Decision-Making
Mechanics
Key to Transformational Living
and Sermon Application
By Karl Benzio, MD
Karl’s
Story
Why did I become a
psychiatrist?
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Karl’s First Beer
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Why Did Jesus Come to
Earth?
Why did Jesus say He came?
Why Did Jesus Come to
Earth?
Start a Behavioral Health
Revolution!
Isaiah 61:1-3
• The Lord God has put his Spirit in me, because the Lord has ·appointed
[anointed] me to ·tell [bring] the good news to the poor. He has sent me
to ·comfort [bind up] those whose hearts are broken, to tell the captives
they are free, and to tell the prisoners they are released.
• He has sent me to announce the ·time when the Lord will show his kindness
[year of the Lord’s favor; C an allusion to the Year of Jubilee; Lev. 25:10;
Luke 4:18–19] and the ·time when our God will punish evil people [L day
of vengeance of our God]. He has sent me to comfort all those who ·are
sad [mourn]
• and to help the ·sorrowing [mourning] people of ·Jerusalem [L Zion;
C location of the Temple; 59:20]. I will give them a ·crown [garland;
headdress] to replace their ashes, and the oil of ·gladness [joy] to replace
their ·sorrow [mourning], and ·clothes [a garment] of praise to replace
their ·spirit of sadness [discouragement; heavy heart].
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John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and
kill and destroy.
I came that they may have
life and have it abundantly.
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Luke 5:30b-32
• 30 … “Why do you eat and drink with tax
collectors and sinners?” [Tax collectors were
despised because they worked for the Roman
rulers and were notorious for corruption and
extortion.]
• 31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy
people who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have
not come to ·invite [call] ·good people [the
righteous; meaning the “self-righteous” who feel
no need to repent] but sinners to ·change their
hearts and lives [repentance].”
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Luke 5:12-13
• 12 When Jesus was in one of the towns, there was a man
covered with ·a skin disease [T leprosy; C the term does not
refer to modern leprosy (Hansen’s disease), but to various
skin disorders; see Lev. 14]. When he saw Jesus, he ·bowed
[L fell on his face] before him and ·begged [implored] him,
“Lord, you can ·heal me [L make me clean; C such skin
disorders rendered the victim ceremonially unclean] if you
·will [choose; are willing].”
• 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man and
said, “I ·will [do choose; am willing]. Be ·healed
[L cleansed]!” Immediately the disease ·disappeared [left
him].
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Matthew 13:14-15
• Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is
fulfilled that says:
– “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand, and
you will indeed see but never perceive.”
– For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their
ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have
closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear
with their ears and understand with their heart and
turn, and I would heal them.’
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Why Did Jesus Come to
Earth?
Start a Behavioral Health
Revolution!
• For if you remain silent at this time, relief
and deliverance for the Jews will arise
from another place, but you and your
father’s family will perish. And who
knows but that you have come to your
royal position for such a time as this?
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12
Statistics
– Addictions are the #1 killer from diseases or accidents caused
by alcohol, tobacco, illegal drugs, addictive eating, and
addictive medications
– Suicide is the #3 killer in the U.S. when adding all the
unreported and passive suicides
– 46.4% lifetime prevalence of a major Behavioral Health issue
– 39.4% having Mental Illness
– 14.6% having Substance Abuse Disorders
– 47% this year will have a substance or process(behavior like
gambling, shopping, internet, etc) addiction – this doesn't
include caffeine or pornography, the most widely addicting
chemical and behavior in the U.S. and world
– 61% have lifetime prevalence of a intermediate BH issue
impacting their functioning
– Biblically, we are all addicts, broken, weak
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HELP!
I prayed, took
meds, and love
my mother!
I’m DYING
Sin- Have
more Faith!
Disease- Take
your MEDS!
Psychological DefectTell me about your
mother!
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Man’s Biggest Obstacle?
Psychological/Psychiatric
No Brain Transplant
Luke 8:21
Jesus answered them, “My mother and my
brothers [or brothers and sisters] are those
who listen to God’s ·teaching [word] and obey
[do; practice] it!”
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Luke 10:25-28
25 Then
an expert on the law stood up to test
Jesus, saying, “Teacher, what must I do to ·get
life forever [L inherit eternal life]?”
26 Jesus said, “What is written in the law? ·What
do you read there [or How do you interpret it]?”
