In the Market with Janet ParshallExperiencing a recurring pattern of anxious thoughts or becoming gripped by worry over a sudden difficult situation can feel overwhelming. But you don’t have to stay under the control of your anxiety. You can create a specific plan to relieve your anxiety and stress—one that is just right for you. It’s what our guests, father-and-son authors Ronnie Kent (a medical doctor and behavioral specialist) and James Kent (a therapist), call The Anxiety Algorithm. It is based on Philippians 4:8 in the Bible and is supported by other passages of Scripture and trusted counseling techniques. Even in the midst of life’s hurts, setbacks, and challenges, you can experience true fulfillment and joy.
Hi friend, thank you so much for downloading this podcast and I truly hope you hear something that edifies encourage, equips, enlightens, and then gets you out there in the marketplace of ideas. But before you go, I want to tell you about this month's truth tool. It's called Have You Ever Wondered? And I absolutely love this topic because if you're like me, going out into the night sky and looking up and seeing a million stars, don't you just stop and think about God? And are you not in a moment of awe and wonder or looking out over the vast expanse of an ocean and you start thinking, what is man, that thou art mindful of him? And it makes you wonder about the magnificence of God? I think that sense of wonder was put there on purpose, and this wonderful book includes a composite of multiple authors who have written from their perspective as a scientist, or a historian, or a mathematician or an artist, on why they all have this sense of awe through the work that they do. In other words, the heavens declare the glory. And as it tells us in Romans, we are really without excuse because his handiwork is everywhere. And this book invites you to walk through the chapters written by people who all have a sense of awe and wonder when it comes to God through their various disciplines in life. It's an amazing book and it's yours. For a gift of any amount. Just call 877 58. That's 877 Janet 58. Ask for a copy of Have You Ever Wondered? And we'll send it right off to you as my way of saying thank you, because we are listener supported radio. Or you can go online to in the market with Janet Parshall and you're also on the website, consider becoming a partial partner. Those are people who give every single month at a level of their own choosing. You always get the truth tool, but in addition to that, you get a weekly newsletter that includes my writing and an audio piece just for my partial partners. So 877 Janet 58 or the website in the market with Janet parshall.org consider becoming a partial partner or asking for this month's truth tool. Have you ever wondered? And now please enjoy the broadcast.
Here are some of the news headlines we're watching. This time the conference was over. The president won a of the.
Americans worshiping government over God.
Extremely rare safety move by a major.
17 years the Palestinians and Israelis negotiated.
Hi friends. Welcome to In the Market with Janet Parshall. Thank you so much for spending the hour with me. So how's your day been going so far? On a scale of 1 to 10, where's your anxiety level right now? Um, okay. Well, let's just stop and pull over to the side of the curb. Figuratively. If you're in rush hour traffic, don't do it right now. Just follow my example here. Let's talk about what the Bible tells us. So here is Paul writing to the church at Philippi. And he says in chapter four, verses six and seven, be anxious for nothing. That's a declarative statement. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication. And here's the part of the verse we almost always forget with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And then there's an. And when there's an end in Scripture, you keep going because there's something important there. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Can I get an amen to that will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus? Well, there's the prescription. There's the directive on how we get rid of anxiety. What do we do? Prayer, supplication. An attitude of gratitude. And we take it to the Lord. And then the promise comes in that says, God will give us a peace that passes understanding, not like the world is going to give, but a peace that is almost totally incomprehensible. Except it comes from our great and glorious God. And he will not only give you that peace, he will guard your heart and your mind through Jesus Christ. Wow. Pretty amazing when you think about it. And then I want to linger a little bit longer because again, as Paul continues in that letter, that letter we were at chapter four, six and seven. But what happens if you keep going? Verses eight and nine. Finally, and I'm reading from the ESV brothers, whatever is true. My mom used to quote this to me 16 times a day when I was a kid growing up. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Wow! Those are four pretty powerful verses. Now get a little closer to your radio because we're going to talk about this anxiety thing we live. Note to file like you needed me to remind you we live East of Eden and we do get anxious, even though we've been told be anxious for nothing. So how do we turn our patterns of worry and stress into patterns of peace and joy? That is what we're going to talk about this hour. And we're going to teach you about the anxiety algorithm. Our guests are a father and son team. Both of them are doctors. So after I give you the formal introduction, I'm going to, with great respect, have to refer to them both by their first name because they won't know which doctor I'm talking to. Doctor Ronnie Kent recently retired after 41 years of practice as a board certified pediatrician and behavioral health specialist in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He spent 25 years focused on treating kids and adolescents with