[dramatic music] It has stood
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the test of time.
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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This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw,
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thanks for joining me today.
There's a fascinating verse
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in the Bible that gives
a lot of people, like me,
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a lot of hope. I'm
going to read it to you.
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It's found in
Psalm 119 and verse 130.
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Listen to this: "The
entrance of your words
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give light. It
gives understanding
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to the simple." Now,
isn't that something.
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The Bible says that God's Word
entering into a person's mind
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can enhance the mind.
Let's think about this
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generally. Is there
something you can do
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to sharpen up your grey matter?
And if there is, then surely
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this can have a great effect
on your relationship with God.
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My guest today is the president
of Nedley Health Solutions,
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Dr. Neil Nedley. Dr. Nedley,
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thanks for joining
me today. Thank you.
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Great to be here,
John. The Bible seems to say
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that a person can take
what intelligence they have
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and work with
it and increase it.
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Is that scientifically
true? Absolutely it is.
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IQ can be improved
upon. How can someone
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improve their IQ? And
the reason I ask isn't just
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because I want to ace a
test, I want to thrive in my
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relationship with God, and
if my mind is sharper surely
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I'm going to be
able to do that. Yes.
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And you want to be more
effective and more persuasive
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as well, in dealing with
others, and have an influence.
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And that's all
centered on intelligence.
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Absolutely. So,
there are a lot of things.
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One of the
things is what we eat.
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Actually what we eat gets
turned in to neurotransmitters.
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It actually can help
our brain function better,
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to be able to think better.
What we're viewing, what we're
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doing as far as recreational
time and entertainment,
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what music we're listening
to, and actually our associates
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and what we are utilizing
our brain for when we're
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in down time. All
of these things can and
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do affect brain
function and one's IQ.
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One's level of
intelligence. Correct.
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Yes. Tell me more.
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Well, it's an electrical center
and so it works via electricity.
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There's different areas that
communicate with other areas
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using chemicals, so when an
electrical transmission occurs,
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chemicals are released.
If that nerve is then trained
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to pick up those chemicals,
then the neuronal electrical
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signal will continue, and
that is how thought occurs
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and it's how we even move.
We can't actually move our arm
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and our leg unless our
control center of our brain
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tells us to do so. It's
a remarkably complex thing,
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isn't it? It is, yeah.
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Incredible. Designed by God.
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Yeah. A hundred
billion nerve cells,
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over a hundred trillion
connections in the brain.
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Clearly then, how I live
is going to affect this thing.
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You said even what we
eat. Well, actually, our brains
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utilize carbohydrates as their
form of energy, and so one of
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the concerns about these fad
diets that are high in protein,
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high in fat, and carb deficient
is that it is going to cause a
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problem as far as brain
communication, particularly in
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the frontal lobe of the brain.
It sounds like you're saying
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get plenty of carbs,
it's as simple as that.
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Yeah, the natural carbs.
Now, if we do the refined carbs,
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we're going to get these
big spikes in blood sugar and
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then big valleys. And
the brain doesn't like that.
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It actually takes about
four hours for the brain
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to recover from a valley,
so that's why high sugar foods,
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even though they're
high in carbohydrates,
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are not healthy for the
brain. Your grades will go down
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by a letter, like a whole letter
performance in most subjects
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when you're
eating a high sugar diet.
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Now, I've heard the
phrase "brain food."
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Yeah. You've heard
that, I'm guessing.
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Is there anything to
brain food? Is there brain food?
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There is brain food.
Yeah, actually fruits, grains,
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nuts in moderation,
vegetables. Burgers?
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Burgers are not
really brain food.
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French fries?
French fries would not
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be brain food. Ice cream.
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Ice cream would
not be brain food.
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Soda? Nope.
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Cookies. Ha ha.
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Nope. [laughs] Roast beef?
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Roast beef, no. No?
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Pork, spare ribs.
Spare ribs and pork, no.
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You know what I'm
doing. I'm not listing
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my favorite foods,
I'm listing the foods
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that people eat the most of.
The foods that America consumes,
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yeah. Exactly.
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And these things have a
deleterious effect on the brain.
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They do. A lot of
those foods that you
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mentioned raise cholesterol, and
they have something that's very
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inhibitory as far as the
neurotransmitters are ncerned.
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And the neurotransmitters
essentially send signals
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from point A to
point B. That's right.
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Arachidonic acid.
Arachidonic acid is actually
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present only in flesh foods.
It is pro-inflammatory, and it
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also decreases the synthesis
and storage of acetylcholine,
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another important
neurotransmitter that's
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there for intelligence.
