麻豆传媒听(PBA)听and Tree of Life Network听hosted听a discussion and presentation on听the听Biblio听Diet听on听Saturday,听March 28听with over 150 people in attendance.听From听undergrad听and听graduate counseling students听to听alumni,听ministry听leaders,听mental听health听and church professionals,听many gathered听on PBA鈥檚 campus听for a transformative morning of faith, health, and encouragement from听speakers Jordan Rubin, author of The听Biblio听Diet, and Dr. Karen Brown, Christian听psychiatrist.听听
Challenging Conventional Thought with Biblical Wisdom听
In his keynote address,听Rubin听spoke openly about his听own health struggles, like being diagnosed with听Crohn鈥檚 disease and colitis as a young adult听in the 90鈥檚听to terminal听cancer听in 2008.听Overcoming both these health challenges through biblical nutrition cemented his passion to help others through this information.听Opening his talk, Rubin acknowledged that his perspective might challenge conventional nutritional wisdom, emphasizing that his teachings are rooted in biblical principles he believes are timeless.听
Drawing from Scripture, Rubin referenced the longevity of figures such as Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Isaac, and Jacob, using these examples to highlight what he described as God鈥檚 original design for health and vitality. He also pointed to biblical passages听that described the diet of听figures like Solomon.听听1 Kings 4:22鈥�23听says,听鈥�Solomon鈥檚 daily provisions听were thirty听cors听of the finest flour and sixty听cors听of meal,听ten head of stall-fed cattle, twenty of pasture-fed cattle and a hundred sheep and goats, as well听as deer, gazelles,听roebucks听and choice fowl.听deer, gazelles,听roebucks听and choice fowl.鈥澨�Rubin听asserted,听Solomon,听known as the wisest man on earth,听included听red meat and bread听in his diet though听modern health conversations听typically warn against their consumption.听听
A defining moment of the event came as Rubin recounted a season of severe illness that forced him to withdraw from school and left him physically depleted. During that time, Rubin described how he sought guidance rooted in biblical nutrition and made a bold declaration of faith.听
He recalled asking his mother to take a photograph of him at his weakest point.听When she objected,听preferring听to take a picture when he was better, he听emphasized why he wanted to mark that moment. He told his听mom,听鈥淭he world is not going to believe what God is about to do in my life.鈥� Rubin shared that within听12 weeks听of听that declaration, his health was restored.听听听
Encouraging attendees to embrace their own journeys, Rubin urged the audience,听鈥�Don鈥檛 miss听your听before听picture moment,鈥� emphasizing the importance of听personal testimony in helping those experiencing what听you鈥檝e听overcome.听
Rubin听also听explored biblical references to natural health practices.听听He emphasized听Ezekiel听47:12, which says, 鈥�Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river.听Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit听fail. Every month they will bear听fruit, because听the water from the sanctuary听flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.鈥澨�He also discussed听Revelation 22:2,听鈥�down the middle of the great street of the city.听On each side of the river stood the tree of life,听bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.听And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.鈥澨鼴oth scriptures听describe听the healing properties of leaves from fruit-bearing trees. He noted their potential antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immune-supporting qualities, reinforcing his message that nature provides resources for restoration and wellness.听
Soul Care and Modern Medicine听
Dr. Karen Brown, Christian听Psychiatrist听focused her talk on a case study.听She discussed a fictional patient presenting with听a possible depressive disorder.听Before听treating the听symptoms, Dr. Brown emphasized the need to take a wholistic look at the patient鈥檚 health, including their physical,听emotional听and spiritual health and nutrition. Dr. Brown听told attendees she believes we are on the cusp of a medical and mental health revolution where听there will be more integration of faith and medicine.听
The event provided attendees not only with practical insights but also with a renewed sense of hope and purpose. Through a blend of personal testimony, scriptural teaching, and community connection, the gathering underscored the growing interest in faith-based approaches to health and well-being.听
For more information听visit:听/academics/majors-degrees/clinical-mental-health-counseling-ms/听
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