The Holy Spirit Can Transform Your Life
This is the story of how God used the lessons Dan learned on a fruit farm in California to teach him one of the most profound messages in the Bible. This led his family to develop a smoothie business in Nashville based on Galatians 5:22-23. The Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.
It is his hope that this book and the stories he shares will inspire you to learn more about how the 9 Fruit of the Spirit can dramatically transform your life.
“What a breath of fresh air! I found myself on my knees more after reading this book than ever before.”
Dan and Kim Banks met working at Procter & Gamble right out of college, after having each grown up in rural, California towns. Dan rose up the corporate ladder and succeeded in work, family and sports. Their life looked picturesque from the outside. But suddenly, everything he had began to crumble. Starting with the biggest earthquake in California since 1906, Dan just barely missed losing his life in the 1989 World Series earthquake. Months later, he almost lost his life again while riding his bike. Finally, Kim asked for a divorce on the eve of Father’s Day, just when Dan was about to compete in the biggest bicycle race in America.
At 33 years old, feeling he had no reason to go on with his life, Dan turned to God. The story of how God transformed his life and the life of his agnostic wife is a miracle.
He redeemed him and led him from an executive position at a major corporation to buy a fruit farm. Learning all about how God wants to bear fruit through us, Dan shares the story of tending, pruning, bearing, and ultimately sharing fruit.
After moving their family across the country in 2006, Dan and Kim helped their twin sons open the first 9 Fruits Smoothie store in Franklin, Tennessee. They poured everything they had into starting a small business against all odds and major competitors. God blessed their business. The rest of their story is about sharing the inspirational message of the Fruit of the Spirit.
“I loved this book! Dan challenged me as a business owner and as a Christ Follower to seek the Spirit more.”
About the Author
Dan finished his undergraduate work at California State University, Sacramento with a BS in Real Estate Appraisal and Land Use Development. He went on to earn his MBA in Marketing from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, Ca. In 1980 he was recruited by Procter & Gamble in their Accounting Division and later transferred to help start their Patient Care Division. Dan began racing bicycles in the late 80’s and in 1990 he became the California State Champion. Dan was then recruited by three more Health care companies over the next 17 years to help with their turn around efforts. Dan and Kim have a heart for Christian education having helped start two Christian schools in California. Dan sat on the board of the Maryland Farms YMCA for 7 years, serving as the chairman of the board for 2 of those years. Dan and Kim live in Nashville, with four grown children and three grandchildren.
1. Would you like to leave the corporate world and start a business?
2. Is your marriage about to crumble and you need hope to restore it?
3. Do you have a sports addiction?
4. Are you a workaholic?
5. Have you thought about having more children, but you’ve already had a vascectomy or a tubal ligation?
6. As a woman, are you considering leaving the workplace to raise your children?
7. Are you considering leaving city life for farm life?
8. Would you like to draw closer to God?
9. Would you like to know how to go to Heaven?
A little bit about the Fruit
The Fruit of the Spirit have been an essential part of Dan’s relationship with God, and his business practices. It has been a loving journey through scripture and personal relationship with God’s Spirit. Below are some of Dan’s favorite verses on each of the fruit.
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Matthew 22:36-40: Jesus identifies the greatest commandments as loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself. He states that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands.
John 3:16: This well-known verse encapsulates God's sacrificial love for humanity: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
1 Corinthians 13: This chapter is often referenced for its detailed description of love, noting its patience, kindness, and eternal natur
1 John 4:7-8: passage emphasizes that love originates from God and that "God is love".
John 13:34-35: gives the commandment to love one another as he has loved his followers.
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John 15:11: Jesus speaks of his joy being in believers so that their joy may be full, suggesting that complete joy is found in a relationship with him.
Philippians 4:4: Paul urges believers to rejoice in the Lord always, emphasizing that joy in the Lord is possible in all circumstances, even in difficult situations.
Nehemiah 8:10: This verse states that "the joy of the Lord is your strength," indicating that God's joy provides empowerment and strength.
Romans 15:13: This passage links joy and peace in believing to the power of the Holy Spirit and abounding in hope.
Psalm 16:11: This verse describes the presence of God as the source of fullness of joy and eternal pleasures.
Galatians 5:22-23: Joy is listed as one of the "fruit of the Spirit," suggesting it's a natural outcome of living in alignment with God.
James 1:2-3: This passage encourages finding joy in trials, as the testing of faith produces perseverance.
