Book Review: “Crave” by Chris Tomlinson

Chris Tomlinson’s memoir Crave: Wanting So Much More of God tells of his desire and attempt to take seriously what it means to be a Christ-follower, living full-on for God even when that means doing something risky or conspicuous. Colorful metaphors, self-deprecating humor, and genuine expressions of personal transparency leave the reader feeling like Tomlinson is a member of their own church small group. The stories of his experiences will challenge and inspire any Christian desiring to grow in their faith.

Crave is a series of testimonies about how God has moved in Tomlinson’s life, revolving specifically around his desire for more than what is typically offered by American mainline Christendom. We watch him struggle to develop the habit of praying daily even after successfully developing the habit of flossing nightly mere weeks before. We follow him to a nearby outdoor mall where he and a few friends set up folding chairs and sit next to signs that say things like, “What is your prayer request?” and “Ask anything about God.” We experience his apprehension and anxiety as he internally debates whether to initiate a spiritual conversation with a young woman next to him on an airplane flight. Throughout his stories there is a strong sense of the conviction that has enveloped his heart and life, that God is not who he once thought He was.

God is different. He’s much more terrifying than I had imagined but also so much more glorious and beautiful than I thought possible. I’ve spent too many years glossing over hard truths about God in favor of pleasant ones in an attempt to make Him more palatable to my taste or softer to the touch of others’ ears. In the process, I have developed inch-deep beliefs about a mile-high God.

In many ways this book reminds me of Crazy Love by Francis Chan. Both books exhort their readers to desire more of God, to leave behind their mediocre spiritual life, to examine the words of the Bible and choose to live them out. But for all they have in common these books have one striking difference. Chan is a pastor and a trained Bible teacher, and his words are accompanied by a corresponding sense of authority. Tomlinson, on the other hand, is not a pastor, missionary, or theologian; he is a layman working in the traditional workplace. Whatever he lacks in pastoral authority he more than makes up for with his ability to empathize with the struggles of the “typical” Christian. His average Joe status makes this text extremely approachable and the idea of undertaking his challenges more fathomable.

Interested? Check Out These Links

• Purchase Crave on Amazon
• Read the first three chapters of Crave online
• Visit the Crave website
• Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter
• “Like” Chris Tomlinson on Facebook

About This Review

I received two copies of this book complimentary of Harvest House, one to review and one to give away. In case you’re wondering, they did not require I write a glowing review.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/1 & http://cmp.ly/5