[hopeful anthem]
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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.
00:09:15.35\00:09:18.42
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
00:09:46.75\00:09:49.05
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,
00:10:00.63\00:10:04.40
if you will, of
some kind of global
00:10:04.40\00:10:06.40
Internet community, and they're
not worshiping with other
00:10:06.40\00:10:10.41
people, they're missing the
power of social connectedness.
00:10:10.41\00:10:14.51
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?
00:10:17.71\00:10:21.42
JB: Amen. So, I
would recommend you to
00:10:21.42\00:10:22.82
watch It Is Written, and
go to church, and experience
00:10:22.82\00:10:26.12
the best of both worlds. Amen.
00:10:26.12\00:10:28.89
I'm glad you're with us
today. There's a whole lot more
00:10:28.89\00:10:30.89
to talk about.
Stress, what causes it,
00:10:30.89\00:10:33.16
what you can do about it.
I've got Dr. David DeRose with
00:10:33.16\00:10:35.43
me, and we're going to talk more
about this in just a moment.
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[fanfare]
00:10:40.44\00:10:45.71
JB: Stress is a
part of everyone's life.
00:10:48.11\00:10:51.31
If you're living and breathing,
then the chances are you're
00:10:51.31\00:10:53.65
either dealing with some stress
right now, or you've faced it in
00:10:53.65\00:10:57.22
the not-too-distant past.
God knows that, and it matters
00:10:57.22\00:11:00.79
to Him. Through
His Word, He gives
00:11:00.79\00:11:03.09
wisdom that can help you manage
the stress that comes your way.
00:11:03.09\00:11:06.90
If you'd like to know
more, I'd be happy to send you a
00:11:06.90\00:11:10.07
free book from our
Healing Insights series, called
00:11:10.07\00:11:13.27
"Dealing with Stress."
All you need to do is call
00:11:13.27\00:11:16.20
(800) 253-3000 and ask
for "Dealing with Stress.
00:11:16.20\00:11:21.54
If the line is
busy, please do try again.
00:11:21.54\00:11:24.38
You can write to: It Is Written,
00:11:24.38\00:11:26.41
P.O. Box 6,
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37401,
00:11:26.41\00:11:31.19
and we'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:11:31.19\00:11:34.76
You can also download a free
digital copy at ItIsWritten.com.
00:11:34.76\00:11:40.03
Our toll-free number
is (800) 253-3000, and
00:11:40.03\00:11:43.77
you can find us
online at ItIsWritten.com.
00:11:43.77\00:11:48.14
JB: This is It Is
Written. I'm John Bradshaw.
00:11:50.77\00:11:53.07
Thanks for joining me today.
I'm joined by Dr. David DeRose,
00:11:53.07\00:11:56.58
a doctor of internal medicine,
a doctor of preventive medicine.
00:11:56.58\00:11:59.91
Which sounds like a guy
who's trying to work himself
00:11:59.91\00:12:01.88
out of a job, if you
stop and think about it.
00:12:01.88\00:12:03.79
He comes to us from
CompassHealth Consulting
00:12:03.79\00:12:06.79
in Northern
California. Dr. DeRose,
00:12:06.79\00:12:08.52
I'm glad you're with me today.
We're talking about some good
00:12:08.52\00:12:10.39
stuff, I think.
DD: It's exciting,
00:12:10.39\00:12:11.89
because it makes a difference.
JB: Makes a real difference
00:12:11.89\00:12:14.13
in a person's
life. The stereotype is,
00:12:14.13\00:12:16.97
somebody smokes a
joint, they get happily buzzed
00:12:16.97\00:12:20.24
or stoned, and it's
"Hey, whatever, dude."
00:12:20.24\00:12:23.51
You know, they mellow out.
You would say this helps one's
00:12:23.51\00:12:27.64
stress level.
However-- there's a big however.
