So it was in August that Kentrosaurus and Woolly Mammoth left South Africa for California USA on a mission trip to the La Brea tar pits in order to minister to the animals trapped there. Determined to save some souls, Woolly Mammoth arrived in California in a particularly zealous attitude. He said to Kentrosaurus, " We shall bring the Light of the World to La Brea on this trip!"

"Yes, indeed," agreed Kentrosaurus. "The Lord Jesus shall shine across the ages and touch the hearts of many. We are doing the work of the Lord."

The two religious leaders arrived at La Brea in the early afternoon, and felt compelled to begin sermonizing earlier than planned. There was stuck there a Dire Wolf and a Giant Ground Sloth, the Sloth being the most trapped in the sticky morass, and likely to die soon. Woolly Mammoth saw this and immediately got as close as he could, which made Kentrosaurus nervous.

"Brother," said he, addressing Giant Ground Sloth, "Have you accepted the Lord Jesus as your personal savior?"

"I don't mean to be rude," said Giant Ground Sloth, "..... but please spare me the lecture. I ate a lot of peaches in my lifetime, and will find Jesus on my own."

"No one will lecture you here, my son," reassured Woolly Mammoth. "..... indeed as it says in the Book of the Ephesians: "Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such that is good for building up, as the need may be, and that it may give grace to those that hear. Ephesians Chapter 4, verse 29. This also reminds me of a relevant verse from the Proverbs, 18:21 ...."

"Oh please ...." complained the Dire Wolf. "One is enough! Do go away forthwith, or things will end very badly for you."

Kentrosaurus knew that the Dire Wolf was trapped in the tar and his threats were likely bluster, but unlike the hapless Giant Ground Sloth, it was possible that Dire Wolf could free himself and be a danger to Woolly Mammoth. Without fear Woolly Mammoth recited his chosen verse from Proverbs, 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

"Now, " said Woolly Mammoth, "Perhaps do you think the fruit of the tongue is peaches?"

"That is enough! Enough is enough!" declared Dire Wolf. "Either let us out of here or leave us alone and let us die in peace!"

Then, suddenly, a distraction occurred that appeared in the form of a Smilodon. Kentrosaurus stepped in front of Woolly Mammoth, in order to protect him, but the Smilodon had his eye on Giant Ground Sloth, as the helpless giant was the weakest animal in the group. Giant Ground Sloth was afraid, but also resigned to his fate. "Tell my wife and children that I love them!" he exclaimed loudly.

"There is dinner!" Exclaimed Smilodon, as he leaped in the air.

"I am slain!" cried Giant Ground Sloth, as Smilodon's fangs sank into his exposed shoulder. He was so far down in the tar, pushed by the weight of Smilodon, that Smilodon was not able to eat him; he drowned in the tar, and now Smilodon was trapped.

Woolly Mammoth stepped away from Kentrosaurus and he said, " I shall preach on the New Testament book of St. Matthew, Chapter 7, verse 5. There are many in these last days who think not of judging others, but there are still more who, it seems have made a career out of judgement and ridicule. Those who apply their faults to their enemy can find a closer source of discord in their mirrors. I say it again, brothers and sisters... AMEN! For the fault lies in their own mirrors!"

"Thus, what a wicked and rash generalization to make when life is so short, as we have just seen with the fate of poor Giant Ground Sloth. We should all pray mercy for the soul of Giant Ground Sloth."

"Yet, at a time like now, instead of love and compassion, we see that which was imposed upon the enemy reflected in the supposedly compassionate! Verily! Thou hypocrite! First, cast the beam out of thine own eye, and then, thou shalt see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. "

All this time, Dire Wolf had been working to free himself from the tar, and Kentrosaurus saw this, so he again put himself in front of Woolly Mammoth.

Yet, Dire Wolf was not quite able to free himself on his own, as he kept slipping back into the tar, falling just short of the ability to reach the edge of the pit, and freedom. He tried this several times, and finally began to feel exhausted.

"You should be an agent of The Lord, and assist that Dire Wolf," Woolly Mammoth observed to Kentrosaurus.

Kentrosaurus did not respond, but went right to work as asked.

"If you promise not to attack me, or Woolly Mammoth, I will promise to help you," said Kentrosaurus to Dire Wolf.

Dire Wolf was so exhausted, that his arrogant bravado had evaporated, and he said weakly, "Agreed." and then, "I promise."

"I am going to extend my tail out. Grab on, and I will pull you in, but beware not to impale your self on one of my tail spikes," said Kentrosaurus.

Dire Wolf followed instruction as he was told, and very shortly was safe on land.

"Woolly Mammoth's sermonizing has not yet convinced me," said Dire Wolf, "Though I am grateful, so I will travel to South Africa next spring and pay a visit to your Church."

"You will be welcome, brother," assured Woolly Mammoth. Thus, Dire Wolf walked into the woods, after saying, "Thank you for saving me, in spite of my rude comments earlier."

"Forgiveness and love are two hallmarks of the Christian way of life," observed Woolly Mammoth. "Be well and go in peace. Lekh beshalom, my son."

"Will you save me, in spite of the fact that I murdered Giant Ground Sloth?" pleaded Smilodon.

"With the same caveat that I gave Dire Wolf," assured Kentrosaurus.

"If you can save me, I will dedicate my life to the service of your God," said Smilodon. "I hereby repent my sin in the act of murder."

"I take you at your word," said Kentrosaurus, "Now follow the same instruction that I gave Dire Wolf, and you shall soon be again safely on land."


Alas, but Smilodon was too far out, and Kentrosaurus could not risk going out much further without falling backward into the tar pit himself.

Woolly Mammoth, seeing this, exclaimed, "Do not despair, Smilodon! We will yet rescue you in the name of Lord Jesus!"

Woolly Mammoth went into the woods in search of a vine, by which, he intended to wrap around his trunk, and extend out to Smilodon, a considerable length longer ( and safer ) than Kentrosaurus' spiky tail.

Meanwhile, Kentrosaurus spoke a sermon of comfort to Smilodon. He recited Philippians 4:6-7, saying:

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

"Know Jesus, and know peace." encouraged Kentrosaurus. "Fear not, for Woolly Mammoth shall return anon, and you will be rescued from this horrible fate suffered by Giant Ground Sloth and so many others."

Woolly Mammoth returned from the woods with a stout, strong vine, and following instruction, Smilodon was summarily rescued.

"You both are prime examples of your religion and your way of life," said Smilodon, "Thank you." Smilodon then went on his way.

"Behold, Kentrosaurus! "We have done good work, and saved souls here today. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ, Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!" observed Woolly Mammoth, with a certain amount of pride and zeal.

"Yes indeed we have." concurred Kentrosaurus. "We should stay here and minister to the poor suffering animals tomorrow. We will have more converts for peace than ever before."

"This is my intent," agreed Woolly Mammoth. "We shall do so, and as soon as possible hold a revival festival where we can minister, hold baptisms, sing hymns, draw in the masses and celebrate the glory of the Lord."

"I also think it a good idea to run a fund raiser benefit for the wife and little young ones of Giant Ground Sloth." said Kentrosaurus. "I shall set upon this task with determination. The hand of the Lord Jesus moves me to assist the downtrodden in any way I am able. I follow your example."

"A very good idea!" agreed Woolly Mammoth. "Today The Lord has set our worthy task. Let us get to it and make it a reality."