It's official..."A Guide to Christian Ambition" by Hugh Hewitt is one of the best books I've ever read. I recommend it to anyone who desires to have an influence on the world we live in. It has challenged me to look at myself in new ways, and has also affirmed and given me new confidence in the way God has made me and wired me. To me, though, the main strength of the book is that it presents relevant, dead-on-its-target practical advice for young people who desire to influence culture in a meaningful way. The writer's approach is clear and balanced, and it is obvious that the writer is not driven by a particular agenda, other than to inspire young people.

Here are a few excerpts:

"For the church is in retreat. And there are some Christians (and many non-Christians) who think that is a good thing. The record of the last one thousand years proves them wrong, but the past is no guarantee of the future. Unless individuals resolve to engage the world and lead it, the record hinted at by these examples will quickly become eclipsed by the reality of the post-Christian world."

"It is easier to stay quietly within the confines of the church and busy only with the particulars of church work. It is easier to have limited objectives; easier to wash your hands of the world. But it is not necessarily better, and the choice of a retiring life may simply be cowardice dressed up as prudence."

"Every ability you have--and the sum of those abilities--gives you opportunities to influence the world. And this is a crucial point: Christ does not consider these opportunities to be optional. He has clearly said that they are obligations. Treat them as such."

Wow.