00:12:27.64\00:12:31.91
DD: Well, the big however--
you've identified this exactly,
00:12:31.91\00:12:35.02
John. In the
literature we speak about
00:12:35.02\00:12:37.35
an a-motivational syndrome
that can occur in chronic users
00:12:37.35\00:12:41.32
of marijuana. And
this means it basically
00:12:41.32\00:12:43.53
just takes away your
drive. Now, you might say,
00:12:43.53\00:12:46.13
"Well, this is good."
Because you can relax.
00:12:46.13\00:12:48.60
But this is actually not
good, if you look at the broader
00:12:48.60\00:12:51.80
picture of
stress. Because some of
00:12:51.80\00:12:54.14
the biggest stressors
are those global issues.
00:12:54.14\00:12:57.34
And if you lose your
motivation to work, for example,
00:12:57.34\00:13:01.91
this is going to have
some implications as far as
00:13:01.91\00:13:05.18
long-term stress. JB:
Which says to us that a
00:13:05.18\00:13:08.02
certain amount of
stress is good for you.
00:13:08.02\00:13:10.02
DD: You're exactly right.
The kind of environment where
00:13:10.02\00:13:13.32
people just want to be in a
cocoon, sometimes-- especially
00:13:13.32\00:13:15.62
if you're really bombarded
by all kinds of stressors--
00:13:15.62\00:13:18.06
is not reality. In fact,
00:13:18.06\00:13:21.03
Jesus articulated very
clearly. He said, "In the world
00:13:21.03\00:13:23.30
you will have tribulation.
But be of good cheer;
00:13:23.30\00:13:27.27
I've overcome the
world." So Jesus didn't give us
00:13:27.27\00:13:29.77
a picture of life with no
problems, but a picture of life
00:13:29.77\00:13:33.01
with challenges that we
can go through with Him.
00:13:33.01\00:13:36.44
JB: If you don't recognize
the stress involved in earning a
00:13:36.44\00:13:41.08
living, raising your kids,
supporting your family, if you
00:13:41.08\00:13:44.72
don't respond to that stressor,
you're going to be a bum.
00:13:44.72\00:13:48.62
You know what I'm
saying. DD: Well, it increases
00:13:48.62\00:13:50.86
the risk of it, at least.
JB: Yeah, if you don't respond
00:13:50.86\00:13:54.50
positively to that stress,
you won't be a productive
00:13:54.50\00:13:56.63
member of society, is
really what I mean to say.
00:13:56.63\00:13:58.67
DD: Look at
something really interesting.
00:13:58.67\00:14:00.27
Because we're speaking about the
Gospel of Mark and some of the
00:14:00.27\00:14:02.74
insights that we get there about
stress and other health issues.
00:14:02.74\00:14:07.08
I'm in Mark 15.
Jesus is on the cross.
00:14:07.08\00:14:10.91
And if you want to talk about
someone going through an acutely
00:14:10.91\00:14:14.52
stressful experience,
I don't know of anything
00:14:14.52\00:14:17.62
in history that compares
to what Jesus is experiencing
00:14:17.62\00:14:21.46
on the cross.
Now, someone would say,
00:14:21.46\00:14:23.43
"Well, that's acute
stress, it's not chronic stress.
00:14:23.43\00:14:27.03
It's not PTSD." Granted.
00:14:27.03\00:14:29.16
But still, let's
look at Jesus' example.
00:14:29.16\00:14:31.63
Mark chapter 15, verse 23.
It says, "Then they gave him
00:14:31.63\00:14:36.24
wine mingled with myrrh to
drink, but he did not take it."
00:14:36.24\00:14:42.88
JB: Can you
describe what this is?
00:14:42.88\00:14:43.88
Because essentially this
is a painkiller, isn't it?
00:14:43.88\00:14:45.48
DD: Exactly. Exactly.
00:14:45.48\00:14:46.58
That's what they were doing,
they were in mercy offering
00:14:46.58\00:14:49.92
Jesus just a little
something to ease His pain.
00:14:49.92\00:14:53.42
Death on a cross, from
the medical assessments of it,
00:14:53.42\00:14:57.53
was a tremendously painful,
excruciating form of death.
