Shalomic Imagination

fire strikes “simple way”

This morning a seven alarm fire swept through Philadelphia’s “Simple Way” monastic community. Eight families are currently homeless, numerous cars were lost, the Simple Way has lost its community center, Shane Claiborne and Jesce Walz have lost all of their

Dwight J. Friesen June 20, 2007January 13, 2021

toward reconciliation 2.0

On this the first Sunday of Advent when followers of “the Way” join in a liturgy of anticipation for the coming of Emmanuel – God with us – we are reminded that in the face of separation God offered God’s

Dwight J. Friesen December 3, 2006September 26, 2022

Invitation to Repentance

I join Rose Swetman, Scot McKnight, and others in inviting Mark Driscoll and the leadership of Mars Hill Church into conversation to seek God in reconciliation. Please read, Rose’s Open Letter thoughtfully and prayerfully. Peace, dwight _ _ _ _

Dwight J. Friesen November 16, 2006September 26, 2022

Domestic Violence, the Church & Theology

There is an important forum coming up in Seattle exploring domestic violence and the church’s role. The forum will bring together pastors, educators and activists from the greater Seattle area to address how the Christian church is preventing the issue

Dwight J. Friesen October 9, 2006November 15, 2020

Hildegard of Bingen

Today is Earth Day, a global invitation to grow in awareness of our shared ecosystem which holds all life. I thought I’d share these beautiful words/images from medieval mystic, Benedictine abbess, artist, theologian, and poet, Hildegard von Bingen. Hildegard was

Dwight J. Friesen April 22, 2006September 21, 2022

A Story of Violence

As my eyes are opening to the magnitude of domestic violence as a great cultural concern and a great concern within the church, I thought I’d pass along a link to powerful a radio interview where Dr. Nancy Murphy shares

Dwight J. Friesen April 8, 2006November 15, 2020

interfaith declaration on domestic violence

Yesterday in Washington DC a declaration was signed by religious and spiritual leaders to address violence against women. More than 40 leaders from different faith traditions and from around the country declared violence against women as intolerable and pledged their

Dwight J. Friesen April 6, 2006January 13, 2021

world water day

Today is the international observance of World Water Day. World Water Day is a nearly 15 year old initiative that grew out of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. Check out the World Council of Churches statement on

Dwight J. Friesen March 22, 2006May 12, 2022

christianity & violence

Here’s a helpful essay by Miroslav Volf, titled “Christianity and Violence.” Volf delivered this as the 2002 Boardman Lectureship in Christian Ethics at the University of Pennsylvania.Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen January 18, 2006May 12, 2022

International Day of Peace

Today is the Day for Peace I invite you to take a few moments to attend to this address by Kofi Annan. Many people around the world are observing a minute of silence in prayer for peace at noon today.

Dwight J. Friesen September 21, 2005September 30, 2022

Getting Ready for Peace

Tomorrow (9/21) is the International Day of Peace. “The day,” according to Kofi Annan “is meant to be a day of global cease-fire. I call on all countries and all people to stop all hostilities for the entire day. I

Dwight J. Friesen September 20, 2005June 9, 2022

glósóli

Paragraph If you haven’t already seen this music video from the Icelandic band, Sigur Ros, take a few moments to receive it. Tim introduced it to me last night. Glósóli music video The music video to Glósóli from ‘Takk…’: Windows

Dwight J. Friesen September 19, 2005June 9, 2022

Hurricane Katrina

The photos, news coverage and personal stories of the devastation in the wake of hurricane Katrina are truly overwhelming – my heart and mind are heavy with suffering, loss, pain, and just chaos so many are experiencing. From the loss of loved

Dwight J. Friesen September 1, 2005October 3, 2022

exploiting body & soul

Jennifer Goodson (one of my colleagues at MHGS) just publishing a powerful article titled: “Exploiting Body and Soul” in Sojourners. peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen August 17, 2005May 7, 2022

tragic news, Brother Roger has been killed

90 year old Brother Roger – spiritual father to countless Christ-followers throughout the world and the founder and Abbott of the Taizé Community – was killed during evening prayers yesterday, Tuesday August 16th, 2005 and he died immediately (read more). May the Peace of Christ

Dwight J. Friesen August 17, 2005May 12, 2022

Beyond Indifference

Here is a short clip of Elie Wiesel urging us to move beyond indifference – “fight indifference”. It seems to me that indifference is the fuel powering power. Indifference when combined with fear makes tyranny almost inevitable. Incarnate-grace may be the Christ response.

Dwight J. Friesen August 1, 2005September 9, 2022

“Opposite of Free Love”

You’ve got to check out this article sex trafficking by Jennifer Goodson: The Opposite of Free Love: Dispatches from the World of Human Trafficking. www.protectionproject.org www.awid.org www.protest4.com peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen July 20, 2005September 12, 2022

faith & race

Eugene Cho and Q-Seattle are hosting a conference addressing Faith & Race with Bob Ekblad. One of the great opportunities for today’s white – majority culture – church is to step with even greater intentionality and resolve into conversations exploring the

Dwight J. Friesen July 6, 2005November 3, 2022

Relational Hell?

If you have visited my site before than you know that I take pretty seriously the notion that relations form identity. I would go so far to say that understanding of self is impossible without the other. As I sit

Dwight J. Friesen June 23, 2005January 14, 2021

India’s Dalits

I have recently come in contact with Sunil Sadar, who gives leadership to the Truth Seekers Society, a group that seeks to serve and liberate the repressed castes of India known as the Dalits. The Dalits are the “untouchables” or “outcastes”

Dwight J. Friesen June 17, 2005October 3, 2022

peace thru division

Goshen College history professor, John D. Roth recently delivered one of the C. Henry Smith Lectures. A .pdf of his lecture is available here, “Called to One Peace: Christian Faith and Political Witness in a Divided Culture“. Written by and

Dwight J. Friesen May 13, 2005October 4, 2022

God’s Politics

Jon Stewart from Comedy Central’s “The Dailey Show” recently interviewed Jim Wallis of Harvard/Sojourners regarding Jim’s new book. The interview is only eight minutes long and worth viewing. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen February 23, 2005September 14, 2022

who is God for?

In my preparations for an up coming class that I get to team each – we as a faculty – needed a few case studies to open up the kinds of conversations that might help us to bring into our

Dwight J. Friesen January 21, 2005October 12, 2022

Multi-Faith Peace Walk

Tonight I’ve been invited to offer a prayer for peace from my spiritual tradition at this year’s multi-faith peace walk around Green Lake. Interfaith Community Sanctuary is organizing the event which has seen hundreds of people from a wide array

Dwight J. Friesen December 31, 2004September 28, 2022

world aids day

Tomorrow (12.1.2004) is World Aids Day. NPR has an informative AIDs report. More than 15 million children around the world have lost one or both parents to HIV/AIDS. Each one of these children has a name. Each one needs hope. Think

Dwight J. Friesen November 30, 2004October 26, 2022

the eve of thanksgiving

Tomorrow America sets aside the day to be especially aware of the people, communities, place, opportunities, events, things, etc., for whom/which we are thankful. I’m learning to appreciate that saying, “Americans have much to be thankful for,” is a more

Dwight J. Friesen November 24, 2004October 25, 2022

Confessing Christ in a World of Violence

A new confession of Christ. I wholeheartedly endorse this statement. Thanks to Jim Wallis and the thoughtful people over at Sojourners. Peace, dwight 1. Jesus Christ, as attested in Holy Scripture, knows no national boundaries. Those who confess his name

Dwight J. Friesen November 6, 2004September 28, 2022

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