¤ [It Is Written Theme] ¤
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>: It has stood
the test of time.
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God's book, the Bible;
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still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written,
sharing hope around the globe.
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JB: This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
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Thanks for joining me today.
In recent years the subject of
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Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder has received a lot more
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publicity in the news.
Men and women come back
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from foreign fields,
having served in the military,
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and they've been
affected in such a way that
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daily life becomes
just a challenge for them--
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sometimes with tragic
results. Now, being in a wartime
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situation is a
stressor, or a stress factor,
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that many of us
simply cannot relate to.
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And it's an extreme example of
what stress can do to a person.
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Nevertheless, it
puts the question or
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the subject of stress
right in society's spotlight.
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So, what is stress, and how can
we deal with stress, and even,
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what can you do about PTSD?
I'm joined today by Dr. David
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DeRose, who's a specialist in
internal medicine, in preventive
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medicine, and he comes to us
from CompassHealth Consultants
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in Northern
California. Dr. DeRose,
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thanks for joining me today.
DD: Wonderful to be with you,
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John. JB: This
is a serious thing--
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
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When I was a kid,
growing up in my little town,
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there was a man-- he
was a bit of an oddball,
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really, I mean no offense.
He had a couple of quirks
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and characteristics.
People knew he wasn't quite
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right, and what it
was was, he'd come back
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from World War
II, and I don't know
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what it was he went through,
but it just affected him.
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You know? DD:
There's no question.
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One of the big things
that happens is impairment
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of social relations. This
is a big thing that happens
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with PTSD. JB: So, what is PTSD?
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You go to the war,
it's terrible, and--
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DD: Well, let's
expand the dialogue.
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Because I want to answer
the question, but it's not just
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related to combat exposure.
People can have PTSD from other
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violent experiences in
life. It can be a car accident;
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it can be rape; it
can be something like
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a natural disaster
that affected your town.
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JB: I think I read somewhere
that about 8 percent of people
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in the United States
have-- and I'm guessing
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this is diagnosed-- PTSD.
Which would suggest to me,
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there are probably more
people who are dealing with #,
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who simply
haven't been diagnosed.
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DD: Yeah, if you look at what
we call Lifetime Prevalence--
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that means the
chance of you having PTSD
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at some time in your
life-- it's probably around that
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6 to 8 percent range.
What the amazing thing is
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though, John, is if you look
at the things that can trigger
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PTSD, over half of us will have
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a traumatic event of sufficient
magnitude to trigger PTSD.
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JB: So, that means over
half of us are candidates for
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Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
DD: That's right, and it begs a
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big question that we're debating
in the literature, if you will,
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is how can we prevent
it? What are those things
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that predispose? But,
we've got to come back
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to your original question,
just what is it, right?
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JB: Yes, we do.
Also, you've got 10 people,
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let's just use war,
a wartime situation.
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Ten people go to war,
and one or two come back
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with PTSD, eight do not.
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DD: That's right. JB:
Now, it doesn't mean that
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the eight weren't severely
affected, but somehow they had
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the coping mechanisms,
or the whatever it is,
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that they can
harmonize with their future
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like their past
life. Some cannot.
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So, okay, let's look at
this in the big picture,
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because this
discussion, it's going to be
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a biblical
discussion. DD: That's right.
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JB: But also, it isn't dealing
with Post Traumatic Stress
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Disorder solely, but
stress, and stress factors.
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I think it's very important,
because for some people,
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they have stress, it
drives them away from God.
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Others, they experience stress,
it drives them toward God.
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DD: That's right. JB:
And that's the response
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that we want, coming
closer to God and dealing
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with the stressors in our
life. DD: So, someone has this
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traumatic event, and in
the aftermath of it they have
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prolonged
experiences, if you will,
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where they're either
reliving the traumatic event;
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they may have nightmares,
they may have flashbacks.
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They often have a heightened
sense of emotional connectedness
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for anything that looks
like the traumatic event.
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So, if someone saw combat duty,
on the 4th of July when the
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neighbor is lighting
off fireworks, they may dive
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under their bed because they're
reliving that combat experience,
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if you will. The
other dynamic that often
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goes along with PTSD
that's so important--
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and we've got to come
back to this because it ties in
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with the whole stress
discussion-- is, many of these
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people experience what
they call "emotional numbness"
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or "emotional detachment."
Those relationships that used to
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seem meaningful, now they don't
feel that they connect with that
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significant other or their
children or their grandchildren.
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So, all of these issues are
under this umbrella of PTSD,
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and it often brings
other things with it.
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Higher risk of
high blood pressure,
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depression and other
mental health disorders.
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Here's some of the great news:
PTSD, when we look at the data,
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what helps a person do better
in the same traumatic events,
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one of the best
things-- I love to tell
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this element of
it-- one of the factors
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that we can't change is
the older you are, the less
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likely you are to have PTSD.
