the growing demand.

After ten weeks, our
hot tub was finally on the road and would be delivered in the next couple days.
We were excited, and after having our backyard landscaped and finished to
accommodate this new feature, the wait was finally over, and we were about to be
rewarded for our patience. As we scheduled our delivery though, another snag
came into the equation. We were told that the delivery team needed 49” of space
to get the tub into the backyard. Well, the gate is only 39”, then we have a
post, then a section of fence that is another 39”. That means we had to dig up
the post and take down the entire section of fence to accommodate the delivery.
I was no longer understanding, forgiving, or gracious.

You see, this was
never explained up front. The fence was just replaced and finished by our
landscape team, and now we had to tear down this new structure to accommodate
something that was never discussed. I was over it. I was no longer the
easy-going customer that understood all the delays, color changes, and unexplained
circumstances. I was no longer gracious to the unforeseen events that were out
of everybody’s control. And I was extremely upset, used abusive language, and
did not care whether I hurt the supplier’s feelings or became unreasonable to
deal with.

That was four days
ago. After having loving discussions with my family and friends, I now
understand that I need to practice forgiveness and grace. I need to be the one
that forgives, even if I feel I have justification not to do so. It does not matter
who was right or wrong, it us up to me to act like the disciple Jesus wants me
to be. The longer I hold the anger in, the longer I refuse to forgive, and the
longer I wallow in the idea of being wronged, the longer my soul is empty and
unable to receive the messages God wants me to embrace.

 As I thought about
this entire situation, I remembered a sermon Pastor Gary gave that talked about
not forgiving once, not forgiving twice, and not even forgiving seven times.
Jesus told Peter to forgive seventy-seven times! So, I looked up what the
meaning of this verse was, and I learned that it is symbolic for infinity. That
we, as Christians, are called to forgive an infinite number of times because
that is the number of times we are forgiven by God. And when we fail to
forgive, this becomes inconsistent with the infinite forgiveness we are
rewarded from above.

Wow! It does not
matter who was right or wrong, does it. If we are to become the disciples God
wants us to be, we must be able to forgive an infinite number of times. We must
be able to tear down our pride, erase the expectations that stop us from
forgiving, and extend God’s grace in every situation. I will be making a phone
call this week to apologize for my actions. It does not mean the supplier had
no fault in the way he handled our transaction, but what it does mean is that I
forgive him and can move on with the life God wants me to live. It means I can
cleanse, open my heart to what God wants me to do, and let me light shine
again. And when I can forgive, the weight of my anger is lifted, and the
situation can no longer hold me back.

What are you holding
onto that needs to be forgiven? What do you need to let go so God can use you
to be the disciple you need to be? Whatever it is, I pray that you take the
steps needed to rectify whatever holds you back. I pray that you may understand
every situation, forgive, and extend grace where needed. And I pray that the
people you forgive are accepting, gracious, and forgiving as well so that we all
take a few small steps to get along. It is what I will be doing this week, and
I pray that you find the grace needed to forgive whatever it is that weighs you
down. Remember, we are to forgive an infinite number of times, and if we can
practice this, maybe, just maybe, we can take a step closer to loving one
another as Jesus loves us!

“Infinite Forgiveness” by Justin March2020-08-24T17:17:40-06:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book.  Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns.  You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.

2022-02-11T12:51:26-07:00

Affirmations have been proven to provide great emotional and psychological benefit. The Bible is filled with hundreds of powerful passages that can be read as God’s affirmation of you. Take a quiet moment to read the above passage several times. Imagine God sitting with you and speaking the words directly to you. Let this affirmation rest in your heart and mind today. Return to these words from God again and again throughout your week.

2022-02-11T12:51:27-07:00

Pastor Gary and Pastor Nate share a sermon that reflects on the biblical theme of Shalom.  This sermon was delivered during our outdoor worship service on 8/19/2020.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:51:28-07:00

During Pastor Nate’s children’s sermon this week we read through the story of Jesus’ crucifixion and discuss how there is no place God won’t go for us.

