The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast

Be Honest: Is Your Prayer Life Everything You Want it to Be?Prayer is difficult for many of us. We’re busy, stressed, and often find ourselves wondering if God is even out there. We’re screaming into the void, and all we hear are the echoes of our own voices and the noises of the culture around us. Or, we’re desperately whispering our deepest needs, but we have no idea how to really connect with God, or whether he’s even listening at all. But what if it doesn’t have to be this way? What if we really can learn to have real connection and conversation with a God who wants to know and be known by us?That’s what my friend Addison Bevere is here to talk about today. Addison’s new book is Words with God: Trading Boring, Empty Prayer for Real Connection. It’s available today, everywhere books are sold. Click the button below for more information about Addison, and his wonderful new book that’s already locked in as one of my top books of 2023 (and all-time). I can’t recommend this book highly enough, and I’m so excited to bring you this wonderful conversation today with my friend, Addison Bevere. Here’s the description of Words with God from Amazon.com, including an endorsement from another one of my favorite writes, Mark Batterson (we use his book, All In, every year for our podcast series called All-In August). For most of us, prayer is a struggle. Do our prayers even matter? What, if anything, happens when we pray? Are we having words with God or just words with ourselves?We know we should pray. It would be good for us--help us be more grounded, more connected to God. But in our hurried lives, slowing down to pray can feel like a cosmic waste of time. In this thoughtful book, bestselling author Addison Bevere takes you into and through the tension of prayer--the struggles, the doubts, the answers--to the place where God makes himself real to you. He tackles questions such as:· What do we do with unanswered prayers and how do we move through them?· Why does God invite us to ask through prayer if he is aware of every need?· Is there a right way to pray? If so, what is it?· How do we learn to hear the Voice of God?Tired of boring, empty, transactional prayer? This is the book for you."Addison's book takes us through our desires for prayer, our disappointments in prayer, and the profound deeper plan of God for our prayers. This is the book you'll return to again and again."--Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C.Hey, my new book is releasing July 25. Addison is one of my early readers/endorsers. Here’s what he had to say about Hope is the First Dose. “I should warn you that this book comes with deep breaths and the occasional tears. With beautiful prose and intimate insights, these pages take you where you need to go before life forces you to go there. And if you’re already ‘there,’ face to face with what Dr. Warren calls The Massive Thing, I have good news for you: you’ve found your book.” Addison BevereSelf-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Is it Reasonable to Base Our Hope on the Bible?It’s Self-Brain Surgery Saturday, and today I’ve got a treat for you!I had a great conversation with Pastor Jarrett Stephens, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. We talked about why it’s reasonable to believe in and place our hope on God’s word. Do you have to be a moron to believe? Is there any rational basis for thinking that the Bible is inspired and not just a book of old stories and ideas written by people?Jarrett takes us through why even smart people (even brain surgeons!) should have a high degree of confidence in the reliability of this book, and why the Bible isn’t like any other literature in the world- it’s living and active!Jarrett is also the author of two great books, The Always God: He Hasn't Changed, and You Are Not Forgotten, and The Mountains are Calling: Making the Climb for a Clearer View of God and Ourselves.Check out Jarrett's I Am Second video for more of his story. Other book mentioned in this episode- The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller.Hey, I just wrote a book about my research into how people process pain and find hope again after they experience what we call “The Massive Thing,” or TMT, Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things (coming July 25). You can pre-order it by clicking on the book cover below.Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

When Does God Stop Being God?Answer: Never!That’s such good news for troublesome times like these. Back in May of 2021, I had a great conversation with Pastor Jarrett Stephens, author of The Always God: He Hasn't Changed, and You Are Not Forgotten. I’m bringing it back to you today because Pastor Jarrett is coming back onto the show tomorrow! I thought a double dose of this wise and engaging teacher would be so helpful to all of us. (Please note that the free books mentioned have already been given away)Check out Jarrett's I Am Second video for more of his story. Hey, I just wrote a book about my research into how people process pain and find hope again after they experience what we call “The Massive Thing,” or TMT, Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things (coming July 25). You can pre-order it by clicking on the book cover below.Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Five Ways the Resurrection Matters Today(Classic episode from Easter 2022)A great talk with Tata about the power and impact of the resurrection. Scripture: II Corinthians 4Music by Paul Baloche(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 )Book reference: New Morning Mercies by Paul David TrippHey, I just wrote a book about my research into how people process pain and find hope again after they experience what we call “The Massive Thing,” or TMT, Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things (coming July 25). You can pre-order it by clicking on the book cover below. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Self-Brain Surgery Saturday! Today I’m inviting you to a new life. It’s a life unfettered by the toxic cloud of hopelessness, anxiety, and trauma. It’s a life of being in control of the most sophisticated supercomputer in the history of the world, your own brain. I’m inviting you into the Society of Self-Brain Surgeons, where we learn together how to change our minds and change our lives, using a treatment plan based on neuroscience and faith. To fully engage the treatment plan, there are three things we must believe and implement in our lives. Here they are!My new book is coming July 25, but you can pre-order it now!Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

