Crave: Wanting So Much More of God - eBook

This first book by Tomlinson, a management consultant, is a perfect fit for the booming spirituality market, particularly for enthusiastic, evangelical 20- and 30-something audiences. He begins his personal musings with a simple thesis: it is too easy to become a “comfortable Christian” and we must always search for ways to express our active devotion to God and Jesus Christ. This premise is not particularly innovative, but his writing style is straightforward and personally honest. The author acknowledges his own struggles with pride while retelling, often with humor, his only-too-human attempts to reach lofty spiritual goals such as charity and purity. Every chapter opens with vivid and iconic imagery—a spoon, a bit of floss, a pager—tangible symbols throughout the book for more abstract ideas like obedience, joy, and comfort. In sum, the product is endearing and inspiring, especially appealing to young, male evangelicals. One chapter specifically devoted to the intersection of his spirituality and military service will also draw the interest of Christian men and women in the armed forces. Tomlinson’s debut leaves room for future development while it meets the expectations of readers and the genre as a whole; he is worth watching. (Jan. 1)Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

Crave: Wanting So Much More of God by Chris Tomlinson is a book that discusses how everyone craves something, but fulfillment never comes unless that craving is filled by the One who created it. Each chapter is marked by a one-word title that concentrates on a different aspect of Christians and their relationship with God. One chapter discusses comfort and how many times Christians need to step out of their comfort zones to follow God’s will. Another chapter expands on the biblical idea of Christians being the light of the world and how that affects non-believers.

Tomlinson is entirely open and vulnerable in the sharing of his struggles, achievements, and the valuable lessons he’s learned in his relationship with the Lord. Insightful conclusions are made and a couple of stories in particular show God’s majesty. There is no overarching verse that correlates with the book, but multiple times Tomlinson uses Scripture to support his conclusions.

Although there are several strong, positive aspects of the book, the inspiring thoughts and stories are ultimately, unfortunately, outweighed by the not-so-inspiring. The book is more like Tomlinson’s own testimony than a devotional or how-to book. Several times his main points drift off into various stories which don’t quite connect or come together.

Crave is aimed toward teenagers and adults, but the type of humor and sometimes watered-down message inadvertently make it speak to a younger audience. The book as a whole doesn’t seem as textually strong or connected as it should be. Ultimately, Crave falls short in offering its readers what it advertises as a book discussing how to fulfill one’s crav