Why going to the corner may foil spritual formation

Sending our kids to the corner when they are being punished may not be the worst thing in the world, but it may be problematic when it comes to spiritual formation.

If the only time that we are intentionally put into solitude is when we are being punished, then, like the dogs of Pavlov, we will begin to associate solitude with punishment.  

St. John of the Cross said that the first language of God is silence and yet we may be raising up a generation of people who fear silence and solitude.  

While it my be helpful, using solitude as a means of punishment it may very well constrain spiritual formation.  

Kickstart Sunday - I want to do this

Kickstarter "is a funding platform for creative projects. Everything from films, games, and music to art, design, and technology. Kickstarter is full of ambitious, innovative, and imaginative projects that are brought to life through the direct support of others."

I would love to have a church run it's ministry this way. Take some of the rules of Kickstarter and blend them into a ministry setting. It might look like this:​

​There are ministry projects that are in a common space. Each project has a set of criteria that every project submits (needed costs, number of volunteers, timeline for launch, etc.). Then people go around and literally support the project at a certain level. If the goal(s) of the ministry are met, then the ministry project happens. If not, then it does not. 

Granted there are move moving parts to this, but you get the gist. ​

Kickstart Sunday. Now if only I could find a church that would do this...​

Dying in America - the odds

The Economist put out an interesting infograph that charts the odds of dying in America. While these are general numbers, and one might contest the data, these results are rather interesting to consider.

For all the fear that we have of the "other" when it comes to personal safety, perhaps we ought to be a little more vigilant of our own selves. Of the top 6 results, 4 of them are more self related than other related - heart disease, intentional self harm, walking and choking. 

Beware of thy self...