problems at school and related disorders, primarily ADHD, learning disabilities, behavioral issues, anxiety, depression. He currently leads the ministry Faith and wellness. He's a grad of the University of Mississippi and the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, and has been teaching Bible courses in churches for decades. Wouldn't you like a pediatrician who loves the Lord and knows the word? Sorry. Retired doctor James Kent, his son has a degree in psychology for over ten years of clinical experience. By the way, he is the executive VP of Faith and wellness with the Moore West Center for Applied Theology. He's worked in healthcare as a psychotherapist and with patients to treat a variety of mental illnesses. He has experience in treating individuals, couples and families, and as a consultant, has a special interest in working with faith based organizations and communities to further equip the church to help individuals and families with mental health challenges and well-being. Together, this father and son duo put out the book The Anxiety Algorithm again. I'll give you the subtitle, turning your pattern of worry and stress into a Pattern of peace and Joy. James and Ronnie, thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here. What a joy and thank you for addressing this issue. And thank you for giving me permission to call you by your first name. No disrespect meant by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't want to confuse the two doctors here. So, Ronnie, if I can start with you, when we talk about anxiety, let me make sure we're all on the same page. You're talking to people all across the country, and I want to make sure we all have an understanding as we deepen this subject, is there a distinction between anxiety and worry or are they one and the same?
Well, you may have. And by the way, thank you so much. After your intro, I'm not sure we need to even talk. It's such a great job of covering those four verses. And your mom, if she said it 16 times a day. Now, let's face it, you developed an algorithm just to get out of that lecture or that sermon. Excuse me every time. So I'm telling you, you you just did that. I was sitting here just all inspired by. I said, we need to write a book about that stuff. So anyway. And you did. So thank you. And absolutely call me Ronnie. I tell them I was formerly known as Doctor Kent. Retirement is a wonderful thing, and I literally thank God today as I was in my house saying, Lord, thank you so much for retirement. So anyway, I'm looking forward to our time. And so thanks again for having us. Actually, I this is the first time we've done this on separate lines. Normally I would, I would, we would be in the same room together and so I would be bumping his leg right now saying you really are.
You take it, you take it again.
You take it. So I'm going to and we did this beforehand. We said, look, if I think you can enter something, I'm going to hopefully let. Hopefully she will allow me to pass this to you. But as the therapist, he dealt really with this all the time. And so I've got something to say, but he's just better at it, so.
Excellent.
You do this.
Please, James?
Yes. So, um, I echo everything that my father said. Thank you so much for having us. Um, when it comes to anxiety and worry, I believe that was your question, correct?
Yes. Um.
So, you know, anxiety is typically more of a clinical term. Um, but for the everyday person, uh, they typically don't differentiate between words like worry, anxiety, fear, scared stress. So, uh, it is good, I think, and helpful to differentiate, uh, when we say anxiety, typically we're talking about, uh, something that includes three different things. Uh, one of those being anxious or fearful thoughts and feelings. The second being physiological symptoms that accompany those thoughts and feelings. And then thirdly, avoidant behavior, because we tend to avoid things that make us anxious. Worry is something that we typically deal with. It's not necessarily clinical.
Mm. Excellent answer James. Thank you for that. And by the way, gentlemen, do you feel free to jump in on top of each other over each other? Let's just have a conversation here. I'm so excited about this topic and so grateful to have both of you as our guests. Their book is called The Anxiety Algorithm. Now, does that seem like too lofty a title? And we'll come back. I said we were going to get on the same page. Let's define the word algorithm. Does it mean you have to have a degree in calculus? No, not by any stretch of the imagination. Remember, this book is a practical, hands on turning your pattern of worry and stress into a pattern of peace and joy. And who doesn't want that? More with doctors James and Ronnie Kent right after this. God uses so much in the world around us to point to him. Our sense of wonder is really about knowing him. That's why I've chosen. Have you ever wondered, as this month's Truth tool? This book is for all who have looked up at a million stars in the night sky and just wondered. As for your copy of have you ever wondered when you give a gift of any amount to in the market, call 877 Janet 58. That's 877 Janet 58 or go to in the market with Janet Parshall. Doctor James and Ronnie Kent are with us. The father and son team, both of them very gifted in their area. Ronnie is now a retired pediatrician and doctor. James Kent is an executive vice president of Faith and wellness with the Moore West Center for Applied Theology. Together, they've authored the book The Anxiety Algorithm. And that's where I want to go. And gentlemen, you decide among yourselves because you are the ultimate tag team here. And if I ask what the word algorithm means, the first thing I'm thinking is, well, I know they use that in social media and it's feedback. And I know that meta as an example, is real interested in my algorithm. And so it sounds highfalutin and very complex. Is it. And contextualize it in the world of anxiety. What does it mean.