Inflammation is bad, and
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that's why arachidonic acid
is not good in an adult's diet.
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And arachidonic
acid comes from meat.
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Arachidonic acid comes from
meat and it's what produces even
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the inflammation and the
pain in joints, for those that
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are susceptible to arthritis.
And a lot of people notice
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physical problems, if
they have a disease already,
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with arachidonic acid.
But what they don't realize
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is it's having
effect on the brain as well.
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So, what we eat can have a
negative impact on our brain.
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Let's add it up.
What we eat can clearly
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negatively impact our
relationship with God.
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Yes. Yeah.
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And you know, interestingly,
the Bible in the book of Genesis
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actually put God's diet in
there as far as what he thought
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was best for His creation.
You'd think that what God
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gave us at the
beginning would be ideal.
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And it is. It's
actually been shown.
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What did God give
us in the beginning?
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He gave us fruits,
grains, nuts and vegetables.
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Perhaps I should read here, in
Genesis chapter 1 and verse 29,
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"And God said,
Behold, I have given you every
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herb bearing seed,
which is upon the face of
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all the earth, and every tree,
in the which is the fruit of
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a tree yielding seed; to
you it shall be for meat."
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Vegetables were
added a little later.
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Is that right?
Yes, well, vegetables
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are in there, too.
There are a lot of vegetables
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that are
actually seeds, you know.
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We might say the
leafy vegetables, you know,
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actually eating leaves
were added a little bit later,
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fully when sin
came into the world and
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the potential for disease.
And how I look at those leaves
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is, many of those leaves
are almost like medicine as far
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as healing
properties are concerned.
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That's where, for instance,
cancer patients can do well
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with many of those leaves.
I think that's why He let us
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have the leaves after
sin came into the world.
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He knew we were going
to need to get healed.
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So early, it was
a very natural diet.
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Correct. We
weren't eating any animals
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back in the
Garden of Eden. Correct.
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And interesting
thing, the evolutionists and
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the creationists
actually agree on that point.
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The point being?
Evolutionists say that we
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actually
evolved not to eat meat.
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You know, when you take
a look at the dentation and
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those sorts of things.
Most of them agree very clearly
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that meat is not healthy for
us, and they'll say it from the
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evolutionary standpoint.
But actually those that believe
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in creation from the Bible
will agree as well, on that.
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If I'm wanting to improve
my diet, to improve my brain
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function, what should I be
eating more of and less of?
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We've touched on it.
Yeah, you want to be getting the
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high sugar
foods out of the diet.
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You want to be getting certainly
less meat if not no meat.
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And then you want to be eating
carbs in their natural state.
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So whole plant
foods, eaten whole,
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is a good way to go.
And then, you may want
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to get some of the essential
fats and vitamins that are hard
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to get sometimes, like omega 3.
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And, getting enough
iron in the diet and getting
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enough zinc. Those
things are all important
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as far as mental performance.
But if I want to get omega 3
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naturally, where do I
get it? Flax seed, spinach.
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Walnuts? Walnuts.
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Yeah, walnuts are a good source.
Green soy, what we call edamame
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will have a lot of omega 3.
You can get enough, naturally?
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You can.
Spirulina, the plants of
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the waters are teeming in
it. Fish actually don't make
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omega 3; they get it
from the plants of the waters.
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They don't have any more
ability to make it than we do.
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It's essential for
both of us. Fascinating.
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What you know is that you can
improve your brain's function,
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you can improve your
intelligence, you can become
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sharper, you can do just a
little better than you're doing
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right now. And that
means that we can learn
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to thrive spiritually as well.
There are many more factors
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we're going to talk
about in relation to this.
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And we'll be back with
some of those is just a moment.
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[music] We know the Bible as a
00:09:18.09\00:09:25.16
book that teaches us to
live in harmony with God and
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in ways that demonstrate
His love to those around us.
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God knows what's
best for us spiritually.
00:09:30.57\00:09:33.20
But does He also know
what's best for us physically?
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If you'd like to know
what the Bible says about how
00:09:37.31\00:09:39.14
to live the longest,
healthiest life possible,
00:09:39.14\00:09:42.18
let me send you
out a free booklet,
00:09:42.18\00:09:44.51
"Living Life to the Fullest."
All you need to do is call
00:09:44.51\00:09:47.68
(800) 253-3000 and
ask for your copy of
00:09:47.68\00:09:52.12
"Living Life to the
Fullest." If the line's busy,
00:09:52.12\00:09:54.82
please do try again.
