The Berenstain Bears®

Let the Bible

Be Your

Guide

by Stan and Jan Berenstain

with Mike Berenstain

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful

for teaching, rebuking, correcting and

training in righteousness.

—2 Timothy 3:16

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Begin Reading

Copyright

About the Publisher

Share Your Thoughts

Begin Reading

“Hooray!” said the Scouts.

“Hooray! Hooray!

We try for our

White Water badges today!”

“With life jackets, we are ready, it’s true.

And we’re even bringing

our Bible too.”

“One! Two! Three!”

said the Bear Scout crew

as they lifted up

their big canoe.

Scoutmaster Papa had his own canoe.

The Scouts’ was red.

Pa’s was blue.

So off Papa went, with his nephew, son, and daughter, to test the Scouts’ skills on some white, white water.

“Papa, you don’t have a life jacket on!”

“A jacket for me?”

Papa said with a yawn.

“Since I swim like a fish,”

bragged Papa Bear,

“I’m as safe on Rapid River as in my own lair!”

“Well, Uncle,” said Fred, very concerned,

“Proverbs says ‘Let wise people listen and add to what they’ve learned.’”

“At least take our troop’s Bible,”

Brother Bear said.

“Please take it, Uncle,”

begged Cousin Fred.

“Thank you, thank you, just the same,

but books and such

are not my game.

“I like my canoeing wild and free!

Now into the river!

Follow me!”

“But those who listen to me will live in safety,”

it says in the Holy Book.

“And Papa, take a look at our Good Deed Scout Guidebook: ‘Rule Number One— Do not canoe

where big currents run!’”

“Thank you for that rule, my son.

But the bigger the current, the bigger the fun!”

“Look out, Papa!

It’s dangerous there!

That current is strong!

Please take care!”

“But I can swim like a fish.

So don’t worry, daughter …”

“Yes. Just like a fish— UNDER WATER!”

“Thanks, Scouts, for saving both me and canoe!

What a great feeling!

What a grand view!”

“Papa, in the book of Proverbs we are told, ‘Choose knowledge rather than gold.’

And the Scout Guidebook says: ‘Rule Number Two— Don’t ever stand up

in a canoe!’”

“Please don’t think me rude, but for Rule Number Two

I have just three words:

Pooh! Pooh! And Poo—

“Hmm. What’s that roaring sound I hear?

There may be falls

ahead, I fear.”

“Relax, Bear Scouts.

Please calm your fears.

That roar is music

to my ears!”

“Look over there!

Papa Bear, look!

And listen to what else

it says in the book.

“The Scout Guidebook says: ‘Rule Number Three— Obey all signs

that you see!’”

“Rules and signs mean nothing to me.

I like my canoeing

wild and free-e-e …

“Thank you, Scouts, I’m proud of you!

And truth to tell—

you’ve earned your White Water badges and these Rescue ones, as well!

And just one more thing,

dear Scouts …

God’s Guidebook is really swell!”

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

—Proverbs 16:20

ZONDERKIDZ

The Berenstain Bears® Let the Bible Be Your Guide

Copyright © 2011 by Berenstain Publishing, Inc.

Illustrations © 2011 by Berenstain Publishing, Inc.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.

EPub Edition © FEBRUARY 2011 ISBN: 978-0-310-72790-3

Requests for information should be addressed to:

Zonderkidz, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Berenstain, Jan, 1923– The Berenstain Bears : let the Bible be your guide / created by Stan and Jan ; with Mike Berenstain.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-310-72714-9 (hardback)

[1. Stories in rhyme. 2. Scouting (Youth activity)—Fiction. 3. White water canoeing—Fiction. 4. Bears—Fiction. 5. Christian life—Fiction.] I. Berenstain, Mike, 1951-II. Berenstain, Stan, 1923–2005. III. Title. IV Title: Let the Bible be your guide.

PZ8.3.B44925Bd 2011

[E] dc22 2010052434

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Any Internet addresses (websites, blogs, etc.) and telephone numbers printed in this book are offered as a resource. They are not intended in any way to be or imply an endorsement by Zondervan, nor does Zondervan vouch for the content of these sites and numbers for the life of this book.

Zonderkidz is a trademark of Zondervan.

Editor: Mary Hassinger

Art direction: Diane Mielke

11 12 13 14 15 16 /SCC/ 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Publisher

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Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

Begin Reading

Copyright

About the Publisher

Share Your Thoughts