SHOOT THE BREEZE | Cultivate Relationships

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey sit down six months after a season of Nathan's failure and share an honest update on what God has been doing in their lives. They discuss repentance, recovery, counseling, accountability, learning to recognize vulnerability, and the importance of Nathan addressing root issues instead of just behaviors. They also reflect on the impact on their family, the humility they've gained, and the hope they've found as they continue walking the long road of healing together.— EPISODE CHAPTERS —(00:00) An Honest BeginningNathan opens with prayer before sharing a candid update on his failure, taking responsibility for the broken trust it caused and affirming that the hope of Jesus and the message of freedom remain true despite personal failure.(18:45) Catching the Warning SignsLacey explains how identifying "circles of behavior" has transformed their recovery journey by recognizing the attitudes, emotions, and habits that lead toward temptation long before destructive choices occur.(30:54) Humility Changes EverythingNathan reflects on how recovery has reshaped his view of ministry, admitting past arrogance, embracing the value of other ministries, and learning that God often uses multiple people and approaches in the healing process.(44:31) Our Family Six Months LaterNathan and Lacey share an update on their family, discussing grief, change, and the ongoing consequences of failure while also recognizing God's faithfulness, growth, and hope in the middle of a difficult season.— EPISODE LINKS —• Walking Free Recovery Ministryhttps://www.wfrecovery.org/• More Content & Resources at Our Websitehttps://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Lacey sits down with life and recovery coach Jenni Hubby to talk about addiction, recovery, and God’s heart for those walking through it. Drawing from her own journey into sobriety and decades of experience helping others, Jenni explores common misconceptions Christians often have about addiction. Together they discuss why simply “stopping” a behavior is not the whole story, how faith and practical steps work together in recovery, and what it looks like to walk toward lasting healing and restored identity.— EPISODE CHAPTERS —(00:00) Introducing Jenni HubbyLacey introduces life and recovery coach Jenni Hubby, sharing her background, her work helping people overcome past obstacles, and the personal connection she and her husband have had supporting Lacey and Nathan’s family during this difficult season.(23:22) Misconceptions About Addiction in the ChurchJenni reflects on common misunderstandings Christians have about addiction, including the idea that people simply need more faith or should just stop the behavior. She explains why stopping is only the beginning of real recovery.(46:52) Addressing the Pain Beneath AddictionThe conversation shifts toward the deeper issues that fuel addictive behaviors. Jenni and Lacey discuss how unresolved pain, trauma, and internal turmoil often drive addiction, and why healing those roots is essential.(1:07:11) Walking Out Faith in RecoveryThe episode closes by exploring what it looks like to actively walk out faith during recovery. Jenni shares how lasting change requires both spiritual trust in God and practical steps that help people remain grounded in freedom.— EPISODE LINKS —• Jenni Hubby | Life Coachhttps://www.jhubconsulting.com/• More Content & Resources at Our Websitehttps://cultivaterelationships.com/

BIBLE SCHOOL EDITION — Nathan and Phil kick off a new four-part series on Salvation, exploring what it means to be rescued, restored, and made new through Jesus. They unpack how salvation is more than escaping sin or judgment — it’s about relational redemption, daily transformation, and becoming who the Father always designed us to be. This conversation redefines salvation as the starting point of a life lived in partnership with God, not merely a ticket to heaven.— EPISODE CHAPTERS —(00:00) Foundations of SalvationNathan and Phil set the tone for the series, contrasting common misunderstandings of salvation with the biblical picture of restored relationship and divine purpose.(16:47) Why We Need SavingThey discuss humanity’s brokenness — not as inherited guilt, but as our habitual turning from God — and how Jesus’ work reclaims what sin and death distorted.(30:55) From Rules to RelationshipThis section explores the danger of reducing faith to legalism and how true salvation moves us from performance-based religion to Spirit-led transformation.(49:15) Activation StepsThis episode closes with an invitation to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas where salvation has been misunderstood and to step into deeper trust and intimacy with the Father.— EPISODE LINKS —• Episode Noteshttps://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb149• Podcast Playlist | Faithhttps://cultivaterelationships.com/faith• More Content & Resources at Our Websitehttps://cultivaterelationships.com/

