Three Holy Men and a Bear
>
> A Catholic Priest, a Baptist Preacher and a Rabbi all served as Chaplains
> to the students of Northern Michigan University at Marquette in the Upper
> Peninsula of Michigan.
>
> They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk
> shop.
>
> One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really
> all that hard, a real challenge would be to preach to a bear.
>
> One thing led to another, and they decided to do an experiment. They would
each go out into the woods, find a bear, preach to it, and attempt to
> convert it to their religion.
>
> Seven days later, they all came together to discuss their experiences.
>
> Father Flannery, who had his arm in a sling, was on crutches, and had
> various bandages on his body and limbs, went first.
>
> 'Well,' he said, 'I went into the woods to find me a bear. And when I
> found him, I began to read to him from the Catechism.
>
> Well, that bear wanted nothing to do with me and began to slap me around.
> So I quickly grabbed my holy water, sprinkled him and, Holy Mary Mother of
> God, he became as gentle as a lamb. The Bishop is coming out next week to
> give him first communion and confirmation.'
>
> Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, had one arm and
> both legs in casts, and had an IV drip.
>
> In his best fire-and-brimstone oratory, he exclaimed, 'WELL, brothers,
> you
> KNOW that we Baptists don't sprinkle! I went out and I FOUND me a bear.
> And
> then I began to read to my bear from God's HOLY WORD! But that bear wanted nothing to do with me.
>
> So I took HOLD of him and we began to wrestle. We wrestled down one hill,
> UP
> another and DOWN another until we came to a creek. So I quickly DUNKED him
> and BAPTIZED his hairy soul. And just like you said, he became as gentle
> as a lamb. We spent the rest of the day praising Jesus...Hallelujah!
>
> The Priest and the Reverend both looked down at the Rabbi, who was lying
> in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IVs and monitors
> running in and out of him. He was in really bad shape.
>
> The Rabbi looked up and said:
>
> "Looking back on it, ....
>
> circumcision may not have
> been the best way to start.":-[