27 The man answered, “Love the Lord your God
with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength,
and all your mind. Also, Love your neighbor as
you love yourself.”
28 Jesus said to him, “Your answer is right. Do this
and you will live.”
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Decision-Making Struggle
Romans 7:15-25
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am
not practicing what I would like to do, but I am
doing the very thing I hate
So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin
which dwells in me. For I know that nothing good
dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is
present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For
the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the
very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the
very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one
doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
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Man’s Biggest Obstacle
When an athlete chokes
Peter’s Denial of Christ
Peter walking on water, then sinking
Baggage, Distorted Lenses and Poor
Emotional Management
• Life is 100% Mental
•
•
•
•
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• Darwin and Freud
• Faith: the assurance of things hoped
for, the conviction of things not seen.
• Science: Hard Data, Measurables
• Definitions Collide
• Do they work together?
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26
SCIENCE AND FAITH
Benzio’s ‘Science’ is:
• The study of what God made
• Understanding how He designed it to work
• Learning how to maximally steward it for
God’s glory and our abundant living
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27
God’s Great Gifts
Mind/Heart
Free Will: Decision Making
Science is a tool.
So let’s not ignore science.
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Psychiatric Science
Bridge between Biblical Truth
and Biblical Living
Your wish
is my
command!
SOLOMON
1 Kings 3:5, 9-11
The Most Important
Spiritual Discipline:
Decision-Making
10 Reasons Why
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Decision-Making
1. Solomon’s Wish, God was pleased

Most Important Spiritual Discipline/Skill
2.
3.
4.
5.
God’s greatest gift you have 100% control of
Spiritual Act of Worship Rom 12:1-2
Divinely Powerful Weapon 2 Cor 10:3-6
Constant Mode of Prayer/Communication 1 Thes 5:1622
6. Wellspring of Life Prov 4:23
7. Key to Your Life
Deut 30
8. Brain Exercise = Renews the Mind

Neurobiological Intervention
9. Intersection of Spirit, Mind, and Body; Science / Faith
10. Light for Evangelism
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Romans 12 : 1-2
I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercies, to offer your bodies as
living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing
to God, for this is the your spiritual act of
worship.
Do not be conformed to this world, but
continually be transformed by the
renewing of your minds so that you may
be able to determine what God's will iswhat is proper, pleasing, and perfect.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not
waging war according to the flesh. For the
weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh
but have divine power to destroy
strongholds.
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion
raised against the knowledge of God, and
take every thought captive to obey Christ,
being ready to punish every disobedience,
when your obedience is complete.
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35
Goal: Mind of Christ
Jesus’ Brain = Perfection!
1. Perceived everything from a Godly perspective
2. Responded with Biblical skills
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BrainWorks – My Brain
Based on new scientific research, my brain
does 2 things
Perceives
Responds
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BrainWorks Research
Skin
GI / Cardiac
Panic Disorder Study
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Panic Disorder and Depression
Before and After St. John’s Wort and EMDR
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Heart of Transformation:
Decision-Making
• No biological Intervention
• But Brain Chemistry Improved/Renewed
Decision-making is exercise for brain
• Good decisions = stronger brain
• Bad decisions = injured brain
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Integration and DM are Key!
What determines accurate Perception and Response?
Human Manuals – Distort lenses and response
Holy Bible – God’s Instruction Manual
Mind
Decision-Making =
Spirit, Mind, & Body
Integration
DM: Science and Faith Meet
Practical Theology
Body
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Spirit
DM: SMBI
• Brain Chemistry – powerful gift is final step of
decisions
• Mind – Free Will God gives us – DM = EXERCISE
for brain chemistry
– Perceive/Respond
– EXERCISE for brain chemistry
• Spirit – BIBLE principles and their application
determines Decision Making Skills
• Decision-Making the intersection for Spirit, Mind,
and Body
• Therapy is a neurobiological intervention
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Decision-Making
• Classes in DM?
• Bible
– Jesus, Paul, Solomon, David, Peter, James
– Biographies of good and bad
• Most people – Random
– E-M-M-M, R-P-S, Dice, Magic 8 Ball, Coin Flip
• Bible
– Gideon’s fleece, Cast lots, Urim and Thumim, Prayer
Dreams
• Strategy Necessary
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Decision-Making Strategy
• How many Decisions per day?
• Decisions Determine the course of your
life.
• Decisions determine whether your brain
gets stronger or weaker
• How do you make decisions?
