Episode 4 - The Line Between

The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest, but sometimes it can feel like just another day of responsibilities, expectations, and rules. Between serving at church, taking care of family, and trying to do everything "right," it's easy to lose sight of why God gave us the Sabbath in the first place. In this episode of The Days Before You, Pastor Nelson Mercado joins the conversation about what it really means to keep the Sabbath holy. How do we find rest when ministry feels like work? Where do we draw the line between what's acceptable and what isn't? And how can we turn a day of restrictions into something we genuinely look forward to?

Choosing where a child goes to school can feel like a much bigger decision than academics alone. There are questions about faith, finances, friendships, opportunity, and whether a Christian environment prepares students for the world or shelters them from it.In this episode of The Days Before You, educator Heidi Ruckle returns for an honest conversation about Adventist education, public school, homeschooling, and the pressure to find the “right” choice. The truth is, not one size fits all. Together, we explore why education should prepare students not only to succeed, but to love well, serve others, and be a light.

Sometimes it can feel like different generations in the church are speaking completely different languages. Younger people want to be heard and trusted, while older generations want to know that their experience and wisdom still matter. Somewhere in between, criticism, fear, and misunderstanding can make it difficult to work together.In this episode of The Days Before You, Gail McKenzie and Kelvin Del Valle join the conversation about closing the generational gap in the church. This conversation is a reminder that no generation has to step aside for another to have a place.

Sometimes the hardest thing after messing up isn’t believing that God offers grace. It’s believing that grace is still for you. Shame has a way of telling us to hide, especially when the same mistakes keep finding their way back into our lives. In this episode of The Days Before You, Melissa Weisner shares what it looked like to slowly walk away from God and, eventually, discover what coming back meant. This is a conversation about sin, regret, temptation, and a God who would rather have us run toward Him with our mess than hide from Him because of it.

Music connects us to God in ways words alone sometimes can’t. But what makes worship music... worship? In this episode of The Days Before You podcast, worship pastor Daniel Bondaczuk joins the conversation to talk about the purpose and emotional depth of music in the church. Music hits differently for everyone. Daniel shares how worship isn’t about the style or volume, but about intention and connection.

Talking about money and church can be uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve grown up hearing “give 10%” but never really understood why. Or maybe you’ve felt the tension of wanting to give but barely making ends meet. If that’s you, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Days Before You podcast, we sit down with George Crumley, a man who’s spent over 40 years working in church finance. Together, we talk about the heart behind giving, the struggles that come with it, and the quiet ways God shows up when we step out in faith.

Grief doesn't follow a script. It’s messy, heavy, and can shake even the strongest faith. In this powerful episode of The Days Before You, pastors Brook and Jeremy Wong share their heartbreaking experience of losing their seven-year-old daughter, JJ, just 17 days after a sudden cancer diagnosis. With raw honesty, they open up about pain, doubt, and the deep darkness of grief, but also about hope, healing, and the gentle ways God carried them through.

There’s a line between supporting ministry and being consumed by it — a line that can be hard to see when you’re the spouse, child, or close relative of someone in church leadership. In this episode of The Days Before You, Chelsea Sutherland, a nurse and pastor’s wife, opens up about navigating expectations, setting healthy boundaries, and learning how to serve from a place of joy rather than obligation. This conversation explores the often unseen tension between public roles and personal faith, and how finding that balance can lead to a more authentic spiritual life.

Prayer doesn’t always come easily. For some, it can feel dry, uncomfortable, or confusing, especially when it seems like nothing is happening. In this episode of The Days Before You, the conversation turns toward the heart of what prayer truly is: a growing relationship with God. Guest Gail McKenzie shares stories, struggles, and insights on how to pray when it’s hard, how to listen when it’s quiet, and how to keep showing up even when the answers don’t come right away.

How do we share our faith in a world full of noise? In this episode of The Days Before You, we explore how communication can be used to connect others with Christ. Whether it's through face-to-face conversations or a 15-second video on social media, sharing the gospel is about understanding your story, your audience, and your purpose. With Communication Professor Pablo Fernandez, we talk about building common ground, being intentional, and why if you’re alive and breathing, you already have something worth sharing.