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Come on, man. 
If you believe it in your 

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celebrated Easter with me today,
let me hear an Easter Roar all 

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across all of our locations. 
Come on. 

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Yeah, man. 
We serve a Victorious and 

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resurrected Lord. 
I am so glad that you guys are 

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here today. 
My desire is to bring a message 

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today that will bring hope and 
Clarity into each and every 

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single one of your Times I wrote
this message, for those of you 

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who have tried and tried to fill
yourself up with all that. 

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Life has to offer, only to find 
yourself, still running on 

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empty. 
I wrote this message for those 

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of you who ran after profits and
pleasure and platforms, but have

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never been fully satisfied. 
I wrote this message. 

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For those of you who've worked 
yourself to the Bone gone, from 

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relationship to relationship to 
those of you who, no matter how 

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much you get, It's never enough.
I wrote it for those that hope 

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that the next relationship would
be the one, the last one. 

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It's for those of you who 
thought that the last raise at 

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work would be enough. 
I wrote this message for those 

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of you who saved and saved and 
thought The next purchase would 

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bring happiness. 
It's for those of you who 

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believe you've tried God on, and
it didn't seem to fit, just 

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right. 
It's for those of you who are 

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wondering, if this is it. 
If this is all there is, I wrote

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this message for those of you 
who are tired of running tired 

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of waiting tired of the 
inescapable feeling that it 

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might never get better. 
I wrote this message for those 

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of you who would class pacify 
yourselves, as spiritually, 

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confused religiously upset, 
biblically underwhelmed. 

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I wrote this message for people 
who are tired of chasing Shades.

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I want to welcome those of you 
joining at 48th Street. 

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To those of you joining in 
Macomb and 929 in Kirksville, 

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Pike County, Hannibal Lima Mount
Sterling Keokuk. 

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Monmouth Jacksonville. 
I want to welcome our for 

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crossing inside locations. 
Western Illinois. 

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Correctional center, Pike 
County. 

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Dale, the Adams County Jail in 
the vein Delia women's prison 

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and the thousands of you joining
online, I also want to welcome 

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those of you who are joining us 
for the first time or are 

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joining us for the first time in
a long time. 

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We are so glad that you are here
and we are thankful that you 

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took time out of your business. 
Busy schedules to spend a little

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bit of your day with us. 
We want you to know that there 

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are campus pastors and staff and
difference makers at all of our 

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locations. 
Ins who love you and are for you

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because we serve a God who is 
for you. 

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And for your family, the title 
of my message today is chasing 

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shapes turned, your neighbor 
say, chasing Shades. 

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Would you do that real quick? 
The problem with chasing Shades 

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is it robs you of at least two 
things, it robs you of your 

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Clarity and it steals your hope.
That's exactly what Satan does. 

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It's also what the world, does 
it robs. 

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And it steals your hope and your
Clarity. 

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It gives you enough light to see
but not enough light to 

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understand. 
You can end up chasing Shades. 

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Let me explain it to you. 
Your eyes are not deceiving you.

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I'm standing in front of you, a 
six foot six 300-pound man in a 

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pink shirt and blue bottoms. 
Yeah, I'm like cotton candy, 

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Clayton, that's what this is. 
This is bubblegum. 

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And if you if you call the 
crossing home you know that my 

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wife is the one who dresses. 
Me. 

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What I'm supposed to go out in 
public places, but I had it set 

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apart in my heart that this was 
the outfit. 

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I was going to wear this weekend
because I'm a sucker for a 

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pastel, so what happens and but 
in the right light, I'm okay. 

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Have you ever noticed that? 
Sometimes you chase shades, That

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you miss out on all the 
brilliant colors that life has 

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to offer. 
You just get sucked into chasing

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Shades. 
Let me explain in a different 

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way to all the all the ladies 
that are listening at all of our

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different locations, give me an 
H, okay. 

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I just want to make sure there 
were girls here. 

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Have you noticed that the guy 
you married? 

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He went to Walmart or shopped 
online and he wanted some camo 

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colored Crocs just to kind of 
have something nice to put in 

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his feet in after a long hard 
day at work and he wanted the 

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camel colored Crocs to go. 
This camo colored cargo pants 

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that match his camo colored 
boat. 

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And from time to time he goes 
out and buys new rods new reels 

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and new lures. 
So he can go out and fish and 

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hopefully catch more fish and 
then he was like, you know, 

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sweetie, I feel like, maybe I 
shouldn't just fish. 

