John H. Timmerman's study of the fruits of the spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, good- ness, faithfulness, gentle- ness, and self-control- is both scriptural and very personal.

The author intends, first, to understand the fruits of the spirit in their biblical context, and sec- ond, to understand the relevance of these biblical fruits for everyday life, "attended as it is by sorrow and joy."

In brief, reflective chap- ters the book demonstrates how the biblical view of the fruits of the spirit gives con- temporary guidance. The reflections are fleshed out with examples from the author's own experience. Describing situations rang- ing from car trouble on a family vacation to memories of his tour of duty in Viet- nam, from the family's cele- bration of Christmas to the death of a child, Timmerman reveals the painful sorrows