Following atheist trend, Britons seek ‘de-baptism’

More than 100,000 Britons have recently downloaded “certificates of de-baptism” from the Internet to renounce their Christian faith.

The initiative launched by a group called the National Secular Society (NSS) follows atheist campaigns here and elsewhere, including a London bus poster which triggered protests by proclaiming “There’s probably no God.”

“We now produce a certificate on parchment and we have sold 1,500 units at three pounds (4.35 dollars, 3.20 euros) a pop,” said NSS president Terry Sanderson, 58.

Full Article at Breitbart.com

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Bag of Randomness

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  • I decided to eat some humble pie this week and do something I normally would never do and something I would make fun of my guy friends for doing. . . go to a baby shower.  Let’s just say the pie was a very nutritious and filling.
  • The baby shower was actually a couples baby shower; my childhood friend, actually my very first friend, Matt, is about to become a father in less than two weeks.  And just to provide you with a little background so you will understand some other random thoughts, he’s black but has red hair.  I’m half-Asian and had a reddish tint to my hair – so that’s one thing we had in common, and we also were in the same grade.  We grew up just one street apart from each other, so we always saw each other, especially each others parents driving up and down the road waving as they drove by.  Matt and I were very lucky to live all all our lives not having to move like so many of our friends.  We both take a lot of pride knowing we grew up in the same house and have always been part of the same community, walking to and from school together, trick or treating, and everything else in between.  There have been times when I walked over to his house to play, and it was only his father at home, who would invite me in and we would just watch TV or we would talk as he worked on his cars.  I remember attending his sister’s wedding with my parents, and I remember his folks coming to both my parents funerals and his sister attending my wedding.  Heck, I remember even attending their church, an AME church, and being called out during the middle of the service to introduce myself as a visitor.  Good times.   You see, our relationship has a lot of substance.
  • So when I got an invitation to go to the town of Stephenville that’s about two hours away somewhat near my old neck of the woods, there wasn’t a doubt I would be there to support my friend.
  • I haven’t been on a roadtrip in a while, and this was medicine to the soul.  There’s something about driving through the rural roads in the part that’s somewhere between north and west Texas and looking at the sprawling landscape, the vegetation, and seeing plenty of cattle, goats, llamas, bison and a few other livestock.   I also saw a lot of families fishing in tanks, which looked very pleasant.  For you city folk, tanks are basically man-made ponds.
  • I did have to drive through Granbury, which ranks very high in my list of cities I just cannot stand.  I would eleborate, but this is already turning into a long post, and I want to keep things positive.
  • Usually when I buy a gift for one of my friends who are about to bring a baby into their family, I buy a pair of Nike baby shoes because most of us remember what it was like getting a pair of our first Nikes.  Well, Matt is like a part owner of an athletic shoe store, and I knew his friends would probably get him the same things.  Sure enough, I think his kid got three pair of Jordans.  I ended up getting the couple a baby bottle wamer.  Nothing fancy, but funtional, and I bet and hope they will think of me in the middle of the night when they are warming up a bottle.
  • On our way to Stephenville a Tesla Roadster zipped right pass us.  I’ve been keeping an eye on this car for quite a while as it’s a pure electric sports car that can go zero to 60 in 3.9 seconds and can travel almost 250 miles on a single charge, all for $109,000.  I was left drooling, it was one sharp looking ride.
  • Some things never change, Matt arrived late, as he does for everything.  We arrived late ourselves, but still beat him.  As we walked in, his family instantly recognized me.  Love was in the air.  It’s funny, but all my memories of his mother was of me looking up to her, and as I talked to her she was now looking up talking to me.  It was a bit bizarre, but in a good way.
  • Matt’s dad doesn’t seem to age, but his hair has changed from black to red, which is interesting.  Four things I’ll always remember about that man:  He doesn’t seem to age, he as a beautiful and graceful Louisiana accent (it’s kinda like Avery Johnson talking), his kindness, and he still drives and maintains the same circa 1977 Ford truck.  That truck always sounds and looks like it’s brand new.
  • Matt has an older sister who was running this event.  As the festivities started, she said without any warning, “Brother Geeding is going to lead up in prayer and bless the food.”  Wow, here I am being called out again from someone I haven’t seen in years and what a blessing.  She could of asked her father or any of the elders to lead us in prayer, but she chose the male part of the only white couple in attendance.
  • When Matt finally got around to introducing me to his lady he told her that we are tight, joined at the hip, inseparable, that we can always pick up from where we left off, and nothing can tear us apart.
  • In a later conversation she said Matt talks about me all the time, and she knew who I was as I entered the door.  That warmed my heart.
  • This part had me laughing pretty hard.  We were playing different baby shower related games, and this one particular one we were asked create as many “common name” as we can out of the baby’s name.  As Matt’s sister explained the game, she said, “And don’t you be making up any of those weird African names that don’t exists, I’ll call you out, we’re looking for COMMON names.”
  • There was a touching moment during the event as I saw Matt and his father talking alone . . . it made me envious.
  • After the event I was helping load up the gifts, and it was a nice surprise that Matt is driving on sweet ride, a Shelby Cobra Mustang.  It looked like this one except his had a blue stripe.
  • As we were about to head out, Matt stated he hoped that we could stop by his house.  I did kind of want to get started back home, but I new this would mean a lot to him and I’m glad I stopped by, and it actually meant a lot to me after the fact.  Turns out he has a brand new home and it’s beautiful, and you can see the pride on his face as he showed us around and how he has made changes to the yard.
  • Most surprising, he and his wife own five vehicles – most of which are pretty darn sweet.
  • Yup, I need a new car.  And when I say need, I guess I just really really really want one.  It’s not like I’m going to die if I don’ get one.
  • The pastor of the church we have been attending sent me a personal email last week.  He mentioned that he was working on sermons on the summer, and planned on going over the new U2 album and would like my thoughts.  Wow, that made my day, and how cool is it for a pastor in his 60’s to listen to U2.
  • As we entered church this morning I looked up and noticed a bunch of doves flying – it was pretty and symbolic.
  • We are attending a new comers class that will last five weeks called “Stepping Stones.”  Yesterday we talked about what it means to be a Christian, and it was interesting comparing that discussion to what was taught to me when I was a young Baptist.
  • The class will end with the pastor having us over for dinner.  I thought that was nice, but then I learned he is actually a gourmet chef, so now I’m really looking forward to it.
  • I like having the pastor actually teach our Sunday School class.  I don’t recall any other pastor doing such a thing as they are normally preparing for service, and it’s a nice way for the new folk to get to know the man.
  • Part of yesterday’s service included my favorite poem, “If” by Rudyard Kipling.  My drama teacher made everyone of her students memorize that for a grade, and I recall as she was inducted into our high school hall of fame she quoted it word for word without notes.
  • A Snow White Macbook
  • Baconhenge
  • That’s a tired OtherDogGeeding up top in case you were wondering, he didn’t find 60 Minutes that fascinating.  He reminds me of a Kinky Friedman quote, “Money may buy you a fine dog, but only love can make it wag its tail.”
  • I think I wasted enough of your time today.
  • Grace
Posted in Goofy, Personal | 7 Comments