00:14:57.53\00:15:02.40
JB: Yes. DD: The
question is, though.
00:15:02.40\00:15:05.60
Here we're talking about
pain. We're talking about--
00:15:05.60\00:15:09.10
and by the way--
when it comes to PTSD,
00:15:09.10\00:15:12.27
abuse of chemicals is a
real risk in that setting.
00:15:12.27\00:15:16.01
But it's not just PTSD.
People that are going through
00:15:16.01\00:15:18.51
stressful life experiences,
it's so easy to go to these
00:15:18.51\00:15:21.85
things that are
legal. Whether it's alcohol,
00:15:21.85\00:15:25.62
you mentioned nicotine,
tobacco. And I say, let's ask
00:15:25.62\00:15:28.49
the question then,
where we were in the Bible.
00:15:28.49\00:15:30.59
Why would Jesus not
use it? And I would suggest
00:15:30.59\00:15:34.60
that if you look at Jesus' life,
Jesus lived a focused life.
00:15:34.60\00:15:38.77
He was focused on
always doing the things
00:15:38.77\00:15:41.07
that pleased the Father.
And granted, on the cross
00:15:41.07\00:15:44.41
He's experiencing,
like you mentioned,
00:15:44.41\00:15:46.07
that sense of
separation from the Father.
00:15:46.07\00:15:48.94
But I get the picture that
Jesus realized that He needed
00:15:48.94\00:15:54.05
all of His cognitive abilities.
I would suggest to you:
00:15:54.05\00:15:59.69
if Jesus needed all
His cognitive abilities,
00:15:59.69\00:16:03.02
the divine Son of
God, how much more
00:16:03.02\00:16:06.46
do I need them?
Well, I'm not on the cross,
00:16:06.46\00:16:08.93
but do I want to leave
some of those mental marvels,
00:16:08.93\00:16:15.04
or however you want
to describe them, aside?
00:16:15.04\00:16:19.07
Because I need to
help deal with the pain.
00:16:19.07\00:16:21.54
I'm not saying it's
wrong to take a painkiller--
00:16:21.54\00:16:23.14
don't misunderstand me.
JB: That was my question.
00:16:23.14\00:16:24.61
We're not saying,
well, you've got back pain--
00:16:24.61\00:16:26.21
don't use Aleve or
Tylenol. DD: Or even a narcotic,
00:16:26.21\00:16:28.75
if you have severe pain.
I'm not saying it's wrong.
00:16:28.75\00:16:31.02
I'm just saying, we've
got to look at this equation,
00:16:31.02\00:16:33.39
especially if we're
doing something chronically.
00:16:33.39\00:16:36.22
But if you want to look at a
foundational place in the Gospel
00:16:36.22\00:16:39.96
that gives us Jesus' perspective
on dealing with stress,
00:16:39.96\00:16:42.46
it's in Mark 1.
Because there in Mark 1,
00:16:42.46\00:16:45.63
verse 35, we find
what Jesus is doing
00:16:45.63\00:16:48.90
is He's
connecting with the Father.
00:16:48.90\00:16:51.54
And, what most people don't
realize is that when I impair my
00:16:51.54\00:16:57.71
cognitive functioning, that is
going to affect relationships.
00:16:57.71\00:17:02.78
No question. JB: No question.
00:17:02.78\00:17:04.99
And when it comes to stress,
from the Bible what we see is
00:17:04.99\00:17:08.09
the most powerful thing to help
us deal with stress, is a close
00:17:08.09\00:17:11.39
connection with
the God of heaven.
00:17:11.39\00:17:14.20
We'll be back with
more. Don't go away.
00:17:14.20\00:17:15.86
I've got Dr.
David DeRose with me.
00:17:15.86\00:17:17.43
Stress, what can we do about
it; how can we live with it
00:17:17.43\00:17:19.47
healthfully. How
can the stressors in our
00:17:19.47\00:17:21.94
lives drive us to God
and not away from God?