You know, we're always talking
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about aging causing
all these health problems.
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Here is something where
aging actually seems to be
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a preventative for PTSD.
Another really interesting thing
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that we can
change is what we call
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"functional social
support." JB: Now, what's that?
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DD: That means,
if you're connected--
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if you have people
that are supporting you--
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you're much less
likely to have PTSD.
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And this is powerful,
when it comes to stress.
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We're speaking about
the Bible. I love the story
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in the Gospel of
Mark. I've been spending
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a lot of time, John,
going through the Gospel
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of Mark with groups of
people because it is such a
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powerful relational
Gospel. It's the most succinct,
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fast-moving of the Gospels,
and yet there are some insights
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in Mark that you
don't get anywhere else.
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In Mark chapter 2, a very
interesting social situation.
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You could say, a
situation that was
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very stressful, no
doubt, for the homeowner.
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His home is full, all kinds
of people, no one can get in.
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And then what happens?
JB: They take the roof apart,
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and lower down
this paralyzed man.
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Four people lower him down
into the presence of Jesus.
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And I can see Jesus
sitting in the room,
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with bits of dust and
straw falling, just raining down
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on them as they're
taking the roof apart.
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Clearly, the homes were
constructed in such a way
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that this is
possible. DD: Right.
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JB: But still, you can imagine
there was a mess up there.
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Jesus is getting
showered in detritus.
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It had to have been
something to witness.
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DD: The amazing
thing-- even though that may
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have been
stressful to the homeowner--
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there's a man in that story.
That paralytic, who is only
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there by virtue of what
we would call the "tangible"
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or "instrumental" social support
that his four friends gave him.
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JB: Where would he have
been without his friends?
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DD: Exactly right. JB:
Now, we don't know much
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about the way they connected,
or how it came by, but it's that
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this man was brought to
Jesus by four other people.
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So, talk a little bit about what
that social support really means
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in practical
terms, in daily life.
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DD: This is really important,
because a lot of times when
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we speak of social support,
people think of what is kind of
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the warm, fuzzy social
support. That's what we call
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"emotional support." But
there are different levels
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of social support.
There's the warm fuzzies that we
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get from people that love us and
support us, but that person who
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helps you-- even though they may
not do it in the nicest way--
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can still be giving you valuable
support that can help you on
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your journey to
health and wholeness.
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JB: But people should be looking
out for others and trying
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to set up support for them,
because it's just good for them
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and alleviates their stress.
DD: This is really interesting,
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from the
standpoint of the church.
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Jesus calls
people into fellowship.
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He calls
disciples to be with Him.
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He founds a
church, if you will, right?
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JB: Yes. DD: Many people say,
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I don't like this church.
I don't like the community
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I'm in. Do you know what?
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It doesn't matter whether
you like the people; it doesn't
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matter whether you like
your next-door neighbor or not,
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you can get benefits to
your health and to their health
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by doing just what Jesus said:
treating others as you would
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like to be treated
yourself. Many people,
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in their spiritual
life, they've become members,
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if you will, of
some kind of global
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Internet community, and they're
not worshiping with other
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people, they're missing the
power of social connectedness.
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They say, I'm just doing fine.
But what about the other people
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who are missing the value
of your connecting with them?
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JB: Amen. So, I
would recommend you to
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watch It Is Written, and
go to church, and experience
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the best of both worlds. Amen.
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I'm glad you're with us
today. There's a whole lot more
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to talk about.
Stress, what causes it,
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what you can do about it.
I've got Dr. David DeRose with
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me, and we're going to talk more
about this in just a moment.
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¤ [Gentle Melody] ¤
>: You are watching the
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weekly It Is Written program
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but did you know that
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¤ [Rythmic Melody]  ¤
00:10:03.77\00:10:07.07
JB: Jacob had made a
real mess of his life.
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He had purchased the
birthright from his brother
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by very devious means. At
his mother's suggestion he
00:10:15.98\00:10:18.75
deceived his father,
and now, later, it looked
00:10:18.75\00:10:21.65
like his brother,
Esau, was going to kill him.
00:10:21.65\00:10:23.85
What could he do? He
found himself wrestling with
00:10:23.85\00:10:26.05
God and he said, "I will not
let you go unless you bless me."
00:10:26.05\00:10:29.19
That's Genesis 32:26. Now,
00:10:29.19\00:10:32.06
how do you like that
prayer: You must bless me.
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I'm not prepared to
take no for an answer.
00:10:34.36\00:10:36.97
That's a prayer that's
worth praying, and it's a prayer
00:10:36.97\00:10:39.47
that God will answer.
You can afford to pray that
00:10:39.47\00:10:42.24
prayer: I will not let
you go, unless you bless me.
