Here For It

Pastors Aaron and Lauren get real about something they’ve practiced for 5 to 6 years: an annual marriage and family vision retreat. Starting out of a hard season and counseling, this practice became one of the most life-giving rhythms in their relationship.

In this episode, they walk through why having a vision for “this season” matters more than chasing a vague life vision, how couples drift without realizing it, and how intentional time away creates deeper connection, trust, and unity.

They also share practical tools for planning your own retreat, including recommended guides, what to do if you cannot travel, how to pace the conversations, and why the goal is not productivity but hearing God together.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
• Why most couples do not “fall apart,” they slowly drift
• How changing seasons (kids, schedules, unexpected family stress) demand new alignment
• What a vision retreat actually looks like (2 to 3 days, built-in fun, honest conversations)
• Why “we agree on principle” still breaks down in the details
• How to handle sensitive categories like finances, intimacy, and conflict without rushing
• The difference between a system and a God-breathed direction for your family

Resources mentioned:
• XO Marriage Vision Retreat Guidebook by Jimmy and Karen Evans (also available on Amazon)
• “Couple Goals” Vision Retreat resource from Sean and Lanette (shared as a free download via QR code when they visited)

Key Scripture referenced:
• Hebrews 2:1 (warning against drifting)

Chapters

00:00 Intro and topic setup
02:00 Why they started doing vision retreats (counseling, rebuilding trust)
07:00 Vision for a season vs “vision for your whole life”
12:00 What couples drift from and why it happens slowly
16:00 Retreat resources: XO guidebook + Couple Goals workbook
22:00 How to plan the retreat: get away, remove distractions, pace it
30:00 Common friction points: finances, intimacy, parenting, extended family
36:00 Daily, weekly, quarterly rhythms that support long-term connection
43:00 Systems vs God’s voice: finding “God’s way” together
50:00 Hebrews 2:1 and the warning against drift
54:00 Wrap-up

If you and your spouse have never done a vision retreat, start this year. Pick a weekend, grab a guidebook, and commit to honest conversations that help you hear God together. Your marriage is worth building on purpose.If you want the resources mentioned in this episode, go search:
• “XO Marriage Vision Retreat Guidebook”
• “Couple Goals vision retreat Sean and Lanette”

In this follow-up to their powerful conversation on godly women, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy turn the spotlight to the men. With honesty, humor, and real-life reflection, they walk through eight attributes of godly men — what it looks like to lead with prayer, love Scripture deeply, serve sacrificially, and live with integrity in a culture that often confuses pride for strength.

Aaron shares candid lessons from his own life and leadership journey, while Lauren offers a wife’s perspective on what real spiritual leadership looks like at home. Together, they unpack how godly men can lead from humility, protect their families without controlling them, and live disciplined, grounded lives that build trust and stability.

Key themes:

• Why godly men must learn to pray first, fix later
• The difference between spiritual authority and control
• Generosity as a reflection of trust, not performance
• How to love and prioritize your spouse in practical ways
• Living with integrity when the world values image over substance

• After a long-awaited return from sabbatical, Pastors Aaron and Lauren Kennedy dive deep into what it really means to be a godly woman in today’s world. Building off their recent marriage series, this episode explores the first half of their “Eight Attributes of Godly Men and Women” message, focusing on how women can cultivate prayer, trust, wisdom, and quiet confidence in a culture full of noise and pressure.

• With honesty, humor, and practical wisdom, Aaron and Lauren share how prayer keeps us grounded, how Scripture nourishes our souls, and why trusting God (not control) changes everything. From parenting to marriage to personal growth, this conversation is both challenging and deeply encouraging for anyone wanting to live with peace, purpose, and strength rooted in God.
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• Topics include:

• The difference between being busy for God vs. being still with God
• Why women can’t find peace without the posture of prayer
• Learning to trust God instead of controlling outcomes
• What real honor and wisdom look like in relationships
• The power of “quiet confidence” in a loud world

It has been said that if you try to become a good leader while you are in a position of leadership, you are setting yourself up for failure. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren share insights into how you can prepare for leadership long before you sit in a particular seat of leadership.

In today's culture, sexuality is an ongoing topic of discussion, but for parents, it can often be one of the more daunting subjects to discuss with their kids. When is the appropriate time to start the conversation? What is the world teaching my kids? In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren talk about how to bring the Holy Spirit into the conversation and why it is so important to be the first ones your kids hear from about sexuality.

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at ⁠⁠[email protected]

Difficult people are, unfortunately, a reality in our lives. At some point, we will be tasked with leading someone who seems to make things more challenging than they need to be. In those moments, how do we, as leaders, get the best out of the individual? Hint: it starts with leading the person we have the most difficult time leading—ourselves.

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at ⁠[email protected]

A healthy sex life is a vital part of a healthy marriage, but it is much deeper than just having sex frequently. It involves intimacy and truly understanding the depths of your spouse. Like all aspects of a relationship, this requires effort. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren provide helpful insights and practical tips for cultivating a thriving, holistic relationship.

Check out this helpful resource: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:ef60bc8e-064f-4523-ac92-72c2ea7abc82

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

In marriage, we all have different "factories" that shape and mold what we bring into a relationship. This can make things very challenging, especially when thinking about raising kids together. In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren discuss what it takes to navigate these challenges in a healthy way. Honor is key, and forgiveness is essential.

Check out this helpful resource: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:1058f84b-d0cc-4b28-8c54-80aaf53b9369

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren discuss how to navigate and grow in a relationship with someone with differing attachment styles. They take a look at Genesis to see how attachment styles correlate all the way back to the fall. Every relationship has unique differences between people, but the willingness to work on it is key to understanding and growing within it.

Check out this helpful resource: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:6c68d315-0e17-4cae-8921-53d3b33b5bc1

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]

Navigating "triggers" in relationships can be "triggering." In this episode, Pastors Aaron and Lauren recount one of the first times this occurred for them, explaining how they managed it then and how they address it now. They provide valuable resources to help you tackle these challenges in a healthy manner.

Check out the helpful resources listed below.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:646e9353-6992-4bbf-9ac0-0879539a87c2

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:US:53dfbbc8-236f-441b-a519-6211cb710a39

For any questions or comments you would like to share, leave a comment or email us at [email protected]