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Got Questions?
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Braveheart
Les Miserables
Bread Analogy
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SPEARS = Practical Theology
Psychotherapeutics
• CBT
• DBT
• REBT
• EFT
• Mindfulness
• Meditation
• Psychodynamic Psychotx
• Motivational Interviewing
Spiritual
• Jesus Christ
• Holy Spirit
• Bible
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SPEARS WORKSHEET
STIMULI:
Deconstruction
PERCEPTION:
Reconstruction
OLD WAY=
Me-centered
NEW WAY=
God-centered and God-directed
Rubik’s Cube
Greatest
Perceived Need
Greatest
Perceived Threat
Life
Depends On
Confidence
Motivation
EMOTIONS:
Volume
ASSESSMENT:
Decon
Recon
E=
T=
Volume
E=
T=
Use GPN, GPT, LDO, C, M to assess options and pros/cons; also effects on Spirit, Mind, Body
Options
Pros
Cons
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3._____________________ 3._____________________
3._____________________
1.
1.
1.
2.
2.
2.
3.
3.
3.
RESPONSE:
SUMMARY THOUGHT:
Deconstruction
Deconstruction
Reconstruction
Reconstruction
PAIN:
Old Beliefs
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New Beliefs
Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
SPEARS
•
•
•
•
•
•
Slow the action
All the elements
Right sequence
Requires thought
Requires intention
Requires practice
Summary
Thought
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Stimuli
• Stimuli is anything that
acts on or mobilizes
your coping
mechanisms
• All stimuli is neutral
• God is sovereign
Summary
Thought
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What word do you see?
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Test
• How many squares
are there?
• Hint: What is the
most important
question?
• Is this the only way
to view this?
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Perception Exercise
• Things are not always
as they seem: 84!
• Assumptions
• Jumping to
conclusions
• Knee-jerk reactions
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Summary
Thought
Perception
• Perception is what really
drives the decision-making
process
• Subconscious
• We are usually unaware of
perception because it
occurs so fast in the
decision-making process
• Adversary with a Strategy
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Devil Dogs
Bell
Bell
No Drool
Meat
Drool
Meat
Drool
Bell
Drool
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Filters
GPT
• Greatest Perceived Threat
GPN
• Greatest Perceived Need
LDO
• Life Depends On
C
• Confidence
M
• Motivation
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Emotions
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God has lots of emotions!
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anger – Mat 23, Mark 3, John 2, 2 Kings 24
Jealousy – Exodus 20, Deut 6
Sad/Wept – Luke 19, John 11, Heb 5
Troubled – John 12
Forsaken – Matt 27
Abandoned – Matt 27
Tempted – Matt 4
Worried – Luke 22
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Summary
Thought
Emotion
• Warning system
• Not a decisionmaking system
• Distort reality
- Court
- Doctors
• Volume Buttons
• Biblical truths soothe
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Summary
Thought
Assessment
• Who is stronger: a tiger
or a man?
• Emotional and
intellectual volume
– We fail when we let
our emotions rule
our intellect
– Poor tolerance and
soothing of negative
feelings
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Assessment
• Options
• Pros and Cons
• Weigh pros and cons using
the filters (GPT, GPN, LDO,
C, M)
– SMB Damage/growth
– Motivators
Summary
Thought
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Summary
Thought
Response
• We need a relationship
with God
• We need to put on the
Armor of God
• Is this helping me or
others become more
Christ-like?
• WWJD?
