Yesterday our Sunday School class started an eight-week series on "Becoming a Contagious Christian".

As an illustration to begin the class, I used this thought:

"Why did Dick Cheney spend part of his afternoon last Monday for Labor Day at the city park in Clear Lake, where there was only 900 people? And he and George Bush need millions and millions of votes to retain the presidency?"

"And why did Theresa Heinz-Kerry spend time for tea with several dozen friends in Mason City the day she got sick, campaigning for her husband and John Edwards? When they, too, are looking for millions and millions of votes to become the country's top leadership team?"

"They made the visits because each of them and their campaigns know that 900 X 1, or X 2, or X 3, eventually makes up the millions and millions which they need to be elected."

"Jesus knew the same thing about how to reach the world with His message of love and hope and peace and power and, and..... And He knews that every gift He was going to get to His children was going to last for forever. He did it by investing about three years of His time here on earth in 12 people. And if those people reached only 12 others, He would have an additional 144........and if each of those 144 reached out to only 12 others, they would have an additional 1728 believers, making a total of 1884 people enjoying more love and a new found freedom, in not a very long time."

We were encouraged by the study to look around our world of influence and see who is not now part of God's family. Or who has been disillusioned by people who claimed to provide a message of hope and help, but abused or rejected people in some way. Each of us were asked to begin thinking of several who we would like to spend eternity with in heaven. That's easy.......everybody I see, talk with, or email Karen's Korners.......

God's plan for the future looks pretty exciting to me........the kind of future and kind of gifts that aren't temporary!! Spread the word!!