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:51:28-07:00

Affirmations have been proven to provide great emotional and psychological benefit. The Bible is filled with hundreds of powerful passages that can be read as God’s affirmation of you. Take a quiet moment to read the above passage several times. Imagine God sitting with you and speaking the words directly to you. Let this affirmation rest in your heart and mind today. Return to these words from God again and again throughout your week.

2022-02-11T12:51:29-07:00

“Cathedrals and Christ” by Pastor Nate

Author’s Note:  This post was written in April 2019 in the middle of Holy Week and right after the fires at the Notre Dame Cathedral.

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This week, many are distraught over the news about the fires that have destroyed parts of the beautiful Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France.  The art, history, and spirituality of this building is causing many to mourn and pray.  

A while back, I was in New York City on vacation and I had a chance to visit many of the old beautiful churches in that city.  These were big stone Cathedrals built over a hundred years ago with high arching ceilings and stained glass windows and incredible stonework .  These structures would take your breath away as soon as you set foot inside, overwhelming you with their grandeur and beauty.   And while I haven’t personally been to Notre Dame in Paris I’m sure most people who tell me that the churches of New York pale in comparison to the Cathedral in Paris.  

But we aren’t here to debate which city has the most beautiful structures.  The fact remains that no matter what city it is, beautiful church buildings like these are immensely expensive to build and maintain.  Notre Dame took over 200 years to complete!  200 years!   When you start to consider the sheer effort that goes into creating and then maintaining structures like these, the obvious question becomes: why?  Why have communities, for hundreds of years, made the effort to build these grand, awe-inspiring, expensive structures?  

1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens.

2 Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

Psalm 8:1-4

Why do people build these huge ornate buildings? Why go to all the trouble and spend all the money?  Why?  I think the reason people build cathedrals like Notre Dame is because they are trying to express the holiness and majesty  of God. They are trying to make real for anyone who walks through the doors the power and glory of the God they know.  

It’s impossible for us as human beings to ever fully capture the reality of God.  Nothing we ever say, nothing we ever create, nothing we ever do could come close to fully expressing the greatness of God.  

And yet just as people have been trying for thousands of years to communicate the greatness of God, in the same way, God has been trying since the beginning of time to communicate to us the greatness of His Love.  

During this Holy Week, as we walk with Jesus during his last days, we must remember that the actions of Jesus were all meant to communicate to the world the greatness of God’s love.  God sent Jesus to earth and to the cross so that we might more fully understand the extent of God’s love for us.  

Beautiful music, beautiful sermons, and even beautiful church buildings will all fall short in communicating what Jesus revealed to us with his life, death, and resurrection and that is the greatness of God’s love for all the world.  

“Cathedrals and Christ” by Pastor Nate2020-08-19T19:30:41-06:00

Pastor Gary’s full sermon from August 9, 2020 on the topic of Relationships, based on 1 Samuel 18:1-5 and Matthew 19:3-6.  

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:51:30-07:00

Affirmations have been proven to provide great emotional and psychological benefit. The Bible is filled with hundreds of powerful passages that can be read as God’s affirmation of you. Take a quiet moment to read the above passage several times. Imagine God sitting with you and speaking the words directly to you. Let this affirmation rest in your heart and mind today. Return to these words from God again and again throughout your week.

2022-02-11T12:51:31-07:00

“What Will You Encounter Today?” by Justin March

Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.

“Come to me, all who
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and
learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for
your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

There is a cat that
wanders our neighborhood. I am not sure where he goes, what he encounters, or
what his daily purpose is. But, every day, he gets out and wanders this
neighborhood. His owners have given him the freedom to explore, and I am sure
if he could talk, he would have exciting tales of all the adventures he
encounters in his little world.

Sometimes, as I catch
a glimpse of this cat, I wonder what his day has been like. I often see him
cross busy streets with the confidence that the passing cars will not make
today his final journey. I see him strut pass dogs that would love to help him
meet his final maker. And I see him travel through weather that includes
blazing heat, pouring rain, and blustery snow. But no matter the perils, joys,
and adventures this cat must experience, there is one thing that is constant
every day. As the sun begins to set, and the darkness takes over, this cat
finds his way home.

This little story has
a lot to teach us about our daily journeys. God has given us the freedom to
explore as well. Sometimes, we may have a purpose and are focused on what needs
to be accomplished. But other times, we may just wander and be open to what He
has in store for us. Yet, every day, we wake up, journey out to our little
world, and encounter whatever adventure awaits.