You can write to us at
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It Is Written, P.O. Box 6,
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Chattanooga, TN 37401.
We'll mail a free copy to you
00:10:00.60\00:10:05.23
in North America.
Again, that toll-free number is
00:10:05.23\00:10:08.94
(800) 253-3000.
You'll find us online at
00:10:08.94\00:10:13.84
ItIsWritten.com.
This is It Is Written.
00:10:13.84\00:10:19.55
I'm John Bradshaw,
and I'm joined today by
00:10:19.55\00:10:21.78
Dr. Neil Nedley.
Dr. Nedley, thanks for
00:10:21.78\00:10:24.22
taking the time. Oh,
it's great being here.
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This is fascinating.
We can do simple things.
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On paper they're simple;
in practice, somebody might
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have a little struggle, I guess.
Simple things to improve our
00:10:31.76\00:10:34.20
brain function and
therefore positively impact
00:10:34.20\00:10:37.87
our relationship
with God. Correct.
00:10:37.87\00:10:40.00
Let me ask you a
question. What about sleep?
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It seems that every time I
read the news I'm seeing another
00:10:42.80\00:10:45.44
report about the importance
of getting adequate sleep.
00:10:45.44\00:10:47.94
Yes. Sleep is
critically important.
00:10:47.94\00:10:49.88
When we're lacking in sleep,
particularly regularly getting
00:10:49.88\00:10:52.65
less than six hours a day,
we actually built up toxins
00:10:52.65\00:10:55.65
in our brain that impair our
performance, both emotionally
00:10:55.65\00:10:58.52
as well as intellectually.
So getting enough sleep is very
00:10:58.52\00:11:01.89
important, but also, if
you really want to optimize it,
00:11:01.89\00:11:05.46
getting sleep at the right
time is even just as important.
00:11:05.46\00:11:10.50
Okay. I'm going to zero in
00:11:10.50\00:11:12.63
on both of these.
What's the right time to sleep?
00:11:12.63\00:11:15.17
Well, the best time is early
to bed, early to rise, as far as
00:11:15.17\00:11:19.44
high IQ mental
performance is concerned.
00:11:19.44\00:11:23.11
You said less than six
hours, but how much should
00:11:23.11\00:11:25.41
we be getting? Seven
to eight is pretty good.
00:11:25.41\00:11:27.88
Actually, studies show that if
you're getting over nine, you're
00:11:27.88\00:11:30.82
actually getting too
much. Over 10 is very bad.
00:11:30.82\00:11:34.52
In fact, over 10 is
worse than less than five.
00:11:34.52\00:11:39.89
And so some people sleep
too much, and that can cause
00:11:39.89\00:11:42.83
a set of problems. But
even teenagers, eight hours
00:11:42.83\00:11:45.70
is enough? Certainly
nine hours is probably
00:11:45.70\00:11:48.57
what most early to mid-teens are
going to need as far as optimal.
00:11:48.57\00:11:53.21
But once they're 17-18,
eight should do it for them
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in most cases.
Now, related to sleep
00:11:59.01\00:12:01.45
is this business I hear
about circadian rhythms.
00:12:01.45\00:12:05.52
Yeah. Circadian rhythm
00:12:05.52\00:12:07.29
is our daily cycle.
So these are cycles that
00:12:07.29\00:12:09.82
go around 24 hours. And
actually, our daily rhythm
00:12:09.82\00:12:13.60
is set by light.
It was meant to be set
00:12:13.60\00:12:16.97
by sunrise,
coming up in the morning,
00:12:16.97\00:12:21.04
and particularly the
blue light from the blue sky
00:12:21.04\00:12:23.51
helps to set that body
clock so that we will sleep more
00:12:23.51\00:12:27.01
efficiently the next night.
It also helps our serotonin
00:12:27.01\00:12:31.11
levels in the daytime.
So, the circadian rhythm is
00:12:31.11\00:12:34.68
important and what studies show
is, if you get the light in the
00:12:34.68\00:12:38.09
morning and if you go to
bed early, say 9 or 9:30,
00:12:38.09\00:12:41.42
you'll make more
melatonin at night.
00:12:41.42\00:12:44.63
And the melatonin will help
you to retain what you learned
00:12:44.63\00:12:48.53
that day, so that you
can apply it later on.
00:12:48.53\00:12:51.47
You've mentioned
melatonin and serotonin.
00:12:51.47\00:12:53.44
What are they, what do they do?
Serotonin is the chemical that
00:12:53.44\00:12:56.71
helps us stay emotionally
calm, when there's stress.
