I was leaning over my large drafting table and working on an insanely difficult homework project when a little act of kindness changed my life for eternity. Christine, a good friend from the time I started architecture school, leaned over my desk.

"Wanna come to Soul Talk?" she asked.

I tilted my head and looked at her. I could tell by her voice that extending the invitation to her Bible study group was hard for her to do. After all, I was notorious in my class. If there was a party, I was there. If there was drinking to be done, I was the first in line. If something bad happened in the studio, all eyes went to me.

I knew Christine liked church. I knew she didn't do the things I did. But for her to invite me to church? That crossed many boundaries.

"Uh, OK," was all I said.

Looking back on it now, I think I agreed to go so I wouldn't hurt her feelings. I expected to go to this "Soul Talk"  and do what I had done many times before -- refute these Jesus freaks for what they were -- self-righteous, lily-livered cowards who would wilt with the least bit of resistance. I even got a couple of my buddies to go with me. We were going to go meet "Christine's Jesus friends."

The first night I declared to a group of about 40 people at the Soul Talk that it was my belief that Jesus was an enlightened extraterrestrial who came to earth to show us a better way. Much to my surprise, the group leader didn't wilt! He actually challenged me right back! I could not wait to get out of there.

The next week, my two buddies were nowhere to be found when it came time to go. I decided to go again but this time I was ready. I would not let that leader win again! So, when the topic of sex before marriage came up, I blurted out to a group of about 50 people that in my well-considered opinion, sex was an act of love. I proclaimed that we could love someone whether we are married to that person or not.

"There!" I thought. "Let's see what he does with that!"

Well, he challenged me again.

"Well, why don't you marry her if you love her that much?" he asked me.  

"Well, why should I?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, why don't you?" he shot right back.

"Well, why should I?" I asked again.

"Bob, why don't you marry this woman?"

"Because I don't love her that much," I responded.

"Then, according to God, you don't love her enough to have a sexual relationship with her," he said.

Immediately after the Bible study, Sheridan, the study leader, approached me.

"Wow, this Bible sure makes you think," I said.

"Why don't we get together and look at it together?" he asked.

We did several personal Bible studies together and less than three months later I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

My life really changed when I became a Christian. It changed my view of God, of eternity and of relationships. It gave me a mission in life and provided answers to questions that I had always had like, "Why am I here?" and, "What am I supposed to do on this earth?"

To this day, I am still amazed at the power of one invitation.