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I feel like I should maybe Into 
hunting and so, you know, he may

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be, he's like, me deep down 
inside. 

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He has a desire to have a 
Browning Satori lightning over 

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under. 
He wants the matching set, the 

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12 gauge, and the 20 gauge and 
he justifies the purchase that 

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one day, he'll give him off to 
his kids. 

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And then he's like, you know 
what? 

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I feel if I'm gonna do, honey, I
probably need to get myself a 

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four-wheeler because in case I 
do shoot one, I don't want to 

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have to drag it up on myself and
throw my back out and not be 

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able to work and provide for you
sweetie. 

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So I feel like I do need the 
four-wheeler and the garage 

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keeps getting more. 
And more full of things but he 

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doesn't get any happier. 
He's made all the purchases. 

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He's wanted, but it's not 
changed. 

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In fact, he's still pretty 
stinking grumpy and your kind of

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glad he has all those things in 
your kind of, like, don't you 

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want to go away for the weekend 
just with your friends or maybe 

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by yourself take a week? 
If you need to write some of you

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guys are, like, hold on, a 
second Clayton. 

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I thought we were friends, okay.
I came here on Easter weekend 

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and this is what you're gonna do
to me. 

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It's alright fellows. 
If you're with, if you're with 

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me, give me a Who Okay, I got 
some I got a home team. 

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Um, guys, maybe you can 
understand, maybe, you know, 

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somebody, let's call them spouse
and your life was doing actually

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pretty good for all of it. 
And one of the things you got 

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really good at was sleeping. 
You go in. 

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You lay down on your bed, you 
pull up the covers, put your 

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head on the pillow, go to sleep,
not a problem and you've been 

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married to spouse for a while 
and you come home from work one 

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day and you go into your bedroom
and there are new pillows on 

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your bed. 
Like, that's weird, but okay, 

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and they're, they're different 
but, you know, their pillows. 

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Well, after you finish, you 
know, cooking dinner and doing 

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the dishes, like, you normally 
do you. 

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Whoa, whoa, whoa, settle down. 
We don't know who I'm talking 

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about. 
It might be somebody else's 

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husband. 
I'm referring to sheesh, ladies,

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okay. 
And you get ready to go, lay 

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down and go to bed and you. 
Pull up the covers and you lay 

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your head on the pillows and 
spouse comes in and she goes. 

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What are you doing? 
And you go. 

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What do you mean? 
What am I doing? 

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She was. 
What are you doing? 

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I'm going to sleep. 
What are you doing with your 

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head there? 
We're on the pillow. 

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Oh, I had my head on the pillow 
because it's It's a pillow. 

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She said, oh no those pillars 
are not for sleeping. 

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Those are accent pillows there 
for decoration. 

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And you think who are we 
decorating for? 

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It's literally just us all the 
time in here. 

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If your if your house is like my
house as soon as you invite 

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people over soon as they come in
the front door, your wife pulls.

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The bedroom door and says do not
let anybody go in there. 

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So why whoo-wee? 
Okay. 

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All right, but this psychic 
spouse that you are with, she 

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trains. 
You you take the the accent 

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pillows. 
Right off the bed and you put 

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them on the floor, you're thrown
down there and then in the 

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morning you make the bed. 
You put them back every day. 

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This is your life. 
She wonders why you want to go 

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fishing? 
Okay and then just when she's 

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got you trained you come home 
from work one day and you go to 

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sit in your favorite chair or 
your favorite couch. and you 

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notice, Thera pillows there, 
too. 

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But you've been trained, you 
know exactly what to do. 

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You pick up these pillows and 
you throw them on the ground? 

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And she goes, what are you 
doing? 

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You go on doing what you've 
trained me to do. 

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She says no these are not accent
pillows. 

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These are throw pillows and 
they're called throw pillows 

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because you don't get to throw 
these on the floor. 

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And she keeps going to Target 
with her friends and buying more

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pillows and where you used to be
able to set your drink on the 

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end table and you used to have 
an armrest. 

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Now, it's just you on a couch 
meant for six, sitting, by 

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yourself in a whole bunch of 
pillows. and the think, That 

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woman that you fell in love 
with. 