00:17:21.94\00:17:24.54
We'll have more
in just a moment.
00:17:24.54\00:17:26.68
[gentle melody]
Every Word is a one-minute
00:17:27.51\00:17:29.31
Bible-based daily devotional
presented by Pastor John
00:17:29.31\00:17:32.31
Bradshaw and designed especially
for busy people like you.
00:17:32.31\00:17:35.95
Look for Every Word on selected
networks, or watch it online
00:17:35.95\00:17:39.65
every day on our
website, ItIsWritten.com.
00:17:39.65\00:17:44.49
[hopeful melody]
00:17:44.99\00:17:48.66
JB: Jacob had made a
real mess of his life.
00:17:52.37\00:17:55.00
He had purchased the birthright
from his brother by very devious
00:17:55.00\00:17:57.54
means. At his
mother's suggestion he
00:17:57.54\00:17:59.67
deceived his father, and
now, later, it looked like his
00:17:59.67\00:18:02.68
brother, Esau,
was going to kill him.
00:18:02.68\00:18:04.75
What could he do? He
found himself wrestling with
00:18:04.75\00:18:07.12
God and he said, "I will not
let you go unless you bless me."
00:18:07.12\00:18:10.65
That's Genesis 32:26.
Now, how do you like that
00:18:10.65\00:18:13.29
prayer: You must bless me.
I'm not prepared to take no for
00:18:13.29\00:18:16.56
an answer. That's
a prayer that's worth
00:18:16.56\00:18:18.76
praying, and it's a
prayer that God will answer.
00:18:18.76\00:18:21.33
You can afford to pray that
prayer: I will not let you go,
00:18:21.33\00:18:24.73
unless you bless me. If
you've made a mess, if you're
00:18:24.73\00:18:27.87
in a fix, if you need
God's help--pray that prayer.
00:18:27.87\00:18:30.97
I will not let you
go, unless you bless me.
00:18:30.97\00:18:33.68
God never fails to answer
a prayer like that, when it's
00:18:33.68\00:18:37.25
prayed in real
faith. I'm John Bradshaw for
00:18:37.25\00:18:39.98
It Is Written. Let's
live today by every word.
00:18:39.98\00:18:43.79
JB: Thanks for joining
me today on It Is Written.
00:18:45.89\00:18:47.96
I'm joined by Dr. David
DeRose, talking about stress and
00:18:47.96\00:18:52.13
how we can deal with
stress in a healthy way.
00:18:52.13\00:18:54.40
Stress doesn't
have to kill a person.
00:18:54.40\00:18:57.43
In fact, a life without
stress is neither practical
00:18:57.43\00:19:01.00
nor possible. Dr.
DeRose, I think we know that
00:19:01.00\00:19:05.11
something that impacts people's
stress level, for the good or
00:19:05.11\00:19:10.01
for the bad, is rest and sleep.
And when I say for the bad--
00:19:10.01\00:19:14.32
not enough rest,
not enough sleep--
00:19:14.32\00:19:17.25
stress rises. DD:
What we know is if we
00:19:17.25\00:19:19.95
cut ourselves back on
sleep, the body actually has to
00:19:19.95\00:19:24.13
ramp up stress
hormones to keep us going.
00:19:24.13\00:19:28.40
So the person who tells
you, "Listen, I can function
00:19:28.40\00:19:31.10
on just a few
hours sleep. No problem.
00:19:31.10\00:19:33.40
I don't even take any caffeine."
What they're doing is they just,
00:19:33.40\00:19:38.34
intrinsically, have the
ability to ramp up those stress
00:19:38.34\00:19:41.14
hormones. Many
people can't do it,
00:19:41.14\00:19:43.08
so they take the caffeine.
Caffeine, one of the things it
00:19:43.08\00:19:45.75
works on is a
compound called adenosine.
