On Monday, we’ll present an encore episode of Take 2 With Jerry and Debbie. It features listeners’ takes on how they are currently (or previously) employed in a field completely different from the area they studied in college or elsewhere. It made for a lively discussion the first time around, so be sure you make a little time on Labor Day to revisit this with us!

Just like in nature, life comes complete with a lot of storms. Some are rockier than others. What have you had to overcome to be the person you are today? An illness? An injury? A lost relationship? Losing your personal possessions in a fire or natural disaster? Going through difficulties helps us build our emotional and psychological muscles. But it sure isn’t fun at times. On Thursday, let’s talk about growing in strength and faith through the inevitable adversities of life.

It may not appear to be related to the spiritual life, but how we save money when we can is a very significant thing. It’s a different concept than how we contribute money to charitable causes. Making the effort to save money in every area of our lives is a way of honoring the gifts God has given us and proving that we are good stewards of his generosity. There are countless ways to do this. From clipping grocery coupons, to bundling your home entertainment services. From comparing prices at the store, to not running your heat or air conditioning as much as you might like. Maybe you make a conscious effort to eat out less frequently. Or you could be a parent who convinces your children that they don’t need the latest and greatest fashions or gadgets that many of their friends are wearing and using. Let’s have a creative and beneficial conversation about this. Can you list your top three money-saving strategies? Have you taken notice of how much you’re saving (or just not spending)? Has the money you’ve saved afforded you the opportunity to do other fruitful things in your personal or family life? Has it made it possible for you to give more to the Church or your favorite charity? Maybe it has made you more grateful for every penny the Lord gives you. Enlighten and inspire the rest of us with your take on Monday.

You’re in an elevator at the hotel where you’re staying on vacation or on a work trip. You’re wearing a crucifix or other obvious religious symbol. The person in the elevator with you asks if you’re a Christian. You have from the ground floor to the 17th floor to share your “elevator speech” testimony with them. We’re not going to time you, but see what you can come up with that would possibly change that other person’s life in a matter of seconds. You might share that you were born and raised Catholic. Maybe you’d want them to know that you became a Christian after living an unfulfilled life far away from God for many years. It could be the Eucharist that you focus on. Share your take on how you would witness to the power of Jesus in your life in a very short elevator ride to your hotel floor.

We’re all familiar with the crucifix. We may have many of them in our homes. They’re obviously in all of our Catholic churches. Perhaps we wear them around our necks or wrists. They’re depicted in religious art the world over. This is all great. But it can contribute to our taking the crucifix for granted. Take a moment and reflect on what it is that you “see” when you gaze upon Christ on the cross. Are you most moved by the total sacrifice He made for you? Perhaps you’re impacted by the pain He must have experienced in his head by the crown of thorns. You may relate most easily to the nails in His wrists or feet. There’s a saying that it was Jesus’ love that held Him to the cross, not the nails. How do you feel His love when you meditate upon the crucifix? Are you able to see your sins nailed to the cross? Does that give you the freedom to let go of them? When you look at Jesus on the cross are you inclined to unite your trials and sufferings to His? Do you believe that there is power in such a spiritual union of your heart with His? Your take today could make it a little easier for someone who is suffering to see the crucifix as the answer to their pain.

We’re all familiar with the stories of people who say, “God, I’ll never do (fill in the blank) again if you just help me out of this situation!” Or, “Lord, if you do (fill in the blank) for me right now, I will do (fill in the blank) for you the rest of my life.” Does God enter into agreements like that? Can we “bargain” or “negotiate” with God? Do our offerings of service to Him make Him act in a certain way when we make those promises? Have you ever been in a situation where you needed God’s immediate help? Did you offer Him something in return for His swift action? What is your understanding of how God will move in your life? Have you tried to make a deal with Him over something? Did you see the results you were praying for? Did you uphold your end of the bargain? Some would say that prayer changes us, not God. Do you think we are able to change the mind of God? Or change His will in particular circumstances? Share your take on this topic on Friday with Jerry and Debbie – and the world!

Have you lived through a devastating loss or experience that left you thinking you would never recover? You’d never be “yourself” again? You’d never get over it or move beyond it? If not, your time just hasn’t come yet. This is part of every life. No one will navigate their entire life without going through it. The key is to allow the power of Jesus’ healing to put the shattered pieces back together again. What have you gone through that you can now look back and honestly say, “I’m OK now”? Maybe you’re just starting to feel “OK.” Perhaps you’re somewhere along that path, but not fully there yet. Is it even possible to get back to where you were emotionally and psychologically, or even be better and stronger? If that has happened to you let us know about it. As always, you could turn a life around with what you share on the program.

As Christians we’re called to make a difference in the temporal order. That means taking Jesus into all areas of life, including the workplace. For today’s young adults that can be a real challenge. The forces acting against them are enormous and intimidating. They are often shouted down by the enemies of faith and virtue. So, how are they supposed to influence their peers for good? Are you a young adult Catholic just getting started in your career? How is it going so far? Are you in a working environment that allows you to freely be who you are as a Catholic Christian? Do you have to guard your faith so as to not “rock the boat?” Worse, if you speak up are you subject to reprisals from your peers or bosses? Have you been able to turn the hearts of your co-workers toward Jesus and the faith? Do you have support in your faith as a young Catholic professional? Call Monday and make a difference in the life of a fellow young Catholic professional who may be in a difficult position. Our guest will be Jennifer Baugh, founder and executive director of Young Catholic Professionals. 

If Jesus were alive today would He use marketing and advertising to spread His message of love and salvation? Regardless of the answer to that question, we, His followers, do use those means in our work of evangelization. In essence, there’s nothing wrong with trying to get people to know of your existence and what you have to offer. But with the proliferation of so many forms of media, does it feel to you like everytime you blink you’re being bombarded with another ad? Billboards. Magazines (some of which exist almost solely to sell ad space). Blogs and websites that blitz you with pop-up and banner ads. YouTube actually allowing you to pay so you don’t have to watch ads. Even gas pumps now have video monitors trying to sell you things you don’t want or need. How do you feel about all of this? Does it bother you? Maybe it doesn’t. Perhaps you let it roll off your back quite easily. In either case, let’s have a frank discussion of whether or not it’s gotten out of hand. Share your take on Tuesday’s show.