The Radical Experiment

I accept your challenge to undertake "The Radical Experiment" over the next 12 months.

I appreciated your inspirational message that culminated in a personal call ... to find unique ways to make material sacrifices in spending money on myself, so that I might "have more in order to give more" to others.

After careful thought and prayer on how i might best hold myself accountable in this commitment, here's my first project: I will make daily journal entries of every food purchase I make outside the home for the next year. From my routine morning coffee & biscuit at the drive through as I head to work...lunch with coworkers in our cafeteria...munchies from the vending machine ... supper with my wife at a local restaurant...I will total my personal food purchases, including tips, and write a check for that amount to the benevolent fund at our church on a monthly basis.

This contribution amount will be in addition to my regular tithe and other scheduled gifts as my own tangible example for the need in my life to quantify and study my purchasing habits in this land of plenty.

Over the past few days, I have found this to be a refreshing look at the real amount of discretionary income I apply towards eating out. More importantly, it's like having an unseen, silent member of our community sitting with me during every morsal of food I consume.

I look forward to my personal journey with this project and trust it will be a lifelong lesson for how I might become more mindful of the needs of a hungry world.

And, who knows, now that I am actually doubling the cost of my food over the next year...I'll probably be shedding a few unwanted pounds along the way!
:-)

I continue to uphold you and your family in daily prayer.

Thank you for the challenge!
A Fellow Christ-Follower