In this revealing episode of Lights On, Carl and Laura Lentz tackle the hidden baggage that can make or break relationships. With divorce rates climbing above 50%, they share the critical questions you must ask before committing your life to someone.

The couple dives into relationship templates and patterns, revealing how your upbringing shapes your expectations in love. They explore the difference between healthy disagreement and toxic manipulation, offering practical tools to spot red flags early.

Carl and Laura also address the overuse of "narcissism" as a relationship buzzword, providing clinical insight into what true narcissistic behavior actually looks like versus normal selfishness or addiction-related patterns.

From money conversations to compatibility, they share the essential discussions every couple needs to have—and why waiting until after marriage might be too late.

This episode is a wake-up call for anyone who's ever wondered why their relationships keep following the same destructive patterns, offering hope and practical wisdom for building something better.

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As always, we appreciate you lights on listeners.

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In this powerful episode of Lights On, Carl Lentz sits down with longtime friend Andrew Simila for a raw, vulnerable conversation about healing after church hurt. The two reflect on their years of ministry at Hillsong, the fallout that followed, and the emotional wreckage left behind.

Andrew opens up about the personal cost of staying loyal, the silence that followed the scandal, and the hard work it took to rebuild from rock bottom. Carl shares how one unexpected phone call with Andrew became the turning point in his own healing journey.

Together, they explore what it really means to forgive, grow, and show up healthier than before—not for anyone else, but for yourself.

This episode of Lights On is a gripping reminder that restoration is possible, but only if you’re willing to do the work.

Chapter Markers:

00:00 - The Impact of Church Hurt

07:55 - Restoration Is Possible — But It Takes Work

15:30 - How Coaching Triggered a Healing Journey

23:06 - Trying to Rebuild Life After Hillsong

30:20 - Comfort vs. Growth: The Coaching Mindset

38:30 - What 'Church Hurt' Really Means

45:12 - The Real Work Behind Reconciliation

52:06 - Victim Mentality vs. Ownership

59:27 - How to Rewrite Your Story

1:06:57 - Digging Deep to Heal for Real Growth

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Your experience is real—but is it the whole truth? In this episode of Lights On, Laura and I unpack how to honor what you've been through without letting it hijack your future. We talk about healing, empathy, church hurt, relationships, and why holding your experience with humility might be the most powerful thing you can do right now.

This one's honest, unfiltered, and necessary. Let’s keep getting better—together.

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