The 4:8 Principal

In 2007 Tyndale House Publishers published The 4:8 Principal. The author, Tommy Newberry, has written several books and is the founder of the 1% Club. His books, speaking engagements and 1% Club utilize the 4:8 Principal to help his readers/clients to maximize their full potential with their family, their personal life, and professional life.

At the core of the 4:8 Principal is the scripture found in Philippians chapter 4, verse 8. It reads as follows:

“Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8, kjv)

The book has been divided up into three simple parts. As you read through each part of the book, you get the impression that Tommy Newberry is either sitting their coaching you or he wrote the book specifically for you. He begins by helping your relook at the world around you. Our personal perception has a tremendous influence on how we interact with the world around us. In part one, the reader is introduced to a new way of thinking.

In part two, Mr. Newberry provides the reader with a new perspective on life. We are not locked into misery but we have the potential to have a life filled with joy. Emotions have a lot to do with joy and/or the lack of joy in our life. Most importantly, we do have the ability to control and/or take charge of our emotional life. Lastly, in part two, we begin to understand that those negative thoughts continue to swirl in our minds due to the fact we encourage them to stay and breed.

Part three, the final three chapters of The 4:8 Principal, reviews ways for the reader to protect and defend your heart and mind from a negative mindset. Mr. Newberry provides the reader with strategies to protect your heart, build a healthy mind, and how to live a life filled with genuine gratitude.

MY TO CENTS
I will be the first to admit, this is not a book I would pick up if I were walking through a book store or a library. Many of these types of books found in a Christian bookstore or in the Christian section at the bookstore are a bit too soupy for my. However, at the recommendation of a dear friend, I borrowed the book to read. I reluctantly picked up the book to read and discovered it was difficult to put down.

The 4:8 Principal was easy to read, written for the layman, simple to understand and highly practical. I loved the way Mr. Newberry utilized Phillipians 4:8 as a filter for one’s thinking. All too often I mumble to myself or to a good friend that I need to rebuild or retrain myself in the ways I think. This book not only provides me with the tools on how to alter the ways I think but it provides me with a multitude of practical ways to constructively change my ways of thinking. There was so much valuable information in this book I plan to read it again in two-four months just to check in with myself and make sure I am still on track for a joy filled life based upon the 4:8 Principal.

Highly recommended, worth the space on your bookshelf, and would be beneficial to a friend.