An atheist was walking through the woods one day in Alaska, admiring
all that evolution had created. "What majestic trees! What a powerful
river! What beautiful animals!" he said to himself. As he was walking
alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him.
Turning to look, he saw a 13-foot Kodiak brown bear beginning to
charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could down the path. He
looked over his shoulder and saw that the bear was rapidly closing on
him. Somehow, he ran even faster, so scared that tears came to his
eyes. He looked again and the bear was even closer.

His heart pounding in his chest, he tried to run faster yet. But alas,
he tripped and fell to the ground. As he rolled over to pick himself
up, the bear was right over him, reaching for him with its left paw
and raising its right paw to strike him.

"OH MY GOD! ..."

Time stopped.

The bear froze.

The forest was silent.

Even the river stopped moving...

As a brilliant light shone upon the man, a thunderous voice came from
all around, "YOU DENY MY EXISTENCE FOR ALL THESE YEARS, TEACH OTHERS
THAT I DON'T EXIST AND EVEN CREDIT CREATION TO SOME COSMIC ACCIDENT.
DO YOU EXPECT ME TO HELP YOU OUT OF THIS PREDICAMENT? AM I TO COUNT
YOU AS A BELIEVER?"

Difficult as it was, the atheist looked directly into the light and
said, "It would be hypocritical to ask to be a Christian after all
these years, but perhaps you could make the bear a Christian?"

"VERY WELL." Said God.

The light went out.

The river ran.

The sounds of the forest resumed.

...and the bear dropped down on his knees, brought both paws together,
bowed his head and spoke: "Lord, thank you for this food which I am
about to receive."