• Mark 12:30
• Sometimes a combo of
options
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Stimuli
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Summary
Thought
Summary Thought
• After review of each
element
• Celebrate our successes,
and learn from our failures
• Are my responses working
for long term health
• Heart Change
• Self-reflection and
assessment is paramount
• Autopsy
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Driving Force for Dysfunction
Stimuli
PAIN
Perception
Emotion
Assessment
Response
Summary
Thought
Old Beliefs
New Beliefs
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Main Problems
OLD Beliefs-Lies
NEW Beliefs-Truth
Negative feelings are bad
Negative feelings are our warning
system
I am all alone
Jesus is with me, hook his yoke
We can’t endure
negative feelings
We can endure and grow;
God will meet us and give peace
We only have skills and of 8 yo
We have skills and of an adult
Talking about them is bad
Talking abut them is good
One variable is same, so all are One variable is same, so only one
same
is same
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Deconstruction/Reconstruction
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Prospective
Retrospective – Autopsy
Flexibility
Journaling
Thinking about it more – then real time use
Skills need Practice
Behavioral Change
Examination of Heart
Heart Change leads to Real Transformation
Motivators for Change
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Sermon Implementation
• Teach knowing SPEARS
– What does this passage teach me about God’s
Perspective, Promises, Instruction
– What does this passage show me about My Me-centered
Perspective or Distortions,
– What does this passage teach me about Decision-Making
– What specific way can I apply this passage today to my
lenses, pain and emotion management, heart, and
ultimate daily execution (decision-making)
• Inspire and Equip
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DM Key Points
Hardware
Summary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Most important Spiritual Discipline
Bible talks the most about DM
Exercise for the Brain, Spirit, Mind
Intersection of S,M,B
Intersection of Science and Faith
Need a Strategy, Slow the Mind
SPEARS
Reveals what’s in the Heart
Easiest way to reflect/detect/resurrect
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Summary
• Jesus started a BH Revolution
• We are called to continue it
• Decision-Making Skills are the Key to Practical
Theology
• Bible is an incredible DM textbook
• DM Mechanics truly allow us to
– slow the mind down
– Take every thought captive to the obedience of JC
– Apply the Bible accurately and thoroughly
• DM – turns knowledge into application
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Lighthouse NETWORK Resources
•
WITHIN REACH: Disciplines for Real Life Change
– 10+ Hours of DVD
– 140 Page Workbook
•
EDGING FORWARD: Mastering the Art of Godly Decision-Making
– 8 Chapels(25 min each) on DVD
•
Free Stepping Stones Daily Devotional – Emailed daily
•
Life Change with Dr Karl Radio Minute – 460 Christian Radio Stations
•
•
•
•
Addiction: Sin, Disease, or Psychological Defect DVD
Can Psych Meds Help Christians? DVD
Depression, Cutting, Bipolar DVDs
No Other Gods (SPEARS and example) DVD
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•
•
•
•
•
Finds addiction and MH treatment options.
Expertise about all elements of the system
Free to client
Saves the clinician incredible amounts of time
We find great options for struggling people
844-Life-Change
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Got Questions?
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Deconstruction
S – “Screen Door is Broken”
P – Rubik – Intruding on my agenda for the day
GPT – not good enough, incompetent, not in
control
GPN – control, competency, power, authority
LDO – me being in charge to minimize pain
C – my ability to control and manipulate, verbally
argue, control = power = soothing
M – not feel the pain, be in charge or in control,
do what I want to do when I want to do it
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Deconstruction
E – incompetent, worthless, failure, poor husband, falling
behind, angry,
E Volume = 8
T Volume = 1
A – ignore, yell(leave me alone, I’m busy), shift blame(you and
girls broke it), pick on her(laundry not done),
pros/cons based on my filters/motivators
R – ignore, then blame them
ST – got her off my back and on a different topic, get to do my
agenda and watch the game
Pain – incompetence, no control, exposed, out of agenda
old beliefs: I’m a little kid, people telling me what to
do, blaming me, I’m responsible for their feelings, this
will ruin my day and all the other activities
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Reconstruction
Pain – new beliefs:
Neg feelings are only warning system,
God is sharing my yoke,
God provides peace and comfort,
I’m an adult,
Won’t last long
He brought this for a reason for my growth so
embrace it
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Reconstruction
S – “Screen Door is Broken”
P – Rubik – Opportunity and chance to serve my wife
GPT – dishonoring God, Flesh on throne, out of God’s will
SMB impact, hurting my wife
GPN – God’s will, please God, SMB growth, fruit of Spirit,
LDO – Mind of Christ – SMB growth, Ambassador
C – God’s promises, Love, Forgiveness, Character,
Instruction, His plan has worked in the past
M – SMB growth, Fruit of Spirit, giving back to God
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Reconstruction
E – interested, curious, connected to wife, slight excitement, sl
financial worry but know God provides
E Volume = + 4 -1.5
T Volume = 8
A – “wait till I am finished”, teamwork – call handyman, check our
budget, go to home depot together
pros/cons based on my filters/motivators
R – ask her to wait 15 minutes then we check it together, agree
we can live with it but if it gets worse, call handyman for advice
ST – honored God, wife, myself, SPEARS was good, SMB +,
fruit of spirit, no fruit of flesh
Pain – not much relational and was able to rely on God to see me
thru the slight disruption and financial concern
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