If a being or object exists in the universe, that should be all the bonafides they need. Any religious entity that demands belief in theology or demands membership ceremonies like baptism are out of line. All bonafides exist inside an entity. Any supreme being or religious leader who demands anything is just trying to keep control.
And any government who demands more than taxes, such as loyalty oaths, standing during national anthem, etc. is out of line. Paying taxes is the ultimate patriotism.
Below are the lyrics to The Two Grenadiers. My Dad used to sing this. I don't know why I thought of it tonight, but it's a good song.
THE TWO GRENADIERS
To France were traveling two grenadiers,
From prison in Russia returning,
And when they came to the German frontiers,
They hung down their heads in mourning.
There came the heart-breaking news to their ears
That France was by fortune forsaken;
Scattered and slain were her brave grenadiers,
And Napoleon, Napoleon was taken.
Then wept together those two grenadiers
O'er their country's departed glory;
"Woe's me," cried one, in the midst of his tears,
"My old wound--how it burns at the story!"
The other said: "The end has come,
What avails any longer living
Yet have I a wife and child at home,
For an absent father grieving.
"Who cares for wife? Who cares for child?
Dearer thoughts in my bosom awaken;
Go beg, wife and child, when with hunger wild,
For Napoleon, Napoleon is taken!
"Oh, grant me, brother, my only prayer,
When death my eyes is closing:
Take me to France, and bury me there;
In France be my ashes reposing.
"This cross of the Legion of Honor bright,
Let it lie near my heart, upon me;
Give me my musket in my hand,
And gird my sabre on me.
"So will I lie, and arise no more,
My watch like a sentinel keeping,
Till I hear the cannon's thundering roar,
And the squadrons above me sweeping.
"Then the Emperor comes! and his banners wave,
With their eagles o'er him bending,
And I will come forth, all in arms, from my grave,
Napoleon, Napoleon attending!"
Someone asked how do you hear Jesus's voice? Well as near as I can tell, Jesus was a doer, not a talker. Most of the talk attributed to him in the Bible was added by other people. The thing I've learned from the Carpenter is that if you keep busy, sooner or later, you will do something right. The best baseball hitters succeed 3 times out of ten attempts. The best us mere mortals can hope for is 2 out of 10, or 1 out of 5, a worthy goal.
Newspapers and cable companies are always having deals for new customers. Newspapers say $1 for 6 months then it goes to regular rates usually at least $10/month or so for a regular digital subscription. Cable will offer $20/ month for a year of internet, then it goes to $70/month or so.
Seems like they ought to have the best rates for their long term customers. I'd much rather pay $15 / month for a year and then have it go down to $10 for as long as I keep the subscription.
Comcast, if you complain, will usually not raise your rates, but a long-term customer shouldn't have to do that every year.
A lot of people are upset about the outcome of the Chiefs/Bills game. The thinking being the Bills should have had a chance to score in overtime.
My thinking of is that at the end of regulation in regular season, it's a tie. In postseason if it ends in a tie, they form a joint squad, coach with best record is head coach and the team they are playing, in this case Cincinnati, gets home field advantage.
Awhile back up the blog, I wrote John Collet's Bible. Well, here's the revised version:
Drink coffee
Shoot the breeze
Help the poor
Be kind