A Reprieve?!?!?!

There just may be hope for BagOfNothing yet.

As a Republican to the core, I’ve been a member of the RNC for quite a while.  After all, I’m a Texan, and to be a Texan you have to be part of the GOP.  Well, a high ranking official of the RNC contacted me and stated that if I wanted to continue to serve as a regional junior delegate to the party, I needed to get rid of the blog.

After I made my post yesterday, a Sarah from Alaska contacted me.  She said she’s been an avid reader for the past couple of years, ever since she found a post I made way back when about moose bacon.  Anywho, she mentioned that she’s got friends high up in the party, and thought she could make an arrangement where I could continue the blog, while at the same time be associated with the party I love.

Her advice to me was, other than this one post, don’t make any other posts until Monday – that’s when she thought her friends could finalize an arrangement.  So hopefully everything will work out and I can continue blogging.  As soon as I hear back from Sarah and the party officials, I’ll let you know.  In the meantime, don’t expect any posts until then, but if a deal can be brokered earlier, you’ll be the first to know.

Oh, Sarah did provide me one one bacon link she thought I would enjoy – Squeeze Bacon.  She said as a mother of four and recent grandmother of one, she often doesn’t have time to cook bacon, and she found this a great comprimise.

That’s it for now.  Hopefully Sarah can pull off something magical.  When I asked her if she was certain she could arrange such a deal, her only reply back to me was “you betcha!”

Take care,

Keither

Posted in Personal | 13 Comments