It's a recipe. You can think of it as just a plan, something that you can actually put into practice because you read that beautifully. You know that God wants us to practice our walk with him. Uh, I'm afraid a lot of times Christians as Christians, and I'm certainly guilty of this. Sometimes we feel like God's kind of a push button God. You know, I need something. Push the button. God delivers, and he is always there with us. But the James and I were just talking during the break about, we'd like to see how your mother's therapy worked with you as she got you to actually put this algorithm, this plan into practice because, you know if she if I'm so that's so encouraging to know that she fed that to you in essence daily so that you could practice this. Because as we do, the beauty of this, the first two verses, uh, in that passage point to what God wants us to do when we encounter that, uh, emotion, that initial emotional response to a situation in our life that causes us to to be anxious because, you know, our day is full of that, you know, traffic or, you know, what we see on TV, there's that flush of anxiety that comes up and he says, look, here's here's what I want you to do. Bring that to me. Prayer petition with thanksgiving. Let let me have that and my peace will come to you. And so that's, I think, a formula or a plan for taking care of this initial anxious thoughts. And we have several things that we talk about in the book to do to do that to too.
You sure do. You sure do.
But I think the next two verses are. What's so exciting about the next two verses is that he wants us to live that kind of life. That when those things do, we do encounter those initial things that tend to make us anxious. Instead of those thoughts start coming to us, we immediately go to where the presence of God is now. It's the peace of God that he offers us in the first two verses. But when we put it into practice, he says, And God of peace will be with you. Yeah. And it's his manifest presence that we live in.
Yeah. I absolutely love that. James, let me turn to you on this because as Ronnie was talking and you asked about my mom, I started thinking, well, I can tell you exactly what one of the outcomes was of hearing that on a regular basis. I learned very quickly on that. This is a volitional choice that you have to develop the spiritual muscle. And since we're talking about Paul writing to the church at Philippi. One of the other verses that I love. And this tells me that there is a choice in my CS Lewis the will precedes the emotions. The choice part of this is Paul says, I've learned, and I've circled that word so many times in my Bible. I've learned in whatsoever state I'm in to be content. That means that Paul the Great Paul himself had to learn how to deal with anxiety, and he countered it by saying that he was in a state of contentment. Now, James, it seems to me that one of the first takeaways from your book is that we have to learn how to do this, but we have a choice in doing it so often in a stature in a country that's saturated right now with stats that are almost incomprehensible, that we are at higher anxiety anxiety levels than we've ever been before, the admits to emergency rooms, suicidal ideations. I mean, the numbers are just absolutely staggering. Now, Covid didn't help with any of that. And the reality is we live in a world that's immersed in anxiety, but we can fall prey to it, or we can make a willful choice to put some of these practices in place. How do you develop that kind of muscle?
Yes. Well, that's a great question. And honestly, one of the things that when someone is dealing with reoccurring anxiety and comes in for therapy, that's one of the main initial focuses that we work on is in Scripture. You may remember the phrase take every thought captive.
Mhm.