00:19:45.75\00:19:48.28
It blocks adenosine, and when it
does that, that ramps up those
00:19:48.28\00:19:51.29
stress hormone levels. So,
either way-- whether you're
00:19:51.29\00:19:54.12
resorting to the caffeine
or you just do it on your own--
00:19:54.12\00:19:57.03
you raise those
stress hormone levels.
00:19:57.03\00:19:59.49
And when you do it,
blood pressure tends to rise,
00:19:59.49\00:20:02.46
blood sugar tends to
rise, you're more likely to have
00:20:02.46\00:20:05.63
problems with diabetes
and high blood pressure.
00:20:05.63\00:20:07.60
Heart disease,
heart rhythm problems.
00:20:07.60\00:20:09.50
The list goes on and on.
JB: The drug of choice for 9 out
00:20:09.50\00:20:12.24
of 10 Americans--
people who would never drink
00:20:12.24\00:20:14.08
alcohol or smoke marijuana--
the drug of choice for
00:20:14.08\00:20:16.61
9 out of 10
Americans is caffeine.
00:20:16.61\00:20:18.65
Not good for a person, is it?
DD: It really isn't, because not
00:20:18.65\00:20:21.72
only is it ramping up those
stress hormones, it's actually
00:20:21.72\00:20:25.02
reproducing the kind of things
that would be desirable in one
00:20:25.02\00:20:28.36
of those fight
or flight scenarios.
00:20:28.36\00:20:30.96
One of them, by the
way, is your blood clotting.
00:20:30.96\00:20:33.53
Your blood actually becomes more
coagulable under the influence
00:20:33.53\00:20:36.50
of caffeine, which is not a good
thing unless you're running from
00:20:36.50\00:20:40.14
a tiger that may be,
you know, about to paw you.
00:20:40.14\00:20:44.24
JB: Yeah, not too many of
us have that to worry about on
00:20:44.24\00:20:45.87
a day to day
basis. DD: Not really.
00:20:45.87\00:20:47.28
JB: And why this matters,
I think, is-- you can think
00:20:47.28\00:20:49.74
I'm just getting picky here,
dealing with your coffee habit,
00:20:49.74\00:20:53.05
and I'm not
really. The thing is this:
00:20:53.05\00:20:56.18
we got back to
Jesus on the cross, right?
00:20:56.18\00:20:58.22
Those things that would
have affected His frontal lobe,
00:20:58.22\00:21:00.52
His decision-making
ability, those things that would
00:21:00.52\00:21:02.99
have dulled His sensibilities.
If someone had said to Jesus,
00:21:02.99\00:21:06.73
while He was on the
cross, "Look, medical marijuana
00:21:06.73\00:21:09.86
is just what you
need." He would have said no.
00:21:09.86\00:21:12.37
In this situation, no,
because I need the connection
00:21:12.37\00:21:16.47
with my Father. Right?
00:21:16.47\00:21:18.27
DD: That's right.
And no one could say--
00:21:18.27\00:21:20.94
by the way, this is
true-- there are carcinogens
00:21:20.94\00:21:24.08
in marijuana smoke,
just like in tobacco smoke.
00:21:24.08\00:21:27.32
JB: No question. DD:
So, no one's going to say to
00:21:27.32\00:21:29.32
Jesus He'd be increasing
His risk of lung cancer.
00:21:29.32\00:21:32.15
I mean, He's about to
die. But the point is,
00:21:32.15\00:21:34.89
you're exactly
right. What's going on,
00:21:34.89\00:21:36.42
on a mental level? It
was important to Jesus;
00:21:36.42\00:21:39.73
it should be
incredibly important to us.
00:21:39.73\00:21:41.93
JB: Yeah. Now, sleep.
00:21:41.93\00:21:44.13
How much sleep
should a person get--
00:21:44.13\00:21:46.33
and I'm asking this,
because it affects stress.