There will be days
when the streets of life seem busy. We will find ourselves dodging heavy
traffic and trying to avoid getting hit. We will come across enemies who will
do whatever it takes to stop us from accomplishing our mission. And we will
travel through storms that disrupt our paths and make it difficult to reach our
destination.

But, as the sun begins
to set, and the darkness takes over, we can find our way home. God is waiting
for us with open arms. He is ready to lift whatever burdens we have carried
with us. He is ready to erase any fears that engulfed us. And He is ready to celebrate
all the miracles and blessings we may have experienced.

We must live this life
one day at a time. Just like the cat from the story above, we must be willing
to get up every day, wander this world, and have the confidence God provides to
explore what is out there. We must trust that He will take care of us, we must
be open to what He wants to show us, and we must be willing to share what He
has taught us. The adventure awaits you, and no matter the path the day brings,
understand that it is full of God’s love and grace.

I pray you are bold
this week and wander your “neighborhood.” I pray that you encounter obstacles
that make you stronger, face enemies that you learn to forgive, and experience
little miracles that enhance your faith. And when the day is over, I pray that
you find solace in the promise that God is bringing you home!

“What Will You Encounter Today?” by Justin March2020-08-17T15:22:33-06:00

The Evangelical Lutheran Worship book is not just a hymnal but also a beautiful prayer book.  Every Monday for the week’s moving forward, Pastor Nate will be posting an image like the one above with a quote from one of our great church hymns.  You are invited to use these posts as an opening to prayer– connect with God through these poetic expressions of worship and prayer.

2022-02-11T12:51:33-07:00

Affirmations have been proven to provide great emotional and psychological benefit. The Bible is filled with hundreds of powerful passages that can be read as God’s affirmation of you. Take a quiet moment to read the above passage several times. Imagine God sitting with you and speaking the words directly to you. Let this affirmation rest in your heart and mind today. Return to these words from God again and again throughout your week.

2022-02-11T12:51:34-07:00

“Fundamentals” by Pastor Nate

Author’s Note: This post was written in March 2019 shortly before the March Madness basketball tournament began.  Since we did not have a NCAA tournament this year, I’m sharing this post now as the NBA begins their playoffs.  

I don’t know how many of you knew this, but last week marked the beginning of the March Madness NCAA Basketball tournament.  Or as I like to call it: the most wonderful week of the year.  

I love watching basketball.  I love watching the college crowds get so excited for their team.  I love the story lines and the sappy puff pieces they share about players during the pre-game shows.  I love the upsets and the buzzer beaters and everything in between.  

But there’s one more piece that really gets me excited about the NCAA tournament and it has nothing to do with the tournament itself.   What I might love most this time of year is all the discussion about the upcoming NBA draft.

You see, the best players in the NCAA will go on to be drafted by an NBA team in July, and for many College players the tournament offers them a chance to finally showcase their talents on a national stage.  

And so throughout the NCAA Tournament, I listen closely for the discussions about a player’s NBA potential.  I hang on every word about a prospect’s “upside” or their “wingspan” or their “motor”.    

Inevitably, somewhere in these discussions you’ll also hear talk about a player’s fundamentals.  By this I mean how well the player  has refined the core aspects of their game. How clean is their jump shot? How crisp is their passing?  Do they dribble well? Do they know how to play defense? Do they have proper footwork in the post?

Discussions of fundamentals when talking about college basketball players is a joy for me.  However, I bet if I used the word “fundamentals” in church or “fundamentalism” it would call to mind something completely different for most of you.   When it comes to matters of faith, Fundamentalism is often associated with a particular branch of Christianity that emphasizes condemnation and judgement above all else.  

But here’s the thing, I think we could all benefit from attending to the fundamentals of our faith a little bit more.  Let me use a passage from Acts to explain:

“And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” 

– Acts 2:44-47

I think, in a way, this passage describes for us true Christian fundamentalism.   The fundamentals of our practice of faith are described plainly for us in this short passage.  The earliest Christians committed themselves to the apostle’s teachings, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.  

