As durable as the human psyche can be, it can also be very fragile in certain instances. We’re all formed to one degree or another by the things we experience in life, things that are said to us, the way we are treated by others, etc. It doesn’t take long to realize that some of us have a much higher self-image than others. The key to remember, however, is that no one is “better” or “worse” than anyone else when it comes to our intrinsic dignity and worth. Do you sometimes think things about yourself like:

• God couldn’t possibly have a special purpose for my life
• I know I won’t be able to finish what I’ve set out to do
• There’s no way I measure up to (name of someone you admire)
• All I do is fail whenever I try to accomplish something
• I’m just not a good person, that’s all
• I wish I were never born
• I’m never going to amount to anything

These and countless other thoughts run through many of our minds. How do we defeat them and discover our true self-worth? Reframing who we are, and whose we are, can go a long way toward doing just that. Inside of you is a person made just the way you are by a God who has from all eternity had a purpose that only you can fulfill. No one else! Let’s talk about the very rewarding exercise of learning to think of ourselves and act accordingly.

The United States was built upon the foundation of God and His ways. When questioned, many people would still say that we are a “Christian” nation. In many ways we are. But in some very important ways we are not. As you look out over our land, how do you see this?

• Are you hopeful that God is still woven into the fabric of our nation?
• Has your belief in that notion waned over the years?
• How do you evangelize in your own family, neighborhood and workplace?
• Do you see a trend in any particular direction?
• What is the typical response when you share your faith with others?
• Do most people even want to hear what you have to say about God and faith?

This will be another lively conversation. Please join us!

Authentic love involves willing the good of another. We’re all faced with opportunities each day to manifest this kind of love. Call in and share an instance when you acted selflessly out of love for another. This isn’t about bragging, it’s about inspiring and teaching the world that coming out of ourselves and putting our own needs on hold, and that we are all capable of doing this. Examples abound:

• Getting out of bed at all hours of the night to tend to the needs of your children
• Stopping to help at the scene of a traffic accident
• Running out into the rain to help your elderly neighbor carry in her groceries
• Saving up to pay for a child’s education, while putting off some dreams of your own
• Jumped in the water to save someone who was struggling or drowning
• Donating blood or an organ to someone in need
• etc.

This should be another inspiring episode of the program.

Our lives are often made happier and more fulfilled when we have pets. Sometimes, we do a kind deed and “rescue” an animal from a shelter or elsewhere. Many will even say that their animal “rescued” them (you’ve seen the bumper stickers). On Monday, let’s talk about this.

• Have you taken in a pet that may have faced a dire future?
• How has that gone for you and/or your family?
• What made you choose the animal you did?
• Do you have more than one rescue animal?
• Tell us how they have brought joy to your life.

Above is Debbie and Marty’s dog, Gracie.

Above is Jerry’s dog, Duc (pronounced like Duke)

What a wave of things to be hit with. An “invisible enemy” known as the coronavirus. Debate over where it originated. How many people will be infected by the virus? Is it easily spread from person-to-person? Is there anything that can “treat” those with the virus? What about a vaccine? On top of all that, we have more or less shut down our lives, and that includes our participation in public religious services. While we’ve been asked to do our best to keep the faith alive at home:

• How has your faith life been doing?
• Has the pandemic deepened your faith?
• Has the shutdown of our churches caused a hiccup in your otherwise devout faith?
• How have you gone deeper into the Bible?
• Have you spent time studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church?
• Are you praying more, including the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and other powerful prayers?
• Does your faith tell you that we’re going to get through this and come out stronger for having been through this experience?

Join Jerry and Debbie on Thursday and join the conversation on this subject.

Easter is a normally a time when countless people come into full communion with the Catholic Church. (God-willing, this year’s converts won’t have to wait much longer). All year round people return to a practice of their Catholic faith after some time away. These people are often referred to as reverts.

• Have you come back to the Catholic Church following a period of time away?
• What was it like to return and receive the sacraments again?
• What were the main reasons you felt it necessary to leave the Church in the first place?
• Did you embrace another Christian tradition?
• Or did you leave Christianity altogether?
• Was there anyone who was instrumental in your return to Catholicism?
• How joyful are you now that you have “come home?”

Call and share your personal lived experience on Thursday’s show.

Twice a month, Jerry and Debbie invite you to call with your important prayer intentions. One of these shows is dedicated to taking your intentions that are urgent, and that need God’s attention right away. That’s what we have prepared for you on Wednesday. Please join us with your urgent intentions, and let’s all be united in prayer for one another’s important and timely needs.

As we enter the beautiful liturgical season of Easter, we are painfully reminded at this present moment that we are unable to receive Jesus in the Eucharist due to the suspension of public Masses. Hopefully, this is having the effect on you of intensifying your devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament, and your longing to once again receive Jesus’ Body and Blood at Holy Mass. On Monday, join Jerry and Debbie with your personal experience of seeing someone mistreat or mishandle the Holy Eucharist. It could have been things like:

• An individual taking the host and putting it in their pocket
• Someone receiving Jesus while looking and acting completely disinterested
• An Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion dropping a host on the floor and just picking it right back up and giving it to the next person in line
• A person who willy-nilly takes the chalice of Precious Blood, not caring if some spills out
• And many more

Many times things happen by accident, and there is no fault on the part of the individual involved. But other times these incidents are a result of inattentiveness, poor understanding of the Real Presence or simply not taking care to handle the Eucharist properly.

If you’re keeping up with the latest conversations about the Covid-19 pandemic, you’ve likely heard some people express their belief that it is a result of the devil’s intervention in the world. What to make of such an opinion? We thought we would turn to a trusted friend and previous guest on the program – religious demonologist Adam Blai – for some answers and clarity. Jerry and Debbie recorded a show with him that will air on Thursday. We believe it’s a program you won’t want to miss!

In yet another instance of coincidental timing, Take 2 With Jerry and Debbie will feature another show on Tuesday that has tremendous significance during these days of the pandemic, when most kids are home more than they otherwise would be. People of all ages play video games, but the demographics definitely skew toward younger people. This topic was suggested by a listener named Allan, who, on a recent Unscripted show, mentioned that he may be playing too many video games. Here are some things to be thinking about for Tuesday’s broadcast:

• Do you play video games?
• Are you on any sort of time limit?
• Is it difficult to get your kids to stop playing video games?
• What is your take on the different types of video games, so many of which portray brutality and violence?
• Perhaps you’re just fine with every genre of video games?
• Have you observed any behavioral changes in those around you – especially your kids – who’ve played a lot of video games?
• Do you think there is any connection at all between violent video games and attacks by youth on their peers and others?
• Are such “links” blown out of proportion?

Remember, it’s your show, so be sure to call in and share your take on this very important subject.

Another listener in Texas suggested viewing these two episodes on the topic: