Original Message-------

Subject: The Voice 

An atheist was taking a walk through the woods.

 What majestic trees! What powerful rivers! What

beautiful animals!" he thought to himself.

 As he continued walking alongside the river he heard a

rustling in the bushes. Turning to look, he saw a 7

foot grizzly charging towards him. He ran as fast as

he could up the path.  Looking over his shoulder, he

saw that the bear was closing in on him. His heart was

pumping frantically and he tried to run even faster.

He tripped and fell on the ground.

He rolled over to pick himself up but saw the bear

raising his paw to take a swipe at him.  At that

instant the atheist cried out: "Oh my God!..."  Time

stopped.  The bear froze.  The forest was silent.

It was then that bright light shone upon the man and a

voice came out of the sky saying: "You deny my

existence for all of these years, teach others that 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. And

the sounds of the forest resumed. And then the bear

lowered his paw, bowed his head and spoke, "Lord,

bless this food which I am about to receive and for

which I am truly thankful."tt