the most important skill: godly decision-making karl benzio, md

The Most Important Skill:Godly Decision-Making

Karl Benzio, MD

Your wish Your wish is my is my

command!command!

SOLOMONSOLOMON1 Kings 3:5, 9-11

The Most Important Spiritual Discipline:

Decision-Making• Classes in DM?• Most people – Random– E-M-M-M, R-P-S, Dice, Magic 8 Ball, Coin Flip

• Bible– Gideon’s fleece, Cast lots, Urim and Thumim, Prayer

Dreams• Bible– Jesus, Paul, Solomon, David, Peter, James– Biographies of good and bad

• Darwin and Freud

• Faith: the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

• Science: Hard Data, Measurables• Definitions Collide• Do they work together?

Science and FaithScience and Faith

Science is:• The study of what God made

• Understanding how He designed it to work

• Learning how to maximally steward it for God’s glory and our abundant living

God’s Great God’s Great GiftsGifts

Mind/HeartFree Will: Decision Making

Science is a tool.Science is a tool.So let’s not ignore the science.

HELP! I prayed, took

meds, and love my mother!

Psychological Defect, Tell me

about your mother!

Sin, Have more Faith!

Disease, Take your MEDS!

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Deuteronomy 30

10 The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.

11This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is within your reach.

19Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!

20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Proverbs 4:23

• Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the wellsprings of life.

1 Corinthians 2:6,10

For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.

For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Ephesians 5

1 Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children;

15-20 Look therefore carefully how ye walk, not as unwise, but as wise; redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit;

Romans 12:1-2

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.Do not be conformed to this world, but be

transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6• For though we walk in the flesh, we do not

war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.

• We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.

1 Peter 1:13-15Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

KarlKarl’’s s StoryStory

Why did I become a

psychiatrist?

Karl’s First Karl’s First BeerBeer

Goal: Mind of Christ!

Jesus’ Brain = Perfection!

1.Perceived everything from a Godly perspective

2.Responded with Biblical skills

BrainWorks – My Brain

Based on new scientific research, my brain does 2 things

1. Perceives2. Responds

Hardware!

S.P.E.C.T. Scans

• Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography

• A sophisticated nuclear medicine study that looks directly at cerebral blood flow and indirectly at the brain activity (or metabolism)

All of the following slides are used with permission from “Images Into Human Behavior - A Brain SPECT Atlas” by

Normal Brain-Top

Normal Brain-Bottom

Normal Brain-Active Views

25 year Heroin Addiction - 39 yo

16 Years of Daily THC (Tetrahydrocannibinol) Use 32 yo

10 Years of Mostly Weekend Marijuana Use 28 yo

2 Years of Frequent Cocaine Use - 24 yo

17 Years of Heavy Weekend Alcohol Use 38 yo

27 Year Daily Heavy Cigarette and Coffee Use 45 yo

PolySubstance Abuse and then 1 yr Clean

Depression

PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety Before and After St. John’s Wort and EMDR

Images of PMS

Day 10 of Cycle (Best Time)

Hardware SummaryHardware SummaryDisease AspectDisease AspectOur brains are dynamic organsOur brains are dynamic organs

• Our brains can be injured or diseased easily

• Our brains can be strengthened or renewed

Hardware SummaryHardware Summary

BrainWorksBrainWorks Research Research

GI / Cardiac

Panic Disorder Study

Heart Heart of Transformation: of Transformation: Decision-MakingDecision-Making

• No biological Intervention• But Brain Chemistry Improved/Renewed

Decision-making is exercise for brain• Good decisions = stronger brain• Bad decisions = injured brain

What determines accurate Perception and Response?Creators Instruction Manual

DM: Science and Faith Meet

Integration and DM are Key!Integration and DM are Key!

SpiritBody

Decision-Making Decision-Making ==

Spirit, Mind, & Body

IntegrationIntegration

Summary

• Science and Faith • Decision-Making is the key – 20-80k• Most important skill you have 100% control over• Exercise for Brain, Mind, Spirit• Keeps Holy Spirit on throne of Heart• Mind of Christ!!!!!

• For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?

Lighthouse Network Helpline

• Finds addiction and MH treatment options.• Expertise about all elements of the system• Free to client• Saves the clinician incredible amounts of time• We find great options for struggling people

877-562-2565 x:101

Lighthouse Network Resources• WITHIN REACH: Disciplines for Real Life Change– 10+ Hours of DVD– 140 Page Workbook

• EDGING FORWARD: Mastering the Art of Godly Decision-Making– 8 Chapels(25 min each) on DVD

• Stepping Stones Daily Devotional – Emailed daily

• Addiction: Sin, Disease, or Psychological Defect (DVD)• Can Psych Meds Help Christians? (DVD)• Self-Harm – Cutting (DVD) • Bipolar (DVD)• Depression (DVD)• No Other Gods - Decision-Making Model Intro (DVD)Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

Any Questions?

the most important skill: godly decision-making karl benzio, md

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