Praise for Holy Ambition
Chip Ingram uses Nehemiah, arguably one of the best studies on management, to show that a caring spirit and humble disposition are precursors to being the best one can be, not only as a manager, but also in any role involving ones faith, family, or vocation.
E. Floyd Kvamme
Partner
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers
Chip Ingram is destined to become one of Americas best Bible teachers of the 21st century. His teaching is clear with humor, depth of understanding, and practical cultural examples that capture our attention. Mercy Ships was privileged to have Chip speak to our International Board of Directors. Chips teaching was a home run with the bases loaded, and the book of Nehemiah was readily applicable to each of our situations.
Don Stephens
Founder and President
Mercy Ships International
This book takes you to new territory. Be prepared to release your mind from old myths and embrace what God wants to do through you, right now! Be prepared to be delightedand transformedwith Chip Ingrams insights into how God really wants to work in this present day, with regular, ordinary people. This is a book full of new possibilities and the power to change our culture.
Walt Wilson
President
Palo Alto Research Group
Did you ever wonder where in the Bible you could find an entrepreneur for God? What were his characteristics that led to success? Chip, thanks for the answers! and the challenge!
Gary Daichendt
Former Executive Vice President
Cisco Systems, Inc.
HOLY
AMBITION
turning God-shaped dreams into reality
chip ingram
M OODY P UBLISHERS
CHICAGO
2002, 2010 by
C HIP I NGRAM
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission (www.Lockman.org).
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Italics in Scripture have been added by the author.
Editorial Services provided by the Livingstone Corp.
Published in association with Yates & Yates, LLP, Attorneys and Counselors, Orange, California.
Cover design: Brand Navigation, LLC
Cover image: istock
Interior design: Smartt Guys design
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ingram, Chip
Holy ambition: turning God-shaped dreams into reality/Chip Ingram.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-0-8024-2983-4
1. Spiritual direction. 2. Christian life. 3. Bible. O.T. NehemiahCommentaries. I. Title.
BV5053.I54
2010 248.4-dc22
2010009795
Moody Publishers is committed to caring wisely for Gods creation and uses recycled paper whenever possible. The paper in this book consists of 30 percent post-consumer waste. | |
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I dedicate this book to all those whose lives God has used to ignite holy ambition in my heart and life. Chief among them is my wife, Theresa, who has consistently modeled before me the compassion of a dislocated heart, the prayer life of a broken spirit, and the unwavering sacrifice of a radical faith.
contents
2. A Dislocated Heart:
The First Condition in Developing Holy Ambition
3. A Broken Spirit:
The Second Condition in Developing Holy Ambition
4. A Radical Faith:
The Third Condition in Developing Holy Ambition
5. A Strategic Plan:
The Fourth Condition in Developing Holy Ambition
6. A Personal Commitment:
The Fifth Condition in Developing Holy Ambition
7. A Courageous Soul:
The Sixth Condition in Developing Holy Ambition
Epilogue
Holy Ambition: Where Do We Go from Here?
foreword
W hen Chip Ingram sat in my classroom many years ago, my eyes and ears popped wide open with his perceptive questions, his heart that was obviously bursting with concern for people, and his warm, friendly gaze that etched out the profile of a young man with a promising postseminary ministry. He did not disappoint me. Now with his exceptional track record as pastor, radio teacher, and biblical counselor, Chip has put on paper his basic spiritual tool kit.
The Gallup poll commented some years ago that Americans had never before confessed to so much Christian activity yet making so little difference in how we live clear evidence that thousands who have trusted Christ as Savior are shuffling along in hazy uncertainty. Like a calm voice from the control tower, Chip talks through the pages of Holy Ambition as though guiding a disoriented pilot down through the fog onto the landing strip. He writes intimately in the second person, to you, because he knows the language of his generation. He speaks to the multitude of wanderers in the Christian wildernessbelievers en route to heaven who are misusing valuable time and energy because they have no tracking system.
Six supporting girders from the Scriptures guide the reader toward Gods safe haven: a heart, a spirit, a faith, a plan, a commitment, and a soul. From the lives of biblical standouts such as King Asa and the prophet Nehemiah, the book lifts up models. Here is how they did it; now you do it. There is no lofty theological language, although Chips doctrinal underpinnings are clearly discernible. His pages are about quality of life, a book for activists who truly care about making their lives a booster rocket in the world instead of just another churchgoing cipher. There has never been a better time than now for such a strategic call to lighting our lamps in a dark world.
Howard G. Hendricks
Distinguished Professor, Chairman
Center for Christian Leadership
Dallas Theological Seminary
introduction
T hank you!
By picking up this book and reading these words you have allowed me to spend some valuable moments with you. Believe me, Im grateful for the opportunity. Its a rare privilege to revise and update this book with real stories and true accounts of how God has birthed and accomplished Holy Ambition from all kinds of people from all walks of life.
What is most exciting about this edition is not a change in the content, but the opportunity to let you hear from people like yourself who longed to make a difference for God and then learned how to turn that desire into action by reading this book.