In this inspiring episode of Rooted, Josie and Symone sit down with Nate Gustafson, Associate Dean for Campus Engagement at Bethel University. Nate shares his powerful journey of faith, exploring the transformational moments that shaped his calling. From his days as a pastor to his role in fostering community at Bethel, Nate offers practical wisdom on living a life rooted in Christ, serving others, and cultivating spiritual discipline. Tune in for conversations on prayer, the importance of daily surrender, and how small habits can lead to big spiritual breakthroughs.

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[00:00:00] – Welcome and Introduction to Nate Gustafson

[00:01:15] – Nate’s Role at Bethel and His Journey from Pastorship

[00:04:00] – Growing Up in a Pastor’s Home and Early Faith Influences

[00:06:30] – A Wake-Up Call: Wrestling with Identity and Video Games

[00:10:00] – Daily Practices of Faith: The Power of Time with Jesus

[00:14:00] – Meditation and The Lord’s Prayer: Diving Deep into Scripture

[00:18:30] – Building a Servant’s Heart Through Christ’s Example

[00:24:00] – The Mission Behind Welcome Week at Bethel University

[00:31:00] – Seeing Others Through God’s Eyes: A Call to Humility and Service

[00:39:00] – Palms Up, Palms Down: A Simple Prayer for Daily Surrender

[00:44:00] – Truth, Spiritual Practices, and Community: A Formula for Growth

[00:47:30] – Final Words: Being Rooted in Truth and Action

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1. "When you have power, you get low – that's how the world changes."
2. "God is not after our information, He’s after our transformation."
3. "You make time for the things you treasure. What you treasure shapes your life."
4. "The Lord’s Prayer isn’t a checklist; it’s a daily tuning of our hearts."
5. "I didn’t have time’ is rarely true – the reality is, ‘I didn’t make time.’"
6. "What you think about reveals what you value. Take every thought captive to Christ."
7. "God doesn’t give weekly bread – He gives daily bread. Trust Him daily."
8. "If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you. Test Him on that."
9. "True community is not ‘I’ but ‘y’all.’ We grow best when we grow together."

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• Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) – Deep dive into this core scripture.
• The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) – Nate’s daily guide for centering prayer.
• Living Fearless by Jamie Winship – Explores asking God what we need.
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – “Take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.”
• Philippians 2:5-8 – “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus…”
• Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

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ABOUT THE GUEST

Tori Robinson is currently a Resident Director (RD) at Bethel University and an alumna of the same university with a degree in Bible and Theology. Tori grew up in Arden Hills, MN, in a family of Bethel alums and is known for her adaptability and peacemaking skills. She is married to Matthew Robinson from Northern Ireland, and they have a unique love story that highlights their shared missional mindset. Tori is also a dedicated mother of two, Asher and Lucy, and is passionate about embracing vibrant, joyful, and faith-filled motherhood.

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Rooted, hosts Josie and Symone Harms welcome special guest Tori Robinson, a Resident Director at Bethel University. Tori shares insights from her journey of growing up in a vibrant and hospitable family, her role as a peacemaker, and adaptable middle child. She discusses her experiences in guiding students through their college years, emphasizing the importance of communication and conflict resolution. Tori also recounts her unique love story with her husband, Matthew, and how God brought them together. Additionally, she delves into her passion for motherhood, highlighting the transformative lessons of self-sacrifice and dependence on the Lord. The episode concludes with Tori's advice on trusting God's plan for one’s desires and story.

00:00 - Introduction to Rooted Podcast

00:49 - Meet Tori Robinson: Childhood and Family

03:31 - Navigating College and Becoming an RD

05:40 - The Role of a Peacemaker

07:04 - Maturity and Childlike Joy

10:47 - An Ireland Love Story: Meeting Her Matthew

15:55 - The Journey to Marriage

27:09 - Motherhood and Faith

30:38 - Final Thoughts and Wisdom

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Maturity and childlikeness are not mutually exclusive. Tori emphasizes that one can be mature while still embracing joy, passion, and a vibrant, playful life, reflecting the example set by Jesus.
2. Tori discusses her natural inclination towards peacemaking, attributing much of life’s conflicts to miscommunication. She believes that with good communication, most misunderstandings can be resolved.
3. Tori’s story of how she met and eventually fell in love with her husband highlights the importance of trusting in God’s timing.
4. Tori views motherhood as the ultimate expression of self-sacrifice, teaching her about God’s unconditional love. Her experiences as a mother deepen her understanding of faith and dependence on God.
5. Tori connects maturity with humility, stressing that a mature person recognizes their continuous need for growth and transformation in Christ, while remaining grounded in the reality of the world.

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• "To be mature and to be joy-filled, passionate, and vibrant are not incompatible things together."
• "Most conflict and tension come down to miscommunication and misunderstanding. With good communication, most things can be solved."
• "God is trustworthy with your story and your desires. He knows them and has a plan for them, and will honor them because He put them there."
• "The Lord is trustworthy with your story and your desires. He knows them, and he saw you and put them in you when you were a little girl or a little boy."
• "I have found no better example of testing faith and becoming like Jesus than in the self-sacrifice of being a mom."

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In this episode of Rooted, we’re joined by award-winning journalist and Bitcoin advocate Natalie Brunell. Natalie shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. to becoming a voice for financial freedom in the Bitcoin space. She discusses the impact of inflation, the transformative power of Bitcoin, and her personal mission to educate others about this revolutionary technology. We also dive into her inspiring love story, the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and why Bitcoin represents hope for future generations.

1. [00:00] - Welcome and introduction to Natalie Brunell
2. [03:45] - Natalie’s love story: Meeting her husband through Bitcoin
3. [08:20] - Growing up as a first-generation immigrant
4. [12:30] - From journalism to Bitcoin advocacy
5. [18:15] - Why Bitcoin is a solution to inflation and broken financial systems
6. [25:50] - Debunking misconceptions about Bitcoin
7. [32:10] - Advice for college students entering the financial world
8. [37:45] - Challenges of being a woman in the Bitcoin industry
9. [42:00] - Lightning round: Childhood memories, holiday traditions, and more
10. [50:30] - Closing thoughts: Believing in yourself and finding hope in Bitcoin

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1. "Bitcoin is the best-performing asset of the last decade, and it’s just getting started."
2. "Inflation is the most aggressive hidden tax we all pay."
3. "The Bitcoin network is impenetrable—it’s a source of truth tied to math, physics, and energy."
4. "Hope is the most motivating force in our lives, and Bitcoin gives us that hope."
5. "We’re at the starting gate of a major shift in how people save and store value."
6. "Self-custody is the key to protecting your Bitcoin and your financial future."
7. "Bitcoin is not political—it’s about financial freedom for everyone."
8. "This is the greatest opportunity for young people to build wealth and security."
9. "Bitcoin is hope, and hope is the foundation of a better future."
10. "We need a universal dream—a global sense of opportunity—and Bitcoin can help provide it."

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• The Bitcoin Standard by Saifedean Ammous - https://a.co/d/0Sqn7IC
• Documentary: God Bless Bitcoin - https://www.godblessbitcoin.com/
• Podcast: Coin Stories by Natalie Brunell - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coin-stories/id1569130932
• Website: https://talkingbitcoin.com
• Social Media: Follow Natalie on X (@NatBrunell)
• Learn about Bitcoin: https://www.hope.com/

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YouTube: https://youtube.com/rootedtoprosper

Support: https://bio.site/rootedtoprosper

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