00:10:42.24\00:10:45.41
If you've made a
mess, if you're in a fix,
00:10:45.41\00:10:47.54
if you need God's
help-- pray that prayer.
00:10:47.54\00:10:50.41
I will not let you
go, unless you bless me.
00:10:50.41\00:10:53.11
God never fails to answer
a prayer like that, when it's
00:10:53.11\00:10:56.15
prayed in real
faith. I'm John Bradshaw
00:10:56.15\00:10:59.15
for It Is Written. Let's
live today by every word.
00:10:59.15\00:11:02.96
¤ [Thoughtful Melody] ¤
00:11:04.23\00:11:06.16
JB: Planning for your financial
Future is a vital aspect of
00:11:06.39\00:11:08.76
Christian stewardship.
For this reason, It Is Written
00:11:08.76\00:11:11.80
is pleased to offer free planned
giving and estate services.
00:11:11.80\00:11:15.44
For information on how
we can help you, please call
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1 (800) 992-2219. Call today,
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or visit our special
website, www.HisLegacy.com.
00:11:22.68\00:11:28.92
JB: This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
00:11:29.85\00:11:32.15
Thanks for joining me today.
I'm joined by Dr. David DeRose,
00:11:32.15\00:11:35.66
a doctor of internal medicine,
a doctor of preventive medicine.
00:11:35.66\00:11:38.99
Which sounds like a guy
who's trying to work himself
00:11:38.99\00:11:40.90
out of a job, if you
stop and think about it.
00:11:40.90\00:11:42.76
He comes to us from
CompassHealth Consulting
00:11:42.76\00:11:45.77
in Northern
California. Dr. DeRose,
00:11:45.77\00:11:47.50
I'm glad you're with me today.
We're talking about some good
00:11:47.50\00:11:49.37
stuff, I think.
DD: It's exciting,
00:11:49.37\00:11:50.87
because it makes a difference.
JB: Makes a real difference
00:11:50.87\00:11:53.14
in a person's
life. The stereotype is,
00:11:53.14\00:11:55.98
somebody smokes a
joint, they get happily buzzed
00:11:55.98\00:11:59.25
or stoned, and it's
"Hey, whatever, dude."
00:11:59.25\00:12:02.58
You know, they mellow out.
You would say this helps one's
00:12:02.58\00:12:06.72
stress level.
However-- there's a big however.
00:12:06.72\00:12:10.99
DD: Well, the big however--
you've identified this exactly,
00:12:10.99\00:12:14.10
John. In the
literature we speak about
00:12:14.10\00:12:16.40
an a-motivational syndrome
that can occur in chronic users
00:12:16.40\00:12:20.37
of marijuana. And
this means it basically
00:12:20.37\00:12:22.57
just takes away your
drive. Now, you might say,
00:12:22.57\00:12:25.17
"Well, this is good."
Because you can relax.
00:12:25.17\00:12:27.68
But this is actually not
good, if you look at the broader
00:12:27.68\00:12:30.88
picture of
stress. Because some of
00:12:30.88\00:12:33.21
the biggest stressors
are those global issues.
00:12:33.21\00:12:36.42
And if you lose your
motivation to work, for example,
00:12:36.42\00:12:40.92
this is going to have
some implications as far as
00:12:40.92\00:12:44.19
long-term stress. JB:
Which says to us that a
00:12:44.19\00:12:47.03
certain amount of
stress is good for you.
00:12:47.03\00:12:49.00
DD: You're exactly right.
The kind of environment where
00:12:49.00\00:12:52.30
people just want to be in a
cocoon, sometimes-- especially
00:12:52.30\00:12:54.60
if you're really bombarded
by all kinds of stressors--
00:12:54.60\00:12:57.04
is not reality. In fact,
00:12:57.04\00:13:00.11
Jesus articulated very
clearly. He said, "In the world
00:13:00.11\00:13:02.38
you will have tribulation.
But be of good cheer;
00:13:02.38\00:13:06.35
I've overcome the
world." So Jesus didn't give us
00:13:06.35\00:13:08.85
a picture of life with no
problems, but a picture of life
00:13:08.85\00:13:12.09
with challenges that we
can go through with Him.
00:13:12.09\00:13:15.52
JB: If you don't recognize
the stress involved in earning a
00:13:15.52\00:13:20.16
living, raising yours,
supporting your family, if you
00:13:20.16\00:13:23.80
don't respond to that stressor,
you're going to be a bum.
00:13:23.80\00:13:27.70
You know what I'm
saying. DD: Well, it increases
00:13:27.70\00:13:29.94
the risk of it, at least.
JB: Yeah, if you don't respond
00:13:29.94\00:13:33.61
positively to that stress,
you won't be a productive
00:13:33.61\00:13:35.74
member of society, is
really what I mean to say.
