JOSHUA TIME 418

GOD, a Bear and an Atheist:
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 bushesbehind him.He turned to look. He saw a 7 foot grizzly charging toward him! He ran asfast 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 butsaw the bear right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw andraising 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 asa believer?"The atheist looked directly into the light, "It would be hypocritical of meto suddenly ask You to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps could youmake 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 andbowed his head and spoke:"Lord, bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty throughChrist our Lord, Amen."