And the, the I you know, there's a real conundrum when it comes to emotion. Uh, and that is that emotion happens rather quickly and it's, uh, it's a relatively primitive thing. And so, uh, higher level cognition, it takes a bit more effort. But uh, as we've talked about, any process can become a habit. And so really what we're trying to help people with initially is to recognize that even if emotion comes up and of course, we focus primarily on anxiety in the book, but it's really any emotion. But when that comes up, you should put it on trial, so to speak. You don't, you don't. You don't have to actually respond in the emotion or just trust. Um, and don't get me wrong, I tell my children, there's nothing, no such thing as a bad or wrong emotion. It's what we do with it that could become wrong or even sinful. And so, uh, you have to learn how to challenge those emotions to see the validity. Uh, and once you've learned that practice, you recognize and believe you me, and you might have even experienced this in your own life. Uh, it's a it's a really cool thing to realize that you've grown in that ability. Something happens, and then a few minutes later, you think, Wow, I really didn't respond to that. Like, Lord, that was thank you. That was really cool. So, uh, that's the the overall or the 10,000 foot view.
I can I jump in and say please, please. Because, you know, I compare it to a child learning to walk. Uh, there there are very intentional things we have to do that will become reflexive. And the brain, something called neuroplasticity, the brain changes, uh, even as we get older and older. And, you know, I'm 72, so I keep thinking my brain is changing the wrong way, but, uh, you know, we can change our brain so that those, those thoughts can go from being having to be intentional to being reflexive every time.
And isn't that amazing? I mean, we so often think of that verse fearfully and wonderfully made, and we rightly drop it in the context of thinking about preborn children. But when you talk about the elasticity of the brain and creating new neural pathways, wow. You mean the things that God tells us in his word are good for us physiologically, emotionally, mentally. Oh yes. And as well spiritually. Amazing. When you think about it. The book is called The Anxiety Algorithm. It is written by doctors James and Ronnie Kent, father and son. It is a rich way of rethinking that anxiety that we all deal with, and how we can put better patterns into practice back after this. The Anxiety Algorithm. It's the new book by doctors James and Ronnie Kent. They are father son writing team. Its subtitle says it all, turning your pattern of worry and stress into a pattern of peace and joy. James, if I may, let me go back to something you said about emotions because, um, we're fearfully and wonderfully made. What you told your children. I was told when I grew up. Two emotions are not good or bad. They just are. And yet they're there. But I loved what you said about this. They're instantaneous, my word, not yours. And I was thinking when you said that. If that's why we read the verse in Scripture that says, be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger sometimes if we had, you know, in broadcasting we have what's called a delay. So what you're hearing really is not occurring at the same speed. I'm saying it. We have a delay for all kinds of reasons. I wish I had a delay button sometimes with my emotions so I could make that volitional choice catch up before the emotion gets in the way. But God gave us emotions for a reason. So just a quick little side trip over here. How do I develop that ability to think, you know, be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger? The last part of that is the emotional part of it. That's a wonderful thing. If you can get that under control. How do we do that?
Yes. So, you know, in therapy and I even do this with my children. Um, there are physiological triggers that you can learn to recognize. And I use myself as an example. Um, I know that when I tend to get frustrated or maybe anxious, my earlobes get warmer, and I can sense that. And some people feel things in their abdomen. Their stomach. Some people start to get jittery. Some people may tap a leg. But there's probably something we call them a warning sign. Um, and that's for maybe a less intense emotion or a building emotion. Um, and so what we tend to teach people is when you notice that, take a step back and ask yourself, okay, I know that there's a pattern. And is that pattern occurring right now? And so a lot of the body is really helpful in terms of communicating to us what we may not be cognitively aware of yet. Uh, and so that's, that's what I really focus on.
Yeah. Well, again, going back to the best, uh, DSM in the world, I think is the Bible. So I really appreciate the scripture that's in there. So, Ronnie, the book is broken up into four parts. One is discovering a new way to live. And I love this because you give us all kinds of exercises, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation. So it's the physiological response, self-care, uh, spiritual visualization and then spiritual memorization. And then part two is applying the anxiety algorithm. Part three is overcoming anxiety through strong relationships. Part four the algorithm and long term wellness. I tell you that listening friends, because if I don't get all of that, just know that's in this book, okay? This isn't a book review. This is a conversation. And there's going to be a ton more in the book than even the gift of one hour of the Kents. Time is going to afford me. So, Ronnie, let me go to you. Because if we go to this algorithm plan that's predicated on those verses that we read before in Philippians, you talk about the need to personalize this. So how do we do that?
