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I’ve spent a few days up in Maine back in January teaching at the Heroic Leadership Institute,

Not really knowing what to call me, one of the students there called me “Teacher Craig,” which cracked me up a bit.

They’re probably humble… able to speak simply because they’re not trying to impress you with their knowledge.

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I’m so glad that you’re here this Easter Sunday as we focus in on the life & hope we have through the death & resurrection of Jesus.

You see, the reason His “death” can be celebrated has everything to do with the “life” that follows it.

It’s why, in America today, fewer and fewer people plan for their death… even though dying has become a pretty expensive proposition.

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Jesus walking with His disciples who were no doubt talking about all the amazing thing they had seen Him do.

But then He asks them, “Who do You say I am? Who am I to you?”

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Well, for us as Jesus-followers, every moment we share with the Father… experiencing for ourselves His love & goodness & nearness;

You see, even in the midst of “this present evil age,” as Paul describes it in Galatians 1,

One way or another, the world around us… our neighbors, our co-workers, our family members…

In Luke 4, after preaching the Good News of the Kingdom and healing all kinds of sickness in Capernaum,

In fact, even after Jesus appeared to His followers after His resurrection, we’re told in Acts 1:3 that He continued speaking to them about the Kingdom of God.

Acts 4:30-31

“Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus. After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.”

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Now, this word, “sabbatical” comes from the Hebrew words, “Shabbat,” which means “ceasing”.

You see, we all have plans. But to a people whose plans didn’t turn out anywhere near the way they expected,

Of course, these are great words that can offer a lot of encouragement when some grief or challenge intrudes into your life… & interferes with your plans.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22-23