Customer Reviews: Read 20 more reviews...
  Splendid Devotional December 6, 2008
I was wary when originally buying this book because sometimes music artists do not write the most interesting books, especially truly engaging theological ones. I appreciated David Crowder's reflective and humorous writing style which is able to bring a fresh perspective to old themes.
This book is a great devotional style book that is thought-provoking and humorous. I especially enjoyed the tie in to a nun's habit. It was a worth buying so I could write notes in the margins.
 Another review August 29, 2008
THe thing I liked most about this book is, it gave us a view into the mind of D.C. yeah he is a little out there at times, but in this book if you didnt already know it by his music; the man truly loves God. Uses the psalms from the Message and goes through some of his favorites. This is a nice easy read. Not to much deep thinking, but more about contemplation on your own feelings.
 Not Quite Mediocre December 20, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I found this book on the borderline of being sub-par.
I found Crowder's style of writing very fragmented and frustrating.
"Praise Habit" utilizes the following formula:
A Psalm is shared, written in the simplistic style of "The Message."
Mr. Crowder then tells an exaggerated lengthy story in the style of a 7th grader.
The last paragraph "reveals" how the story and the psalm are intertwined with God, Crowder and random things inbetween.
This book seems disjointed, and it was a pretty frustrating read.
It seems like it was perhaps written for a younger audience, but given Crowder's scope of influence, one would hope he would put more effort into his writing.
Great way to start a conversation about Christianity May 29, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If you are a youth or young adult and you are looking for a light book to pass on to a non Christian (or wavering Christian) friend, this is it. It's also a good book for any Christian who likes a good read. The writing style is unique and often humorous. It reads like journal entries so don't expect perfect grammer (complete sentences). I only say this because the only one star rating mentions this. If you check his profile, you will notice many of his reviews are negative though so I don't know how trustworthy a reviewer he is for the under 30 crowd. I, however, work with youth group at church, lead the young adults ministry, am an adolescent counselor, and am actually under 30. Therefore, I think I have a pretty good grip on what this age group likes. I have many friends who have read this book (ages 16-27) and not one of them has disliked it. I think that says a lot. It makes you think, and gives you the opportunity to discuss your faith with others in an open and honest way. Isn't that all that really matters in the end?
GOD, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name. April 27, 2007
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Let the knowledge of His transcendence bring us back to life. Let it flow like blood to sleeping limbs, and feel them tingle as they awake in awe. Shake life back into your legs and let them carry you running with wind and thunder. Shake life back into your chest and let your heart beat in pounding reverence. Let praise come face to the ground, trembling with life an awareness that we are found by a holy God."
- pg. 70, on Psalm 29
This book for me was absolutely breathtaking. In it, Crowder uses the ancient practice of "Lectio Divina", which he later explains. This method consists of reading Scripture not to try and pull things out of it, but rather slowly reading through a passage of Scripture, chewing it up, and just being quiet and meditating on what you just heard. Breathe it in slowly, absorb the perfume of God's Word, let it settle in on you. Then, after some time, when settled, write your own response.
Crowder examines 21 different Psalms from the Old Testament (starting w/ Ps. 1 and ending w/ Ps. 150) in Lectio Divina style. In each of these very short chapters, he starts by writing the Psalm for the reader. All Psalms are taken from Eugene Peterson's "The Message Remix". This was for me reading these 21 Psalms in a new light than ever before. And the view was breathtaking. (I'm buying a Psalm book in "The Message" now, because I was so taken aback.)
After the Psalm, the reader will find Crowder's own "lectio divina" on that Psalm. Crowder is an extremely unique writer and an amazing communicator. I have included a quote from his Psalm 29 "lectio divina" at the top of the post. Crowder will start off talking about something in his life that seems totally unrelated to the Psalm itself; meeting Richard Simmons, taking up photography, his childhood desire for a nickname, going to the bathroom, his own short term memory, the childhood bully, all kinds of stuff. But by within the next few pages he's turned it around into something grand, something magnificent, a breathtaking view of the Psalm. He discusses individual and corporate worship, the name of Yahweh, the transcendence of our God, His amazing love, his vast creativity, hope in the midst of despair, God's glory, and on and on.
In the beginning of the book, Crowder discusses that his purpose is to help the reader understand the "praise habit". How, just like a little kid finding a toy who can't help but hold it up triumphantly and show the world his new prise, praise for our God should flow forth uninterrupted from our lives. How we find God in the pew at church, in the Bible at home, and in a chicken sandwich at Arby's. God is here among His people.
In this book you will laugh out loud at Crowder's humor, raise your eyebrows at his unexplainable (self-admitted) quirkiness, and wonder at his truly amazing ability to communicate the God of the universe to the human soul.
Does a nun have to decide what to wear in the morning? No, she just puts on her habit... day in, and day out. And so should we, our Praise Habit, until it becomes "habit"ual.
On the back cover is a reference to Psalm 64:10; "... Good-hearted people, make praise your habit." There's a brief, three paragraph synopsis of the book, starting out, "Praise is something we are, not something we do." This first of Crowder's books is, on the back cover, recommended by Donald Miller ("Blue Like Jazz", "To Own A Dragon", "Through Painted Desserts") and Brian McLaren (pastor, author of "A New Kind of Christian", voice for the today's emergent church).
I recommend this book as one of the best you'll ever read. I would also encourage you to check out his second book, "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven, but Nobody Wants to Die, or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass)".
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