00:12:56.71\00:13:00.41
But it's also a mood
elevating chemical as well.
00:13:00.41\00:13:04.01
You feel better. We
do feel better, yeah.
00:13:04.01\00:13:06.15
You feel happier and
you're actually a little
00:13:06.15\00:13:09.05
more creative as well.
How can I get some of that,
00:13:09.05\00:13:12.49
Doctor? Serious question?
00:13:12.49\00:13:14.49
Well, it is a serious question
but it's actually through light.
00:13:14.49\00:13:16.96
Yeah, light is a big mechanism
for it, and through nutrition.
00:13:16.96\00:13:21.03
We have to have tryptophan,
the least essential amino acid
00:13:21.03\00:13:24.83
in the diet, to be
able to make serotonin.
00:13:24.83\00:13:27.44
And then we have to get
tryptophan into the brain.
00:13:27.44\00:13:29.74
Serotonin gets turned
into melatonin at night.
00:13:29.74\00:13:32.71
And melatonin
helps us to sleep better.
00:13:32.71\00:13:35.91
It's 30 times more potent
than vitamin E, as far as its
00:13:35.91\00:13:39.75
antioxidant potential, so
it actually can help reduce
00:13:39.75\00:13:43.05
our risk of cancer.
And it actually can improve
00:13:43.05\00:13:45.95
our IQ by helping us to retain,
later on for tests or ways in
00:13:45.95\00:13:51.23
which we need
to apply knowledge,
00:13:51.23\00:13:53.13
by getting that nice
peak by going to bed early.
00:13:53.13\00:13:56.03
People who are constantly
changing this shift, that shift,
00:13:56.03\00:13:58.83
from week to week and
those who work nights.
00:13:58.83\00:14:02.00
You know, one day
we don't sleep at all
00:14:02.00\00:14:03.97
and the next day we go to
bed at 2 a.m. and the next day
00:14:03.97\00:14:06.27
we're going to bed at 10 p.m.
And a lot of people aren't even
00:14:06.27\00:14:09.54
on shift work, but
they just have no regularity
00:14:09.54\00:14:12.88
in their schedule.
Not optimal brain health,
00:14:12.88\00:14:16.69
by any means. So,
regularity is good.
00:14:16.69\00:14:18.92
Regularity is good. Okay.
00:14:18.92\00:14:20.99
What about, I'm a night
person; I'm a morning person?
00:14:20.99\00:14:24.69
Now, that is environmental. I
can take anyone who is a night
00:14:24.69\00:14:29.56
person and turn them into a
morning person in seven days.
00:14:29.56\00:14:33.47
And a lot of people in
the entertainment world are
00:14:33.47\00:14:37.31
nighttime people, cause
that's when they perform in
00:14:37.31\00:14:39.51
their entertainment
life, but it turns out,
00:14:39.51\00:14:43.58
that's one of the reasons
why they have more depression
00:14:43.58\00:14:46.01
and they have more mental health
issues, is simply because of
00:14:46.01\00:14:48.95
those late nights continually.
Now, people that have depression
00:14:48.95\00:14:52.25
are more likely to be
nighttime people, because
00:14:52.25\00:14:54.46
they'll actually feel
better the longer they stay up.
00:14:54.46\00:14:57.76
But the solution to that is
to take care of their underlying
00:14:57.76\00:15:00.96
depression and get their
circadian rhythms in balance,
00:15:00.96\00:15:03.63
and then they'll be happy
in the daytime, they'll wake up
00:15:03.63\00:15:06.10
rejuvenated, they'll
be ready to face the day,
00:15:06.10\00:15:09.07
and then they'll be ready
to go to bed when it's bedtime.
00:15:09.07\00:15:11.51
There's more to come
and there's a lot to cover.
00:15:11.51\00:15:13.58
We'll talk about
circadian rhythms and more
00:15:13.58\00:15:15.68
in just a moment.
Stay with us here at
00:15:15.68\00:15:18.41
It Is Written. How can
you have a sharper mind
00:15:18.41\00:15:21.32
and then, with that
sharper mind, enjoy a greater
00:15:21.32\00:15:25.32
closeness with
God? We'll find out more
00:15:25.32\00:15:27.62
in just a moment. [music]
00:15:27.62\00:15:30.63
"Every Word" is a one-minute,
Bible-based daily devotional
00:15:30.63\00:15:33.23
presented by
Pastor John Bradshaw
00:15:33.23\00:15:35.20
and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:15:35.20\00:15:38.00
Look for "Every Word" on
selected networks, or watch it
00:15:38.00\00:15:40.97
online every day on our
website, ItIsWritten.com.
