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Friday 23-Oct-2009
New Web Site
I am pleased to announce that I have a new web site up and running: www.DwightFriesen.com
4:09 PM [comment]
Thursday 05-Aug-2004
Jacob (we need to get together again soon) raised an interesting question in reply yesterday’s post. Jacob highlighted Randy Frazee (author of “Connecting church” and “Making Room for life”) and Randy’s encouragement to make use of certain tools to aid us in replacing “too many” weak relational connections and build a smaller number of stronger ones.
As a pastor Randy is trying to help the people in his community find the connections they need for life and godliness. He is giving very busy people useful tools to combat loneliness, and he does this well – I know I have read and been enriched by his work. In "Search to Belong" Joe Myers explores four relational spaces (public, social, personal and intimate) and helps us live into varying “intimacies” of the relationships we already have – very useful and very freeing. What I like about Joe’s work is that he helps us see a context for intimacy while simultaneously helps us see the context of the others relational spaces as well. My gut tells me that Van Den Berg may be right when he claims most psychological illnesses stem from loneliness – connecting is everything. I am more than the sum of my connections, but nothing without my connections. Within churches “community-guilt” seems to be moving right up there with “prayer-guilt” and “evangelism-guilt.” We feel shame that we are lonely. After hearing a great sermon about community or relationships we drive to our big empty homes, pull into our garages and sit in front of our TVs and wonder why we’re alone. How come my small group isn’t enough? Why couldn't my spouse and I find lasting intimacy? Why did my relational life seem more solid in college – and should I try to recreate that experience? Arguably, we are more lonely today than at any point in human history. Back to Jacob’s question; how does the pursuit of a few intimate relationships connect with my research of God’s Scale free Kingdom, and especially (I’m assuming) my emphasis on the strength of weak links. The entire scale free construct is dynamic. Nodes die and nodes are born. The birth and death of nodes force remapping. But it is not just nodes which are dynamic – links are as well. Not are relationships are equal. If we pursue intimacy to the exclusion of other relational space we set ourselves up for deep disappointment. Further, network theory would make a strong case that a life made up of few but strong relationships is more fragile than a life made up of multiple weak links. The more important question to me is how can I live into the relationships that are before me now? Often when we speak of ‘intimacy’ we’re speaking of a desire for some form of sustained relational depth – the existence of such relationships may be a myth – but that would be a conversation for another time. peace, dwight 11:05 AM [2 comments]
Wednesday 04-Aug-2004
So much energy has been spent wrestling with the church and institutionalization. Institutionalization happens when reified social constructs become untouchable. What is then often needed is some form of prophetic deconstruction of that social construct – enabling us to see again that people very-much-like-us (knowingly or unknowingly) crafted that social construct, freeing us to shape or reshape that institution.
One of my growing concerns is what I have recently termed, the “Missionalization of the church.” And of it seems that conservative Protestantism is especially susceptible to missionalization. Missionalization makes almost impossible indigenous gospel embodiment. Missionalization reifies one (or more) culture’s life-giving encounter with Christ making it THE gospel to be shared with all. Thus a missionalized person or Christ-community is more like to proclaim than serve, more likely to teach than be taught, more likely to pursue growth than the Cross. Missionalization may be as much of an enemy of God’s relational reign as institutionalization is an enemy. peace, dwight 10:57 AM [4 comments]
Tuesday 03-Aug-2004
 My friend, Rudy Carrasco’s son, Sam, is battling cancer. The Rudy and Kafi are keeping an online journal to keep friends and family in the loop – pray with me. Praying, dwight ___________________________ 10:44 AM [comment]
Last night Lynette and I watched a wonderfully hopeful documentary entitled, “What I Want My Words to Do to You.”