00:21:46.33\00:21:50.57
If you are dealing with
some stressors in your life--
00:21:50.57\00:21:54.01
if the landlord is
getting on you because
00:21:54.01\00:21:56.14
you can't pay the rent
and they're coming to cut off
00:21:56.14\00:21:58.25
your electricity and you're
about to lose your job and your
00:21:58.25\00:22:00.22
marriage is falling apart and
you've got a kid that's going
00:22:00.22\00:22:02.25
off the rails-- and you're
getting by on 90 minutes sleep
00:22:02.25\00:22:05.19
or three hours
sleep a night, oh man,
00:22:05.19\00:22:07.62
you're just asking for trouble.
You need plenty of rest.
00:22:07.62\00:22:10.69
How much? This is in the news
00:22:10.69\00:22:12.09
a lot these days. DD: Well,
00:22:12.09\00:22:13.50
if you look at the data,
most of the studies are looking
00:22:13.50\00:22:15.96
at somewhere between
seven to eight, eight and a half
00:22:15.96\00:22:18.97
hours of sleep, that's
optimal for most people.
00:22:18.97\00:22:22.00
You don't have to flip a coin or
join some kind of computerized
00:22:22.00\00:22:28.28
simulator to figure out
how much sleep you need.
00:22:28.28\00:22:31.51
What I recommend people
do is just get to bed early,
00:22:31.51\00:22:35.58
and don't set an alarm clock.
Get to bed early enough so that
00:22:35.58\00:22:38.99
if you need more sleep
than you think you need,
00:22:38.99\00:22:40.82
you won't be late for work.
And see what time you wake up.
00:22:40.82\00:22:45.03
By the way, that jarring
noise of the alarm clock--
00:22:45.03\00:22:48.36
I mean, some of us still have
those old-style alarm clocks
00:22:48.36\00:22:50.97
that buzz-- I
mean, this is probably
00:22:50.97\00:22:53.50
not the best thing, as
far as stress management,
00:22:53.50\00:22:56.57
as far as starting your day.
JB: If a person is not getting
00:22:56.57\00:22:59.07
enough sleep, what's happening
to them physiologically?
00:22:59.07\00:23:01.94
DD: Well, not only do you have
these stress hormones that are
00:23:01.94\00:23:04.05
ramping up, not only does the
blood tend to be more coagulable
00:23:04.05\00:23:07.68
under the influence of those
hormones, but on a mental level,
00:23:07.68\00:23:12.12
the higher intellectual
processes need optimal sleep.
00:23:12.12\00:23:16.66
JB: Our getting rest is
so important to God, that He
00:23:16.66\00:23:19.43
mandated that we get rest.
Not so much on a daily basis,
00:23:19.43\00:23:23.13
but right in the heart of
the Ten Commandments, God said,
00:23:23.13\00:23:25.90
"Remember the
Sabbath day to keep it holy."
00:23:25.90\00:23:30.14
And the word "Sabbath"
means rest, essentially.
00:23:30.14\00:23:32.57
Six days you shall labor
and do all of your work, but the
00:23:32.57\00:23:35.48
seventh day is the
Sabbath of the Lord they God.
00:23:35.48\00:23:38.91
And that whole concept of
keeping the Sabbath day holy is
00:23:38.91\00:23:42.82
being forgotten,
even by Christians.
00:23:42.82\00:23:45.39
DD: Oh, it's hugely important.
But not only is it important to
00:23:45.39\00:23:48.22
God, it's
hard-wired in our physiology.
00:23:48.22\00:23:51.43
Most people have heard
of circadian rhythms, John.
00:23:51.43\00:23:53.53
Those are those daily
rhythms. Every woman knows about
00:23:53.53\00:23:56.90
the lunar rhythms,
or monthly rhythms.
00:23:56.90\00:24:00.30
But most people have not heard
of the carcaseptan rhythms.
00:24:00.30\00:24:04.67
These are actually seven-day
rhythms, and our bodies,
00:24:04.67\00:24:08.48
it seems, were designed to
function on a seven-day cycle.
00:24:08.48\00:24:13.05
JB: God built that
into us. DD: It's amazing.
00:24:13.05\00:24:15.58
JB: So every seventh
day, according to the Bible,
00:24:15.58\00:24:18.79
that's the Sabbath day.
