Monday, Jerry and Debbie are en route to the Holy Land with a group of sixty people as part of Vocation Boom’s first-ever pilgrimage. Please pray for us as we’re on the trip. And we’ll come to you live several times while we’re in Israel. For today, we taped a “Random Takes” broadcast, where you our great listeners called with a question or a take on anything that was on your mind. Listen at Noon ET, with a re-airing at Midnight ET. And please be assured that we have read all of your prayer intentions for the Holy Land at takemyprayers@gmail.com. Keep sending them, and we’ll add yours to the growing list. God bless you!

Seasonal depression is a real issue for many of us.  The winter months can bring forth mood swings that are hard to manage.  A sudden change in attitude, outlook or general sense of well being can be difficult for one to handle, not to mention the impact it has on the people who love us. Let’s talk about this Tuesday (Noon Eastern Time) on Take 2 with Jerry and Debbie.  Call in and share your views on this important topic. 1-800-585-9396

Here’s an informative article on Seasonal Affective Disorder from the Diocese of Wichita

http://catholicdioceseofwichita.org/news-and-events/in-the-news/21736-seasonal-affective-disorder-symptoms-can-worsen-in-winter-months-cana-counseling-at-catholic-charities-writes-21736

Is the real meaning of Christmas lost on our young people? Youth often do not want to participate in the truly meaningful Christmas activities, especially spending quality time with family, attending Church services, performing charitable acts, etc. Instead, they want to take their gifts and run. Do you see this in your kids or grandkids? Or have you managed to instill in them a deep gratitude for what Christmas is truly about? Call with your takes on Monday at Noon ET!

How well do you know how the earliest Christians celebrated Christmas? Did it look anything like how we commemorate our Lord’s birth in 2015? When did the Church start marking a four-week period of preparation before Christmas? How was it decided that Jesus’ birth would be celebrated on December 25? What about the introduction of things like trees, gifts and nativity scenes? Patrick Madrid will join Jerry and Debbie on Friday to bring this all to light for us. And we hope to hear from you with your takes on how we as Christians can keep alive the reality that it’s only “Christ”mas if we keep Jesus front and center. Noon ET, with a replay at Midnight ET.

With age comes experience, knowledge and wisdom.  Our culture somehow has overlooked this great gift of our elders.  The aging population is often dismissed in society as just a burden and not a treasure.  Other cultures around the world have upheld the dignity and value of our elders.  People are living longer these days, so this topic is pertinent to us all and we can hopefully learn a new perspective by discussing it.  So please join the conversation by  calling in at 1-800-585-9396.  Be fast though, as phone lines fill up quickly.  See you soon!

I have learned so much from my Dad.  He was brilliant beyond measure.  I never truly appreciated his wise advice until long after he had departed from this earth.  He had lived 83 years, married for over 50 years, raised 6 kids, was a strong provider for his family, served in the Navy, and was loved by all his friends and clients.  In fact, my Dad was godfather to countless numbers of his client’s children.  Everyone who knew him said that my Dad always gave great advice.  I now completely understand what they meant by that statement.  Our elders are precious and they can teach us things if we give them the opportunity.

People are broken. We all have baggage. We’re on a journey toward healing and redemption. Along the way, we can cause or be the recipient of a lot of what’s commonly called “drama.” We’re talking about the not-so-good kind that can bring you down. The question is, how do we deflect the drama while at the same time maintaining charity and respect for those who bring it into our lives? This will be Jerry and Debbie’s topic on Wednesday. If you have a take on this, be sure to call 800-585-9396 beginning at Noon ET. If you don’t have a take on this, we really want to hear from you. Because that means you’ve got it all figured out 🙂

Is this a common understanding in your home?  Do your children feel that their parents are united or divided on different topics and situations?  We will be discussing this idea of “team parenting.”  We would love to hear from you and what your experience has been as the parent or the child.  Call in early as phone lines fill up fast.  1-800-585-9396

OK, let’s be honest. When it comes to Christmas gift-giving, we all have choices to make. Spouses, kids and close friends are pretty obvious. But where do you draw the line? And how many gifts should you give to the ones you love? Do you have gift-giving self control? Or do you fall into “Christmas opulence?” That’s our topic on Monday when Jerry and Debbie will allow you to share your takes with the world. Call in at Noon ET (with a re-airing at Midnight ET)!

Faith is a gift. If we don’t “feed” it, it could shrivel up and die. That’s the last thing we should want to happen. So, how do you nourish your faith so that it continues to grow strong? Have you attended a great conference, retreat, parish mission or some other form of faith event? Share your take with Jerry and Debbie – and the world – on Friday’s show. We’ll be joined during the broadcast by Matt Maher, who was just nominated for three more Grammy awards!