Life Practices • dwight j. friesen

Back From Manitoba

Well, Lynette, Pascal, and I have returned from a week with Lynette’s family at her parents cabin on Ditch Lake, in Southern Manitoba. Certainly a much needed break. Wonderful conversations, great food and sitting around campfires; not to mention sneaking

Dwight J. Friesen July 29, 2005September 30, 2022

differentiation

“Procrastination” is just one of the words to describe my way of being lately. I have been searching for distractions from those things which I must do. Among my distractions this week: I built a wall nook to house DVDs

Dwight J. Friesen July 11, 2005November 15, 2020

redeemed . . . how i love to proclaim it!

Not long ago I found a very tired looking Chalice for auction on eBay. I submitted my bid and won the auction. It was unusable; tarnished and corroded. I went to work cleaning it and after several hours of scrubbing

Dwight J. Friesen July 5, 2005May 7, 2022

Secret Postcards

If you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you invest a few moments looking some of the thousands of postcards posted on this site. Part of the reason I love it so much is that it reminds me that

Dwight J. Friesen July 3, 2005May 7, 2022

Inverting the Bridge Illustration

Recently, I wrote a very brief article for Off-the-Map.org, titled, “Rethinking the Bridge Illustration.” You can find it here. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen July 2, 2005January 14, 2021

Going Camping

Lynette, Pascal and I are going camping. This will be the first time in years that I will be camping for more than one night. I’ve always said that, for me, “roughing it” is thin towels as a hotel. I

Dwight J. Friesen June 29, 2005May 8, 2022

happy birthday Pascal

My boy is four! Wow! I’m so proud of you big guy. peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen June 15, 2005May 8, 2022

what is spiritual direction

“How seldom is it that the soul keeps itself silent enough for God to speak.” William Buckhouse & James Janson Spiritual Direction is a process through which we become more deeply attuned to our relationship with the Divine. Through conversation with

Dwight J. Friesen June 9, 2005May 7, 2022

is spiritual direction for me?

“To listen a soul into disclosure and discovery is the greatest service one human being can do for another.” Quaker Saying The Celts called it anam cara or soul friend, these days “Life Coaching” has resonance with the practice, yet

Dwight J. Friesen June 8, 2005October 4, 2022

a little bit about Lynette

Born in Canada (Mom is American) May 27th, 1968. Has an older brother (Bevan) who together with his family moved to Seattle for a year to help start Quest. Loves teaching, and is job-sharing third grade in the Bellevue Public

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

a few chapter headings

Full name:Dwight Jason Friesen. Born in Canada March 3, 1969 to Ben CS and Roselle Friesen. Middle of three kids, older sister (Michelle) younger brother (Dallas). Raised (for the most part) in Brandon, Manitoba. Met Lynette at age 5. Met

Dwight J. Friesen June 7, 2005May 8, 2022

beginning in spiritual direction

“The imagination plays a great role in the spiritual development of the soul.” St. John of the Cross Do you wish to form an intentional relationship with a person who could provide mentoring, companionship, and gentle guidance for you as you

Dwight J. Friesen June 7, 2005October 4, 2022

rule of life in contemplative spirituality

One temptation concerning spirituality involves separating it from the “rest” of one’s life, relegating it only to religious, or mystical experiences. Christian spiritual direction takes a much humbler stance regarding the life of faith. To be in a relationship with

Dwight J. Friesen June 6, 2005May 8, 2022

Connecting Weekend

Lynette, Pascal and I invite you to spend a weekend with them our home. Spend time talking and sharing lives, discussing relational ministry and relational church-planting. And spend time with their Christ-commons (Quest). Connecting weekends are a great retreat and stimulus

Dwight J. Friesen June 1, 2005January 14, 2021

happy 65th dad

Happy birthday to my bestman (in every sense of that word) – my dad. Ben CS Friesen When I Grow Up by dwight friesen When I grow up and get to be a writer I’m going to write a

Dwight J. Friesen May 31, 2005November 16, 2020

Hugging Until Relaxed

In a class this spring a couple of students drew some interesting “hugging connections” between Schnarch and Volf. In David Schnarch’s Passionate Marriage he encourages hug therapy, which he sums up as “hugging till relaxed”. Schnarch describes hugging till relaxed

Dwight J. Friesen May 31, 2005May 7, 2022

who in the world is dwight friesen

The other day my friend Deb told me about an IM conversation that she had with me – or at least so she thought she had with me. As it turned out, she had stumbled across another Dwight Friesen, (who

Dwight J. Friesen May 29, 2005September 20, 2022

happy birthday Lynette

On this day, the birthday of my life partner. I want offer a poem that makes me think of her every time I read, hear or even think of it. Its by the brilliant poet Billy Collins… whose work I

Dwight J. Friesen May 27, 2005September 20, 2022

Mourning the Death of Paul Ricœur

Paul Ricœur — “the philosopher whose writings on hermeneutics were the cornerstone of an ambitious rethinking of the relationship between the humanities and the social sciences . . .” died today at the age of 92. Read more here and

Dwight J. Friesen May 20, 2005October 4, 2022

emergent convention remembering Stan Grenz

Leading a couple of lunch forums at the Nashville, emergent event this year. And organizing the evening memorial in honor of Dr. Stanley J. Grenz. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen May 18, 2005May 12, 2022

crown college online

Teaching “Public Speaking in Ministry” Fall 2005 at Crown College Online. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen May 17, 2005January 18, 2021

a good thing indeed

I did I do I will h a p p y a n n i v e r s a r y though our love may look different then it did fifteen years ago though our lives have taken

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

tomorrow we celebrate

Tomorrow will mark the 15th anniversary of the Lynette and Dwight Wedding. picturing Lynette Sometimes when I think of my partner my heart pictures her In her parent’s basement laughing with her girl friends Or driving her orange Datsun station wagon

Dwight J. Friesen May 11, 2005May 7, 2022

honoring mothers

Mothers, young and old, we honor you. For all you have given, loved, and sacrificed, for all your self-doubt and wondering if you were good enough or “doing it right”, for all the pain you endured, for all the hopes

Dwight J. Friesen May 8, 2005October 4, 2022

commencing

I’ve always loved the idea that graduations are commencements; they are endings which are beginnings – they are dénouement. Pascal’s leap of faith This past weekend was my hooding/commencement for my Doctor of Ministry from GFU. My dad & mum,

Dwight J. Friesen May 3, 2005May 7, 2022

hooding

Today was my hooding ceremony at George Fox University. My classes are done, dissertation completed, defense successful, and today I gathered with my teachers, mentors, family, cohort, and friends, to be hooded and receive a doctoral hood, tam, and stripes.

Dwight J. Friesen April 29, 2005October 4, 2022

how can I be sure God loves me?

“Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small – and to see takes time like having a friend takes time.” Georgia O’Keefe Many contradictory images of the Sacred exist in our culture, presenting many possible faces of

Dwight J. Friesen April 9, 2005May 7, 2022

God’s guidance

As the news of Pope John Paul II’s home-going sinks in, I am moved to pray all the more for the Cardinals who will be gathering in the selection process of the next pope. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen April 6, 2005October 5, 2022

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