Writing

“Harmony”

Harmony by Dwight J. Friesen The world keeps asking for a single note.One flag lifted above every other.One story told loud enoughto drown out the rest.One certainty.One tribe.One voice.Yet every spring, the forest declines.The cedar does not become fern.The river

Dwight J. Friesen July 1, 2026June 29, 2026

“Breathwork”

Breathwork by Dwight J. Friesen Before you learned the names of things,before you called anything sacredor ordinary,you were breathing.The first sermonwas not spoken,it entered your lungs.Each inhale:receiving what you did not create.Each exhale:returning what was never yours to keep.The trees

Dwight J. Friesen June 17, 2026June 17, 2026

New Essay in The Other Journal

As it says on The Other Journal’s website, the latest issue of the journal is akin to a roundtable response to Esther Meek’s work as the Senior Scholar at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. The issue features a thoughtful

Dwight J. Friesen January 8, 2025January 14, 2025

Mother’s Day Newsletter?

Every week during my tenure serving at St Luke’s church I have the opportunity to write a newsletter article. I love this writing process, and think of it as a vital aspect of pastoral care. For me, writing is a

Dwight J. Friesen May 14, 2023June 9, 2023

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

“Where I’m From” by George Ella Lyon

Where I’m From By George Ella Lyon I am from clothespins, from Clorox and carbon-tetrachloride. I am from the dirt under the back porch. (Black, glistening it tasted like beets.) I am from the forsythia bush, the Dutch elm whose

Dwight J. Friesen April 6, 2021November 20, 2021

Review in The Presbyterian Outlook

“Spiritual Direction” is the theme of the February 8, 2021 edition of The Presbyterian Outlook. The issue provides resources to support Christian faith communities in their ongoing work of discerning the presence and invitation of the Holy Spirit through its

Dwight J. Friesen February 8, 2021November 24, 2021

Integrative Projects

Annually, at the end of the Spring term at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology we gather to hear TED-styled presentations from graduating seniors. While most of the presentations are made by graduates of the school’s theology programs, some

Dwight J. Friesen June 16, 2020June 17, 2022

The New Parish

I am thrilled to announce the release of the new book, co-authored by myself, and Paul Sparks, and Tim Soerens. It’s called,The New Parish: How Neighborhood Churches are Transforming Mission, Discipleship and Community. This project emerged out of loneliness, developed

Dwight J. Friesen March 13, 2014June 10, 2022

Writing “Thy Kingdom Connected”

All week I’ve been tucked away at our cabin in Bellingham. As I’m making final edits to a manuscript for Baker Books. The book will be titled, Thy Kingdom Connected: What the Church Can Learn from Facebook, the Internet and

Dwight J. Friesen February 26, 2009January 17, 2021

metaphor of movement

The following quote is from Eugene Peterson’s, Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2005, 337-8. For some reason I feel compelled to share it… enjoy! Peace, dwight “Rick Bass,

Dwight J. Friesen March 28, 2006May 12, 2022

Authoritative Bible

How Can the Bible be Authoritative? by N.T. Wright. Vox Evangelica 21 1991. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen August 14, 2005January 14, 2021

Toward the Heart of the Matter

Toward the Heart of the Matter by Eberhard Jungel Eberhard Jungel is professor of systematic theology and philosophy at the University of Tubingen. Toward the Heart of the Matter was translated by Paul E. Capetz, July 15, 1990. This article

Dwight J. Friesen May 24, 2005January 25, 2021

Quantum Spirituality

Quantum Spirituality by Len Sweet, a free online book. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen February 24, 2005October 26, 2022

journaling for others to see

I write to discover what I’m in the the process of believing. “When I say ‘I believe,’ I am not merely describing an inward feeling or experience: I am affirming what I believe to be true, and therefore what is

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

method & jumping fences

Howard S. Becker once said, “Methodology is too important to be left to methodologists.” And designer Bruce Mau is quoted saying, “Avoid fields. Jump fences: disciplinary boundaries and regulatory regimes are attempts to control the wilding of creative life.” I’m

Dwight J. Friesen July 15, 2004January 15, 2021

poetry disclaimer

The poetry I write usually flows from journaling or from times of SoulRest. I have no grandiose illusions about the quality of my poetry, yet it is mine. And though it is thoroughly idiosyncratic and amateurish it gives voice the

Dwight J. Friesen June 11, 2004August 31, 2022

Final Edits

I’ve been diligently trying to meet a deadline for my doctoral work. I have my next major essay due on Monday. I’m getting close to finishing it, but “the devil’s in the details.” And I’m doing my best to cast

Dwight J. Friesen April 21, 2004December 2, 2022

my relational leadership

Over the past few months I elicited a small group of friends to help me evaluate my person and leadership. This small group comprised of three men and two women have known me for an average of three and one-half

Dwight J. Friesen April 15, 2004August 31, 2022

Back It Up!

Ok, so yesterday morning I was reading in my studio, I look up and my monitor shows me nothing but the “blue screen of death,” the fatally corrupted disk error that we all dread. I valiantly gave my PC mouth-to-mouth

Dwight J. Friesen April 14, 2004December 2, 2022

salvation in loss: the relational theodicy

Salvation in Loss: The Relational Theodicy by Todd Trembley. Soon to be published in an undergraduate academic journal. Peace, dwight

Dwight J. Friesen March 22, 2004October 24, 2022

Death of Author

I am finding myself with a growing distaste for everything I have written to date. I want to deconstruct all of it in my good moments and burn all of it and take up furniture making in my bad moments.

Dwight J. Friesen March 16, 2004December 7, 2022

Interviewed by theooze

Almost a year ago theOoze.com interviewed me for their Seedstories deal, which has been undergoing a retooling for some time. Seedstories is a curated collection of stories and interviews with people from around the globe who are pioneering new expressions

Dwight J. Friesen January 7, 2004December 8, 2022

dwight j. friesen