00:13:35.74\00:13:37.78
DD: Look at
something really interesting.
00:13:37.78\00:13:39.31
Because we're speaking about the
Gospel of Mark and some of the
00:13:39.31\00:13:41.78
insights that we get there about
stress and other health issues.
00:13:41.78\00:13:46.12
I'm in Mark 15.
Jesus is on the cross.
00:13:46.12\00:13:49.96
And if you want to talk about
someone going through an acutely
00:13:49.96\00:13:53.56
stressful experience,
I don't know of anything
00:13:53.56\00:13:56.63
in history that compares
to what Jesus is experiencing
00:13:56.63\00:14:00.54
on the cross.
Now, someone would say,
00:14:00.54\00:14:02.50
"Well, that's acute
stress, it's not chronic stress.
00:14:02.50\00:14:06.14
It's not PTSD." Granted.
00:14:06.14\00:14:08.28
But still, let's
look at Jesus' example.
00:14:08.28\00:14:10.75
Mark chapter 15, verse 23.
It says, "Then they gave him
00:14:10.75\00:14:15.35
wine mingled with myrrh to
drink, but he did not take it."
00:14:15.35\00:14:21.99
JB: Can you
describe what this is?
00:14:21.99\00:14:22.99
Because essentially this
is a painkiller, isn't it?
00:14:22.99\00:14:24.59
DD: Exactly. Exactly.
00:14:24.59\00:14:25.69
That's what they were doing,
they were in mercy offering
00:14:25.69\00:14:29.00
Jesus just a little
something to ease His pain.
00:14:29.00\00:14:32.50
Death on a cross, from
the medical assessments of it,
00:14:32.50\00:14:36.60
was a tremendously painful,
excruciating form of death.
00:14:36.60\00:14:41.44
JB: Yes. DD: The
question is, though.
00:14:41.44\00:14:44.65
Here we're talking about
pain. We're talking about--
00:14:44.65\00:14:48.15
and by the way--
when it comes to PTSD,
00:14:48.15\00:14:51.32
abuse of chemicals is a
real risk in that setting.
00:14:51.32\00:14:55.06
But it's not just PTSD.
People that are going through
00:14:55.06\00:14:57.56
stressful life experiences,
it's so easy to go to these
00:14:57.56\00:15:00.96
things that are
legal. Whether it's alcohol,
00:15:00.96\00:15:04.70
you mentioned nicotine,
tobacco. And I say, let's ask
00:15:04.70\00:15:07.57
the question then,
where we were in the Bible.
00:15:07.57\00:15:09.67
Why would Jesus not
use it? And I would suggest
00:15:09.67\00:15:13.71
that if you look at Jesus' life,
Jesus lived a focused life.
00:15:13.71\00:15:17.88
He was focused on
always doing the things
00:15:17.88\00:15:20.18
that pleased the Father.
And granted, on the cross
00:15:20.18\00:15:23.52
He's experiencing,
like you mentioned,
00:15:23.52\00:15:25.19
that sense of
separation from the Father.
00:15:25.19\00:15:28.06
But I get the picture that
Jesus realized that He needed
00:15:28.06\00:15:33.16
all of His cognitive abilities.
I would suggest to you:
00:15:33.16\00:15:38.77
if Jesus needed all
His cognitive abilities,
00:15:38.77\00:15:42.04
the divine Son of
God, how much more
00:15:42.04\00:15:45.47
do I need them?
Well, I'm not on the cross,
00:15:45.47\00:15:47.98
but do I want to leave
some of those mental marvels,
00:15:47.98\00:15:54.08
or however you want
to describe them, aside?
00:15:54.08\00:15:58.12
Because I need to
help deal with the pain.
00:15:58.12\00:16:00.66
I'm not saying it's
wrong to take a painkiller--
00:16:00.66\00:16:02.26
don't misunderstand me.
JB: That was my question.
00:16:02.26\00:16:03.73
We're not saying,
well, you've got back pain--
00:16:03.73\00:16:05.33
don't use Aleve or
Tylenol. DD: Or even a narcotic,
00:16:05.33\00:16:07.86
if you have severe pain.
I'm not saying it's wrong.
00:16:07.86\00:16:10.10
I'm just saying, we've
got to look at this equation,
00:16:10.10\00:16:12.47
especially if we're
doing something chronically.
00:16:12.47\00:16:15.30
But if you want to look at a
foundational place in the Gospel
00:16:15.30\00:16:19.04
that gives us Jesus' perspective
on dealing with stress,
00:16:19.04\00:16:21.58
it's in Mark 1.
Because there in Mark 1,
00:16:21.58\00:16:24.75
verse 35, we find
what Jesus is doing
00:16:24.75\00:16:28.02
is He's
connecting with the Father.