Well, if you don't mind, what I'll do is tell you my algorithm, please. This actually came from 30 years ago, probably longer than that when a group of guys and I went through Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline, and he talked about the discipline of meditation and and he used this verse, these verses. And so I would sit in a chair and, you know, say true, true, true. And it wasn't working. I'll just tell you. And so I thought, I started thinking, well, what is true? You know, and the truth is Scripture, uh, and, you know, that's what set us free. And so what I do with my algorithm is when I start getting that anxious thought, I have Scripture memorized that I immediately quote. And if Jesus needed that to to fight Satan, if all he did was quote scripture, my goodness, how much more do I need to do that and not not approach it logically, approach it with spiritual power, which is which is from Scripture. So whatever is true. And what's amazing is God will bring that Scripture to mind. Now here again, I was very intentional to start with. Now it's reflexive. You know, if it's if it's something that I feel like I may. I love when you say learn to be content. If I'm not content in something immediately, what do we think of my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus, you know. And and so the Scripture is there. That's true, noble. And this is what I have. I get emotional on because it's so powerful. And a lot of times I don't even get past this, but somebody noble, if they do something for you, you can't do for yourself, and you don't really deserve for them to do it to you. And that. And that's Christ on the cross. And and I see him on the cross, and I'm standing down there, uh, with that guy with the hammer in his hand, and he looks at him and me, and he looks at him and says, I forgive you. You don't know what you're doing. And he looks at me and says, If I'll do that for him, I'll do anything for you that you need. So let me take care of whatever's causing you that anxiety and writer's relationships. I think of people that I need to be an example to in this situation. Uh, pure is a wonderful one. And that is this is from Hannah Whitall Smith's book, A Christian Secret to a Happy Life. She talks about the Holy Spirit wrapping around us like filter paper. And he only he only allows in our life the things that will be that God can work together for the good and that will cause us to to be mature and complete, lacking in nothing and things we see as trials that should that we think are stressors, are actually his way of causing us to be more mature as Christians, as we depend on him to handle it. And so the the algorithm just takes me along that path. And a lot of times I never get it to the end, which is God on his throne. Whatever is worthy of praise, I see God on his throne and everything else goes away.
My well, well, that's the anxiety algorithm in a nutshell. Does that get your heart to beat a little bit faster? There is a way to deal with this. God didn't just abandon us even though we walked ourselves out of Eden. By the way, he made a way for us to be able to live the abundant life he so richly promised us. And part of that is getting our anxiety under control and replacing it with peace and joy. That's what this book is all about. More with the kids right after this. Jesus told us to go into the world and not run away from it, and he didn't say it would be easy. In the market with Janet Parshall is a program designed to come alongside and walk with you into the marketplace of ideas. Partial partners are those friends who support our program on a regular monthly basis. They know the mandate of influencing and occupying until he comes. So why don't you become part of the inner circle of support? Call 877 Janet 58 or go to in the market with Janet Parshall. G. This hour is going far too quickly. We are visiting with Doctors Ronny and James Kent. If you're just joining us. Welcome. Don't forget you haven't missed a thing because you can go to where you find your favorite podcast download in the market with Janet Parshall. Put in today's date and you'll get to hear this conversation in its entirety. But because you've just joined us, let me reintroduce our guests. Doctor Ronny Kent recently retired after a 41 year practice as a board certified pediatrician and behavioral health specialist in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, spent 25 years focused on treating kids and adolescents with problems at school and related disorders, primarily ADHD, learning disabilities, behavioral issues, anxiety, and depression. He currently leads the Ministry of Faith and wellness. He's a grad of the University of Mississippi and, um, School of Medicine, and he's been teaching Bible classes in churches for decades. His son, James, uh, is has over ten years of experience in the clinic, and he is an executive VP of faith and wellness with the Moore West Center for Applied Theology. He's worked in health care as a psychotherapist and with patients to treat or treat a wide variety of mental illnesses. He has experience in treating individuals, couples and families, and as a consultant, he has a very special place in his heart, working with faith based organizations and communities to further equip the church to help individuals and families with mental health challenges and well-being. To which I say Amen and Amen and Amen. And James, one day maybe we will totally eradicate the stigma of mental illness in the church. I am praying for that day to come sooner rather than later. That's a conversation you and I could have for ten hours. But I want to go back to your brand new book called The Anxiety Algorithm, turning your pattern of worry and stress into a pattern of peace and joy. So, Ronnie, you talked about this before, so I'm going to throw it out to both of you because one or both may have something to say about this, but one of the things you suggest in applying the algorithm is that we need to create new pathways. Now, Ronnie, my first thought is this goes back to the the neuroplasticity, the idea of building neural pathways, because that happens. You know, there is a reason why Philippians tells us to think about these things, because in so doing, not only are we being biblically obedient, not only taking the full counsel of God, but we are changing the way our brain works as well. So how do we do this?