00:15:40.97\00:15:45.87
[music] Life often throws up
00:15:45.87\00:15:54.25
circumstances that provoke
a person to lose their temper.
00:15:54.25\00:15:58.55
I've often heard it said, well,
you can't blame him, or her,
00:15:58.55\00:16:01.32
given the circumstances.
But look at this, it's
00:16:01.32\00:16:04.93
Proverbs 16:32, the wise man
wrote: "He who is slow to anger
00:16:04.93\00:16:08.30
is better than the mighty;
and he who rules his spirit
00:16:08.30\00:16:11.13
than he who takes a city."
It's virtuous to control your
00:16:11.13\00:16:14.47
temper not to lose it.
The Bible never recommends
00:16:14.47\00:16:17.27
blowing up, giving
people a piece of your mind,
00:16:17.27\00:16:19.61
letting it rip. God's
grace is given to us so
00:16:19.61\00:16:22.18
that we can be Christ-like, and
Jesus was a model of evenness
00:16:22.18\00:16:26.88
every day of His life. The
Pharisees plagued His steps,
00:16:26.88\00:16:29.98
He had Judas and
Peter to deal with,
00:16:29.98\00:16:32.25
demon-possessed people.
And yet, He never lost it.
00:16:32.25\00:16:35.02
Challenging, isn't it.
But it's what Jesus can do
00:16:35.02\00:16:38.23
in your life and He
wants to do it today.
00:16:38.23\00:16:41.26
I'm John Bradshaw
for It Is Written.
00:16:41.26\00:16:43.97
Let's live today by every
word. This is It Is Written.
00:16:43.97\00:16:48.00
I'm John Bradshaw,
joined today by Dr. Neil Nedley,
00:16:48.00\00:16:51.14
the president of
Nedley Health Solutions.
00:16:51.14\00:16:54.04
I'm surprised, sort of, sort of,
that there are so many things
00:16:54.04\00:16:58.88
the average person can
do to positively impact
00:16:58.88\00:17:01.25
their brain health. And,
if you stop and think about
00:17:01.25\00:17:04.52
it, bad brain health is
costing this country gazillions
00:17:04.52\00:17:10.96
of dollars in medications,
the cost of people suffering
00:17:10.96\00:17:16.53
from depression,
and suicide. Exactly.
00:17:16.53\00:17:19.10
That's right. Yes, and suicide,
00:17:19.10\00:17:21.30
and missed work.
Lost productivity.
00:17:21.30\00:17:23.00
Lost creativity.
Some of the most expensive
00:17:23.00\00:17:26.21
drugs, or the drugs that soak
up much of the health spending,
00:17:26.21\00:17:30.21
are drugs that are
dedicated to mental health.
00:17:30.21\00:17:33.52
The average depressed individual
makes $10,400 less income
00:17:33.52\00:17:37.75
per year. They're
seven times more likely
00:17:37.75\00:17:40.66
to become unemployed. And
so, the financial problems
00:17:40.66\00:17:44.86
go with the
mental health problems.
00:17:44.86\00:17:47.46
And the mental health
problems, in many, many cases -
00:17:47.46\00:17:49.73
now, let's be fair.
Some people are just mentally
00:17:49.73\00:17:51.63
unwell, for whatever
reason, and they're sick.
00:17:51.63\00:17:56.04
Just like someone has a
problem with their pancreas or
00:17:56.04\00:17:59.11
their spleen, this person has
a problem with their brain and
00:17:59.11\00:18:01.68
something that I'm
bothered by is that it's still,
00:18:01.68\00:18:04.51
mental health is
still really stigmatized.
00:18:04.51\00:18:06.82
People won't come out
of the closet and admit
00:18:06.82\00:18:08.98
they have a problem
because they don't want people
00:18:08.98\00:18:11.05
to know they have
got a mental problem.
00:18:11.05\00:18:12.99
And I hope we
can get beyond that.
00:18:12.99\00:18:15.02
Exactly. I hope so, too.
00:18:15.02\00:18:16.76
And I want to encourage you,
if you have mental health issues
00:18:16.76\00:18:19.23
that you're hiding, or clinging
to, or sweeping under the rug,
00:18:19.23\00:18:22.20
see a
professional. See somebody.
00:18:22.20\00:18:24.37
Contact Nedley Health
Solutions. Do what you must
00:18:24.37\00:18:26.50
to address that,
because so very often
00:18:26.50\00:18:29.74
somebody battling mental illness
can enjoy mental wellness.