And that's the day to unplug,
00:24:18.79\00:24:24.39
disconnect-- that's from the
secular things-- and plug in,
00:24:24.39\00:24:29.13
and connect on
a spiritual level.
00:24:29.13\00:24:31.50
Not to say we shouldn't be doing
that to an extent every day,
00:24:31.50\00:24:34.70
but the Sabbath
day is a whole day
00:24:34.70\00:24:37.74
that God has given to us, where,
in the absence of our secular
00:24:37.74\00:24:41.31
work, there's time for
family. There's time for kids,
00:24:41.31\00:24:45.51
there's time for church.
There's time to give your body
00:24:45.51\00:24:49.32
a break and rest.
And if you were to say to
00:24:49.32\00:24:52.25
somebody who's experiencing
stress, "How would you like
00:24:52.25\00:24:54.76
a day off a week?" A whole day,
00:24:54.76\00:24:56.96
where you can
just relax. Really.
00:24:56.96\00:25:01.73
Wouldn't that be
something people should jump at?
00:25:01.73\00:25:04.50
DD: Well, I mean,
this is tremendous.
00:25:04.50\00:25:06.77
And, in the Gospel of
Mark, from the very beginning,
00:25:06.77\00:25:09.40
the very first
chapter in the Gospel of Mark,
00:25:09.40\00:25:11.54
Jesus is doing something
remarkable with the Sabbath.
00:25:11.54\00:25:14.64
Because you see, in Jesus'
day the Sabbath had been layered
00:25:14.64\00:25:17.45
with all these restrictions.
It was not truly a spiritual day
00:25:17.45\00:25:20.68
of rest, it was a day of burden.
So, many Christians today
00:25:20.68\00:25:23.69
misunderstand Jesus' ministry
as it relates to the Sabbath.
00:25:23.69\00:25:27.92
Jesus was
liberating the Sabbath.
00:25:27.92\00:25:30.46
He was making it truly a day
of rest, and a day of healing.
00:25:30.46\00:25:33.40
JB: And it's in the
Gospel of Mark where Jesus says,
00:25:33.40\00:25:36.40
"The Sabbath was made for
man; not man for the Sabbath."
00:25:36.40\00:25:40.60
DD: Exactly. JB:
Humans were made on the
00:25:40.60\00:25:41.97
sixth day, and their very first
full day of life was a day off.
00:25:41.97\00:25:45.31
DD: That's right. JB: God said,
00:25:45.31\00:25:46.91
"I've made this for
you. Here, it's a gift."
00:25:46.91\00:25:49.34
And so, if we're looking to
deal with stress in our lives,
00:25:49.34\00:25:51.38
it just makes sense that we
would embrace this very thing
00:25:51.38\00:25:53.55
that God carved
into stone, when He wrote
00:25:53.55\00:25:56.55
the Ten Commandments.
"Remember the Sabbath day,
00:25:56.55\00:25:58.79
and keep it holy." DD:
It's amazing to me as a
00:25:58.79\00:26:01.59
physician, to look at those very
Ten Commandments-- you know,
00:26:01.59\00:26:04.76
we're focusing on the
Fourth-- but, every one of them
00:26:04.76\00:26:07.40
has profound
healing implications,
00:26:07.40\00:26:11.00
and Jesus endorsed them.
He basically upheld the Law
00:26:11.00\00:26:16.24
and He amplified the
Law. JB: Yes, He did.
00:26:16.24\00:26:18.87
Well, Dr. DeRose,
that's all we have time for.
00:26:18.87\00:26:20.81
And I'm sorry. But
thanks for joining me today.
00:26:20.81\00:26:23.41
This has been a
blessing. DD: Always a blessing.
00:26:23.41\00:26:25.61
JB: And perhaps
we can pray together.
00:26:25.61\00:26:27.82
This subject of stress is big.
If you don't feel like you have
00:26:27.82\00:26:30.85
been stressed out lately,
well then I'm saying thank God.
