[lurker]

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.

He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charge towards him.



He ran as fast as he could. He looked over his shoulder and saw that
the bear was closing in on him. He looked again. The bear was even closer.



He tripped and fell. He rolled over quickly but saw the bear right on
top of him, reaching for him with his left paw and raising his 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, 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 into the light. "It would be hypocritical of me to
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.



The bear stopped, 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."