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An atheist was walking thru the woods.

“What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What beautiful animals!”, he said to himself.

Suddenly, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.

He turned to look & saw a 7’ grizzly bear charge towards him.

He ran as fast as he could along the path.

He looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was closing on him.

He looked over his shoulder again and the bear was even closer. He ran faster, then… he tripped and fell.

Rolling over to pick himself up, he found the bear was right on top of him, reaching towards him w/its left paw & raising the right paw to strike.

At that instant the atheist cried out, “Oh, my God!”

Time Stopped… The bear froze… The forest was silent...

A bright light shone upon the man, and a voice came out of the sky …

"You deny my existence for all these years, you 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 now to count you as a believer?"

The atheist looked directly into the light & said, "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?"

After a seemingly long pause, God says, "Very well."

The light went out & the sounds of the forest resumed.

And the bear dropped his right arm, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke,

"Lord, bless this food which I am about to receive from thy bounty thru Christ our Lord. Amen."