00:16:28.02\00:16:30.65
And, what most people don't
realize is that when I impair my
00:16:30.65\00:16:36.83
cognitive functioning, that is
going to affect relationships.
00:16:36.83\00:16:41.80
No question. JB: No question.
00:16:41.80\00:16:44.00
And when it comes to stress,
from the Bible what we see is
00:16:44.00\00:16:47.10
the most powerful thing to help
us deal with stress, is a close
00:16:47.10\00:16:50.41
connection with
the God of heaven.
00:16:50.41\00:16:53.21
We'll be back with
more. Don't go away.
00:16:53.21\00:16:54.91
I've got Dr.
David DeRose with me.
00:16:54.91\00:16:56.48
Stress, what can we do about
it; how can we live with it
00:16:56.48\00:16:58.51
healthfully. How
can the stressors in our
00:16:58.51\00:17:01.05
lives drive us to God
and not away from God?
00:17:01.05\00:17:03.65
We'll have more
in just a moment.
00:17:03.65\00:17:05.79
¤ [Music Interlude]  ¤
00:17:06.62\00:17:09.46
JB: Stress is a
part of everyone's life.
00:17:11.99\00:17:15.23
If you're living and breathing,
then the chances are you're
00:17:15.23\00:17:17.93
either dealing with some stress
right now, or you've faced it
00:17:17.93\00:17:20.90
in the not-too-distant
past. God knows that,
00:17:20.90\00:17:23.84
and it matters to Him.
Through His Word, He gives
00:17:23.84\00:17:27.04
wisdom that can help you manage
the stress that comes your way.
00:17:27.04\00:17:30.81
If you'd like to know
more, I'd be happy to send you
00:17:30.81\00:17:33.82
a free book from our
Healing Insights series,
00:17:33.82\00:17:36.92
called "Dealing with Stress."
All you need to do is call
00:17:36.92\00:17:40.02
(800) 253-3000 and ask for
00:17:40.02\00:17:43.16
"Dealing with
Stress. If the line is busy,
00:17:43.16\00:17:46.43
please do try
again. You can write to
00:17:46.43\00:17:49.33
It Is Written, P.O. Box
6, Chattanooga, TN 37401,
00:17:49.33\00:17:55.10
and we'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:17:55.10\00:17:58.44
You can also download a free
digital copy at ItIsWritten.com.
00:17:58.44\00:18:03.81
It Is Written exists because
of the kindness of people
00:18:03.81\00:18:06.18
just like you. It's
only with your help that It
00:18:06.18\00:18:09.08
Is Written can continue to
share the hope of the Bible with
00:18:09.08\00:18:11.85
people all around the world.
Your tax-deductible gift can be
00:18:11.85\00:18:15.09
sent to the address on your
screen, or through our website,
00:18:15.09\00:18:17.83
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Thank you for your continued
00:18:17.83\00:18:20.86
prayerful support.
Our toll-free number is
00:18:20.86\00:18:23.37
(800) 253-3000,
and you can find us
00:18:23.37\00:18:27.04
online at ItIsWritten.com.
00:18:27.04\00:18:29.84
JB: Thanks for joining
me today on It Is Written.
00:18:30.14\00:18:32.21
I'm joined by Dr. David
DeRose, talking about stress and
00:18:32.21\00:18:36.38
how we can deal with
stress in a healthy way.
00:18:36.38\00:18:38.68
Stress doesn't
have to kill a person.
00:18:38.68\00:18:41.72
In fact, a life without
stress is neither practical
00:18:41.72\00:18:45.22
nor possible. Dr.
DeRose, I think we know that
00:18:45.22\00:18:49.32
something that impacts people's
stress level, for the good or
00:18:49.32\00:18:54.20
for the bad, is rest and sleep.
And when I say for the bad--
00:18:54.20\00:18:58.50
not enough rest,
not enough sleep--
00:18:58.50\00:19:01.50
stress rises. DD:
What we know is if we
00:19:01.50\00:19:04.21
cut ourselves back on
sleep, the body actually has to
00:19:04.21\00:19:08.38
ramp up stress
hormones to keep us going.
00:19:08.38\00:19:12.68
So the person who tells
you, "Listen, I can function
00:19:12.68\00:19:15.38
on just a few
hours sleep. No problem.
00:19:15.38\00:19:17.69
I don't even take any caffeine."
What they're doing is they just,
00:19:17.69\00:19:22.62
intrinsically, have the
ability to ramp up those stress
00:19:22.62\00:19:25.43
hormones. Many
people can't do it,
00:19:25.43\00:19:27.36
so they take the caffeine.
Caffeine, one of the things it
00:19:27.36\00:19:30.00
works on is a
compound called adenosine.
00:19:30.00\00:19:32.53
It blocks adenosine, and when it
does that, that ramps up those
00:19:32.53\00:19:35.54
stress hormone levels. So,
either way-- whether you're
00:19:35.54\00:19:38.37
resorting to the caffeine
or you just do it on your own--
00:19:38.37\00:19:41.28
you raise those
stress hormone levels.