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Gets up every day and goes to a 
job that she doesn't like with 

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people. 
She doesn't like for a boss that

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she doesn't like to earn money 
to go out and buy pillows to 

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destroy your marriage. 
Have you ever felt like you were

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chasing shades? 
Let me show to you spiritually. 

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Jesus says this and John chapter
10 I am the gate whoever enters 

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through me, he will be saved. 
They will come in and go out and

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find pasture whoever's in a 
relationship with Jesus will 

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have their needs met and 
everything will go well for 

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them. 
But the thief comes Only to 

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steal kill and destroy. 
Jesus says, I have come that 

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they may have life and have it 
to the full. 

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I am the Good Shepherd and the 
Good Shepherd. 

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Lays down his life for the 
Sheep. 

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The Hired Hand, Is that the 
shepherd and does not own the 

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Sheep. 
So when he sees the wolf coming,

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he abandons the sheep and runs 
away, then the wolf attacks, the

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flock, and scatters it. 
I wonder if there's somebody 

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joining from our different 
locations, who feels a little 

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scattered The man runs away 
because he is a Hired Hand. 

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And cares. 
Nothing for the Sheep. 

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I am the Good Shepherd and I 
know my sheep and my sheep know 

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me just as the father knows me. 
And I know the father and I lay 

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down my life for the Sheep. 
That's Good Friday, that's Jesus

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on the cross. 
I have other sheep that are not 

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of this sheep pen. 
I must bring them. 

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00:11:18,100 --> 00:11:21,800
Also, they too will. 
Listen to my voice and there 

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shall be one flock and one 
Shepherd, the reason, my father 

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loves me is that I lay down my 
life. 

191
00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:33,100
That's the cross. 
Again only to take it up again. 

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That is Easter Sunday. 
No one takes it from me, but I 

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lay it down of my own accord. 
I have authority to lay it down 

194
00:11:41,100 --> 00:11:43,800
and authority to take it up 
again. 

195
00:11:45,300 --> 00:11:50,500
But the thief comes only to 
steal kill and destroy. 

196
00:11:50,500 --> 00:11:54,000
Make no mistake about it. 
You have an enemy. 

197
00:11:54,300 --> 00:11:56,900
He attacks your past, your 
present, your relationships, 

198
00:11:57,100 --> 00:12:00,200
your identity, your future. 
There's some of you listening my

199
00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:02,500
voice right now and you've had 
people placed in your life who 

200
00:12:02,500 --> 00:12:06,300
are to provide and protect and 
instead, they used you and 

201
00:12:06,300 --> 00:12:12,100
abandoned you There's some of 
you here today, watching online 

202
00:12:12,100 --> 00:12:15,800
or joining us from the crossing 
inside. and you're looking at 

203
00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:19,000
the Christian Life and the 
promise of a fulfilled and 

204
00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:24,800
Abundant Life in you're going, 
there's no way if you could pick

205
00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:28,200
a couple of words to describe 
the Christian Life, the two you 

206
00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:35,200
would not pick for sure, would 
be full and abundant Is it 

207
00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:42,200
possible that were simply 
chasing Shades that were not 

208
00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,900
actually living the life that 
God intended for us to live the 

209
00:12:45,900 --> 00:12:48,600
problem with Shades? 
The problem with the lack of 

210
00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:53,100
clarity is that you don't know 
what to Chase. 

211
00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:59,000
You've seen that, I am 
surrounded by Colour, but you 

212
00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:04,800
can't see it anymore. 
It's there nothing's moved. 

213
00:13:04,800 --> 00:13:06,200
Do you remember where the green 
one? 

214
00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,500
Was the blue one. 
The red one. 

215
00:13:14,000 --> 00:13:22,000
You could see it when you sought
it made sense. but then, The 

216
00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:28,300
harder you look you just feel 
like you're chasing Shades. 

217
00:13:28,700 --> 00:13:30,500
This happens in all kinds of 
ways. 

218
00:13:31,100 --> 00:13:34,000
The good gifts that God has 
given us the things that he has 

219
00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:38,900
given us for our enjoyment and 
to glorify him, we can end up 

220
00:13:38,900 --> 00:13:42,100
worshipping those things instead
of The Giver of those good 

221
00:13:42,100 --> 00:13:46,300
things, where you can find 
yourself, placing those things 

222
00:13:46,300 --> 00:13:49,600
in the place of God, make no 
mistake about it, we were made 

223
00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:51,400
to worship all of us will 
worship. 

