Life Practices

the ‘becoming’ of ‘conversion’

The conversation that has been taking place over the last couple of days on this journal regarding the Orthodox, Roman, Protestant (and emergent) churches has me thinking about conversion. Each tradition has its rite(s) of initiation. What North American Evangelicals

Dwight J. Friesen March 30, 2005October 5, 2022

Christ the Lord is risen today . . .

Hallelujah! Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and to those in the tomb Christ is giving life. Spring Song by Lucille Clifton the green of Jesus is breaking the ground and the sweet smell of

Dwight J. Friesen March 27, 2005October 10, 2022

Holy Friday – Cross Words

Forgiveness “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34 Invitation “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 Care To Jesus’ mother: “Dear woman, behold, your son!”

Dwight J. Friesen March 25, 2005October 7, 2022

Stan’s memorial

The memorial service for Stan was this past Sunday at First Baptist Church (where Dr. Edna Grenz is worship pastor). Lynette and I attended the service and it was beautiful. The memorial is viewable on the web, and I would

Dwight J. Friesen March 22, 2005October 10, 2022

Hallesby on Prayer

I was talking with my friend Kyle today and he introduced to Ole Hallesby. Hallesby was Scandinavian mystic… of sorts. I liked this quote from his classic book, Prayer: “Be not anxious because of your helplessness. Above all do not

Dwight J. Friesen March 19, 2005October 10, 2022

dr dwight

It’s official! Today, I successfully passed the oral defense of my dissertation; my readers signed off on it. Though the hooding ceremony is at the end of April I believe I can be called “doc” . . . but please

Dwight J. Friesen March 16, 2005May 11, 2022

Tribute

Yesterday, during the class period when Stan and I were supposed to be teaching “Thinking Theologically 2” Mars Hill Graduate School held a memorial service. It was an honoring time; a time that I think Stan would have appreciated. As

Dwight J. Friesen March 15, 2005December 13, 2022

Grieving the Death of Dr. Stanley J. Grenz

Ultimately our claim to know the one God only gains credence in the contemporary world as we demonstrate the Divine presence through the way we live – through our lives as we connect our Christian belief with true Christian living.

Dwight J. Friesen March 12, 2005December 13, 2022

Dr Grenz… please pray

So am deeply saddened to report that earlier today my friend, mentor, teacher, and colleague, Dr. Stanley J. Grenz suffered a significant surge in blood pressure, which resulted in a major brain event, appears to be along the lines of

Dwight J. Friesen March 11, 2005December 13, 2022

life

As is so often the case with at least me, when my journal is quiet – life isn’t. In addition to observing the 36th anniversary of my birth, I had a pretty full teaching week; 20 hours in the classroom.

Dwight J. Friesen March 7, 2005October 11, 2022

prayer & distraction

“Everything in God’s store is on the bottom shelf – you have to get on your knees to get it.” Robert Collier Anyone who has explored contemplative prayer or any other practice of intentional silence knows — or will soon

Dwight J. Friesen March 7, 2005May 7, 2022

please pray for Greg

Please take a moment and jump over to blog created for friends of Greg in need of a holy space for sharing updates on Greg’s condition, photos, prayers, etc. Recently Greg was in a very serious accident while doing some dry-dock work on his boat

Dwight J. Friesen February 25, 2005December 13, 2022

the day of ashes

Today millions of our siblings in Christ join together in an 1,100+ year-old tradition of commonly referred to as ‘Ash Wednesday’. The ashes – which are from the burned palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday service – are placed

Dwight J. Friesen February 9, 2005October 12, 2022

“what we live by”

Have been using Leo Tolstoy’s short story “What Men Live By” for a class I get to team teach. It is a wonderful read… I commend it to you. The following quotations are from its conclusion. And you can find

Dwight J. Friesen February 4, 2005October 12, 2022

How can I pray when I’m so busy all the time?

“I have learned that prayer is not asking for what you think you want but asking to be changed in ways that you can’t imagine.” Kathleen Norris One of the most common changes in developing a rhythm of contemplative prayer

Dwight J. Friesen February 2, 2005October 12, 2022

o, so much…

Yesterday a good friend had open heart value replacement surgery. Clinton Wilson (who is one of the people I’m working with to open a bar in Seattle) is not even 30 years old, and is one of the biggest hearted

Dwight J. Friesen January 11, 2005December 13, 2022

is spiritual direction only for followers of Christ?

“The church, like Peter, is both a stumbling block and a cornerstone. It is the latter only when it is consciously contrite for being, and having been, the former.” Gil Baile I can only provide a personal answer to this question. I

Dwight J. Friesen January 6, 2005May 7, 2022

codividual

Who am I? Arguably, one of the great gifts modernity offered humanity has been the gift of “the self”; and like all gifts it cloaked a curse. So much has been said in critique of the modern idea of the

Dwight J. Friesen January 3, 2005October 26, 2022

how many sessions would I plan for?

“The real voyage of discovery lies not in seeking new lands but in seeing with new eyes.” Marcel Proust One session every three to four weeks is normal with, and a duration of six months to a year or longer

Dwight J. Friesen January 1, 2005May 6, 2022

ear surgery

Today my son, Pascal goes in for surgery to have his adenoids removed and his second set of drainage tubes installed in his ears. He’s 3.5 years old and suffered with non-stop ear infections for at least three of those

Dwight J. Friesen December 30, 2004September 28, 2022

hosting forum

Today’s entry is intended for use by those who proactively shape the ethos of Quest by participating as our hosting forum. Quest’s “Hosting Forum” is the gathering of participants from our spiritual community who intentionally & collectively discern on behalf

Dwight J. Friesen December 21, 2004January 14, 2021

a bit quiet

You may have noticed that my journal has been a bit quiet. In addition to needing to complete grading the final assignments for five different courses at two different schools and calculating final grades for those classes by the early

Dwight J. Friesen December 15, 2004October 26, 2022

advent online?

I’ve been keeping my eyes open for online advent calendars. I been using the one created by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington; I bet many artists, spiritual directors, liturgists, and faith communities are making some interactive advent calendars. If you

Dwight J. Friesen December 11, 2004September 14, 2022

dwight j. friesen