The Most Important Skill:
Godly Decision-Making
Karl Benzio, MD
Your wish
is my
command!
SOLOMON
1 Kings 3:5, 9-11
The Most Important
Spiritual Discipline:
Decision-Making
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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
• Strategy Necessary
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• 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?
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7
SCIENCE 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
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8
God’s Great Gifts
Mind/Heart
Free Will: Decision Making
Science is a tool.
So let’s not ignore the science.
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9
Sin, Have
more Faith!
Disease, Take
your MEDS!
Psychological
Defect, Tell me
about your mother!
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HELP! I prayed,
took meds,
and love my
mother!
SPEARS WORKSHEET
STIMULI:
Deconstruction
PERCEPTION:
Reconstruction
OLD WAY=
Me-centered
NEW WAY=
God-centered and God-directed
Rubik’s Cube
Greatest
Perceived Need
Greatest
Perceived Threat
Life
Depends On
Confidence
Motivation
EMOTIONS:
Volume
ASSESSMENT:
Decon
Recon
E=
T=
Volume
E=
T=
Use GPN, GPT, LDO, C, M to assess options and pros/cons; also effects on Spirit, Mind, Body
Options
Pros
Cons
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3._____________________ 3._____________________
3._____________________
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
RESPONSE:
SUMMARY THOUGHT:
Deconstruction
Deconstruction
Reconstruction
Reconstruction
PAIN:
Old Beliefs
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New Beliefs
11
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12
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and
have it abundantly.
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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.
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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.
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Proverbs 4:23
• Keep your heart with all
vigilance, for from it flow the
wellsprings of life.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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1 Peter 1:13-15
Therefore, 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,
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Karl’s
Story
Why did I become a
psychiatrist?
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24
Karl’s First Beer
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25
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26
Goal: Mind of Christ!
Jesus’ Brain = Perfection!
1.Perceived everything from a Godly
perspective
2.Responded with Biblical skills
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BrainWorks – My Brain
Based on new scientific research, my brain
does 2 things
1. Perceives
2. Responds
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SPEARS WORKSHEET
STIMULI:
Deconstruction
PERCEPTION:
Reconstruction
OLD WAY=
Me-centered
NEW WAY=
God-centered and God-directed
Rubik’s Cube
Greatest
Perceived Need
Greatest
Perceived Threat
Life
Depends On
Confidence
Motivation
EMOTIONS:
Volume
ASSESSMENT:
Decon
Recon
E=
T=
Volume
E=
T=
Use GPN, GPT, LDO, C, M to assess options and pros/cons; also effects on Spirit, Mind, Body
Options
Pros
Cons
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3._____________________ 3._____________________
3._____________________
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
RESPONSE:
SUMMARY THOUGHT:
Deconstruction
Deconstruction
Reconstruction
Reconstruction
PAIN:
Old Beliefs
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New Beliefs
29
HARDWARE!
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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
Daniel Amen, M.D.
© Copyright 2000
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Normal Brain-Top
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Normal Brain-Bottom
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Normal Brain-Active Views
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25 year Heroin Addiction - 39 yo
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16 Years of Daily THC (Tetrahydrocannibinol) Use 32 yo
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10 Years of Mostly Weekend Marijuana Use 28 yo
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2 Years of Frequent Cocaine Use - 24 yo
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17 Years of Heavy Weekend Alcohol Use 38 yo
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27 Year Daily Heavy Cigarette and Coffee Use 45 yo
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PolySubstance Abuse and then 1 yr Clean
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Depression
Before Treatment
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After Treatment
PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety
Before and After St. John’s Wort and EMDR
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Images of PMS
Day 2 of Cycle
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Network
(Worst Time)
Day 10 of Cycle
(Best Time)
Hardware Summary
Hardware
Summary
Disease Aspect
Our brains are dynamic organs
• Our brains can be injured or diseased easily
• Our brains can be strengthened or renewed
• Not just born this way
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51
BrainWorks Research
Skin
GI / Cardiac
Panic Disorder Study
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52
Heart of Transformation:
Decision-Making
• No biological Intervention
• But Brain Chemistry Improved/Renewed
Decision-making is exercise for brain
• Good decisions = stronger brain
• Bad decisions = injured brain
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53
Integration and DM are Key!
What determines accurate Perception and Response?
Creators Instruction Manual
Decision-Making =
Mind
Spirit, Mind, & Body
Integration
Body
Spirit
DM: Science and Faith Meet
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54
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!!!!!
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• 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?
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Lighthouse Network Helpline
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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
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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)
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Any Questions?
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