224
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One or something. 
Some of you, you may worship 

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your job, some of you your 
money, some of you, your kids, 

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some of you, your spouse others,
your platform, but what happens 

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when they don't fulfill you, 
What happens when you lose them?

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We see it happen all the time. 
We know this to be true, we 

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watch it in the news and we see 
people who seem to have it all. 

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All the money that you could 
ever want their famous across 

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the globe, access to all the 
pleasure that the world has to 

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offer. 
Yet their lives are shambles 

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held together by drugs, rehabs 
and relapse has, how many of us 

234
00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:36,500
have watched childhood stars in 
Hollywood Elites live spiral out

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of control or painfully cut 
short. 

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That's why Easter is so special 
and so significant because Jesus

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death on the cross and three 
days later. 

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Coming back to life, brings the 
light. 

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We desperately need, we see 
things differently because of 

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the light I believe we see at 
least three things differently 

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because of the light of Jesus 
Christ. 

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The first thing that I think we 
all see differently is we would 

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see our situation differently, 
we would recognize that the 

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things that God has given us. 
They are gifts from God, but 

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they are not a replacement for 
God. 

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Maybe the reason why you are not
living life to the full. 

247
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As you are, worshiping the gift,
God gave you and not God 

248
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himself. 
They should cause us to worship 

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God, but he cannot be the object
of our worship gifts are to be 

250
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given, not stored. 
That's the path to an abundant 

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life. 
That the things that God gives 

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us are meant to be a benefit to 
others. 

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Not just to benefit ourselves 
that let me show it to you. 

254
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For instance, our money is not 
for Sumption but it is for 

255
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giving and the stats on this are
in the world, happiness report 

256
00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:58,100
just came out and it says that 
the more generous you are the 

257
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more happy you become. 
Which makes what Jesus said in 

258
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Scripture. 
It is more blessed to give than 

259
00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:11,800
to receive make a whole lot more
sense that the power you and I 

260
00:16:11,800 --> 00:16:16,200
have is not for us to control 
things but to help people 

261
00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,700
there's a Chinese proverb that 
says, if you want happiness for 

262
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an hour, take a nap. 
Some of your like praise God. 

263
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:24,600
Right there. 
That's my message. 

264
00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:27,200
That was my Easter message. 
The K. 

265
00:16:27,400 --> 00:16:31,000
So you're like I actually want, 
like that's can we just play the

266
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song and leave? 
As I want to go home and take a 

267
00:16:32,608 --> 00:16:34,400
nap. 
And so, if you just woke up. 

268
00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:35,700
Hi. 
My name is Clayton. 

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00:16:35,700 --> 00:16:38,300
I'm glad you're here. 
Okay, if you want happiness for 

270
00:16:38,300 --> 00:16:40,900
an hour, take a nap if you want 
it for a day, go fishing. 

271
00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:45,500
If you want it for a year 
inherit a fortune, if you want 

272
00:16:45,500 --> 00:16:53,800
it for a lifetime help. 
Somebody That happiness comes 

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the stats are in on this that 
the more you help other people, 

274
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the more happy and fulfilled you
become. 

275
00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:04,300
You'll have a greater sense of 
purpose and well-being, that 

276
00:17:04,300 --> 00:17:07,200
when you help other people, it 
releases endorphins 

277
00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:11,500
psychologists call it, you 
getting a helpers, hi. 

278
00:17:13,099 --> 00:17:16,900
Maybe the path to an Abundant 
Life is In Loving and serving 

279
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other people instead of just 
serving and loving ourselves. 

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We would realize that in our 
situation that our platform 

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isn't up for personal elevation,
but for lifting other people up 

282
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and lifting other people out. 
If you to see your life through 

283
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the lens of Jesus, through the 
light that he brings, we would 

284
00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:39,900
stop chasing Shades. 
We would see things differently 

285
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in our situation. 
We realize that our time is not 

286
00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:47,600
running out. 
Our time is actually running up.

287
00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:51,300
So many of us are trying to get 
everything we can out of this 

288
00:17:51,300 --> 00:17:54,800
life, as if this life is all 
there is. 

289
00:17:55,500 --> 00:17:57,900
But when you come into an 
intimate, personal relationship 

290
00:17:57,900 --> 00:18:00,300
with Jesus Christ, your clock 
doesn't run down. 

