It is no wonder why certain people make it far in life. Some people just know how to connect with people. Some wonder why and get jealous of their fame and say they got lucky. I don't believe that is true. I think the people who are successful, I mean really successful know how to connect with people. Years ago, I attended the Purpose Driven Church Conference @ Saddleback Church in Southern California. I wrote Rick Warren a thank you note for the conference and told him I was starting a church. I never expected what I got in the mail box a week later, a hand written note from Rick Warren telling me to go for it! Rick Warren, the pastor of a church that has over 15,000 people attend every weekend and has written best selling books took time to write me a note of encouragement. I also met Congressmen Bob Barr @ Starbucks in Town Lake, GA one morning and told him I was planting a new church. 2 days later I got a post card from him thanking me for introducing myself to him. A man who has thousands of people in his district took time to write me. Last year Roger Breland (formerly of TRUTH) came to our church. I knew him from a past church. I walked up and welcomed him and just told him how glad I was to see him. 3 days later he wrote me a note thanking me for my hospitality. Yesterday I wrote an email to Wayne Cordeiro who has written dozens of books. He has had a tremendous impact on me thru his books and by watching his webcasts. I wrote to thank him for allowing God to speak to me and challenge me. He actually wrote me back today! Unbelievable! That may not sound like much to you, but to me it makes me understand why these people are so successful. They connect with people! They don't just write and speak about connecting with people, they LIVE IT! I was talking to Jason Burns about this and he gave me some great ideas of how he connects. I won't write them now because I want to use them here. But I will give Jason all the credit. A few years ago I wrote every SS teacher a personal not at my church in NC thanking them for teaching in our church. There was no reason for it, just thanks. One older gentleman said he had been teaching over 40 years and no one had ever thanked him. How sad! I'm not perfect by any means, but I pray I continue to connect with people. I have learned so much watching my parents, Cassandra and the example of dynamic leaders connect and really live it! I hope to keep the legacy going!