00:19:41.28\00:19:43.75
And when you do it,
blood pressure tends to rise,
00:19:43.75\00:19:46.75
blood sugar tends to
rise, you're more likely to have
00:19:46.75\00:19:49.92
problems with diabetes
and high blood pressure.
00:19:49.92\00:19:51.89
Heart disease,
heart rhythm problems.
00:19:51.89\00:19:53.79
The list goes on and on.
JB: The drug of choice for 9 out
00:19:53.79\00:19:56.52
of 10 Americans--
people who would never drink
00:19:56.52\00:19:58.36
alcohol or smoke marijuana--
the drug of choice for
00:19:58.36\00:20:00.90
9 out of 10
Americans is caffeine.
00:20:00.90\00:20:02.90
Not good for a person, is it?
DD: It really isn't, because not
00:20:02.90\00:20:05.97
only is it ramping up those
stress hormones, it's actually
00:20:05.97\00:20:09.27
reproducing the kind of things
that would be desirable in one
00:20:09.27\00:20:12.61
of those fight
or flight scenarios.
00:20:12.61\00:20:15.21
One of them, by the
way, is your blood clotting.
00:20:15.21\00:20:17.78
Your blood actually becomes more
coagulable under the influence
00:20:17.78\00:20:20.78
of caffeine, which is not a good
thing unless you're running from
00:20:20.78\00:20:24.42
a tiger that may be,
you know, about to paw you.
00:20:24.42\00:20:28.52
JB: Yeah, not too many of
us have that to worry about on
00:20:28.52\00:20:30.16
a day to day
basis. DD: Not really.
00:20:30.16\00:20:31.56
JB: And why this matters,
I think, is-- you can think
00:20:31.56\00:20:34.00
I'm just getting picky h
dealing with your coffee habit,
00:20:34.00\00:20:37.27
and I'm not
really. The thing is this:
00:20:37.27\00:20:40.40
we got back to
Jesus on the cross, right?
00:20:40.40\00:20:42.44
Those things that would
have affected His frontal lobe,
00:20:42.44\00:20:44.67
His decision-making
ability, those things that would
00:20:44.67\00:20:47.14
have dulled His sensibilities.
If someone had said to Jesus,
00:20:47.14\00:20:50.88
while He was on the
cross, "Look, medical marijuana
00:20:50.88\00:20:54.05
is just what you
need." He would have said no.
00:20:54.05\00:20:56.55
In this situation, no,
because I need the connection
00:20:56.55\00:21:00.72
with my Father. Right?
00:21:00.72\00:21:02.52
DD: That's right.
And no one could say--
00:21:02.52\00:21:05.19
by the way, this is
true-- there are carcinogens
00:21:05.19\00:21:08.30
in marijuana smoke,
just like in tobacco smoke.
00:21:08.30\00:21:11.53
JB: No question. DD:
So, no one's going to say to
00:21:11.53\00:21:13.54
Jesus He'd be increasing
His risk of lung cancer.
00:21:13.54\00:21:16.37
I mean, He's about to
die. But the point is,
00:21:16.37\00:21:19.11
you're exactly
right. What's going on,
00:21:19.11\00:21:20.64
on a mental level? It
was important to Jesus;
00:21:20.64\00:21:23.95
it should be
incredibly important to us.
00:21:23.95\00:21:26.18
JB: Yeah. Now, sleep.
00:21:26.18\00:21:28.38
How much sleep
should a person get--
00:21:28.38\00:21:30.59
and I'm asking this,
because it affects stress.
00:21:30.59\00:21:34.82
If you are dealing with
some stressors in your life--
00:21:34.82\00:21:38.26
if the landlord is
getting on you because
00:21:38.26\00:21:40.40
you can't pay the rent
and they're coming to cut off
00:21:40.40\00:21:42.46
your electricity and you're
about to lose your job and your
00:21:42.46\00:21:44.37
marriage is falling apart and
you've got a kid that's going
00:21:44.37\00:21:46.40
off the rails-- and you're
getting by on 90 minutes sleep
00:21:46.40\00:21:49.34
or three hours
sleep a night, oh man,
00:21:49.34\00:21:51.77
you're just asking for trouble.
You need plenty of rest.
00:21:51.77\00:21:54.84
How much? This is in the news
00:21:54.84\00:21:56.24
a lot these days. DD: Well,
00:21:56.24\00:21:57.65
if you look at the data,
most of the studies are looking
00:21:57.65\00:22:00.22
at somewhere between
seven to eight, eight and a half
00:22:00.22\00:22:03.22
hours of sleep, that's
optimal for most people.
