Customer Reviews

Praise Habit: Finding God in Sunsets and Sushi

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One of the nice things i got from reading this book is understanding why David is as he is...i personally think he is a wonderful example of being in love with GOD <caps lock> as a follower of Jesus Christ.

By reading this book you will understand his lyrics better and be able to put context around them. You will be able to pick up the lines of thought behind the words being sung. This is especially true of their current album "Illuminate". I really liked the album before but now i get much more from it...it has made my "worship" experience a little more "deeper".

This book David shares some insights of his life with various Psalms and uses them to help get illustrate what the purpose of the "praise habit" is.

If David writes another book I hope he discloses more on his personal life, music, and "the hair" :)

I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys David Crowder Band music as well as people who are trying to get more of a handle on seeing God in their moment to moment life.

I had recently read a book on Missions called "Let the nations be glad" if possible read that last chapter of that book (15 pages) becuase it states in clear terms exactly what David expresses and illustrates by giving everyday life examples all through out this book. Namely that GOD (caps lock) is supreme and worthy to praise in all things in all ways (hope that makes sense).

*Disclaimer this book is not on Christian Doctrine nor does David talk much on it. It is about is passionate, praising love for GOD <caps lock>

Never before have I read a book from cover to cover like this one. No, really, you can't even afford to skip the copyright page on this one!

This is a great book for all of those growing spiritually in a great fellowship of believers who are "real" about their faith but can't find any Christian literature that doesn't reek of plastic spirituality. Unlike the popular Christian bestsellers, such as "The Purpose Driven [mid] Life [crisis]", this book skips all of the fluffy over-done church-speak. Also, Crowder doesn't repeat and pummel the same points over and over again like we're two. This is a book about real people doing real life in the presence of a real God. Crowder doesn't even attempt to make blanket statements about reality or Christianity. He simply shares his struggles and insights in a genuine non-preachy style.

David Crowder's Dave-Barry-meets-David-the-Psalmist style makes this book an actual enjoyable read. Honestly, I make it about half way through most devotional and inspirational books because frankly, they're just too stinking melodramatic. I know that most of these scholars have good insights to share, but after awhile, I just can't take the touchy-feely-ness of it all. I put the book down and never finish it. If you want to grow in your walk with Christ or are just looking for new insights and can't finish most Christian Literature, then this book is for you. I'd also suggest grabbing a copy of "The Message Remix" while you're at it.

I recently finished reading it (and I'm an avid reader) and was constantly finding myself struggling between audible laughter and being inspired to a deeper appreciation and gratitude, a fresh savouring of the sweetness of this Savior-God. To be reminded of how much God loves me and desires my rescue to not be a stagnate finality; but an ongoing lifestyle.
David is an excellent writer. It's definitely a rare find, not just refreshing and funny; but also profound and inspiring.
I highly recommend this book!!

This book was amazing. It was so random and funny and still taught me about praising God not only on sunday but everyday through the lives we live and how it's part of who we are and not something we turn on or off whenever we feel like it. It definitely challenges you to step up your relationship with God a few notches. It definitely goes beyond settling and shows that there is a better way to live. What AMAZES me MOST is that I had bought David Crowder's CD Illuminate before I read the book and I didn't much care for it, but after reading his book I listened to the CD again and it was amazing. Everything David Crowder had written in his book shone through onto the CD. It was as if everything he had written became part of who he was. He wasn't writing a book just for the sake of writing a book but it was what was truly in his heart, what he had learned and experienced and truly believed and he was now applying it to his life. I truly recommend you to read this book, it will change you.

If you have a busy life, this book can bring you laughters during your breaks, not only that, it will inspire you to reshape your view of worshiping God.

Be forewarned, in my opinion i rate Any work David Crowder has produced can be counted on as being a competently accomplished form of art, created by Crowder to simultaneously Challenge those who aspire to live for the Glory of GOD, and Crowders' work itself is a testimony of a Heart given to Praise GOD in the Best way discovered & acknowledged by this Unique of david Crowder. He has an extremely Creative mind, and Talented both in song lyrics, prose and written page drenched in David's refreshing style of mixing Humor with both the deepness of thought and the mundane. Anything produced by David Crowder i have found Consistently to Challenge our Spiritual Growth in a Serious but EnJoyable manner. Take David Crowder on, and You are Certain to be Well-pleased in your endeavor!

i bought this book and everybody wants to go to heaven.. at the same time, this is my fave by far. it's one of those books you know you'll read over and over. in fact, i have to re-buy it because i gave it to my pal for her birthday! it's very easy to read, very personal, i like the personal recollections that david included. i would definitely recommend this book.

David Crowder is a very humourous and brainy writer. I LOVED IT! I feel this book helps to clarify greatly what it is I've been searching for. It is thoroughly enlightening. He uses random storytelling to illustrate his point in a very intelligent and often very funny way. BUT - treat yourself to his music! Thank you, David for what you do...

If music wasn't enough!!!

Daivd Crowder and the rest of the band are great musicians and leaders in the field of what the church labels as "worship."

But Crowder takes a slight turn from music and delves into this great debut of literary worship. Relating a few of the Psalms with his own life and experiences, Crowder does an excellent job at digging deep to the core of what true "worship" to God is. He strips away the guitars and the singing and moves into where worship to God really begins.

It begins at the heart.

For those looking to renew what may have been lost, in terms of your spiritual life, "Praise Habit" is great book to help catapult you back into the arena.

Also recommend: "I'm Bored with Christianity" by Derrick Engoy

"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)".