Inmates at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women try to determine whether redemption is really possible after committing a crime - most of whom are serving time for murder. Proctored by playwright Eve Ensler, (The Vagina Monologues) the convicts perform a series of writing exercises and discussions that could lead to healing. The film culminates in a prison performance of the women's writings by Glenn Close, Marisa Tomei, Rosie Perez, Hazelle Goodman, and Mary Alice. Here’s a clip. I was in tears through much of it. To hear these courageous women wrestling with owning their shame, with being forgotten, with the guilt of their actions while fingering the hope that someone might hear, and that they might find redemption. I don’t want this to sound glib and I hope I am not minimizing incarceration but I felt the weight of my own prison. Made me think of Albert Camus’ work in “The Stranger” where freedom is seen to be something entirely other than "not being locked up." For Camus freedom is an individualistic freedom and though I am well aware of the Sartre's emphasis that relationships are hell - without hell there is no heaven. They may in fact be the same place. This film was a gift, inviting me to see real people at various places along the journey; some appeared so free while others appeared more locked-down than Bedford Hills Correctional Facility could ever be. We choose our prisons and our prisons choose us. May you be and thus find a great cell mate. Redemption is spelled the same way as damnation r-e-l-a-t-i-o-n-s-h-i-p. Peace, dwight 9:30 AM [1 comment]
Monday 02-Aug-2004
I wanted to post a few photos of one of my favorite spaces in the world. My studio – I love this space. It is NOT an office – I don’t like the “office” metaphor – it is a studio; a place of creation.
  
I know I’m a geek. But you can’t know me if you don’t know my space. Peace, dwight 10:49 AM [3 comments]
Sunday 01-Aug-2004
I feel clean and light.
A couple weeks ago Lynette and I had a garage sale. The first one we’ve ever had. We weren’t trying to make money, we were trying to force ourselves to clean house; in fact we sold nearly everything for $0.50 the only exceptions to the $0.50 rule were a Dodge mini van and our son’s retired crib, (yes, he’s been in a ‘big-boy-bed’ for a while now). It felt so good to rid ourselves of fourteen years of accumulation. What didn’t sell we either donated to good will or hauled to the dump. How cleansing. For the first time in since we’ve lived in this house we can drive into our garage. I find myself lured out the garage to just stand and stare at our tools hanging so proudly on the peg board. The garage has me in touch with my maleness. I have been feeling this odd call to pull my car up on those little ramps and change my own oil, O, if only I knew how to change my own oil. On a much less important note George Fox University recently posted one of my essays on their site. Grace & peace, dwight 3:52 PM [comment]
Tuesday 27-Jul-2004
Lynette, Pascal & I are back from Kentucky. I had the privilege of officiating the marriage of Andrew and Hannah. The whole weekend was filled with beautiful relational moments. Dallas and Leanne came down to the wedding so we even got to spend some time with my brother.
As the ceremony began it was as though the pores of my body opened up and sea of sweat gushed forth, I have never sweat like that in my life. There is no antiperspirant in the world that could have held back those flood waters. Needless to say, I was more than a little embarrassed; I hope and pray that it wasn’t too much of a distraction. Apart from that, it was a beautiful day in every respect. Andrew and Hannah were radiant. I met Phil who is a good friend of Andrew’s and is currently working on his PhD at St. Andrews with Trevor Hart. Phil was a gracious and insightful sounding board for some of my constructive work of late. He was an embodiment of the “why” I’d love to pursue a resident PhD once my DMin is complete. On our way to the wedding we were able to have dinner with Joe & Sara Myers (Joe is the author of “The Search to Belong” if you haven’t read this already do – especially if you’ve ever felt a longing for community or a twinge of guilt for its lack). I already love these guys - there is a graciousness about them that is to be coveted. This was Pascal’s first flight, and he did super. The only challenge was that Lynette and I had to take Pascal to the hospital at three in the morning on Saturday. He was having trouble breathing, lot’s of coughing, and shallowness of breath, he’s fine now we’ve got doctor appoints set up for him at home. It’s good to be home and I’ve got lots of grading to do for a Mars Hill Grad School “Biblical Theology” class. Peace, dwight 11:16 AM [2 comments]
Tuesday 20-Jul-2004
Tim Samoff posted some photos of a community-mapping exercise Jacob’s Well engaged in this past Sunday. Here’s one image.
 peace, dwight 4:13 PM [comment]
Monday 19-Jul-2004
Bill Wallenbeck of Jacob’s Well just preached a sermon called Scale-Free Networks and the Kingdom using some concepts of Scale-free networks, he even drew on some of my research. Check it out.