00:22:03.22\00:22:06.25
You don't have to flip a coin or
join some kind of computerized
00:22:06.25\00:22:12.53
simulator to figure out
how much sleep you need.
00:22:12.53\00:22:15.73
What I recommend people
do is just get to bed early,
00:22:15.73\00:22:19.80
and don't set an alarm clock.
Get to bed early enough so that
00:22:19.80\00:22:23.20
if you need more sleep
than you think you need,
00:22:23.20\00:22:25.04
you won't be late for work.
And see what time you wake up.
00:22:25.04\00:22:29.24
By the way, that jarring
noise of the alarm clock--
00:22:29.24\00:22:32.61
I mean, some of us still have
those old-style alarm clocks
00:22:32.61\00:22:35.22
that buzz-- I
mean, this is probably
00:22:35.22\00:22:37.75
not the best thing, as
far as stress management,
00:22:37.75\00:22:40.82
as far as starting your day.
JB: If a person is not getting
00:22:40.82\00:22:43.32
enough sleep, what's happening
to them physiologically?
00:22:43.32\00:22:46.13
DD: Well, not only do you have
these stress hormones that are
00:22:46.13\00:22:48.20
ramping up, not only does the
blood tend to be more coagulable
00:22:48.20\00:22:51.83
under the influence of those
hormones, but on a mental level,
00:22:51.83\00:22:56.27
the higher intellectual
processes need optimal sleep.
00:22:56.27\00:23:00.88
JB: Our getting rest is
so important to God, that He
00:23:00.88\00:23:03.65
mandated that we get rest.
Not so much on a daily basis,
00:23:03.65\00:23:07.38
but right in the heart of
the Ten Commandments, God said,
00:23:07.38\00:23:10.15
"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy."
00:23:10.15\00:23:14.39
And the word "Sabbath"
means rest, essentially.
00:23:14.39\00:23:16.83
Six days you shall labor
and do all of your work, but the
00:23:16.83\00:23:19.73
seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord they God.
00:23:19.73\00:23:23.13
And that whole concept of
keeping the Sabbath day holy is
00:23:23.13\00:23:27.04
being forgotten,
even by Christians.
00:23:27.04\00:23:29.60
DD: Oh, it's hugely important.
But not only is it important to
00:23:29.60\00:23:32.44
God, it's
hard-wired in our physiology.
00:23:32.44\00:23:35.64
Most people have heard
of circadian rhythms, John.
00:23:35.64\00:23:37.75
Those are those daily
rhythms. Every woman knows about
00:23:37.75\00:23:41.15
the lunar rhythms,
or monthly rhythms.
00:23:41.15\00:23:44.49
But most people have not heard
of the carcaseptan rhythms.
00:23:44.49\00:23:48.86
These are actually seven-day
rhythms, and our bodies,
00:23:48.86\00:23:52.66
it seems, were designed to
function on a seven-day cycle.
00:23:52.66\00:23:57.20
JB: God built that
into us. DD: It's amazing.
00:23:57.20\00:23:59.73
JB: So every seventh
day, according to the Bible,
00:23:59.73\00:24:03.00
that's the Sabbath day.
And that's the day to unplug,
00:24:03.00\00:24:08.61
disconnect-- that's from the
secular things-- and plug in,
00:24:08.61\00:24:13.38
and connect on
a spiritual level.
00:24:13.38\00:24:15.75
Not to say we shouldn't be doing
that to an extent every day,
00:24:15.75\00:24:18.95
but the Sabbath
day is a whole day
00:24:18.95\00:24:21.99
that God has given to us, where,
in the absence of our secular
00:24:21.99\00:24:25.56
work, there's time for
family. There's time for kids,
00:24:25.56\00:24:29.73
there's time for church.
There's time to give your body
00:24:29.73\00:24:33.54
a break and rest.
And if you were to say to
00:24:33.54\00:24:36.47
somebody who's experiencing
stress, "How would you like
00:24:36.47\00:24:38.97
a day off a week?" A whole day,
00:24:38.97\00:24:41.18
where you can
just relax. Really.
00:24:41.18\00:24:45.91
Wouldn't that be
something people should jump at?
00:24:45.91\00:24:48.68
DD: Well, I mean,
this is tremendous.
00:24:48.68\00:24:50.95
And, in the Gospel of
Mark, from the very beginning,
00:24:50.95\00:24:53.59
the very first
chapter in the Gospel of Mark,
00:24:53.59\00:24:55.72
Jesus is doing something
remarkable with the Sabbath.
00:24:55.72\00:24:58.83
Because you see, in Jesus'
day the Sabbath had been layered
00:24:58.83\00:25:01.66
with all these restrictions.
It was not truly a spiritual day
00:25:01.66\00:25:04.90
of rest, it was a day of burden.
