What Makes Us Tick
In a world that demands an immediate response to every ding, buzz and alarm, we have become ridiculously responsive with our very lives. But not the good kind of ridiculous! The unhealthy kind. At The Ridiculous Hour, we are re-thinking responsiveness and creating practical opportunities for you to do the same. Walk with us through the frames below to learn more about what makes us tick, why ridiculous responsiveness to God transforms lives and how you can join us on the journey.
About Our Name
The Ridiculous Hour Foundation, Inc. Names are really important things. Every time we speak them, we draw attention to someone or something. We wanted a name that would make people so curious that they’d ask, “what’s that?” So, here’s the why behind the three words in our name – Ridiculous Hour Foundation.
Why Ridiculous?
We know. We know. The word “ridiculous” generally has a negative connotation. When we hear the phrase “don’t be ridiculous” or the reaction “that’s ridiculous” we don’t stand tall ready for a great compliment. We armor-up, ready to defend our position. But when God crosses the thin space between the heavenlies and earth and walks right into our hearts, everything turns more than a little upside-down. Enemies become the ones we are called to love. The least, the lost and the lonely sit regularly at the head of the table. And ridiculously responsive living becomes the most desirable way because the One calling knows your name and He wants your best even when you don’t know what that looks like. One of our very favorite phrases here is “it’s ridiculous, in a good way!”
What’s Up with the Hour?
It’s a question we hear a lot. Here’s the scoop. Think about all the ridiculous things you’ve felt a little nudge to do: call that woman who just lost her husband; take him a meal, he just lost his job; tell her you are praying for her. Got a few of ‘em in your head? Good! Now, how many of those little nudges have you ignored with thoughts like these: “She may think it’s weird.” Or, “I’m not an extrovert like Fred.” Or, “I’m not a professional holy person. They are trained to do stuff like that.” Or, “It’s so small, it probably won’t make a difference.” Or, the all too common, “I’m sure someone has already done something.” So, you ignore the nudge. Move on. Don’t spend another minute on it. Have you ever thought about this? Only God can see how your few minutes fit within everything else He is doing in that one ridiculous life. Your few minutes of action combined with his few minutes of action and their few minutes of prayers with… well, you get the idea! We can’t see what God sees. He puts all these ridiculously “small” things together to create ridiculous hours of hope and transformation. He puts the hours together with actions we’ll never see this side of heaven. Our challenge is to respond when we don’t know how it all comes together.
Foundation?
We love the word “foundation” because it reminds us that God is the foundation for all of life. Once our founder learned that we could have the word “foundation” in our name and still be a public charity, she said, “That’s just ridiculously awesome. Let’s do it!” So we did.
The Journey To Ridiculous Responsiveness:
There are eight stops on the map below. Click each pin to walk with us through The Journey to Ridiculous Responsiveness. Don't miss the "get started" button at the end. We'd love for you to join us!
A Taste
All our lives we taste things that are good and they make us want more. Not just food and drink, but the deeper things that give life meaning. Things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. A sample—a taste—makes us crave more. God says it’s that way with Him. The Old Testament says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8.
A Nudge
God doesn’t force himself on us. He nudges. He craves our loving response, not forced compliance. We find ourselves attracted to goodness – sometimes to do good; sometimes to be better people; sometimes to figure out what is good. It’s like an invisible hand poking us or guiding us or scooting us in a direction. Because God made us, He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what we need at the very deepest level – refuge in Him. So, He nudges us toward Himself. The New Testament says it this way: “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Phil 2:13.
Rethinking Responsiveness
What if God has a different plan for our response? Not to gain His affection. Not to find esteem in the world. Not to feel better about ourselves. What if He’s nudging us toward relationship with Him? Toward refuge in Him? Toward transformation? God says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Rev. 3:20. It’s tempting to believe that our goodness attracts God to us. But what if the opposite is true? What if it’s His goodness that draws us to respond to Him? What if God is working out His purposes through our responsiveness?
Ridiculous Responsiveness
In a world that demands an immediate response to every ding, bell and alarm, we’ve become a ridiculously responsive people – ridiculous in the not-so-good sense. The Ridiculous Hour invites us to slow down and re-think responsiveness. It moves our focus away from auto-pilot to an intentional focus on the One who made us to be responsive beings. To seek and respond to God as a core value. This reframing makes responsiveness ridiculous, in the most wonderful sense.
The Ridiculous Prayer
Our prayer is simple: “Lord, poke me, prod me, nudge me, lead me, point me toward Your good purposes. Give me the desire and the courage to respond to You. Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, whatever is excellent, whatever is worthy of praise, set my heart on that. Set my heart on You.”
The Ridiculous Mission
Monthly, we share “mobile mission packs” filled with stories and principles of responsiveness. Most of the packs contain a responsiveness exercise or activity and an equipping piece to make the activity practical and tangible. They arrive by snail mail (ridiculous, we know) and through our monthly podcast. Won’t you join us as we grow in ridiculous responsiveness!
Get Started on Your Ridiculous Journey!
Fill out the form below to start your journey to ridiculous responsiveness! We will never misuse your information and you can opt out anytime.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
KAT SILVERGLATE
Founder/Director/President
KATHERINE SILVERGLATE
Founder/Director/President
Katherine "Kat" Clark Silverglate is the founder of The Ridiculous Hour Foundation, Inc. She received her Bachelor's Degree in English from the University of Florida in 1985; her Masters in Theological Studies (Summa Cum Laude) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 2018; and, her Juris Doctor (with Honors) from the University of Florida College of Law in 1988. She actively practiced as a civil trial lawyer until 2002 when she turned her primary attention to raising her son, participating in active ministry and pursuing various artistic and business endeavors. During her active law years, Kat served in multiple leadership roles and spoke and wrote frequently on professionalism and mentoring. Some of her leadership in that area included appointments to the Florida Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism; The Florida Bar State-Wide Standing Committee on Professionalism (Chair); the Eleventh Circuit Commission on Professionalism, and the Dade County Bar Association Professionalism Committee (Chair). She spoke throughout the State on both topics and many others including talks at nine of the eleven Florida law schools and was named the 1998-1999 Most Productive Lawyer of the Year by the Florida Bar Young Lawyer's Division. In the ministry arena, Kat attended seminary after serving in various ministry capacities including Director of Women's Ministry at Everglades Community Church for six years and as its Lay Leader for three, on the Congregational Vitality Team for the Florida SE District of the United Methodist Church and as a Certified Lay Speaker for the UMC. She completed her Masters' Degree in Theological Studies with a final Capstone thesis on Why People of Genuine Faith are Leaving the Organized Church, a work that, in part, influenced the formation of the RHF. She also served as the Spiritual Director and President of A Place in Time Christian Ministries, Inc. after the death of its founder.
SPENCER SILVERGLATE
Director
SPENCER SILVERGLATE
Director
Spencer H. Silverglate received his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Florida in 1985 (with Honors) and his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida College of Law in 1988. He is the President and co-founder of the law firm Clarke Silverglate P.A. in Miami, Florida. He has actively practiced civil trial law for more than thirty years. He has served in multiple leadership roles including his current service as President of the International Association of Defense Counsel [IADC] and, his past service as: Director of the IADC’s Trial Academy at Stanford University; President of the Florida Defense Lawyer’s Association; President of the Florida Association of Managing Partners; and, Chair of the Defense Research Institute’s Employment and Labor Law Committee. Spencer has been named one of the best lawyers in America by Best Lawyers Guide (including best lawyer in Miami in 2018 for management side employment law), among the International Who’s Who of Product Liability Defense Lawyers, and among Florida’s Legal Elite by Florida Trend Magazine. In the ministry arena, Spencer served on the Church Council of Everglades Community Church and as its Chairman for many years; served as Chairman of the Board at A Place in Time Christian Ministries, Inc., serves currently as a “Big Brother” with Big Brothers Big Sisters and wrote the book Fight the Good Fight: A Battle Plan for Life as a biblically-principled guide through some of life’s toughest questions.
STEPHANIE GREEN
Director
STEPHANIE GREEN
Director
Stephanie Kingston Green received her Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale University in 1989. By 1997, she had become Chief Executive Officer of Trenwyth Industries, a fast-growing architectural building materials company. She married the Reverend Doctor M. Edwin Green, III in 1999 and committed her life to full time Christian ministry. She has served in multiple leadership capacities including: the founding and operation of Kingston Academy, a Christian middle school; appointment to the School Board of The Wilberforce School in Princeton, NJ; and appointment as President of the Board of the United Methodist Stewardship Foundation which manages over 50 million dollars in church funds. She has served as Director of Children’s Ministry at Baughman United Methodist Church in New Cumberland, PA and was at the forefront of Women's and Retreat Ministries at Everglades Community Church in Pembroke Pine, FL. She has co-led campus ministry groups at Princeton University and has written original curriculum for various ministry contexts. Stephanie is currently attending seminary and shepherding her active teenage children. She has one son in college.
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See Our Mobile Missions
Check us out by requesting a sample mission pack. You can choose from one of our last 20 missions or you can let us pick one. Either way, we'd love to get you a sample and a welcome!
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