Are our thought problems the result of spiritual attack, or mental health issues? Are they just bad habits, or are they bad biochemistry? In short, are the things that trouble us Devil, or Diagnosis?

Dr. Lee Warren revisits a 2023 episode to address recent inquiries about mental health struggles, particularly obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and whether they stem from mental issues, spiritual components, or both.

The episode explores Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz's work on neuroplasticity, the mind-brain distinction, and practical self-brain surgery techniques to manage negative thinking. Dr. Warren emphasizes the importance of challenging automatic negative thoughts, relabeling, reframing, refocusing, and revaluing them to change one's mental state. He discusses the integration of neuroscience and faith in resolving these challenges and encourages listeners to seek professional help if needed.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Episode

00:49 Revisiting 'Devil or Diagnosis'

01:04 Jeffrey Schwartz's Contributions

01:24 The Mind-Brain Connection

01:28 Promoting Dr. Schwartz's Book

01:57 Upcoming Podcast Guests and Content

02:51 Encouragement to Subscribe and Engage

04:01 Introduction to the Main Topic

04:49 Understanding Disordered Thinking

05:35 The Role of Spiritual Warfare

06:44 Devil vs. Diagnosis

07:20 The Power of Self Brain Surgery

11:13 Jeffrey Schwartz's Four Steps

13:23 Changing Your Perspective

23:58 The Enemy's Influence and God's Promise

27:57 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Scripture: Isaiah 14:14-17, Isaiah 61:2-3, Hosea 2:15, Job 3:25

Book Mentioned: You Are Not Your Brain: The 4-Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life by Jeffrey Schwartz and Rebecca Gladding (This link is for pre-order of the upcoming audiobook release)

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• (00:04) - Introduction and Episode Overview
• (04:06) - Mental Illness: Devil or Diagnosis?
• (07:55) - Disordered Thinking and Its Impact
• (14:46) - Jeffrey Schwartz's Four Steps
• (17:16) - Challenging Negative Thoughts
• (23:51) - The Enemy's Tactics
• (28:13) - Seeking Professional Help
• (29:35) - The Path to Change

Embracing Suffering: Finding Strength and Hope in Hardship

In this new Tuesdays with Tata episode, we dive into the heavy topic of suffering, particularly through personal tragedies, and explore how these experiences cultivate endurance, character, and hope.

Tata stresses the importance of relying on God through trials and how suffering can strengthen one's faith. Real-life anecdotes, biblical verses, and practical advice on handling adversity underline the discussion's spiritual depth. The episode underscores trusting God in the midst of hardship, the transformative power of suffering, and how to cultivate resilience through faith.

Scriptures mentioned: Romans 5:3-5, I Peter 1:5-7. James 1:2-4

Chapters

00:00 Welcome Back to the Riverbank

00:15 Meet Our Feathered Neighbors

00:55 Springtime Allergies and Weather Woes

01:50 A Heartfelt Discussion on Suffering

03:55 Biblical Insights on Endurance

06:16 Refining Through Trials

09:38 Personal Reflections on Loss

13:54 Finding Faith Amidst Suffering

16:30 Reflecting on Self-Perception and Suffering

17:06 Lessons from Surgical Training

18:55 Experience-Dependent Neuroplasticity

20:42 Facing Major Life Challenges

21:20 The Importance of Trusting God

22:35 Practical Advice for Suffering

29:05 Invitation to Trust in Jesus

31:43 Concluding Thoughts and Resources

• (00:08) - Introduction to Spiritual Brain Surgery
• (01:28) - Life and Nature by the River
• (02:53) - The Topic of Suffering
• (03:54) - Reflections on Suffering and Faith
• (04:59) - Finding Meaning in Suffering
• (07:11) - The Process of Refining
• (10:20) - Character Through Trials
• (22:39) - Learning to Trust God
• (25:19) - Casting Our Anxieties on Him
• (28:29) - The Furnace of Suffering
• (30:56) - Trusting God in Difficult Times
• (32:43) - Preparing for Future Trials
• (33:18) - Starting the Trust Process
• (33:48) - Closing Thoughts and Next Steps

GUEST HOST EPISODE: Meade Shirley and Christy Osborne

This is part 2 of a powerful look at how the ten commandments of Self-Brain Surgery™ can help you break free from anything that's keeping you stuck in your life.

Join my friends, the two powerhouses behind the amazing But Jesus Drank Wine Podcast, Christy Osborne and Meade Holland Shirley, as they break down the neuroscience and faith connections behind real freedom.

If you missed part one, click here to listen!

Resources and Links

• Christy and Meade's amazing podcast, But Jesus Drank Wine (here's my appearance on their show, possibly my favorite guest appearance ever!)
• Meade's website (coaching, her powerful blog, and more)
• Christy's powerful book, Love Life Sober
• Christy's website (links to coaching, her wonderful Subtack writing, and more)
• Be sure to check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose!
• Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here! (50% off on paid subscriptions until May 1!)
• Our featured partner for this episode is Zuma Nutrition. Click this link, and checkout with the promo code DRLEEWARREN to get 15% off.

