Alicia Eckman

Spectacular: adj. Dramatically daring or thrilling n. An impressive, large-scale display [dictionary.com]

Spectacular is a word I love to use. As a personal mission to stray from the common answer 'good' when am asked how I am doing, I usually reply with tongue pleasing words such as 'fantastic', 'magnificent', or 'spectacular'. My answer usually cracks a smile on the most haggard, scowled faces and even brightens someone's day for if not but a moment. While reading the Irresistible Revolution, I couldn't help but grin in agreement at the passage 'Despectacularizing Things'. How true is it that people are drawn to things 'spectacular', so to speak; The newest vehicle that can self-parallel park, the largest mall in America, the megachurch with televised broadcasts of each service. Why do we need such large, 'spectacular', inventions in our lives? Especially when it comes to church, why does every aspect need to be big, bold, and loud? Now, don't get me wrong, I love a loud jamming worship session just as much as the next person at Sonshine, but does the bigger and louder church make more of an impact than the small, one pastor chapel in town of 200 people where the ladies of the community cook meals in the church basement for every event, function and homeless brother that comes to their door? It warms my heart to hear of the small deeds done out of love because I believe they make the most impact in life. So maybe 'spectacular' is a great way to answer a question, but I think 'simply out of loved' is really the answer needed in this world.

After starting my journey through this book, all I can say is that Shane Claiborne must have been picking my brain at some point. There are so many points that he has brought up where I have been like 'Hey! I totally know what your talking about!' I can feel his passion seeping through the pages, it's so intense as I read.

I had to chuckle at Claiborne's explination of Spiritual Bulimia. A dozen people from my church came to mind as I read this. The ones that only shop at Northwestern Bookstore for the newest literature, greeting cards, tee-shirts, and knick-knacks. (Not that there is anything wrong with NWB. I could spend hours looking at their selection of bibles and journals. Not to mention the good coffee.) I know a group of women who attend every Christian convention/seminar that's within a 100 mile radius. Some of these seminars are great, but they become almost addicted. As soon as the conference high has worn off, they seek another one to give them their fill. Sometimes I wonder if they ever put into practice what they learn in the seminars or if it's just for the thrill of the awesome worship and the new waterbottle.

I took a lot away from Chapter Three: Search for a Christian. One of my favorite lines is 'I gave up Christianity in order to follow Jesus.' I can understand what it means. Not that I have in anyway done the same thing, but I've often thought 'There has to be more to this than just going to church etc.' I like how he quotes Soren Kierkegaard: The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obligated to act accordingly. I know I've seen that many times in my youth group. I can sense an almost lazy attitude in some Christians towards what Jesus has told us what to do. It's sad, but so true.

While most of me is excited to keep reading, there is part of me that is not so excited because I know he is going to bring some things up that I don't want to hear. I can already tell Claiborne is going to send me on an emotional rollercoaster that will be worse than the Wild Thing at Valleyfair.