My son, Austen, was also there and read the book soon after. He has asked me more than once since if I'd read it yet. Not until now and I can't believe such an inspirational book has been setting unread on my desk. This is the first of Mr. Ingram's books I've read, but after just reading the introduction, I'm sure it will not be the last.
I need inspiration from time-to-time and love it when it includes scripture. I also like "lists" and Mr. Ingram lays out 10 practices great Christians have in common. Practices...Christians...in common! Right up my alley.
Here are some of my notes from the Introduction:
- Jesus never rebuked his disciples for their longing to be great (Luke 22). He gave a completely new paradigm about what greatness is, but he didn't condemn their desire.
- Mediocrity is almost no one's ambition.
- After spending three years with Jesus, the disciples didn't seem to think it was prideful to want to honor God with lives of great faith and excellent work. When they argued about which was the greatest Jesus had to redefine greatness for them, yet he didn't tell them they were being unspiritual or arrogant because of their intense desire and ambition to be great.
- Jesus himself wasn't prone to mediocrity either; in a long prayer the night before his crucifixion, he said to the Father:I have brought you glory on earth do." (John 17:4)
- When God created humanity, he proclaimed us not just good, but "very good." (Gen 1:31)
- We exist for his glory; that kind of purpose isn't served well by mediocrity or even by settling for simply being good.
- Jesus' zeal for his Father's house consumed him. (John 2:17)
Some specific points Ingram makes about the practices/principles he lays out in the book;
- They are by no means required for salvation
- They will never earn us brownie points with God
- This is not a ten-step plan to gain God's favor
- They are, however, an opportunity to fulfill the highest and best purposes God has for our life.
- Like great athletes spending years practicing because they have to, they do it because they have a dream. Christians who dream of eternal impact in the kingdom of God, who envision crossing the finish line as one of God's great saints, are motivated to do whatever it takes to be used powerfully by God.
Chip Ingrams ends his introduction with the following...
"God invites you to be a world-changing, kingdom-shaping Christian. The desire to be great was planted in your heart by the one who made you. But desires remain only desires if ther's no follow-through, no plan to accomplish them...."
Thank you Mr. Ingram. Too many people want to down play the desire to be great, to be have a great attitude. I can tell this is going to be a Great book. Thank you for allowing God to use you in his glory.
12/4/2008: there is no doubt in my heart that the Holy Spirit was driving me to this book at this time. The first chapter lays out key areas for cultivating great thoughts and Ingram uses words like positive thoughts and gives the scriptures to support. This is a tough time in the mortgage industry and we've had extra set-backs due to trust I put in some people without proper accountability. As I said before, too many people, Christians included, want to play the whoa-is-me card. But my God is a Great God and has brought me through tough times before. I don't know what he has in store for me, but I'm positive that he is Great and I know practicing Christianity includes having positive thoughts.
Ingram's Think great thoughts about challenges included a reference to James 1:2-4
12/6/2008: this book is just plain Great. I called my son yesterday and thanked him for reminding me about the book a couple of times. This is a book that I'll read a few times because there are a lot of nuggets that no one can consume in one read-through.
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