The Most Important Skill Godly DecisionMaking Karl Benzio

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 Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

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 Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

Science and Faith • 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? Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 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 Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 8

God’s Great Gifts Mind/Heart Free Will: Decision Making Science is a tool. So let’s

Sin, Have more Faith! Disease, Take your MEDS! Psychological Defect, Tell me about your

John 10: 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I

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. 11 This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is within your reach. Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

19 Today 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. Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

Proverbs 4: 23 • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow

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. Copyright 2010 - Lighthouse Network

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. Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

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 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. Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

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, Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

Karl’s Story Why did I become a psychiatrist? Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 24

Karl’s First Beer Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 25

Goal: Mind of Christ! Jesus’ Brain = Perfection! 1. Perceived everything from a Godly

Brain. Works – My Brain Based on new scientific research, my brain does 2

HARDWARE! Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

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 Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

Normal Brain-Top Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

Normal Brain-Bottom Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

Normal Brain-Active Views Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

25 year Heroin Addiction - 39 yo Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

16 Years of Daily THC (Tetrahydrocannibinol) Use 32 yo Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

10 Years of Mostly Weekend Marijuana Use 28 yo Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

2 Years of Frequent Cocaine Use - 24 yo Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

17 Years of Heavy Weekend Alcohol Use 38 yo Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network

27 Year Daily Heavy Cigarette and Coffee Use 45 yo Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse

Poly. Substance Abuse and then 1 yr Clean Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

Depression Before Treatment Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network After Treatment

PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety Before and After St. John’s Wort and EMDR Copyright 2013

Images of PMS Day 2 of Cycle Copyright 2013 - Lighthouse Network (Worst Time)

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 Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 51

Brain. Works Research Skin GI / Cardiac Panic Disorder Study Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse

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 Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 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 Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 54

Summary • • • Science and Faith Decision-Making is the key – 20 -80 k Most important skill you have 100% control over Exercise for Brain, Mind, Spirit Keeps Holy Spirit on throne of Heart Mind of Christ!!!!! Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

ESTHER 4: 14 • 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? Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 56

Professional Responsibility/Stewa rdship Copyright 2012 - Lighthouse Network 58

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 Copyright 2011 - Lighthouse Network

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