We felt the need to address this topic in light of the recent tragedy that took place at the Baptist Church in Texas.  Also, remembering the Charleston, SC church shooting as well.  Houses of worship should be places where we can be at peace, feel safe and secure while we give praise to God.  Sadly, in this day and age, churches are not off-limits to terrorists, or extremists.  Now that churches are fair game, how should we respond.  Should we have armed guards at the entrances of our churches?  Should we enlist civilians to stand guard and protect the congregation?  Or are we going too far with this mindset?  Let’s talk about this unfortunate reality on Thursday’s Take 2 with Jerry and Debbie.  Call in and share your take, 1-800-585-9396.

We all have difficulty sleeping at night sometimes. Maybe you are the type of person that consistently wakes up around 3AM. (That is Debbie’s issue) Now that you are up staring at the ceiling, do your thoughts turn to prayer?  If so, do you pick up the rosary or do you just start talking to God as if He was in the room.  Some of the most heartfelt prayers are made during the middle of the night.  Share with us your experience of turning to pray when you cannot rest. Call us at 1-800-585-9396.

Our monthly Unscripted Show is quite popular.  It is a great time for you to ask anything, revisit past shows, suggest future topics or just share what is on your heart.  So please call in early and be a part of this open forum that we call unscripted.  We have nothing preplanned on our part, we simply wait for you to set the tone and direction of the show.  That’s what makes Take 2 so unique and exciting, it is all up to you!  Call us at 1-800-585-9396.

We are all products of our families. No one more than our parents. From the youngest of ages, our eyes are on our fathers and mothers. Children learn at the earliest age by watching their parents. Did you learn love from your parents? Perhaps you came from a family whose parents fought a lot. Or maybe you came from a family of worriers. It’s not unusual for kids to take on the traits of their parents. Which parent had the most impact on you? Was it your mother or father? Or maybe you are a healthy balance of both.  Let’s talk about this and more on the next Take 2 with Jerry and Debbie. (Jerry is traveling and will not be on the show, so please keep him in your prayers for a safe journey) Please do call in though and keep Debbie company, 1-800-585-9396.

Many of us will say that we have learned how to be generous from our parents.  That is a wonderful thing.  But some of us have learned this virtuous trait by that special person that modeled generosity so earnestly. It might just be that you learned how to be kind, caring and generous from your neighbor, a friend, a boss, a teacher or maybe your beloved spouse.  Share with us and the world who taught you generosity and maybe provide some examples that you witnessed that left an impact on you.  Call Jerry and Debbie at 1-800-585-9396.

There is nothing like experiencing something in life for the very first time.  First Holy Communion, driving a car, going off to college, getting married, having your first child.  These events in life are filled with joy, excitement and a sense of awe for what life and our faith has to offer.  We are also presented with activities and encounters on a daily basis that we enter into routinely.  So many of us go on auto pilot because we know what to expect from these day-to-day events.  The challenge is how to keep routine things from becoming mundane.  We should be mindful of the present moment and embrace all our experiences as if they were brand new to us.  This includes spending time with family and friends, attending Mass, praying the rosary.  Call in to Friday’s Take 2 with Jerry and Debbie and share how you have kept things anew in your life.  Remember, what you share can impact another soul in a profound way.  1-800-585-9396.

It has been often said, that if you have just one friend then you are truly blessed.  This idea of a “circle of trust” is an interesting concept.  It was first made popular by Robert De Niro in the movie, Meet the Parents.  This is a coveted group to be a part of.  To have someone’s trust is quite an honor and privilege.  To have a sense of loyalty in a friendship is admirable.  Share with us your thoughts about trusted friends.  What qualities are important to you for your circle of trust.  Should we even hold people to such high standards in friendships or are we setting ourselves up for disappointment.  Share your “take” on this by calling 1-800-585-9396.

Being attached to material things or even activities can leave us bound, unable to soar in our spiritual life.  Detachment gives us the space to grow in faith, to become spiritually mature.  When we purge the lesser things of life to make room for the magnificent gifts of God, we experience a freedom that is beyond words.  Yet, the art of detachment can be hard to master.  This world and the things of it are very alluring. Our own pride and sinfulness can be a stumbling block when it comes to detaching.  We must make a conscious effort to remove the things that are holding us back from God.  So what is keeping you from soaring?  That is what we will be discussing together on Monday’s Take 2 with Jerry and Debbie.  If you want to be on the show, just call us at 1-800-585-9396.

Jerry is traveling on Friday, so Debbie will be taking your calls for the monthly Unscripted show.  Debbie will be joined by a hometown guest and catechetical leader in the Diocese of Phoenix, Tom Perna.  Unscripted is your chance to revisit past shows, suggest future topics, or just talk about whatever is on your mind and heart.  This open forum moves rather quickly so if you want to be on the show, call in early at 1-800-585-9396.

St Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless oh Lord, until they rest in You.” Such a true statement, yet many of us seem to want to fill this void in our hearts by seeking out human love at all costs.  Our need for love is incredibly strong and it is even heightened if, as children, there was a lack of love exhibited.  Co-dependent relationships on the surface appear to fill this strong desire for love and affection.  However, these kinds of relationships tend to lead to destructive patterns and negative outcomes for one or both parties concerned. There is a call to be dependent on one another not just for our temporal needs but for eternal goals.  Our dependency on each other should be healthy and ultimately help us into heaven, as in the case of marriage.  Let’s talk about all forms of dependency with co-dependency being the first we tackle. Share your take on this by calling, 1-800-585-9396.