For the early Christian Church and the original disciples, the fundamentals are what kept their communities strong in the face of persecution.  The fundamentals helped to constantly remind them and re-center them in the promises of God.  

So I invite you this week, to focus on the fundamentals.  Study the apostles’ teachings that are recorded in the scriptures.  Take time to fellowship and be in community with other Christians.  Take part in a worship service where Holy Communion is celebrated.  Find a moment each day to pause and pray.  

And then, take note of the ways that these fundamental practices keep you grounded and aware of the promises of God.

Amen.    

“Fundamentals” by Pastor Nate2020-08-13T12:01:39-06:00

Affirmations have been proven to provide great emotional and psychological benefit. The Bible is filled with hundreds of powerful passages that can be read as God’s affirmation of you. Take a quiet moment to read the above passage several times. Imagine God sitting with you and speaking the words directly to you. Let this affirmation rest in your heart and mind today. Return to these words from God again and again throughout your week.

2022-02-11T12:51:35-07:00

Pastor Nate’s full sermon from August 2, 2020 based on John 20:19-31

In this message Pastor Nate looks at the ways that doubt is a season of life that we encounter all throughout our journey of faith.  In looking at the famous story of “Doubting” Thomas, Pastor Nate helps us to see all the ways that we are so similar to this famous disciple.  

(Source: https://www.youtube.com/)
2022-02-11T12:51:35-07:00

“How do we react when we see injustice in our world?” by Justin March

Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.

How do we react when
we see injustice in our world? As I see the damages incurred by our local
businesses, this question barrages my every thought. As I witness the violence
we bestow upon each other, I wonder what drives us to hurt. And as I listen to
the racial slurs, hate filled comments, and disregard for one another, I am
saddened by what this downtrodden society has succumbed to.

How do we react when
we see injustice in our world? Maybe we need to look back and see how Jesus
reacted. Maybe we need to focus on how God used his son to get through the
trials bestowed upon him when he walked this Earth. And maybe we need to
understand why Jesus was able to turn the other cheek, forgive those that
betrayed him, and love his enemies.

How do we react when
we see injustice in our world? The violence, hatred, and brutality we face
today is not something new. But how we react in these trying times can either
allow the ugliness to continue or can start a revolution of change that will
make this planet a better place for all. I believe it comes down to choice, and
if we make the right decisions now, we can lay the foundation for a brighter future.

How do we react when
we see injustice in our world? We need to react with love. We need to be
empathetic with those that have been wronged, we need to forgive those that
have caused harm, and we need to educate those that do not understand. We must
extend grace, we must lend a helping hand, and we must do our best to end the
violence, hatred, and bloodshed. We have the power to end injustice, but fear,
media, and lack of leadership keep us from doing so.

How do we react when
we see injustice in our world? We react by being the disciples Jesus has asked
us to be. We start by taking the time to open our bibles, share God’s words
with those that need to hear them, and teach others about the forgiveness Jesus
showed to those that wronged him. We start by praying for help, asking for
wisdom, and allowing our gifts to heal those around us. And we start by loving
one another, treating them as equals, and peacefully standing up with them.

How do we react when
we see injustice in our world? We have the freedom to react in any manner we
wish. We have the freedom to lash out, hurt others, and destroy what is not
ours. We have the freedom to say whatever we want, no matter how positive or
negative it may be. But if allow Jesus to lead our lives, if we do what he asks
of us, and if we try to love like he does, we can only react in one way. We
will react with respect for one another, we will react as a united front for
justice, and we will react as a peaceful nation that prioritizes healing and
grace over violence and bloodshed.

So, as you feel the
anger, depression, or sadness take over when you see these acts of injustice,
remember to ask yourself this simple question. How will you react when you see
injustice in our world?

“How do we react when we see injustice in our world?” by Justin March2020-08-12T11:00:55-06:00

Affirmations have been proven to provide great emotional and psychological benefit. The Bible is filled with hundreds of powerful passages that can be read as God’s affirmation of you. Take a quiet moment to read the above passage several times. Imagine God sitting with you and speaking the words directly to you. Let this affirmation rest in your heart and mind today. Return to these words from God again and again throughout your week.

2022-02-11T12:51:37-07:00
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