00:18:29.74\00:18:34.98
And we want you
to be well. Exactly.
00:18:34.98\00:18:37.71
Yes. Now, you mentioned
00:18:37.71\00:18:39.61
entertainment. This
is the factor that is
00:18:39.61\00:18:41.82
probably most connected
with being able to improve
00:18:41.82\00:18:45.59
your intelligence is to
be able to focus intently
00:18:45.59\00:18:50.29
for prolonged periods of time.
And our society is mitigating
00:18:50.29\00:18:54.73
against that continually,
not only because of the
00:18:54.73\00:18:58.03
entertainment industry but
even because of the smart phones
00:18:58.03\00:19:01.37
that are there. You
know, you're in the middle
00:19:01.37\00:19:03.67
of something important
and now all of a sudden you're
00:19:03.67\00:19:05.74
getting a text from a friend.
You log on to the Internet
00:19:05.74\00:19:08.44
to get an assignment done,
and then all of a sudden you're
00:19:08.44\00:19:11.05
distracted by some sort of
advertisement or picture on
00:19:11.05\00:19:13.72
the screen that you click
on. And so you're not able
00:19:13.72\00:19:16.28
to get your work done.
This type of thing actually has
00:19:16.28\00:19:18.89
been shown to not only decrease
general intelligence, but
00:19:18.89\00:19:22.59
it also decreases emotional
intelligence because our ability
00:19:22.59\00:19:25.33
to focus is very much connected
with our ability to empathize
00:19:25.33\00:19:28.73
even with others.
So this is important.
00:19:28.73\00:19:31.90
This is not just an observation,
this is critically important.
00:19:31.90\00:19:34.34
This is critically important,
and that's why I recommend,
00:19:34.34\00:19:37.37
as well as other mental health
experts, that people go through
00:19:37.37\00:19:40.44
what we call a
"digital Sabbath."
00:19:40.44\00:19:42.48
And that means that they're
not carrying any phone around,
00:19:42.48\00:19:45.81
any form of distractibility
where they can immerse
00:19:45.81\00:19:48.95
themselves in something
with totally undistraction.
00:19:48.95\00:19:53.19
Without that
ability to be distracted.
00:19:53.19\00:19:56.22
And it will actually improve
their EQ and IQ to do that.
00:19:56.22\00:19:58.66
Anything else we
can do to improve focus?
00:19:58.66\00:20:01.56
Our body not only
has a circadian rhythm,
00:20:01.56\00:20:04.37
it has a
circaseptan rhythm. What's that?
00:20:04.37\00:20:08.54
That means that our body
cycles go every seven days.
00:20:08.54\00:20:12.57
So our heart rate has
a seven-day sine wave.
00:20:12.57\00:20:15.41
That's just built
in. It's built in.
00:20:15.41\00:20:18.05
Yeah, it's built
in, with periods of
00:20:18.05\00:20:20.02
lightness and darkness.
Not just in human beings,
00:20:20.02\00:20:22.72
it's actually built
into animals as well.
00:20:22.72\00:20:24.82
In fact, the scientists or
the chronobiologists - it's what
00:20:24.82\00:20:28.19
we call these people that study
phenomena over long periods of
00:20:28.19\00:20:31.29
time - it's in plants as well.
But the question is, why seven.
00:20:31.29\00:20:36.06
Because nothing in the universe
is divisible by seven, you know.
00:20:36.06\00:20:39.63
The solar year is not divisible
by seven, the lunar month isn't.
00:20:39.63\00:20:43.84
There's nothing there,
but yet this planet beats
00:20:43.84\00:20:47.14
to a rhythm of seven.
And it turns out, if we take
00:20:47.14\00:20:51.31
a recreational day where we just
focus in on our frontal lobe,
00:20:51.31\00:20:56.48
which is, the frontal lobe is
also the center of spirituality,
00:20:56.48\00:21:00.52
morality and the will. And
we leave the mundane things
00:21:00.52\00:21:04.16
aside, where we're truly
being uplifted and recreational,
00:21:04.16\00:21:06.96
it will actually improve
our intelligence and focus.
00:21:06.96\00:21:10.23
Now, hold on a
minute. That sounds,
00:21:10.23\00:21:12.90
from a scientific point of view,
a whole lot like what God said,
00:21:12.90\00:21:18.51
when He said,
"Remember the Sabbath day
00:21:18.51\00:21:21.51
to keep it holy.
Six days you labor and
00:21:21.51\00:21:24.55
do your work." Your
mundane, regular things.
