20030523 The Atheist and the Bear

The Atheist and the Bear

May 23^rd, 2003 - (See other posts on "

An atheist was walking through the woods one day, admiring all that evolution had created.

Suddenly he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. Turning to look, he saw an 8-foot grizzly bear beginning to charge toward him.

He ran as fast as he could down the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was rapidly closing on him.

Running faster yet, he looked again and the bear was even closer. His heart was pounding in his chest. He tried to run faster. But alas, he tripped and fell to the ground.

As he rolled over to pick himself up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw and raising its right paw to strike him.

“OH MY GOD! ...”

Time stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

Even the river stopped moving.

As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from all around.

“YOU DENY MY EXISTENCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS THAT I DON’T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT. NOW, YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT?

AM I TO COUNT YOU AS A BELIEVER?”

Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and said, “It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?”

“VERY WELL,” said the voice.

The light went out.

The river ran.

The sounds of the forest resumed.

... and the bear dropped down to his knees, brought both paws together, bowed his head and spoke:

“Lord, thank you for this food which I am about to receive.”

####

20030512 City of Westminster Statement of Election Return

CITY OF WESTMINSTER, MARYLAND

MAY 12, 2003

QUORUM:

A meeting of The Mayor and Common Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 1838 Emerald Hill Lane, on the evening of May 12, 2003, at 7:00 p.m. Mayor Dayhoff; Council President Halstad; Council Members Albert, Chiavacci, Ferguson and Wack; Department Heads Beyard and Urban; City Attorney Walsh; and Westminster City Police Chief Joneckis were present. …..

Chief Election Judges Nancy Smelser and Susan Thomas submitted the 2003 election results for the Westminster Common Council:

STATEMENT OF RETURN OF ELECTION

To the Mayor and Common Council of Westminster

We the undersigned Judges and Clerk of the Biennial Municipal Election, held in the City of Westminster, Maryland on Monday, May 12, 2003 between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. for the election of three Council Members to serve on the Common Council for the City of Westminster for four years commencing on the third Monday of May, 2003, do hereby certify that the polls were opened at 7:00 A.M. and closed at 7:00 P.M. on this 12^th day of May, 2003, and that at said election the number of votes cast was 578, and of that number those cast for the candidates for the respective offices was and is as follows:

FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS: NUMBER OF VOTES:

Suzanne Albert 326

Thomas K. Ferguson 379

Robert D. Miller 124

Joseph D. Mish, Jr. 238

Josephine Velazquez 148

Robert Wack 369

And it appearing that

THOMAS K. FERGUSON, ROBERT WACK, AND SUZANNE ALBERT were the three candidates who received the highest number of votes cast for Common Council, we do hereby declare that they will hold office for the four years.

And we do further certify that the above statement is correct in all and every respect, and that notice has been given to the candidates of their election.

Witness our hands this 12^th day of May 2003.

________/s/_______________________ _________/s/__________________

CHIEF JUDGE CHIEF JUDGE

I am a Republican because:

I am a Republican because:

I believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored.

I believe government must practice fiscal responsibility and allow individuals to keep more of the money they earn.

I believe the proper role of government is to provide only those critical functions that cannot be performed by individuals or private organizations and that the best government is that which governs least.

Finally, I believe the Republican Party is the best vehicle for translating these ideals into positive and successful principles of government.

20050503 I am a Republican because

Kevin Dayhoff Westgov.Net: Westminster Maryland Online