You know, the exciting thing about it is that we've known all this for 2000 years because the Bible says it's true and it is true. But what what happened, what is happening is that science is showing us how God designed it to happen. And and we're learning more and more about this, this amazing statistic that they do think that at 1 to 3 years of age, children are putting down 1 million synapses the way that the the cells in the brain connect to each other, 1 million synapses a second.
Ooh.
Yes. That makes them very, very adaptable and able to learn so quickly. But generally as we get older, 12 1012 we start pruning away those things we don't use. And so if we don't put it into practice, we take away from those things that cause us to move into the presence of God in a in a very reflexive way. But the great news is we can go back and start those connections joining again. And so God made us in a way that if we go off path and we think, well, there's no help for me, I'm already too far gone. I've got terrible anxiety, I take medication, I go to therapy. That's the only thing that's going to help me now. It's just not true. And science proves it. Now you can start back on that pathway by practicing this algorithm until it goes from being intentional, just like a child, to be intentional, to learn to walk. And they fail. They fall down, but their parents encourage them. Get up. You can do this until think about all we do while we walk now as adults. So people have to appreciate the fact that the way you are is not the way you have to remain.
Amen. If you don't hear anything else this hour, that's a takeaway. James, talk to me about triggers. That's a word we hear an awful lot. But dropping in in this context, I found most intriguing. What do you mean by that? And how does that apply to keeping what you call a thought record?
Yes. Well, triggers, uh, are basically anything that would, um, create an opportunity for, uh, maladaptive negative. Uh, we might even say sinful or just unhelpful thought or memory to enter our minds. It's a little bit different. Say, if you're talking about, for example, trauma and a trigger versus anxiety and a trigger, but it's really anything that prompts a reaction. And we can help people learn triggers. When we talk about that in the book, it's a it's a difficult process. It's one that definitely requires practice. And so in the book, we use a tool that I've used a lot in clinical practice, and it's a thought record that we've adapted. Essentially, it is a tool for keeping notes of your thoughts. And it's fairly elaborate. I have, you know, we encourage people that, um, like any good thing, it's going to take a little effort. But what it does is as you learn how to record the different areas, uh, throughout that thought record. So feelings attached to thoughts, um, untrustworthy thoughts, you know, how to reframe those thoughts, scripts that help you reframe those thoughts. Those are some examples of different segments of it. As you do that, you start to see patterns evolve. And that also is very helpful for backtracking to triggers. And so the tool is quite helpful, but it does take some effort.
Ronnie, did you want to add anything to that?
Well, you know here again I just I see this so many times that we as Christians, um, think about the, the when we when we received Jesus as our savior. That is automatic. Automatic. But, you know, uh, we're told in Hebrews 1014, for by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Mhm. So that holiness that of what I say, it's cutting us out of the herd. You know, he wants us to be holy, which means different. He wants us to look different. So yes, in fact we have a saying in our when we talk to people that practice makes progress. Only Jesus makes perfect.
I underlined that in the book. I thought that was so good.
And so and so what? What we're trying to do is help people to appreciate the fact that you're making progress in this, and they're going to be times when you're going to miss one of those triggers, or there's going to be something that happens in your life that catches you off guard. That's okay. God's not up there condemning you. He's there cheering you on to keep up the good work. He's so proud of us. Well, all the time because he sees Jesus when he sees us. But but he wants us other people to see Jesus in us. And he wants that fruit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. He wants all. What? What would the world be like if all of us Christians walked around under control where Jesus was controlling us? They would people. People would race to to us like they did the early church and say, I want to be like you, how can I do it? And then we could introduce them to Jesus. And because that's the only way we can do it, you know? And here again, the algorithm's not magic by any means. The algorithm hopefully helps us mentally get into the place where we can experience or know the presence of God in a way that makes such a difference in our life.