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Romans 5:1: This verse describes peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:14-17: This passage emphasizes Jesus as the source of peace, breaking down barriers and reconciling humanity to God.
Philippians 4:6-7: This passage describes the peace of God, which can protect hearts and minds when trusting in Him through prayer.
John 14:27: Jesus offers a unique peace to His followers, different from the world's peace.
John 16:33: Jesus provides peace amidst worldly troubles, reminding followers that He has overcome the world.
Galatians 5:22-23: Peace is listed as a characteristic that develops in believers who live according to the Spirit.
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Galatians 5:22-23: Patience is recognized as a fruit of the Spirit.
Romans 5:3-4: Suffering is described as leading to endurance, character, and hope.
Colossians 3:12-13: Believers are encouraged to embody patience in their interactions.
Hebrews 10:36: Endurance is necessary to receive God's promises after doing His will.
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Galatians 5:22: This verse lists kindness as one of the fruits of the Spirit, emphasizing its supernatural origin and the transformation it brings in the believer's life.
Luke 6:35: Jesus urges his followers to "love your enemies and do good," reflecting God's kindness even to the undeserving. This challenges the common understanding of kindness and highlights its sacrificial nature.
Colossians 3:12: This passage exhorts believers to "clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience," presenting kindness as a foundational virtue for Christian living.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7: As part of the famous "love chapter," these verses describe the nature of love, which includes being kind.
Proverbs 19:17: This verse connects kindness to the poor with lending to the Lord, indicating that acts of kindness are seen and rewarded by God.
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Galatians 5:22-23: Lists "goodness" as one of the fruits of the Spirit, produced in the lives of believers as they live according to God's Spirit.
Ephesians 2:10: Highlights that believers are "created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them".
Micah 6:8: Outlines what the LORD requires of humanity: "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God".
Matthew 5:16: Jesus tells his disciples to "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven".
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2 Timothy 2:13: God's unwavering faithfulness is emphasized in this verse: "if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself." This underscores God's commitment to His promises, regardless of any shortcomings.
Lamentations 3:22-23: The daily renewal of God's mercies and the greatness of His faithfulness, even in times of suffering, is discussed in this passage.
1 Corinthians 1:9: Paul reminds the Corinthians that God is faithful, which is the foundation of their calling into fellowship with Jesus Christ.
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Matthew 11:29: Jesus describes Himself as "gentle and humble in heart". This is a crucial reference because it presents Jesus as the ultimate example of gentleness.
Colossians 3:12: Believers are encouraged to "put on" gentleness, along with compassion, kindness, humility, and patience. This signifies that gentleness is a virtue to actively pursue and develop.
Ephesians 4:2: Paul urges believers to "walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love". Gentleness is presented here as necessary for maintaining unity and living in peace within the church.
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Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as one of the "fruits of the Spirit." This demonstrates that self-control is a characteristic cultivated in lives led by the Holy Spirit.
Proverbs 25:28 states, "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls". This underscores the vulnerability and potential for destruction when control over desires and impulses is lacking.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 uses an athletic analogy to emphasize the importance of self-control. Athletes train with great discipline to win a perishable prize, and believers are urged to exercise similar self-control for an eternal reward. Paul describes disciplining his own body to keep it under control, so that he won't be disqualified from his spiritual race.
2 Timothy 1:7 reassures that God empowers with "a spirit not of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline". This emphasizes that divine assistance is available in developing self-control.
2 Peter 1:5-7 outlines steps for spiritual growth, placing self-control as a crucial step following knowledge and preceding perseverance and godliness.
Stories behind the Book Blog
“Jeff Walker, CEO & President of Ellsworth Systems and Chadwick Fitness in Franklin, TN - tackling a Large 32oz Chocful of Peanut Butter. Jeff came in for lunch almost everyday for 10 years! ”
The Choc Full of Peanut Butter Story
Ever thought YOU were so RIGHT,
But found out YOU were so WRONG?
I believed this many times. One time in particular it changed me and my perspective on life!
How? All from how I viewed a smoothie called the Chocful of Peanut Butter……
Sure, I like chocolate and peanut butter just as much as the next person. But I realized that I didn’t know how much EVERYONE loves both of them together.
Our family started a smoothie business called 9 Fruits smoothies and while developing the 9 smoothies we were going to place on the menu, we got to number 9. Number 9 would turn out to be a huge debate with what “that” smoothie would be!