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In the History Repeats Itself category: A Secretary of "War" with crusader tattoos would kill Muslims on Christmas Day is pretty much the most predicable thing ever.

Every single package I ordered from a wide variety of retailers this season was wrong. From shoddy manufacturing to mistakes in size, color, and options to delivery problems and broken merchandise. I don't know what is wrong with American businesses. But this has been completely subpar.

"The late Bishop John Shelby Spong memorably said, 'Dream of Peace on Earth and goodwill among men and women, and then dedicate yourself to bringing that vision into being.' From "A Beautiful Year" by @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social

Neighborhood inflatables massacre

This is my favorite ornament on the tree - a cheap red ball decorated with glitter. It was a gift that I've never forgotten. Merry Christmas open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

The young woman next to me at the Christmas Eve service had never been in a church before. She said she really liked the singing especially “the one about about Noel.” Then she asked, “what does that mean?” She was delightfully curious and added to the joy of the night.

The song of Mary is the oldest Advent hymn…It is at once the most passionate, the wildest, one might even say the most revolutionary Advent hymn ever sung. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer Christmas Eve open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth... Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.

The song of Mary is the oldest Advent hymn…It is at once the most passionate, the wildest, one might even say the most revolutionary Advent hymn ever sung. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer Advent Calendar: December 24 open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

Christmas Eve. Mary the Prophet. open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

CBS = Complicit Broadcast Station

So Bari Weiss’s first real editorial intervention at CBS is to repress coverage of American concentration camps.

A good one. Last verse:

Just found this new hymn (written 2020), "Mary Sang of Revolution." It's a good one! www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7Lo...

It almost doesn’t need to be said that Christians forget Joseph in the Christmas story. We sing of and extol Mary. Joseph remains in the background, like a film extra with only a few lines. But Matthew gives Joseph a brief starring role. Sunday Musings: Advent 4 open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

Today is winter solstice. In the northern hemisphere, we are in the time of the longest night. For many of us, the deepening of the night matches the mood of the year. A reflection. Blue Christmas open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

Not sure how I had no idea Blue Christmas/Longest Night was a Christian tradition. A peaceful acknowledgement of the darkness & hard things in life, loss, grief, loneliness, addiction…I love that some churches offer a Blue Christmas service I enjoyed reading and listening to this short reflection💙

Today is winter solstice. In the northern hemisphere, we are in the time of the longest night. For many of us, the deepening of the night matches the mood of the year. A reflection. Blue Christmas open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

The new Knives Out movie is really good!

This. A thousand times this. "His law is love and His gospel is peace." From my friends @interfaithalliance.org. #LovenotICE www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALK...

Did Trump’s DOJ really think dropping hundreds of blacked-out pages counted as complying with the law? I know it’s a bunch of unqualified folks with no backbone over there, but this is next-level.

It's as if Trump watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and thought Mr. Potter was the hero.

Jack Smith wants to testify in public - Republicans refuse. He wants his depo tape made public - no again. The second strike boat video? - nope. Epstein files law complied with? - not today. Vote on ACA? - maybe next year. Republicans: Hide, obstruct, lie, delay, deny.

"RFKJr directs that the US instantly put every child at risk of immediate death."

As we move toward the longest night, a reflection for Blue Christmas and Winter Solstice. May you know the peace and comfort that only shimmers in the dark. "Blue Christmas" open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...

This. A thousand times this. "His law is love and His gospel is peace." From my friends @interfaithalliance.org. #LovenotICE www.youtube.com/watch?v=eALK...

Not sure what to make of this.

Pretty certain the Kennedy bust is going to wind up in the basement - or at the bottom of the Potomac.

These are the people who are willing to go on the record. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...

I was just on the phone with an AI robot who chastised me for using "pro-fan-it-y" in a mechanic fake voice.

Honored to see my work alongside that of @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social and so many other great writers

Hegseth just held his #Christmas Worship Service at the Pentagon. Here's my report featuring remarks by Franklin Graham, who praised a "God of War" & read a Bible passage often used to justify genocide: publicwitness.wordandway.org/p/at-pentago...

Love. Not ICE.

What the absolute [expletive] was that?!?

Did he go on television tonight to further lower his approval ratings?

Accurate

Have we now entered the Narcissistic Rage portion of the program?

Into this silent night As we make our weary way We know not where; Just when the night becomes its darkest And we cannot see our path; Just then is when the angels rush in, Their hands full of stars. — Ann Weems (Winter solstice is on 12/21)

Everything is vindictiveness and revenge for these people. Everything. Human beings cannot sustain decent societies based on retribution and cruelty.

Review - "A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, & Perseverance" by @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social (@stmartinspress.bsky.social). A gifted Christian writer offers accumulated wisdom, speaking to challenging times. www.bobcornwall.com/2025/12/a-be... #booksky #theosky

Congrats @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social! A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance was named a Top 10 Book of 2025 by So What Faith! - sowhatfaith.com/2025/12/17/1...

Our latest review from @drbobcornwall.bsky.social covers “A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance” (@stmartinspress.bsky.social), a new collection of insightful essays from @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social.

Trump is reducing America to rubble.

Take a moment to meet FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. He is the guy who is leading the agency that is working overtime to enrich his MAHA patrons by taking away your kids’ access to vaccines & essential medicines. He’s replacing evidence-based regulation with corruption.

For the second Sunday of advent, we read “Near” from @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social “A Beautiful Year”. Thankful for the introduction of the idea of three Advents to help us in the season of now and here. Peace to all.

The Day1 Radio Show airs today as Dr. Diana Butler Bass (@dianabutlerbass.bsky.social) reflects on Advent and the fullness of time. Stream the episode or hear more on the Day1 Weekly Podcast: https://youtu.be/5WanxZWuQ4Y #FaithJourney #SundaySermon #ChristianCommunity #FullnessOfTime #SacredTime

God-with-us. That means God everywhere, at all times, in every place. In our bodies and every body. In all our barrenness, fearsome deserts, and waste-howling wildernesses. Real ones. The ones we create. The Kingdom is coming. Sunday Musings: Advent 2 open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...