.

An atheist was walking through the woods... when he stopped and thought:
"What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!"

Then, as he was walking along the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes
behind him. He turned to look and saw a 7-foot grizzly charging towards him!
He runs as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder and saw
that the bear was closing in on him. He ran faster when he looked over
his shoulder again, and saw that the bear was even closer! He tripped and
fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear
was right on top of him... reaching for him with his left paw and raising
his r! ight pa w to strike him. At that instant the Atheist cried out, "Oh my
God!"

Time Stopped!
The bear froze...
And the forest was silent.
As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky...

"You deny my existence for all these years... and try to teach others I
don't exist... and even credit creation to a cosmic accident? Do you expect
me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to now count you as a
believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light, "Well, it would be
hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now...but
perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian?"

"Very well," said God.
The light went out.
The sounds of the forest resumed...

And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his
head and spoke: "Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy
bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen."