Life Practices • dwight j. friesen

Remembering Ron Sider

Saddened to learn of the death of Dr. Ronald J. Sider, on July 27, 2022, Dr. Sider was 82 years old. “God’s Word teaches a very hard, disturbing truth. Those who neglect the poor and the oppressed are really not

Dwight J. Friesen July 30, 2022February 12, 2024

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

Post-Pandemic Travel as Training in Mediation

So right from the start my travel itinerary to UN-Habitat’s eleventh convening of a World Urban Forum (WUF11) was already not great. There were two long layovers: a six hour layover in Vancouver, BC (of all places), followed by an

Dwight J. Friesen July 1, 2022July 2, 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

Come of Age

Eight years ago, when my son celebrated his 13th birthday we created and engaged a Coming of Age ritual which involved a number of elements; one of which was a barrel of local moonshine. On his 13th birthday we barreled

Dwight J. Friesen June 15, 2022June 15, 2022

Dr. Barsness’ Last Lecture… Tonight!

My colleague and friend, Dr. Roy Barsness will be presenting his “Last Lecture” @ The Seattle School, this evening. Roy is retiring from his core faculty role at the school where he has led, created, taught, researched, and offered himself

Dwight J. Friesen June 8, 2022June 10, 2022

Wednesday is “World Oceans Day”

Recovering or relearning how to live in harmony with creation is vital to our survival. I call on all people of faith to search their sacred texts for examples of, teachings about, or practices for living in harmony with the

Dwight J. Friesen June 6, 2022December 16, 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

Parish Collective & “Grounded Faith”

I am thrilled to see that Parish Collective is launching its new “Grounded Faith” initiative in partnership with Whitworth University’s Office of Church Engagement and the Lilly Endowment. Lauren Goldbloom, longtime friend and former fellow board member of the Parish

Dwight J. Friesen May 31, 2022December 16, 2022

Remembering Rosemary Radford Ruether

“God is not a ‘being’ removed from creation, ruling it from outside in the manner of a patriarchal ruler; God is the source of being that underlies creation and grounds its nature and future potential for continual transformative renewal in

Dwight J. Friesen May 26, 2022May 27, 2022

O God! No! . . . Not Again

What do you do with the feelings inside you in moments of overwhelming tragedy like Tuesday’s murderous shooting at Robb Elementary School? O Lord in your broken-heartedness, hear our cries for the families crushed with sorrow by the loss of

Dwight J. Friesen May 25, 2022May 26, 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

Self-Encounter

My friend Don sent me a link to the late, Dr Hazel Barnes‘ TV show from the early 1960s, “Self Encounter: A Study in Existentialism.” I started watching it while recovering from COVID. The pace of the series is clearly

Dwight J. Friesen May 8, 2022May 8, 2022

Holy Week

Palm Sunday April 10th 10:00AM @ St Luke’s Holy Friday April 15th, 7:00PM @ St Luke’s Table Turning April 16th, 1:00PM @ NW Detention Center Easter Sunday April 17th, 8:30 & 10:30AM @ St Luke’s If you’re looking for some

Dwight J. Friesen April 10, 2022April 12, 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

Co-Leading a Futuring Retreat

Tom Sine and I have the privilege and responsibility of working with a Presbyterian church in Enumclaw Washington who are seeking to prepare themselves for tomorrow. This congregation was founded in 1892, and like the majority of faith communities in

Dwight J. Friesen March 22, 2022March 22, 2022

This Sunday

This Sunday – March 20th, the third Sunday of Lent – is the 94th anniversary of the birth of Fred Rogers. Mr. Rogers wrote, produced, and hosted Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for 33 years; an educational Public TV program focused on emotional,

Dwight J. Friesen March 18, 2022March 18, 2022

Pastoring Again!

I am thrilled to announce that I am pastoring again! For approximately the next year and a half, I will be serving as the part-time pastor at St Luke’s Lutheran Church in Bellevue. While I will still be teaching at

Dwight J. Friesen January 21, 2022May 26, 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

More People Feeling Lonely

According to the Barna Research Group, 31% of U.S.A. adults report feeling lonely at least some of each day. Their report – posted at the end of last 2021 – highlights that even before the pandemic, loneliness has been an

Dwight J. Friesen January 7, 2022September 26, 2022

Remembering bell hooks

“Genuine love is rarely an emotional space where needs are instantly gratified. To know love we have to invest time and commitment…’dreaming that love will save us, solve all our problems or provide a steady state of bliss or security

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

Exquisite Mutuality

If you have just 3ish minutes to watch a video, I commend this glimpse into the heart and mind of Father Greg Boyle. Here, he briefly unpacks his beautiful phrase, “Exquisite Mutuality.” Have a great day… remember, you are not

Dwight J. Friesen December 12, 2021December 10, 2021

Complexifying Indigenous Homelessness

The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness posted a profoundly wise complexification of indigenous homelessness. Indigenous peoples from across nations within Canada identified 12 dimensions of indigenous homelessness. These 12 dimensions expose a few realms inviting my deeper listening. One such realm,

Dwight J. Friesen November 12, 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

Uncertain Times

Is it just me, or does the Jenga-like quality of life feel especially close to the surface these days. Precarious. Teetering. Unstable. Somehow just looking all that is changing can fill, even the heartiest of us with fear. “It could

Dwight J. Friesen November 8, 2021November 8, 2021

UN Climate Change AD & Human Extinction

Did you happen to catch the latest public awareness AD about climate change made by the United Nations. It is worth checking out. The UN has many very helpful resources for learning more or finding actionable practices postures for making

Dwight J. Friesen November 7, 2021November 7, 2021