Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
@cspencef.bsky.social
PC(USA) interim pastor in the Quad Cities, ex-musicologist. Highly intolerant of BS and willful ignorance. Music, sports, religion, attempted humor, whatevs. AI is unethical at its root. h/h/h hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com
Literally no one asks for a new hymn for Christmas Eve. I didn’t even ask for one. Nonetheless, about four years ago I wrote a new hymn for Christmas Eve. hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com/2022/01/come...
Come, you faithful ones, rejoicing
Come, you faithful ones, rejoicing; Come, you seekers of our God! See the wondrous incarnation; Come, be joyful and ...
hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Literally no one asks for a new hymn for Christmas Eve. I didn’t even ask for one. Nonetheless, about four years ago I wrote a new hymn for Christmas Eve. hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com/2022/01/come...
If this were literally true as written it would seem to merit a lot more attention, yes?
this headline does not say what they think it says, although it does seem to imply life after death
December 17, 2025 at 2:55 AM
If this were literally true as written it would seem to merit a lot more attention, yes?
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
Pro-wrestling legend Mick Foley announced this morning that he's parting ways with WWE over the organization's "close relationship with Donald Trump," saying the president's "incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me."
December 16, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Pro-wrestling legend Mick Foley announced this morning that he's parting ways with WWE over the organization's "close relationship with Donald Trump," saying the president's "incredibly cruel comments in the wake of Rob Reiner’s death is the final straw for me."
Now to enjoy a nice full day listening to the music of Franz Schubert.
December 16, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Now to enjoy a nice full day listening to the music of Franz Schubert.
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
Alexander Kleytman was a boy when he fled the Holocaust, then endured years of starvation in Siberia that left him hunched. He suffered decades of antisemitism in the Soviet Union.
He thought he had a haven in Sydney, where was shot dead this weekend.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
He thought he had a haven in Sydney, where was shot dead this weekend.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
He survived the Holocaust and exile only to die a hero in Bondi attack
Alexander Kleytman, 87, had endured antisemitism his whole life, which ended when he shielded his wife from bullets at the Hanukkah celebration.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 16, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Alexander Kleytman was a boy when he fled the Holocaust, then endured years of starvation in Siberia that left him hunched. He suffered decades of antisemitism in the Soviet Union.
He thought he had a haven in Sydney, where was shot dead this weekend.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
He thought he had a haven in Sydney, where was shot dead this weekend.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Reading an article in @christiancentury.bsky.social that includes the sentence: “It is not a large church — about 300 members.”
Ha…ha ha…hahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
Ha…ha ha…hahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
December 16, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reading an article in @christiancentury.bsky.social that includes the sentence: “It is not a large church — about 300 members.”
Ha…ha ha…hahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
Ha…ha ha…hahahaha…HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA…
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
While searching for something else I stumbled upon this fascinating op-ed from Dec. 2015--ten years ago. It appeared in the Greenville, SC Index-Journal. It matter-of-factly pointed out that Trump was beloved by white nationalists like Jared Taylor. This was BEFORE the first GOP primary was held.
![Trump brings bigots out of hiding
WASHINGTON Once you notice it, you can't unsee it."
A
about a Trump rally near Phoenix where
couple of weeks ago, I wrote:
The Twitterverse, and social media a young man shouted "mother-f—.
"Let's not mince words, Donald generally, can be dark places, as can the ing tacos — go back to Mexico" at two Trump is a bigot and a racist." comments section of Washington Post
Latino protesters — and a 70-year-old
I cited a long list of incidents in which articles, and my email inbox. This is
retiree sucker-punched a demonstrator.
he targeted women, Latinos, African-
the seventh presidential campaign I've
And where is the condemnation of
Americans, Muslims, Asians and the covered in some form over 25 years, and this behavior? At the Las Vegas debate, disabled. Here's what I heard back from harsh criticism comes with the terri-
Trump's rivals all but ignored the front-
Trump's defenders:
tory. But the Trump backers venom is runner, who previously said of a black
"Let's not mince
without precedent. His supporters surely protestor at his event: "Maybe he should
words," somebody
aren't all bigots — but he is bringing the have been roughed up." Trump is burn-
tweeted under the name
bigoted in from the cold.
ing down the Republican house, and the
Helios Megistos. "Mil-
There is an obvious truth to what
American house, yet his rivals are on a
bank is an anti-white
white nationalist publisher Jared Tay-
march of the narcissists.
parasite and a bigoted
lor told The New Yorker this summer:
If Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Jeb
kike supremacist."
Trump's "support comes from people
Bush, John Kasich and other sensible
"[Trump] may well
who are more like me than he might like
candidates were to unite behind any one
be a bigot and a racist,"
to admit."
of them, that person could likely beat
DANA
one Michael Banfield
I write this not out of any hope of
Trump, and Ted Cruz. Instead, enabled
MILBANK
wrote me via email. "But changing the minds of Trump back-
by n…](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:miczfsfixolk42l7343z3bpd/bafkreibunh2fwfx4nk4syoim75af7cd67do64ofxf262yz3nozylmzlg2m@jpeg)
December 15, 2025 at 7:14 PM
While searching for something else I stumbled upon this fascinating op-ed from Dec. 2015--ten years ago. It appeared in the Greenville, SC Index-Journal. It matter-of-factly pointed out that Trump was beloved by white nationalists like Jared Taylor. This was BEFORE the first GOP primary was held.
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
Sounds about right.
December 15, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Sounds about right.
CTE for techbros? Affluenza Alzheimer’s?
I have grown to believe that excessive wealth does something to your brain that is analogous to a serious head injury
December 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
CTE for techbros? Affluenza Alzheimer’s?
