Nine Habits of Highly Effective Christians

Long before Stephen Covey developed his popular “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,” the apostle Paul had written his own list of practices for “highly effective Christians.” Author/minister Parachin suggests Paul's “fruits of the spirit”—enumerated in the book of Galatians as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—remain habits worth forming. He repackages them, offering specific ways to develop and think about each one. Each chapter is made up of a list of suggested actions followed by “seven further considerations.” To practice gentleness, for example, he recommends cultivating gentle thoughts and being gentle with those we encounter daily. Although his suggestions may seem overly simple, the illustrations he uses add depth and inspiration. In the chapter on love, for instance, he tells how Ralph Waldo Emerson reached out to Henry David Thoreau after the death of Thoreau's brother, urging Thoreau to write reviews of natural history books, an experience that led the latter to live on and write about Walden Pond. Although based on a text in Christian scripture, the book's practical helps and goal of making the planet a kinder, gentler place give it universal appeal. (Apr. 6)