In this raw and unprecedented episode of Lights On, Carl Lentz sits down for an exclusive interview with Blaine Bartel, a former megachurch pastor who built one of America's largest youth ministries before losing everything due to a 23-year secret addiction. For the first time, Blaine opens up about the moment his double life was completely exposed, the "terrifying grace" that shattered his world in 24 hours, and the brutal honesty required to rebuild from absolute rock bottom. They discuss everything from the difference between recovery and resurrection, why churches abandon fallen pastors, and the uncomfortable truths about what really happens when ministry success collides with hidden shame. From the shock of losing his marriage and ministry to discovering what true freedom actually looks like, this conversation reveals how one man died to everything he was and found life again. Whether you're struggling with addiction, wondering if restoration is possible, or simply curious about what real redemption looks like, this interview offers hope without sugarcoating the cost. Warning: This episode contains discussions about sexual addiction, ministry failure, and the kind of honest conversations most people never have.

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Follow Carl at: https://www.instagram.com/carllentz/

Follow Blaine at: https://blainebartell.com/

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Supported by God Behind Bars https://godbehindbars.com

Supported by Plana https://plana.org/

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Blaine's Background: From Ministry Success to 23-Year Secret

03:33 - "God Issued a Warrant for My Soul" - Complete Exposure in 24 Hours

05:09 - "You'll Never Get Free" - The Doctor's Devastating Prediction

06:45 - Recovery vs Resurrection: The Moment Everything Changed

08:20 - "Jesus Makes Dead People Alive" - True Heart Transformation

10:45 - Death Before Resurrection: Why the Cross Comes First

12:43 - Why Pastors Fall So Hard and the Problem of Quick Comebacks

17:34 - GOD BEHIND BARS PARTNERSHIP

18:18 - The Loneliest Moment: When Everyone Cuts You Off

24:28 - Carl's Story: Being Completely Shunned by Hillsong Church

30:41 - Why Churches Choose Brand Protection Over Restoration

36:14 - The Day They Finally Lifted Their Heads Again

39:16 - PLANA.ORG PARTNERSHIP

40:16 - Jesus Washing Feet: The Vision That Changed Everything

43:37 - Understanding Addiction: The Three Greatest Fears of Every Man

48:31 - Brain Chemistry vs Willpower: Why "Moral Failure" Misses the Point

52:38 - Sacred Rituals: Bridging the Gap Between Inspiration and Transformation

59:15 - Vision for the Man vs Vision for the Career: What Really Matters

1:02:48 - How to Safeguard Your Life: Full-Throated Confession and Community

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In this transformative episode of Lights On, Carl and Laura Lentz confront the uncomfortable truths that most people spend their entire lives avoiding. Together, they reveal the three hard truths that saved their marriage and transformed their lives: why you're 99% responsible for your problems (and solutions), why the relationship with yourself determines everything else, and why comfort is slowly killing your growth. Laura opens up about watching Carl face his emotional illiteracy, while Carl shares his therapy breakthrough discovering the childhood emotion that controlled him for decades. They discuss everything from why your spouse can't fulfill all your needs to the dangerous lie that prayer alone will fix your problems, and why men who can't name their emotions become volcanoes waiting to explode.

This raw conversation exposes the victim mentality that keeps people stuck, the mirror test that changes everything, and why BBLs are the perfect metaphor for our culture's addiction to shortcuts. Whether you're tired of your own excuses, stuck in the same patterns, or ready to stop waiting for someone else to save you, this episode offers the brutal honesty needed for real transformation. Warning: This episode contains hard truths that will challenge your comfort zone and may trigger those committed to their victim stories.

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Follow Carl at: https://www.instagram.com/carllentz/

Follow Laura at: https://www.instagram.com/lauralentz/

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Supported by God Behind Bars https://godbehindbars.com

Supported by Plana https://plana.org/

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CHAPTERS:

00:00 - Your Spouse Cannot Fulfill All Your Needs

06:00 - Truth #1: You Are 99% The Problem AND The Solution

09:31 - The Victim Mentality & Morgan Wallen's Easy Way Out

21:24 - God Behind Bars Partnership

22:02 - Truth #2: The Most Important Relationship Is With Yourself

27:20 - Why Repressed Emotions Make You a Volcano

33:02 - Carl's Therapy Breakthrough: The Terror He Carried for 5 Years

37:03 - Plana.org Partnership: Help for the Unexpected

37:49 - Truth #3: Growth Only Happens Outside Comfort

40:33 - BBLs & Ozempic: Why Shortcuts Always Fail

43:55 - "Prayer Without Work Is Just Wishful Thinking"

46:05 - The One-Week Challenge: Live as Your Best Version

49:17 - "The Hard Truth Is I Love You"

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this raw and unprecedented episode of Lights On, Carl Lentz sits down for an exclusive interview with his wife Laura – the woman who chose to stay when 99.9% of people said she should leave. For the first time, Laura opens up about the moment that made her stay, the day-by-day survival strategy that saved their marriage, and the brutal honesty required to rebuild after betrayal. They discuss everything from losing their entire friend group to why Laura went to therapy for Carl's mistakes, and the uncomfortable truths about what really happens in intimate moments after infidelity. From the shock of discovering a hidden life to Christmas alone while Carl was in rehab, this conversation reveals how two people rebuilt from ground zero. Whether you're navigating betrayal, wondering if trust can be restored, or simply curious about what real redemption looks like, this interview offers hope without sugarcoating the cost. Warning: This episode contains discussions about infidelity, trauma, and the kind of honest conversations most couples never have.

Follow Carl at: https://www.instagram.com/carllentz/

Follow Laura at: https://www.instagram.com/lauralentz/

Supported by God Behind Bars https://godbehindbars.com

Supported by Plana https://plana.org/

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - "Why Didn't You Walk Out On Me?" The Opening Question

02:02 - The Phone Call That Changed Everything: Carl's Childhood Trauma Revealed

05:04 - "One Day at a Time" - The Marriage Contract That Saved Us

09:01 - When Laura Reads the DMs (And Why Carl Has to Leave)

10:47 - The Brad Pitt Test: Would She Have Left?

11:53 - God Behind Bars Partnership

12:30 - Losing Our Church: The Friends Who Never Called

15:31 - How Laura Relearned Her Intuition After Betrayal

17:01 - The Beach Conversation That Sent Carl to Rehab

18:49 - Christmas Alone: When Healing Meant Separation

20:55 - "Laura Must Have Known" - Addressing the Cheap Shots

24:41 - Why "Biblical" Advice Almost Destroyed Us

30:13 - Plana.org: Help for the Unexpected

30:54 - The Friends We Lost (And Why It Feels Good Now)

38:42 - "Do You Worry I'll Cheat Again?" The Hard Question

42:11 - What She Really Thinks During Romantic Moments

45:23 - Euphoric Recall: The Addiction Truth Nobody Talks About

48:27 - Why Brutal Honesty Builds More Trust Than Perfect Answers

50:22 - The People Who Judge the Loudest Hide the Most

53:29 - Open Marriages, Honesty & Why Context Matters

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.