Peace, dwight 8:30 AM [4 comments]
Thursday 15-Jul-2004
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 in the process of writing a methodology chapter for my dissertation. I thought I’d easily dump the “whys,” “hows” and “whats” of my research – how naive I was. Of course I am getting to know myself and that I make things more difficult for myself than they often need to be. It is an invigorating process of reflection and research. I love this. peace, dwight 9:43 AM [comment]
Wednesday 14-Jul-2004
My heart is a bit heavy tonight. The glass of water that is my life appears to be half empty; yes I know that’s only a half-truth. I have this sense that I am being used and discarded.
It’s a fine line between being “used” and being “useful.” Both experiences utilize our persons in the service of the other, but the first feels abusive and the second one breathes life. I’m an advocate of emptying self in the service of the other – which is inevitably involves a mix of joy and pain – but I’m always surprised when those for whom I “sacrifice-self” don’t notice or even worse think the less of me for it. Was I seeking to serve them or was I posturing or marbled? Of course all sacrifice is motivated – all is done “joy set before us.” But all that to say, I feel dispensed. peace, dwight 10:01 PM [comment]
Friday 09-Jul-2004
I have a three year-old at home, so I don’t go to movies like I used to, in fact without Netflix my life would have a film shaped void.
So “In America” arrived and I must say, I loved it. The whole film is exquisitely tender. The girls' sense of wonder brings a softness and a glow to whatever they see, whether it is a street fair or a broken-down air conditioner. Lovely, touching performances by all, especially the Bolger sisters and Hounsou, add delicacy and lyricism. The story may be predictable but thankfully it is messy and episodic enough to capture the attention and even the heart. peace, dwight 10:41 AM [2 comments]
Thursday 08-Jul-2004
Special thanks to Amber for recently directing my attention to “Sobonost.” Sobornost is a Russian Orthodox social church theory. It is a communal unity by free association in Christ finding expression in gathered church where harmony is attained by free consultation. “Sobornost is a kind of organic spiritual catholicity and conciliation. In ecumenical discussion Sobonost has become something of a shorthand description of Orthodoxy’s distinctive [Trinitarian] approach to ecclesiology,” says David Wright.
In this view the genius of Orthodoxy lay in avoiding polar weaknesses of the Church of Rome (where unity is imposed externally from above) and of Protestantism (individualist liberty) in a unique synthesis of freedom and unanimity, diversity and unity. More on this later. - - - - - Neil Postman (1931-2003) was chair of the Department of Culture and Communications at New York University, wrote important books on education (including Teaching as a Conserving Activity and The Disappearance of Childhood), on the effect of media (Amusing Ourselves to Death), and on the overall effects of technology (Technopoly). Asking questions like, ''To what extent do new media enhance or diminish our moral sense, our capacity for goodness?'' Listen to Neil Postman speak about Media Ecology Education at the Chicago, SCA conference. For those who are reasonably conversant in semiotics or postmodern communication theory this may not new but as you listen consider implications for communication within faith communities. Neil Postman, Media Ecology 1 Neil Postman, Media Ecology 2 Peace, dwight 9:00 AM [2 comments]
Wednesday 07-Jul-2004
I’ve been reading more feminist theology. So much of it resonates with me. I share so many of its concerns regarding the results of churches’ use of male language and even more importantly, the systems of dominance which the hierarchical (often male) reified social structures propagate.
Many have said that “maternity” is not the opposite of “paternity,” and to pit the two against each other maybe be rather short sighted. Albeit, a necessary part of the deconstructive process. The opposite of paternity has often been described as “fraternity.” Historically we have even called this kind of relationship “brotherly love.” Again we see male language but it is being used in this case to highlight a bond which transcends normal male relatedness; the desire to conquer, competition, etc. I doubt widespread fraternity is possible within a Capitalist system. BTW – check out the “Visual Relationships” clip on One Small Barking Dog. Peace, dwight 11:23 AM [comment]
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