So, many Christians today
00:25:04.90\00:25:07.90
misunderstand Jesus' ministry
as it relates to the Sabbath.
00:25:07.90\00:25:12.14
Jesus was
liberating the Sabbath.
00:25:12.14\00:25:14.68
He was making it truly a day
of rest, and a day of healing.
00:25:14.68\00:25:17.61
JB: And it's in the
Gospel of Mark where Jesus says,
00:25:17.61\00:25:20.65
"The Sabbath was made for
man; not man for the Sabbath."
00:25:20.65\00:25:24.85
DD: Exactly. JB:
Humans were made on the
00:25:24.85\00:25:26.22
sixth day, and their very first
full day of life was a day off.
00:25:26.22\00:25:29.56
DD: That's right. JB: God said,
00:25:29.56\00:25:31.16
"I've made this for
you. Here, it's a gift."
00:25:31.16\00:25:33.60
And so, if we're looking to
deal with stress in our lives,
00:25:33.60\00:25:35.60
it just makes sense that we
would embrace this very thing
00:25:35.60\00:25:37.77
that God carved
into stone, when He wrote
00:25:37.77\00:25:40.77
the Ten Commandments.
"Remember the Sabbath day,
00:25:40.77\00:25:43.00
and keep it holy." DD:
It's amazing to me as a
00:25:43.00\00:25:45.74
physician, to look at those very
Ten Commandments-- you know,
00:25:45.74\00:25:48.91
we're focusing on the
Fourth-- but, every one of them
00:25:48.91\00:25:51.58
has profound
healing implications,
00:25:51.58\00:25:55.18
and Jesus endorsed them.
He basically upheld the Law
00:25:55.18\00:26:00.49
and He amplified the
Law. JB: Yes, He did.
00:26:00.49\00:26:03.12
Well, Dr. DeRose,
that's all we have time for.
00:26:03.12\00:26:05.06
And I'm sorry. But
thanks for joining me today.
00:26:05.06\00:26:07.66
This has been a
blessing. DD: Always a blessing.
00:26:07.66\00:26:09.83
JB: And perhaps
we can pray together.
00:26:09.83\00:26:12.03
This subject of stress is big.
If you don't feel like you have
00:26:12.03\00:26:15.07
been stressed out lately,
well then I'm saying thank God.
00:26:15.07\00:26:18.81
Maybe you're in a position
where you can be a blessing
00:26:18.81\00:26:20.58
to somebody else. But
if you are dealing with
00:26:20.58\00:26:22.78
stress-- and if you're not,
you probably will be sometime
00:26:22.78\00:26:26.38
soon-- if you're dealing with
stress, you now have some tools
00:26:26.38\00:26:29.75
that you can use to
enable you to get through those
00:26:29.75\00:26:32.65
stressful situations, upright.
Without them knocking you down
00:26:32.65\00:26:36.49
and making you another casualty
of this thing we call stress.
00:26:36.49\00:26:40.43
Let's pray together.
00:26:40.43\00:26:42.53
Our Father in
heaven, how thankful we are
00:26:42.86\00:26:45.57
that Jesus is the way
and the truth and the life,
00:26:45.57\00:26:50.57
and that You've given us
so many things that we can use
00:26:50.57\00:26:53.38
as tools to help us
in the battle, the daily,
00:26:53.38\00:26:56.85
constant battle with stress.
We thank You for Your presence,
00:26:56.85\00:27:01.75
that Your Spirit
would come and live in us.
00:27:01.75\00:27:05.35
We thank You for
the gift of rest.
00:27:05.35\00:27:08.26
We thank You for the hope that
we have in You, and that You
00:27:08.26\00:27:11.33
have said that we can
cast our cares upon You,
00:27:11.33\00:27:14.86
knowing that You care for
us. Let us do that, and live
00:27:14.86\00:27:18.47
without being crushed by stress.
We know that this world is
00:27:18.47\00:27:22.40
heading into even more
troubled times, but that soon,
00:27:22.40\00:27:26.11
that great day is going
to come where today merges
00:27:26.11\00:27:30.15
into the tomorrow of eternity,
and we'll live in a place
00:27:30.15\00:27:33.55
without any stress. Keep
us, and save us, we pray.
00:27:33.55\00:27:38.52
In Jesus' name. Amen.
00:27:38.52\00:27:41.69
DD: Amen.
00:27:41.69\00:27:44.06
[Music interlude]
00:27:45.46\00:27:48.66
JB: I'm thankful you've
chosen to join us today.
00:27:53.27\00:27:55.47
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:27:55.47\00:27:57.41
Until then,
remember: It is written,
00:27:57.41\00:28:01.31
man shall not
live by bread alone
00:28:01.31\00:28:04.31
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:28:04.31\00:28:09.62
¤ [It Is Written Theme]  ¤
00:28:09.62\00:28:12.35