The Kingdom Experiment

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

The first chapter of the book focuses on poverty. But it focuses more on the question, do you have to be in poverty to truly experience God?

It took me a few minutes to think about this but I ultimate came to the conclusion, of course you don’t. We just need to get over the American mentality. The chapter goes more in depth with how as American’s we feel like our basics - food, shelter, clothing - are owed to us. Its something we deserve. But its not. Its something we are blessed to have. Often times, when people come into a more emotional state of poverty, when things are bad, they turn to God. This is how the bond grows. It doesn’t mean we have to be in physical poverty, but those who are poor in the spirit turn to God most often. If you’re going through trials, you know somethings going right.

So here are the eight experiments for this chapter:

• Shut Your Pie Whole - participate in a fast
• Ten Items or Less More - go grocery shopping and donate it all
• Don’t Give Me the Evil Eye - pay for someone else’s meal in the drive-thru
• Roughing It. Air Mattress not Included - sleep on your floor for a week
• I Ain’t No Lance - bike instead of drive for a week
• Go with the Flow - donate or give something away and don’t replace it
• Because She Always Wanted a Goat - give out a loan on kiva.com
• Thanks, but No Thanks Mr.Edison - reduce your electricity used for a week

Currently, I don’t have to economic standing to complete every experiment; however once I get a job I plan on carrying out each when whenever I get the chance. The only one I can’t do is the last because we can’t use candle light in a dorm room. However, I will be participating in the fast over the weekend along with the youth group so pray for me for support. I’ll post on Sunday or Monday. See ya then.

~Irvin C. Schwausch