>An atheist was taking a walk through the woods.
>
>What majestic trees!
>What powerful rivers!
>What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.
>
>As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes
>
>behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards
>him.
>
>He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his
>shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him.
>He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer.
>
>He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up
>but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left
>paw
>and raising his right paw to strike him.
>
>At that instant the Atheist cried out: "Oh my God!..."
>
> Time stopped.
> The bear froze.
> 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 of these years, 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 count you as a believer?"
>
>The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical
>of me
>to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps could
>you make the BEAR a Christian?"
>
>"Very well," said the voice.
>The light went out.
>The sounds of the forest resumed.
>
>And then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws
>together and bowed his head and spoke:
>
>"Lord, bless this food, which I am about to
>receive from thy bounty
>through Christ our Lord Amen."
>
>What majestic trees!
>What powerful rivers!
>What beautiful animals!" he said to himself.
>
>As he was walking alongside the river he heard a rustling in the bushes
>
>behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards
>him.
>
>He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his
>shoulder and saw that the bear was closing in on him.
>He looked over his shoulder again, and the bear was even closer.
>
>He tripped and fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up
>but saw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left
>paw
>and raising his right paw to strike him.
>
>At that instant the Atheist cried out: "Oh my God!..."
>
> Time stopped.
> The bear froze.
> 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 of these years, 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 count you as a believer?"
>
>The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical
>of me
>to suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps could
>you make the BEAR a Christian?"
>
>"Very well," said the voice.
>The light went out.
>The sounds of the forest resumed.
>
>And then the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws
>together and bowed his head and spoke:
>
>"Lord, bless this food, which I am about to
>receive from thy bounty
>through Christ our Lord Amen."