Culture Creating

“Envisaging the Future of Cities”

Every two years UN-Habitat releases a major report regarding the World’s Cities. The latest report was just released during WUF11 in Katowice, Poland last week… I even got to be there for the press release. This year’s report, titled: “Envisaging

Dwight J. Friesen July 4, 2022September 26, 2022

Not Observing “Independence” Day

I have never been a big fan of the ways the United States of America celebrates on July 4th. “Independence” is often a destructive myth which diminishes the importance of relationship. The holiday often seems like an excuse for championing

Dwight J. Friesen July 4, 2022July 4, 2022

Off to Poland

This Friday I am on my way to Katowice Poland to participate in the United Nations Habitat’s eleventh convening of the World Urban Forum. So I thought I’d offer a bit of an explanation of what I will be doing…

Dwight J. Friesen June 22, 2022September 26, 2022

100 Million Refugees Worldwide

Currently we have surpassed 100,000,000 refugees on our planet. That’s more than 100 million people just like you and me, who have had to make the terrible decision to flee the place they love, their home, and what they know

Dwight J. Friesen June 20, 2022December 9, 2022

“Sidelines”

Loving the latest single, “Sidelines” from Phoebe Bridgers. I just watched the YouTube of performance on Fallon from earlier this week. So good! She released her sophomore LP, called, “Punisher.” I am totally digging her writing and her sound these

Dwight J. Friesen June 17, 2022June 17, 2022

Otyken

I recently stumbled across a band from Siberia that is quite literally rocking my world… Otyken. They seamlessly integrate traditional aboriginal and modern instrumentation and kick ass arrangement. Just to help place Otyken genre-wise, I kinda hear some resonance with

Dwight J. Friesen June 14, 2022June 14, 2022

“The Republic of Tenderness”

The Republic of Tenderness by Nathan Spoon You are living inside the cup of another life. Water is running slowly. Somewhere a hand is overflowing with the abundance and celebration denizens dream of. Meanwhile if there is happiness it hangs

Dwight J. Friesen June 9, 2022June 9, 2022

“Wood Working at the End of the World”

Wood Working at the End of the World by Ocean Vuong In a field at the end of the world: a streetlamp shining on a patch of grass. Having just come back to life, I lay down under its warm

Dwight J. Friesen June 7, 2022June 6, 2022

Celebrating Pride Month

Friend, I seek to follow in the Way of Christ, I am a pastor, a professional theologian, and a professor at a Christian seminary… I have spent the majority of my life doing a few things: practicing love in the

Dwight J. Friesen June 1, 2022December 16, 2022

Systemic Racism Kills Again

As the details of Saturday’s horrific mass shooting in Buffalo continue to emerge it is painfully clear, yet again, that the evils of assumed white body supremacy and black body racism persist. Racial hatred ought to have no place in

Dwight J. Friesen May 17, 2022May 20, 2022

“One More Love Poem”

One More Love Poem by Dunya Mikhail If I had one more day I would write a love poem composed of one word repeated like binary code. I’ll multiply it by the number of days that passed without saying it

Dwight J. Friesen May 12, 2022June 7, 2022

A Vital Resource for Church & City

Since its creation, United Nations Habitat has been striving to put practical tools in the hands of local people and communities to equip them with the needed information, inspiration, and ideas to mobilize grassroots people to bring about real change

Dwight J. Friesen May 11, 2022December 19, 2022

“A Random Act of Kindness”

Not sure exactly why this song calls to me today, but something about it touches a deep place. I hear something of the power of presence, kindness, and relational risk coupled with the real complexities of each new day… and

Dwight J. Friesen May 9, 2022May 9, 2022

Tested COVID Positive

Last night I tested COVID positive! After dinner a headache, body aches, and a cough settled in. Then today I’ve had a sore throat, and a low grade fever hovering around 100. And I’m fully vaccinated, boosted, and wear a

admin May 4, 2022May 5, 2022

“I Feel Good” Jon Batiste

I feel good. I feel free. I feel fine just being me. I feel good today. Oh so good today. Gospel! Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen April 5, 2022April 12, 2022

“The Last Man on Earth” by Wolf Alice

The other night on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Wolf Alice preformed their new song, “Last Man on Earth.” Damn… if that wasn’t the most beautiful thing I’ve heard thus far in 2022. They will be in Seattle later

Dwight J. Friesen March 24, 2022April 19, 2022

35 Years of “Joshua Tree”

Thirty-five years ago today U2 released “Joshua Tree.” Few recordings have impacted me as much as this one did. I don’t think I’d be exaggerating in saying that I’ve listen to it hundreds…maybe thousands of times. I was first introduced

Dwight J. Friesen March 9, 2022September 25, 2022

“wishes for sons”

wishes for sons by Lucille Clifton i wish them cramps. i wish them a strange town and the last tampon. I wish them no 7-11. i wish them one week early and wearing a white skirt. i wish them one

Dwight J. Friesen March 8, 2022June 7, 2022

“Miracle of Peace”

I No Longer Pray for Peace by Ann Weems On the edge of war, one foot already in, I no longer pray for peace: I pray for miracles. I pray that stone hearts will turn to tenderheartedness, and evil intentions

Dwight J. Friesen February 25, 2022March 3, 2022

UN-Habitat 2021 Annual Report

The 2021 annual report of UN-Habitat was recently released, so I’ve posted a link to the PDF below. The UN-Habitat website states: In 2021, conflict, pandemic and climate emergencies continued to shape the challenges faced by human settlements. UN-Habitat was

Dwight J. Friesen January 30, 2022December 19, 2022

Racial Economic Inequity

The idea or dream that is the Untied States of America that cannot be realized without taking significant and meaningful action to make right the evils upon which this nation is founded… stealing land, genocide of its first inhabitants, and

Dwight J. Friesen January 17, 2022December 19, 2022

New Book Review

The January-February 2022 issue of Canada’s “Faith Today” magazine includes a review of 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change, in its recurring “Books + Culture” section. This title is the Fortress Press book

Dwight J. Friesen January 3, 2022August 31, 2022

2021 to 2022

Standing at the gateway to a new year – I went back to go forward – I went back to revisit my post at the end of 2020. Here’s the post. Last year my phrase was “Next Year in Jerusalem.”

Dwight J. Friesen December 31, 2021January 1, 2022

3 in 10 USA Adults Religiously Unaffiliated

According to a Pew Research study posted on December 14, 2021, approximately three in ten USA adults are now “religiously unaffiliated.” The study reveals that self-identified Christians make up 63% of U.S. population in 2021, down from 75% a decade

Dwight J. Friesen December 30, 2021December 19, 2022

Changing Cities & City Changers

I’m a City Changer is a worldwide campaign with the aim of sensitizing and creating awareness among citizens on urban issues to achieve better cities. It is promoted by UN-Habitat, the city agency of the United Nations, through the World

Dwight J. Friesen November 20, 2021September 26, 2022

Collective Leadership by Petra Kuentel

My friend Forrest Inslee recently introduced me to the important work of Dr. Petra Kuenkel. Petra has amassed a very impressive CV investing her life as a leading strategic advisor to pioneering international multi-stakeholder initiatives tackling themes of local and

Dwight J. Friesen November 10, 2021November 6, 2022

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