00:21:24.55\00:21:26.72
"But the seventh day
is the Sabbath, the rest
00:21:26.72\00:21:29.52
of the Lord thy
God." The day to focus.
00:21:29.52\00:21:31.92
Yeah. And there
was a good reason
00:21:31.92\00:21:35.32
to remember that.
God thought of it all.
00:21:35.32\00:21:37.83
Yeah, and you know, the
New Testament says the Sabbath
00:21:37.83\00:21:40.53
was made for man and
not man for the Sabbath.
00:21:40.53\00:21:43.20
So it's actually something
that benefits us significantly.
00:21:43.20\00:21:46.84
And now there have been studies
out of Loma Linda University,
00:21:46.84\00:21:50.41
some of it that are just
getting ready to be published,
00:21:50.41\00:21:52.81
to actually show that our mental
health improves significantly
00:21:52.81\00:21:57.05
when we keep the Sabbath.
Our ability to cope with stress,
00:21:57.05\00:22:00.18
with bad things in our
life. If the Sabbath is kept -
00:22:00.18\00:22:03.95
in other words,
the circaseptan rhythm,
00:22:03.95\00:22:05.95
this weekly rest, is kept
on a regular basis, it will
00:22:05.95\00:22:09.26
significantly improve mental
health, and to some extent
00:22:09.26\00:22:12.96
physical health as well.
People have got music, I mean
00:22:12.96\00:22:16.43
virtually in their
brains. It seems to me more
00:22:16.43\00:22:20.34
than ever before. Yeah,
popular music in general
00:22:20.34\00:22:23.17
suppresses the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:22:23.17\00:22:25.77
That's proven.
Yeah, it's proven.
00:22:25.77\00:22:27.98
We'll see the same thing on an
EEG, from watching entertainment
00:22:27.98\00:22:30.28
television programming, we'll
see the same thing when someone
00:22:30.28\00:22:33.11
pops this syncopated rock and
roll or heavy metal rhythm in.
00:22:33.11\00:22:37.45
After 90 seconds to three
minutes, they are no longer
00:22:37.45\00:22:40.26
in beta wave function. No
frontal lobe activity going
00:22:40.26\00:22:43.06
on, it's just alpha wave.
Now, frontal lobe suppressants
00:22:43.06\00:22:46.29
are addictive, so for them, they
think they're getting benefit
00:22:46.29\00:22:49.16
because they're
getting their addiction fix,
00:22:49.16\00:22:52.07
so they feel calmer just like
an alcoholic feels better when
00:22:52.07\00:22:55.47
they drink alcohol.
But it's still not good
00:22:55.47\00:22:58.07
for their brain, and
in reality they would
00:22:58.07\00:23:00.74
do far better to get on either
no music or even there might
00:23:00.74\00:23:05.15
be some advantages of
frontal lobe-enhancing music,
00:23:05.15\00:23:08.42
which doesn't have these
syncopated dance rhythms that
00:23:08.42\00:23:11.75
are prominent and prevalent
throughout the whole piece.
00:23:11.75\00:23:14.52
There have been studies
done on athletic and musical
00:23:14.52\00:23:16.96
performance. Even a
sharpshooter is more
00:23:16.96\00:23:19.26
accurate when they're listening
to traditional classical music
00:23:19.26\00:23:22.13
than they are
listening to rock music.
00:23:22.13\00:23:24.83
The good thing about this one,
and I'm really encouraged by, is
00:23:24.83\00:23:27.54
that even people who might be in
a dark place, but all of us can
00:23:27.54\00:23:32.04
do simple things to improve our
brain function, and therefore
00:23:32.04\00:23:36.44
have a real positive impact
on our relationship with God.
00:23:36.44\00:23:41.05
Let me come back to that
verse I looked at, right at
00:23:41.05\00:23:43.25
the beginning of the
program. And I'd like you,
00:23:43.25\00:23:45.75
from a medical perspective,
to briefly explain how
00:23:45.75\00:23:48.16
this works,
because this is powerful.
00:23:48.16\00:23:51.26
Psalm 119, verse 130.
"The entrance of Thy words
00:23:51.26\00:23:55.43
giveth light. It
giveth understanding
00:23:55.43\00:23:57.53
unto the simple."
God's Word comes in and
00:23:57.53\00:23:59.93
it positively impacts the brain
function of somebody not at
00:23:59.93\00:24:05.87
the top end of the IQ
scale. How does that work?
