Can we do our own heart surgery? (Yes, you read that title correctly.)

We're not talking about opening up your chest and repairing torn ventricles with your spouse holding your makeup mirror so you can see what you're doing. We're referring to addressing the spiritual issues that cause physical problems that can plague us for years, even to our death.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22

My guest today, Dr. Jonathan Clark, took some time out of his busy Telehealth practice to share some wisdom on the heart. Not the thumping gizzard located on the left side of your chest, but our demeanor, attitude, mindset that unless properly cared for can cause real damage to our physical bodies.

Take care of the inner heart, says Dr. Clark, and you can better take care of your physical heart.

Here's a bit of what you'll hear in today's episode:

-Dr. Clark's personal history and coming to spiritual understanding...05:00

-Overcoming physical problems by addressing spiritual issues...08:00

-Sometimes it's a decision to be free...13:16

-What we mean when we say "do your own heart surgery"...16:55

-Releasing unhealthy emotions is akin to releasing unhealthy weight, dis-ease, etc...21:40

-Jonathan's recent experience with intermittent fasting...27:30

-And much more!

Resources mentioned:

Holy and Holistic Health

jonathanclarkmd.com

Connect with today's guest!

University of Missouri-Columbia Medical School graduate Dr. Jonathan Clark has a passion for the fascinating mystery that are human beings. “As both a board-certified family medicine doctor and an ordained minister, I have witnessed great advances in medical science as well as many miracle healings over the past 30 years. I have seen firsthand incredible medical achievements and supernatural miracles—natural and supernatural solutions.

I am so blessed to have the opportunity to have multiple vantage points of healing and health.” It was this blending of observations that led Dr. Clark to research and write his book, Holy and Wholistic Health! His approachable writing style mixed with humor and ‘tidbits’ of fascinating information make this book an easy to understand and practical collection of insights.

“I love to care for people with all the tools in my tool belt.” Dr. Clark says, “And as a diligent student of the Bible, science, and medicine, I have a natural curiosity of human nature. This is the reason I wrote this book—to share some pearls and tidbits of things I have learned in this process of living and learning.”

Twice one of 417 Magazine’s Top Doctors of the year, (2015, 2019), Dr. Clark has run his own family practice, Olive Grove Medical (formerly Clark Family Medicine) in Springfield, Missouri, since 1995, and has recently added being a Telehealth provider to his list of services.

Church and family play a huge role in his life and he credits them for his inspiration to write and encourage others. “As I reflect back on my life... I was raised in a religious, Christian household and was a church-going, good boy with a good quality of life (and was in good physical health); however, in the process of time, I turned away from my religious training and my Christian faith.

I did not turn to another belief system. Rather, in trying to cope with my inner struggles and inner pain, I deconstructed into a different path, hoping that maybe then I could breathe internally and possibly find a healthier reality.”

It was this return to his roots and in finding a genuine faith that his health was rejuvenated and that healing became possible once again. “I am so grateful that I can use my personal experience along with my professional training to help others discover a healthy whole life. I wasn’t alone in all this...my wife Christa and I are in this together; what I have experienced, we have experienced; what I have written, we have written. Our kids, grandkids, family, and church family —it’s that support system of love that is beneath it all.”

When Dr. Clark is not pursuing his love of science and medicine, he might be found intently pursuing another hobby passion—watching airplanes on his airplane app. Occasionally, he can be found on board a flight (maybe on a mission trip with his church, Abundant Life Church, where he is an associate pastor) or reading a good book or exercising, taking a long ‘Jon Clark Shuffle.’