00:26:30.85\00:26:34.59
Maybe you're in a position
where you can be a blessing
00:26:34.59\00:26:36.36
to somebody else. But
if you are dealing with
00:26:36.36\00:26:38.56
stress-- and if you're not,
you probably will be sometime
00:26:38.56\00:26:42.13
soon-- if you're dealing with
stress, you now have some tools
00:26:42.13\00:26:45.50
that you can use to
enable you to get through those
00:26:45.50\00:26:48.40
stressful situations, upright.
Without them knocking you down
00:26:48.40\00:26:52.24
and making you another casualty
of this thing we call stress.
00:26:52.24\00:26:56.18
Let's pray together.
00:26:56.18\00:26:58.31
Our Father in
heaven, how thankful we are
00:26:58.65\00:27:01.42
that Jesus is the way
and the truth and the life,
00:27:01.42\00:27:06.42
and that You've given us
so many things that we can use
00:27:06.42\00:27:09.22
as tools to help us
in the battle, the daily,
00:27:09.22\00:27:12.69
constant battle with stress.
We thank You for Your presence,
00:27:12.69\00:27:17.50
that Your Spirit
would come and live in us.
00:27:17.50\00:27:21.10
We thank You for
the gift of rest.
00:27:21.10\00:27:24.01
We thank You for the hope that
we have in You, and that You
00:27:24.01\00:27:27.08
have said that we can
cast our cares upon You,
00:27:27.08\00:27:30.65
knowing that You care for
us. Let us do that, and live
00:27:30.65\00:27:34.25
without being crushed by stress.
We know that this world is
00:27:34.25\00:27:38.19
heading into even more
troubled times, but that soon,
00:27:38.19\00:27:41.89
that great day is going
to come where today merges
00:27:41.89\00:27:45.93
into the tomorrow of eternity,
and we'll live in a place
00:27:45.93\00:27:49.30
without any stress. Keep
us, and save us, we pray.
00:27:49.30\00:27:54.27
In Jesus' name. Amen.
00:27:54.27\00:27:58.24
DD: Amen. [Music interlude]
00:27:58.24\00:28:05.58
JB: Stress is a
part of everyone's life.
00:28:10.02\00:28:12.99
I'd be happy to send you a free
book from our Healing Insights
00:28:12.99\00:28:16.29
series, called
"Dealing with Stress."
00:28:16.29\00:28:20.00
All you need to do is
call (800) 253-3000 and ask for
00:28:20.00\00:28:23.26
"Dealing with Stress.
If the line is busy, please
00:28:23.26\00:28:26.63
do try again. You can
write to It Is Written,
00:28:26.63\00:28:30.27
P.O. Box 6,
Chattanooga, TN 37401,
00:28:30.27\00:28:35.31
and we'll mail a free copy to
your address in North America.
00:28:35.31\00:28:38.78
You can also download a free
digital copy at ItIsWritten.com.
00:28:38.78\00:28:44.05
It Is Written is a faith-based
ministry, and your support makes
00:28:44.05\00:28:48.12
it possible for us to share
God's good news with the world.
00:28:48.12\00:28:51.46
Your tax-deductible gift can
be sent to the address on your
00:28:51.46\00:28:54.46
screen, or through our
website at ItIsWritten.com.
00:28:54.46\00:28:58.27
Thank you for your
continued prayerful support.
00:28:58.27\00:29:01.27
Again, our toll-free number
is (800) 253-3000, and our web
00:29:01.27\00:29:06.01
address is ItIsWritten.com.
00:29:06.01\00:29:11.08
JB: I'm thankful you've
chosen to join us today.
00:29:12.58\00:29:14.68
I'm looking forward to
seeing you again next time.
00:29:14.68\00:29:16.72
Until then,
remember: It is written,
00:29:16.72\00:29:19.95
man shall not
live by bread alone
00:29:19.95\00:29:23.06
but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:29:23.06\00:29:29.06
[hopeful melody]
00:29:30.13\00:29:39.17