I’d probably be listening to music, but otherwise… www.gocomics.com/curses/2025/...
Curses! by Chelsea Carr for December 15, 2025 | GoComics
Read Curses!—a comic strip by creator Chelsea Carr—for today, December 15, 2025, and check out other great comics, too!
www.gocomics.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
I’d probably be listening to music, but otherwise… www.gocomics.com/curses/2025/...
You have *got* to be kidding me…
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Rob Reiner, Legendary Comedic Actor and ‘Princess Bride’ Director, Found Dead in His Home
Rob Reiner, director of 'The Princess Bride' and 'This Is Spinal Tap,' has been found dead at 78.
variety.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:56 AM
You have *got* to be kidding me…
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
OK, three hymns useful for next Sunday, perhaps? First one that might fit into the ceremony of lighting the Advent candle? hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com/2018/12/adve...
Advent hymn: When Isaiah spoke a word
When Isaiah spoke a word of holy grace Of a child born for the people of his place, Hope and peace and promise filled that sacred space...
hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:31 AM
OK, three hymns useful for next Sunday, perhaps? First one that might fit into the ceremony of lighting the Advent candle? hymnsbycharlesfreeman.blogspot.com/2018/12/adve...
Heard from one of the littles during this morning’s Christmas pageant: “I don’t want to be an angel. I want to be a kid.”
Don’t we all, child, don’t we all…
Don’t we all, child, don’t we all…
December 14, 2025 at 9:09 PM
Heard from one of the littles during this morning’s Christmas pageant: “I don’t want to be an angel. I want to be a kid.”
Don’t we all, child, don’t we all…
Don’t we all, child, don’t we all…
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
In his polemic opposite theological treatises “Christmastime Is Here” and “Christmas Is Coming,” Vince Guaraldi explored the keening tension between the social and liturgical observances of the holiday calendared as December 25. In this study I shall (1/125)
December 13, 2025 at 5:54 AM
In his polemic opposite theological treatises “Christmastime Is Here” and “Christmas Is Coming,” Vince Guaraldi explored the keening tension between the social and liturgical observances of the holiday calendared as December 25. In this study I shall (1/125)
Headed for -7° tonight in the QC. I’m learning that my fingers can’t function in this kind of cold.
December 14, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Headed for -7° tonight in the QC. I’m learning that my fingers can’t function in this kind of cold.
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
That’s right!
Don’t close your eyes!
Don’t close your eyes!
December 13, 2025 at 10:04 PM
That’s right!
Don’t close your eyes!
Don’t close your eyes!
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
Damnit this is good writing, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social.
December 13, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Damnit this is good writing, @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social.
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
(slipping an undergrad $20 so they can file a complaint and get me a fully paid semester’s leave)
From the Oklahoma U student paper: the school is now saying it will automatically suspend faculty (with pay) in response to student complaints
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
www.oudaily.com/news/ou-poli...
December 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
(slipping an undergrad $20 so they can file a complaint and get me a fully paid semester’s leave)
This does need to be shared regularly, annually at minimum. youtu.be/-2SGwdHTKr8
The Charlie Brown School of Dance | A Charlie Brown Christmas
YouTube video by Owen Weber
youtu.be
December 13, 2025 at 4:28 PM
This does need to be shared regularly, annually at minimum. youtu.be/-2SGwdHTKr8
In his polemic opposite theological treatises “Christmastime Is Here” and “Christmas Is Coming,” Vince Guaraldi explored the keening tension between the social and liturgical observances of the holiday calendared as December 25. In this study I shall (1/125)
December 13, 2025 at 5:54 AM
In his polemic opposite theological treatises “Christmastime Is Here” and “Christmas Is Coming,” Vince Guaraldi explored the keening tension between the social and liturgical observances of the holiday calendared as December 25. In this study I shall (1/125)
What actor's facial expression in a movie/ tv show will stay with you the rest of your life?
December 13, 2025 at 5:47 AM
What actor's facial expression in a movie/ tv show will stay with you the rest of your life?
Ah, I remember the days when you went to a handbell concert and heard the sound of … well, handbells.
December 13, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Ah, I remember the days when you went to a handbell concert and heard the sound of … well, handbells.
Reposted by Charles S. Freeman, going on an Advent-ure!
Here's an article out that's been in the works for a long time! Set at the end of the 19th century (and focused on JP Morgan and his church), it's about the formerly common idea that giving too much help to the poor would "pauperize" them by worsening their "natural" tendency toward dependency. 1/
Help Yourself! Social Christianity and the Problem of Pauperization | Religion and American Culture | Cambridge Core
Help Yourself! Social Christianity and the Problem of Pauperization - Volume 34 Issue 2
doi.org
December 12, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Here's an article out that's been in the works for a long time! Set at the end of the 19th century (and focused on JP Morgan and his church), it's about the formerly common idea that giving too much help to the poor would "pauperize" them by worsening their "natural" tendency toward dependency. 1/
A quick review of composer William Grant Still by someone very close to the story.
My grandfather is William Grant Still, the Dean of African-American composers and one of the most accomplished musicians the US has ever produced. He is arguably the best orchestral arranger of the 20th century.
December 12, 2025 at 5:21 PM
A quick review of composer William Grant Still by someone very close to the story.
The future of medicine in MAHAWorld… www.gocomics.com/speedbump/20...
Speed Bump by Dave Coverly for December 12, 2025 | GoComics
Read Speed Bump—a comic strip by creator Dave Coverly—for today, December 12, 2025, and check out other great comics, too!
www.gocomics.com
December 12, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The future of medicine in MAHAWorld… www.gocomics.com/speedbump/20...