Chris Tomlinson's Blog: Crave Something More, page 13

See a Need, Meet a Need?

When others' words kindle my own flame:  Reflections on words by Jon Acuff @ Stuff Christians Like.

Jon Acuff wrote a pretty interesting article at Stuff Christians Like talking about an issue we all face:  How do we decide who merits, if that's even a useful word in this situation, our charity.  One of the things Jon has done is to build a community at SCL, and the discussion on this post is all over the map.  Some feel we should always give freely; others feel our giving should be...

Free Chapter Download and Video: Pager

"I have so much pain that I'm just holding on to.  I try to get away but everywhere I go my problems always catch up.  I'm so lost in this world.  Why can't someone save me?"

These thoughts came from the little pink journal of a young teenage girl sitting next to me on a plane.  How did I know what she had written?  That's a great question, and there's really no way to spin it, so I'll just tell you that I was peeking.  I peeked a lot, and I saw a lot more of that journal session, and it...

Go Tell Him I Love Him

"Go tell him I love him."

That's what I think God said to me in my car yesterday afternoon.  I was on the way home from some filming, and the city was blanketed with the first snow of the year, which is just about the best thing ever for a guy who has lived in LA for the last 9 years.  I normally would throw on the radio to pass the time, but on this afternoon, I drove in silence, marveling at the wonder of snow, and creation, and God.

I was exhausted, and within sight of my home, when I drove...

Tiger…And The Prowling Lion

Why pile on Tiger?

I'd say commentary doesn't have to pile on; commentary can be cruel, or it can be full of grace.  But people are going to be caught up in the current events surrounding the world's most famous golfer, so there's an opportunity to for each of us to engage others, and our own hearts, as we consider how we are reacting to this news.

What was your first thought when you heard the news? I'm not surprised—just another celebrity fooling around on his wife?  How dare he—doesn't he...

Free Chapter Download and Video: Silence

This week's free chapter download is titled Silence, and it's a chapter I need to read again myself.  When I lived the story in this chapter, it was a season of discovery—of trying to find a place to be silent before God so that I can hear His voice.  My goal was to improve my conversation with Him, because when we'd spoken, I had pretty much done all the talking.  But I haven't been listening for a while now.

Looking back, I can understand why being silent is so hard.  On the one hand...

Tomorrow's Phantom

I have always taken comfort in the future.  What I mean is that I've always been preparing for something, and that made me feel secure because I knew where I was going, which in turn gave me a sense of control, which in turn made me feel comfortable.

For example, when I was at the Air Force Academy, I knew I was going into the Air Force.  And when I was in the Air Force and going to grad school, I knew I was eventually getting out and going into a business career.  And when I was dating Anna, ...

Dear Kayli Anneke

Dear Kayli Anneke,

Since the internet will last forever, I feel comfortable putting this letter online, knowing you will read it someday.  Perhaps someday very soon, since you'll be growing up in Cambridge, England, and everyone knows kids from Cambridge typically write their first thesis by age six.

I've never had a niece or nephew before, so I'm new to being an uncle.  Thank you for the honor you've given to me just by breathing.  Your Aunt Anna and I love you already, and we haven't even...

Free Chapter Download and Video: Comfort

This week's free chapter download is titled Comfort, and it's the story of my realization that I am a comfortable Christian–and how much I hate being one.  When you come to realize this about yourself, there are many ways to react, and one of them is to go and do something risky for Jesus.  So this is what I did.

And there's good cause for taking risks for Christ–He told us to pick up our crosses and follow Him.  But I think there's something deeper going on that just charging the hill for...

The Multiple Means to Joy: Spurgeon on Suffering

When others' words kindle my own flame:  Reflections on words by C. H. Spurgeon.

Mankind has said and written many things throughout the ages.  Some of it needs to be commended and retold throughout every generation so that others might benefit from the records of wisdom.  Some of it needs to be destroyed, or at least held aloft in public contempt so that others might not fall prey to its empty promises.

Here is some writing to be commended:

Does a man know any gospel truth aright till he...

My Dog Has a Cone: Thoughts on Suffering

When others' words kindle my own flame:  Reflections on words by Jenn Humphrey.

My dog has a cone on her head.  It's kind of pathetic.  She's a really cute dog, but she's not terribly impressive on her own.  The cone takes her pitiable state to another level entirely.

She got the cone as a result of a recent surgery, and she's going to have to wear it for about a week.  And she's feeling really sorry for herself.  Anna said Bear just sits on the floor looking miserable; it's as if she's...