BIBLE SCHOOL EDITION — Nathan and Phil wrap up the discussion on Faith in discussing the Church, exploring what it means to trust God’s design for His body even when people fail us. Through personal stories and Scripture, they unpack leadership wounds, offense, and the enduring promise of Jesus in Matthew 16 — that his Church will prevail.— EPISODE CHAPTERS —(00:00) Faith, the Church, and OffenseThe episode opens with humor and honesty about how faith gets tested when we experience hurt or disappointment in church life. The discussion centers on trusting God more than people.(16:04) The Foundation Jesus BuiltPhil and Nathan unpack Matthew 16 and 18, showing how Jesus’ words to Peter reveal a Church rooted in the gospel, not in human control or hierarchy.(31:25) Offense, Authority, and the KingdomThe conversation moves into how offense affects unity and how the Church can handle correction, leadership, and restoration biblically and relationally.(55:15) Activation StepsThis episode closes with an invitation to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of offense, release old hurts, and reengage the Church with renewed trust and faith in God’s design.— EPISODE LINKS —• Episode Noteshttps://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb148/• Podcast Playlist | Unlovehttps://cultivaterelationships.com/unlove/• More Content & Resources at Our Websitehttps://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey equip listeners to walk others through the Freedom Booklet. They cover two practical formats — intentional one-on-one meetings and small groups (typically 2–4 participants) with a leader and co-leader — and share concrete best practices: set dates and timelines, provide accountability and simple hospitality (quiet space, coffee, childcare), keep leaders as facilitators (not counselors), enforce confidentiality and speaking rules, use the instructional videos, check in between sessions, and always allow the Holy Spirit to lead. It’s a practical, encouragement-filled guide for helping people move from stuck to free.   — EPISODE LINKS — • The Freedom Booklet https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • Using This Resource with Others (PDF) https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • More Content & Resources At Our Website https://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey guide listeners through the last step of The Freedom Booklet, Step Nine: Receive and Replace — a transformative process of letting go of lies and replacing them with the Holy Spirit’s truth. Rather than simply releasing pain or sin, this step invites you to actively receive what Jesus is speaking over you, aligning your heart with His Word and stepping into lasting freedom. They explain how this isn’t just a cognitive shift but an invitation to action — hearing from God, walking in obedience, and marking the moment as a testimony of His work. This process closes the loop on the past and launches you forward into a future of hope and healing.   — EPISODE LINKS — • The Freedom Booklet https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • STB124 | BSE | Real, Vulnerable Prayer E1 https://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb124/ • STB125 | BSE | Real, Vulnerable Prayer E2 https://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb125/ • More Content & Resources At Our Website https://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey discuss Step Eight — release and blessing — the part of resolving sin, loss, and offense that often gets overlooked but is essential to true freedom. Drawing from Matthew 5 and Romans 12, they show how the process of freedom is incomplete without releasing our expectations, debts, and hurts to God, whether in offense, loss, or personal sin. Release means surrendering control, shame, or unmet expectations and entrusting them fully to God’s justice and healing. But it doesn’t stop there — release flows into blessing, choosing to sacrificially pray for good even for those who have wounded us. As they share stories of transformation, they reveal how this process breaks bitterness, redirects our hearts, and opens the door to healing, freedom, and restored perspective in Jesus.   — EPISODE LINKS — • The Freedom Booklet https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • Podcast Playlist | Forgiveness https://cultivaterelationships.com/forgiveness/ • More Content & Resources At Our Website https://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey step into the hard but freeing process of forgiveness. Scripture makes it clear that forgiving others is not optional, yet it often feels impossible. Forgiveness is more than ignoring the hurt or pretending it didn’t happen — it’s canceling the debt someone owes us and releasing them, even when what they did was real and painful. Through practical steps and honest reflection, you’ll learn how forgiveness reorients your heart, releases expectations, and opens the door for God’s healing power to work in your life. Discover how choosing forgiveness — even when it feels like obedience without emotion — creates space for true freedom.   — EPISODE LINKS — • The Freedom Booklet https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • Podcast Playlist | Forgiveness https://cultivaterelationships.com/forgiveness/ • More Content & Resources At Our Website https://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey explore Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant and how it reveals our tendency to demand payment from others when we fail to rest in God’s forgiveness. They discuss the real meaning of repentance — more than admitting fault, it’s a Spirit-led reorientation of our hearts toward God. Therefore, true repentance acknowledges not only our outward actions but also the unhealthy thoughts and attitudes we’ve carried. Through confession and surrender, we invite God’s cleansing, release the grip of unforgiveness, and step into healing. This conversation shows that repentance is not punishment but freedom — the path where brokenness gives way to a restored relationship with God and others.   — EPISODE LINKS — • The Freedom Booklet https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • More Content & Resources At Our Website https://cultivaterelationships.com/

In this episode, Nathan and Lacey walk through Step Five of The Freedom Booklet, highlighting how gratitude becomes a catalyst to begin the process of the Holy Spirit healing our wounds. They explain that when we give thanks — even for painful experiences — we are not excusing the hurt but acknowledging God’s presence and redemptive work in the middle of it. Gratitude shifts our focus from what was lost to how God is redeeming, transforming bitterness into peace and despair into hope. This conversation shows how thanksgiving is more than a discipline; it’s a doorway to freedom, helping us release pain, embrace healing, and see our lives through the lens of God working all things for our good (that is, Him making what was evil and broken into what will be beneficial for us).   — EPISODE LINKS — • The Freedom Booklet https://cultivaterelationships.com/the-freedom-booklet/ • STB107 | Grieving the Loss of a Child + Sarah P1 https://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb107/ • STB108 | Coping & Resolving Loss + Sarah P2:E1 https://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb108/ • STB109 | Coping & Resolving Loss + Sarah P2:E2 https://cultivaterelationships.com/shoot-the-breeze/stb109/ • More Content & Resources At Our Website https://cultivaterelationships.com/