Couldn't agree more. And let me go back to something you said earlier because it just flows out of you, Ronnie. So it's a self-evident truth listening to you, by the way, thank you for what you just said. I think sometimes we fail to recognize that part of our job description is ambassador for Christ. And so this isn't an option. This is a mandate if we are. When I was a child growing up, we were talking about our life might be the only Bible some people ever read. So are we reflecting Jesus in the way in which we live? So I thank you for pointing that out. The second thing, too, is it's automatic for you. But it didn't happen overnight. I would pretty strongly guess that you're a person who made the volitional choice to spend time constantly in the word. This whole conversation is moot, is it not, if you're not immersed in the word?
Well, let me tell you my experience with that. The Bible, you know, I told people I should turn out okay because I started going to church nine months before I was born, you know. And I just, I just, I was constantly in church. And last week, we lost my mother.
Okay. I'm so sorry.
Well, you and I appreciate that emotion, but none of us were. She died at a she died at 103 and 9/12.
Wow.
Yes. After experiencing God in a wonderful way. And we got to experience her up until about a month ago. And we did not want to deny her from our emotions, from seeing Jesus face to face. And so we rejoice. The fact that she is now she, the month or two before she died, she she would we would talk about heaven. She brought it up all the time. She'd say, isn't it going to be fun? And she's having fun now. And so that that's just, you know, but but you know, I when I got into practice, I was so busy, I kind of fell away from the word. And I wasn't reading and I, you know, kind of couldn't figure out what's wrong with my life. You know, that sort of stuff. But I'll tell you, I made the volitional choice. Just like you're saying. I couldn't figure out how I could get back on track until God said, well, what's so important to you that you do it every day? And I said, well, I eat every day. And he said, well, if my word is important to you, why don't you wait until after you've read the word, spent time with me to eat now that will cause you to start reading the Bible?
Yes, indeed.
I mean, fasting is a very great, powerful tool that we use a great, great discipline to help us experience God. But I'm going to tell you, fasting all the time is not good for you. So. So I found ways in my busy life to make sure I had a Bible in my back pocket that I had all the time, and I would just say, I've got to stop, you know? And so people cannot appreciate, please appreciate the fact that the power of the word and we have got to spend time as diligent students of the word.
Amen. Well, there's another takeaway. Do you have a Bible in your back pocket? Because I'll tell you, this is important for us. You know, I grew up hearing no Bible, no breakfast. And it was a summation of what you just said you put into practice, Ronnie. How in the world do you get the thirst of your heart satisfied without the living waters? Or that grumbling in your belly, satisfied without the bread of life? More importantly, in this dark world, how do you find your way if you don't have the illuminating power? Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. So get into the word. Isn't it funny how the Bible is directly connected to the issue of anxiety? More after this. We have the pleasure of visiting with doctors Ronnie and James Kent, who have co-authored the book Anxiety Algorithm Turning your pattern of worry and stress into a pattern of peace and Joy. And by the way, I've got a link to their ministry 1230 ministry.com. It's on the information page, as is the book, as is photographs and longer bios of both gentlemen, all on the information page of In the Market with Janet parshall.org. James, let me turn to you and ask you to explain a little bit about the linkage between having strong relationships and the way it mitigates anxiety.
Absolutely. Um, you really have to take a step back. Um, we use a tool. It's very elementary, but I call it the self-care wheel. And it's essentially a pie chart. And it breaks down different domains of functioning. And, um, within that, uh, a lot of times, you know, we live in a world of relationships. And I think partially dad and I choose to focus on relationships. Uh, there's some some research that's come out really, uh, new research that points out just how significant relationships are in every aspect of our life. But for us, um, you know, we worship a triune God, relational, you know, among himself, if I could say it that way. Um, and, and, you know, the core of, of faith and then family and marriage and relationships with our children. So we just believe in relationships and the power of them. We think Scripture supports that. So, um, it's part of that wheel, but we find it to be quite a significant part. And relationships are meant to be, well, really to mirror the relationship that we have the opportunity to engage in with Jesus. And so, um, whether it's reading Ephesians five, you know, he he paints a pretty strong picture of what marriage is supposed to be, uh, that really, if you applied that to any relationship, um, it means I'm helping out my brother or sister in Christ. Or for that matter, anyone with whatever I can help them out with. I'm giving up myself in service to them as best I can. And so whether it's me seeking to help ameliorate someone's someone's anxiety or struggle or someone helping me, you know the Bible says to confess to one another. Um, and so we just believe power of relationship and believe it's biblical.
