The weblog of Darren Friesen

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

U2 Set List - March 28: San Diego



City of Blinding Lights (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
The Electric Co. (Boy)
An Cat Dubh (Boy)
Into the Heart (Boy)
Beautiful Day (All That You Can't Leave Behind)
New Year's Day (War)
Miracle Drug (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
Sometimes You Can't Make it on Your Own (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
Love and Peace or Else (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
Sunday Bloody Sunday (War)
Bullet the Blue Sky (The Joshua Tree)
Running to Stand Still (The Joshua Tree)
Zoo Station (Achtung Baby)
The Fly (Achtung Baby)
Elevation (All That You Can't Leave Behind)
Pride (In the Name of Love) (The Unforgettable Fire)
Where the Streets Have No Name (The Joshua Tree)
One (Achtung Baby)
All Because of You (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
Yahweh (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
40 (War)

"I am having the depressing experience of reading congregational descriptions
of what church want in a pastor. With hardly an exception they don't want
pastors at all - they want managers of their religious company. They want
a pastor they can follow so they won't have to bother with following Jesus
anymore."

- Eugene Peterson

Monday, March 28, 2005

To Recap...

Although I am only a couple of years behind, I just stuck this Flickr daily picture thing on the sidebar of my blog. The newest pictures you'll find there are a few from the FMC site and from Nathan of my ordination last Sunday (plus a few other odd ones). Thanks to all who were there.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

Jody and Bob


the band
Originally uploaded by lakeviewchurch.

Some of Gerald Folkerts' display


art cafe
Originally uploaded by lakeviewchurch.

Thomas Miller


the band
Originally uploaded by lakeviewchurch.

Art Cafe


the band
Originally uploaded by lakeviewchurch.

From the Art Cafe


the band
Originally uploaded by lakeviewchurch.

Saturday, March 26, 2005

Doin' the picture thing

Although I am only a couple of years behind, I just stuck this Flickr daily picture thing on the sidebar of my blog. The newest pictures you'll find there are a few from the FMC site and from Nathan of my ordination last Sunday (plus a few other odd ones). Thanks to all who were there.





You Are Best Described By...









From the Lake, No. 1

by Georgia O'Keeffe



Friday, March 25, 2005

Grace

The Left mocks the Right. The Right knows it's right. Two ugly traits. How far should we go to understand each other's point of view? Maybe the distance grace covered on the cross is a clue.
-Bono, lead singer of U2

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Ordination Details

Been meaning to blog for the last cuple of days, but the flu hit our house, and I ws not able to escape this time. Dylan and Madison were down with it on Monday, and I was feeling crappy yesterday. I think I am mostly back, although I still feel a bit sluggish.

There were no objections, so mt ordination went down without a hitch on Sunday afternoon. My dad and friends Wayne Guenther and Nancy Yee did the scripture readings, Cathy did the responsive readings, Todd Reimer prayed, and Todd Peters led the singing, including a great rendition of U2's "Yahweh", which is a beautiful song. Bishop Keith Elford spoke on Peter, which was very good (I'll write on this later). A lot of family and friends were there for the ceremony and stuck around for the food afterwards. I'm not totally comfortable with being "it" on a day like that, but it all was as good as it could have been. Thanks also to Bob Jesse, Ryan, and Jeb for doing the "behind-the-scenes" stuff in the booth.

As one of my former collegues said just before it started, there probably aren't too many people who celebrate a milestone like ordination and also have their last day with the organization that brought the milestone about on the same day. It was difficult to take both emotions in at the same time, and I wanted to focus on the celebration, so my being let go didn't come up in the service too much. Of course, though, it was in the back of everyone's minds, and made the day bittersweet. I hope that Lakeview Church grows and continues to touch people. I am not really bitter, but I am sad for them. I think that the goals they want to reach will be tougher to achieve without anyone taking up the area that I and Cathy were in charge of.

Meanwhile, I am starting to look to the future. I have no idea what it holds, but I would really like to stay in Saskatoon. My family and I are at home here, and I really don't want to move again. We'll see. Thanks to all who continue to pray, and to all who have supported us through this bizarre time in our lives.

Oh yeah, there were a few key people missinf form the service that I wished had been there. Love to Nolan, Steve, Gloria, and Elizabeth. Your absence was noticed, and we miss you.

Sunday, March 13, 2005

An Official Invitation...

This coming Sunday, March 20, I am being ordained as a minister in the Free Methodist Church of Canada. Ironically, it will also be my last day on staff at Lakeview Church. It starts at 3pm at Lakeview Church. If you are in the Saskatoon area and would like to come, please do. If you cannot be there, I would appreciate your prayers, as I anticipate that it will be a day of mixed emotions.

Thursday, March 03, 2005

The things people say

Over the last week Sherryl and I, along with my friend Cathy (who was also let go from Lakeview) have talked to a lot of people about the situation. We have had many people understand the situation; that it is difficult and sad that I've been let go with no notice. To Mike, Todd P., Todd R., Nolan, Brent, Coop, Gloria and Jerry, Vaughn, Dan, I say thanks for knowing what...or what not...to say. There are others...sorry if I missed you.
There are some others (God bless 'em) who have absolutely no clue how to talk to others. They cannot see how this might be a bad thing to have happen. "God will be there for you". "It's exciting, isn't it?" "It's part of God's plan".
Thanks for all that, but we know and believe those things. The problems come in dealing with the lost, the seeming unfairness of it all, and the shock of not seeing this coming. The financial situation we find ourselves in, and the uncertainty about the future. Anyone who thinks that this is fun or a reason ato rejoice has never been in the situation.