In my life, when I’m stressed or worried, I always turn to the word of God. But when I need to talk to someone about these things, I talk to Lisa and to my chaplain or pastor.And God has blessed me with several pastors, chaplains, and writers in my life who are personal friends. But no matter where we’ve lived or worshiped, my go-to pastor is always our old friend Max Lucado. Max was my pastor when I lived in San Antonio, and my father-in-law Dennis worked at Oak Hills Church with Max.Today we’re going to visit with my friend, Max Lucado.The entire podcast archive is coming online for paid subscribers! There are at least two free episodes every week on Substack, along with the weekly free Self-Brain Surgery letter. Paid subscribers get new Mind Change Monday episodes weekly, the free episodes, and archived episodes every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! Paid subscribers also get access to the entire newsletter archive, video content, and more!If you want full access, please subscribe using the button below!Max Lucado on Anxiety and Fear(This episode originally aired in 2020, in the height of the lockdowns of the Covid pandemic.)My wife Lisa has been great friends with Max’s wife Denalyn for many years. So, when Lisa and I got married Max became more than just a pastor to me. He’s a true friend, and, as you’ll hear in this episode, he’s been there for me in my worst moment after my son died.But Max isn’t just a pastor. He’s also a world-wide bestselling author of over 40 books. Max's books have sold over 100 million copies across 54 languages worldwide. But all that aside, despite his great success as a writer, Max is most at home in his role as a pastor.So, since this is a time of great anxiety and stress, I thought that the Dr. Lee Warren Podcast listeners like you (and me) needed a pastor.I reached out to Max, and he said he would be happy to come and minister to all of us today. When life is scary, there are things you can do to shake off the fear and step into faith, and Max Lucado is going to help us change our minds about it, starting today.(The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast archive is for paid subscribers. Please note: some links mentioned may no longer be active. Book giveaways mentioned in archived episodes are no longer available)This episode came out shortly after the release of I've Seen the End of You: A Neurosurgeon's Look at Faith, Doubt, and the Things We Think We Know, which went on to win the 2021 Christian Book Award for Biography and Memoir.My new book is Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things, which will release on July 25, 2023! It’s available for pre-order now. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes life can make us feel powerlessThe good news is, your brain is designed to power your life, and scripture has promised us that we have all the power we need anything we can face!Here are some Action April thoughts for today if you're feeling weak.Scripture: Philippians 4:19. Philippians 4:13, II Peter 1:3, II Chronicles 20:12, Jeremiah 32:17, Matthew 6:8My new book is coming July 25, but you can pre-order it now!Music by Tommy Walker(Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 )Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

It’s Action April!Today’s Self-Brain Surgery Saturday is all about Action April, and how neuroscience and faith smash together to allow you to change your mind and change your life, literally. There’s so much exciting new neuroscience research that’s teaching us how our brains can literally change every cell in our bodies for better or worse. The question is: are you willing to take the action you need to take to make those facts work for you?Scripture: Isaiah 26:3, Philippians 4:6-8, John 1:1-5, Acts 17:28Self-Brain Surgery with Dr. Lee Warren is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Today, I’m bringing you back a conversation with my better half: the unparalleled professional chef, designer, businesswoman, and entrepreneur, Lisa D. Warren. The entire podcast archive is coming online for paid subscribers! There are at least two free episodes every week on Substack, along with the weekly free Self-Brain Surgery letter. Paid subscribers get new Mind Change Monday episodes weekly, the free episodes, and archived episodes every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! Paid subscribers also get access to the entire newsletter archive, video content, and more!If you want full access, please subscribe using the button below!Learn the story, successes, struggles, and secrets to success of this great woman, who's an inspiration to all of us. (The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast archive is for paid subscribers. Please note: some links mentioned may no longer be active. Book giveaways mentioned in archived episodes are no longer available)This episode came out shortly after the release of I've Seen the End of You: A Neurosurgeon's Look at Faith, Doubt, and the Things We Think We Know, which went on to win the 2021 Christian Book Award for Biography and Memoir.My new book is Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things, which will release on July 25, 2023! It’s available for pre-order now. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s operation is a little switch between worrying and preparing, and then getting after it. [Note: I lost my voice! Everyone in my office was sick last week, and this morning I can’t talk. So here’s a classic Self-Brain Surgery Saturday for you. I’ll be back with a new episode on Monday!]A few thoughts on golf, football, and self-brain surgery will help us stop worrying and start preparing to take action when it’s time!Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34, I Corinthians 9:24-26I just wrote a book about my research into how people process pain and find hope again after they experience what we call “The Massive Thing,” or TMT, Hope is the First Dose: A Treatment Plan for Recovering from Trauma, Tragedy, and Other Massive Things (coming July 25).Newsletter mentioned: James ClearMusic by Tommy Walker (Music shared on The Dr. Lee Warren Podcast is authorized under BMI license #61063253 and ASCAP license #400010513 ) This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit drleewarren.substack.com/subscribe