Mhm. Absolutely agree. If I can Ronnie, let me ask you, because we were talking before about the neuroplasticity of the brain, but we also referred to those first two verses, verses in Ephesians four or Philippians four rather talking about prayer, supplication. And oh, here's the part we forget with thanksgiving. The more I studied the brain, the more I realize that there is such a linkage between the truth of Scripture and good mental health, I am discovering the profundity of that attitude of gratitude. My mom had a sign over our stove in the kitchen. We were growing up. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Um, why is it imperative that we have an attitude of gratitude? And how does that impact our brain?
And here again, research is just lining up with the Bible. Believe it or not.
Yes. You know, it's showing.
That, hey, what the Bible says is actually true. Research now shows that one of the pillars of mental health is gratitude. And and that a thankful heart absolutely does make us me. And and you know, there's there have been people that in my life that were really struggling with feeling like God didn't love them, that they were, you know, just, uh, all alone. And by the way, as far as relationships are concerned, you know, there's now research that shows that loneliness in particular as we get older, has the same detrimental effect to our wellbeing as chronic alcoholism and smoking.
Wow.
If if you feel lonely. So relationships are huge, just like James was talking about. And as you mentioned. But but as we, as we move along, uh, we have to appreciate the fact that there's so many things we can be thankful for that Satan wants to steal, kill and destroy from us. He wants to make us feel like we don't have anything. And just getting somebody before the the last thing you do at night. If you can write down five things that you're thankful for for that day, it will amaze you how much better you feel as you fall asleep and sleep better and actually get up the next morning looking more forward to that day than you thought you would.
Mhm. Well, such a good word. And it seems to me Ronnie too, that if you end your day that way, what it creates is in a world where it's easy to default into the darkness and the pain all the time. Rather than make the choice that we're going to start having this attitude of gratitude when you start taking off your blessings. I don't know how it works in your life, but in mine, it suddenly makes me even more aware of things I've taken for granted that are in truth blessings. And I should be thanking him for.
Absolutely. And you know, some people interpret blessing. We just yesterday in church, in our class, my class, we we looked at Psalms one and you know, the the the the blessing, you know, one of the commentaries I read, it said, sometimes we interpret, blessed is the man who you know, that that's content is the man. And I'll go back to that first thing. One of the first things you said about learning to be content. And that means we, as Paul says, all through it. But in particular, one of my favorite passages is second Peter, first chapter. He says twice in that passage about the divine nature, make every effort. That is not a passive thing with Christianity. That means we should be. And I asked him, what do you make every effort doing every day? You know, if you're a fisherman, I've got friends who love fishing. If they're not fishing, they're watching a video about fishing. They're at the bait store doing things. I said, do we spend that much time delighting in God and in His word? So that is that. Are we making every effort?
Yeah. Amen. Again, what you've said, impliedly, is the athleticism of the Christian life. It is not a passive existence by any stretch of the imagination. James, if I can, let me just ask you quickly as we close out an hour that's gone far too quickly. And, friends, there's so much more in the books. I hope this is just teased you a little bit to get curious enough to say I want to have a personal anxiety algorithm. This book will teach you how to do that, but talk to me about why praying the names of God is an antidote to anxiety.
Well, I think one of the main reasons is because there is Bible and there attached to some pretty significant promises. And you know the way that our Bibles translated into English, we miss a lot of those things. Whereas the Hebrews would have said those and known what they meant and attached them to events in the past. And so I think we can learn more of who God is and what he's promised us.
I couldn't agree more. Gentlemen, thank you so much. And I want to underscore friends, because I really want you to hear my heart in this. There's a ton more in this book that even the gift of one hour of their time I couldn't cover. So you need to read the book. It's fabulous. It's called the anxiety algorithm, turning your pattern of worry and stress into a pattern of peace and joy. Fair warning this is going to require some spiritual heft. You're going to have to get some muscle because you're going to have to make choices here. And that's okay, because who among us doesn't want to get rid of worry and stress and turn around and replace it with peace and joy? That's what God wants for us. We have to. Thank you, Doctor Kent. Appreciate you both so much. We'll see you next time, friends.