• (00:05) - Introduction to Spiritual Brain Surgery Podcast
• (00:58) - Exploring Self-Brain Surgery Commandments
• (02:01) - Commandment Six: Love Tomorrow More
• (03:54) - Commandment Seven: Stop Overcomplicating
• (12:24) - Commandment Eight: Break Generational Patterns
• (22:08) - Commandment Nine: Believe in Your Progress
• (28:40) - Commandment Ten: Thoughts Become Things
• (37:27) - Community and Resources for Support

Doubting Thomas and the Power of Belief

In this special Easter Sunday episode, Tata and I delve into the story of Doubting Thomas, recorded against the backdrop of a beautiful sunrise by the riverbank. We explore the resurrection of Jesus, the significance of belief in the absence of physical evidence, and the importance of faith in times of doubt. The conversation highlights key biblical moments, including Thomas's journey from doubt to belief, and provides encouragement for those navigating their own spiritual questions.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Easter Sunday Setup

00:47 Discussing the Story of Doubting Thomas

01:33 The Empty Tomb and Jesus' Appearances

03:48 Thomas' Encounter with the Risen Jesus

07:07 Faith and Belief Without Seeing

10:47 Resisting Doubt and Temptation

13:36 Scriptural Accuracy and Final Thoughts

14:03 The Noble Bereans and the Importance of Scripture

15:05 Easter Sunday Reflections and the Resurrection

15:58 Belief and the Consequences of Faith

18:58 The Eternal Perspective and Life's Big Questions

26:16 Resources for Strengthening Faith

27:45 Concluding Thoughts on Faith and Doubt

Resources and Links

• Lee Strobel's book Seeing the Supernatural
• Ann Voskamp's Loved to Life
• My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, I've Seen the End of You
• Be sure to check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose!
• Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!
• Our featured partner for this episode is Zuma Nutrition. Click this link, and checkout with the promo code DRLEEWARREN to get 15% off.

• (00:06) - Introduction to Spiritual Brain Surgery
• (00:52) - Doubting Thomas and His Journey
• (02:12) - The Empty Tomb and Its Significance
• (06:59) - Jesus Appears to the Disciples
• (09:04) - The Challenge of Belief
• (11:32) - Understanding Faith and Evidence
• (14:14) - The Role of Scripture
• (16:04) - Investigating Our Beliefs
• (19:24) - The Importance of Decision
• (23:22) - The Resurrection and Its Impact
• (26:32) - Resources for Further Exploration
• (28:26) - Conclusion and Call to Action

GUEST HOST EPISODE: Meade Shirley and Christy Osborne

This is part 1 of a powerful look at how the ten commandments of self-brain surgery™ can help you break free from anything that's keeping you stuck in your life.

Join my friends, the two powerhouses behind the amazing But Jesus Drank Wine Podcast, Christy Osborne and Meade Holland Shirley, as they break down the neuroscience and faith connections behind real freedom.

Resources and Links

• Christy and Meade's amazing podcast, But Jesus Drank Wine (here's my appearance on their show, possibly my favorite guest appearance ever!)
• Meade's website (coaching, her powerful blog, and more)
• Christy's powerful book, Love Life Sober
• Christy's website (links to coaching, her wonderful Substack writing, and more)
• The BJDW Community:
  http://butjesusdrankwine.com/community
• The Missing Peace Coaching:
  http://butjesusdrankwine.com/coaching
• Be sure to check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose!
• Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here! (50% off on paid subscriptions until May 1!)
• Our featured partner for this episode is Zuma Nutrition. Click this link, and checkout with the promo code DRLEEWARREN to get 15% off.

• (00:10) - Welcome to Spiritual Brain Surgery
• (28:09) - The Power of Self-Brain Surgery
• (43:53) - Transforming Lives Through Truth
• (46:44) - Looking Ahead: Commandments Six to Ten

A replay of Tuesdays with Tata #2, to finish off the discussion we had last week on the essential question for new listeners: "Who is Tata?"

Dennis McDonald, otherwise known as "Tata" to grandkids, friends, and people all over the world, is the namesake of our regular Spiritual Brain Surgery feature, Tuesdays with Tata. He's also my father-in-law, and sidekick for over 20 years, and I'm so grateful for the time and wisdom he shares with us here!

Enjoy!

What does the book of Psalms have to do with modern life?

Join me for an inspiring and vulnerable conversation with Tata about turning to an ancient prayer book during life's hardest moments. You don't want to miss this one!

Resources and Links

• Dane Ortlund's beautiful Psalms commentary, In the Lord I Take Refuge
• My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, I've Seen the End of You
• Be sure to check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose!
• Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!
• Our featured partner for this episode is Zuma Nutrition. Click this link, and checkout with the promo code DRLEEWARREN to get 15% off.

• (00:08) - Introduction to Spiritual Brain Surgery
• (00:49) - Spring Awakening
• (02:10) - Embracing the Psalms
• (15:13) - Finding Comfort in Struggles
• (16:52) - Recognizing Our Mortality
• (18:49) - The Need for Divine Help
• (19:55) - The Lord is Our Refuge
• (21:15) - Creating Hope Through Action
• (30:44) - Commitment to Reading Psalms
• (34:57) - Engaging with Our Community

Getting to Know Tata, Getting to Know Yourself

Join me for an inspiring and vulnerable conversation with Tata about suffering, resilience, salvation, trust, and hope. This is Tata at his deepest level, where we find insights that can help us all understand ourselves and how we relate to God, pain, and faith. This is the deepest talk we’ve ever had, and it will help you.

• Our featured partner for this episode is Zuma Nutrition. Click this link, and checkout with the promo code DRLEEWARREN to get 15% off.
• My book, 2021 ECPA Memoir/Biography of the Year, I've Seen the End of You
• Be sure to check out my latest book, Hope Is the First Dose!
• Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!

• (00:07) - Introduction to Spiritual Brain Surgery
• (00:48) - A Sunday Afternoon with Tata
• (13:38) - The Journey of Grief and Healing
• (22:20) - Understanding Grief and Fear
• (33:26) - Learning from Experience
• (35:29) - When Should You Start Changing?