00:24:05.87\00:24:09.18
Regular study of the Word
of God - and the Word of God is
00:24:09.18\00:24:13.68
a spiritual, you know, it has
a spiritual basis, a spiritual
00:24:13.68\00:24:17.59
theme - but when you study
and analyze spiritual themes,
00:24:17.59\00:24:21.19
you get a lot of frontal
lobe enhancement from that.
00:24:21.19\00:24:24.79
And you can see it.
Again, you'll see the beta waves
00:24:24.79\00:24:26.93
on EEG, on spec scans.
You'll see the circulation
00:24:26.93\00:24:30.90
light up in the
frontal lobe of the brain.
00:24:30.90\00:24:33.77
And so, contemplating those
words is healthy for us, and
00:24:33.77\00:24:36.94
it actually will
improve our IQ and our EQ.
00:24:36.94\00:24:39.94
Magnificent. So much you can do,
00:24:39.94\00:24:42.44
to do better
upstairs, to do better up here,
00:24:42.44\00:24:45.45
and that's great. As
I've said before, if you're
00:24:45.45\00:24:47.45
going not do better
on a test, that's good.
00:24:47.45\00:24:49.45
If you're going
to be more creative,
00:24:49.45\00:24:51.25
more productive,
that's wonderful.
00:24:51.25\00:24:53.05
But the best thing of all is
that you can thrive spiritually.
00:24:53.05\00:24:56.96
And perhaps the very best
thing you can do to improve the
00:24:56.96\00:25:01.10
function of your brain and then
your relationship with God is
00:25:01.10\00:25:04.40
to spend time
in the Word of God.
00:25:04.40\00:25:07.30
David also wrote,
"Thy word have I hid
00:25:07.30\00:25:10.04
in my heart that I
might not sin against Thee."
00:25:10.04\00:25:12.84
The Bible will help you to
be strong because the Bible
00:25:12.84\00:25:16.21
really is the written
expression of who Jesus is.
00:25:16.21\00:25:19.31
When the Word of
God comes into our mind,
00:25:19.31\00:25:21.72
Christ comes into our mind.
And when Jesus is in your mind,
00:25:21.72\00:25:24.42
your mind's going
to be sharp and strong.
00:25:24.42\00:25:27.42
[music] If you'd
like to know what
00:25:27.42\00:25:34.10
the Bible says about how to
live the longest, healthiest
00:25:34.10\00:25:36.56
life possible, let me
send you our free booklet,
00:25:36.56\00:25:39.67
"Living Life to the Fullest."
All you need to do is call
00:25:39.67\00:25:43.37
(800) 253-3000 and
ask for your copy of
00:25:43.37\00:25:48.21
"Living Life to the
Fullest." If the line's busy,
00:25:48.21\00:25:50.71
please do try again.
You can write to us at
00:25:50.71\00:25:53.48
It Is Written, P.O. Box 6,
00:25:53.48\00:25:56.08
Chattanooga, TN 37401.
We'll mail a free copy to you
00:25:56.08\00:26:00.99
in North America. It Is
Written is a faith-based
00:26:00.99\00:26:04.06
ministry, and your support makes
it possible for us to share
00:26:04.06\00:26:07.66
God's good news with the
world. Your tax-deductible gift
00:26:07.66\00:26:11.57
can be sent to the
address on your screen.
00:26:11.57\00:26:13.94
Or via our
website, ItIsWritten.com.
00:26:13.94\00:26:17.81
Thank you for your
continued prayful support.
00:26:17.81\00:26:20.98
Again, that toll-free
number is (800) 253-3000.
00:26:20.98\00:26:25.21
You'll find us
online at ItIsWritten.com.
00:26:25.21\00:26:31.75
Dr. Nedley, thank you.
Thanks for joining us today,
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it's been wonderful.
Great being here, John.
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Thank you. Let's pray together
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before we close
here. Our Father in heaven,
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we thank You today for
Jesus, the Living Word.
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We are grateful
that as You've made us
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according to the Bible
fearfully and wonderfully,
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You are able to keep
us, sharpen us, improve us.
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You're able to help us keep so
many problems away that we just,
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in so many cases, are
inviting into our lives.
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So I pray that as we consider
what we've talked about today
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You'll bless us and give us the
grace to be as sharp as we can,
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not just for
ourselves but for You.
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We thank You today.
We pray in Jesus' name.
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Amen. Amen.
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[music] Thank you for
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joining me today.
It's been a pleasure
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to have you here. I'll
look forward to seeing you
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again next time, and
until then, please remember:
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It is written,
man shall not live
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by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds
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from the mouth of God.
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