291
00:18:00,300 --> 00:18:06,900
It begins running up that are 
death is not the end, it is not 

292
00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:10,900
our destination, but is an 
invitation to Eternity with God 

293
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himself. 
Look what it says in Romans 6:23

294
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for the wages of sin is death. 
But the gift of God is eternal 

295
00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,400
life in Christ. 
Jesus, our lord, all of us, have

296
00:18:23,400 --> 00:18:27,100
sinned, all of us will 
eventually die, but for those of

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00:18:27,108 --> 00:18:30,100
us who are in an intimate 
personal relationship with Jesus

298
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Christ. 
When we die, we will be with him

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00:18:34,500 --> 00:18:37,800
forever. 
We won't just see our situation 

300
00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:39,900
differently, through the light 
of Jesus. 

301
00:18:39,900 --> 00:18:44,800
We would see a god differently 
and I talked to a lot of people 

302
00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:51,300
and I'm amazed at how How so 
many people see God differently 

303
00:18:51,300 --> 00:18:54,300
than I do. 
Maybe you've had that same 

304
00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,800
situation, you'll be talking to 
somebody and the god that 

305
00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,000
they're talking about doesn't 
sound anything like the god 

306
00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,300
that, you know, but it's only 
through the lens of Jesus, 

307
00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:06,200
through the light of Jesus, that
were able to stop chasing Shades

308
00:19:06,400 --> 00:19:09,700
and actually see God. 
The way he actually desires to 

309
00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:12,300
be seen. 
For instance, if you through the

310
00:19:12,300 --> 00:19:14,600
light of Jesus, you would 
realize that God is not 

311
00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:20,000
controlling but caring. 
He's not trying to limit you. 

312
00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:24,200
He is trying to protect you as 
the creator of life, he knows 

313
00:19:24,200 --> 00:19:27,500
best how to live that life. 
What will bring you ultimate 

314
00:19:27,500 --> 00:19:30,100
happiness will bring you 
ultimate fulfillment. 

315
00:19:30,100 --> 00:19:33,400
What will give you abundance? 
He knows what we'll do those 

316
00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:37,600
things and he also knows what 
will steal them and robbed them.

317
00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,200
He knows what will destroy and 
he knows what will bring you 

318
00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,400
life and life to the full. 
If you look at God, through the 

319
00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:47,900
light of Jesus, you would see 
that. 

320
00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:52,200
He's not angry, he's loving 
that, the wrath of God that you 

321
00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,700
and I racked up. 
What is satisfied through Jesus?

322
00:19:55,700 --> 00:20:00,400
On the cross that he loves us. 
That's why it says in John 3:16,

323
00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,100
you guys know this, when you've 
got it on a cup of coffee mugs 

324
00:20:03,100 --> 00:20:05,700
at home, couple of you got a 
tattoo on a spring break when 

325
00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:08,200
you were talking to other 
people, you got John 3:16 

326
00:20:08,200 --> 00:20:11,300
somewhere on your body. 
You guys all know this for God's

327
00:20:11,300 --> 00:20:16,600
soap, what's the next word? 
Yeah, the world that he gave his

328
00:20:16,600 --> 00:20:18,700
one and only son that whoever 
believes Believes in him, shall 

329
00:20:18,700 --> 00:20:22,600
not perish but have eternal 
life. 

330
00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:28,500
You would realize that God's not
against you, but God is for you.

331
00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:33,000
P is for your good. 
He is for your family. 

332
00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,700
He was for a full and Abundant 
Life. 

333
00:20:36,700 --> 00:20:38,700
God is for you. 
I'll prove it to. 

334
00:20:38,700 --> 00:20:41,400
You look what he says in Romans 
8:31. 

335
00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,600
What then shall we say in 
response to these things? 

336
00:20:44,600 --> 00:20:49,000
If God is for us, who can be 
against us? 

337
00:20:49,300 --> 00:20:53,600
God is for you. 
That's why he sent his son to 

338
00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:59,600
die for you. 
Through the lens of Jesus, 

339
00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:03,100
through the light of Jesus. 
We would also realize that God 

340
00:21:03,100 --> 00:21:06,400
is Not distant, but God is 
closed. 

341
00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:10,200
I know sometimes people feel 
like because God is a cosmic 

342
00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:15,600
God, he's so far away that, even
if you screamed and shouted and 

343
00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,600
waved Flags, he wouldn't even 
notice you. 

344
00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,400
But all too often in scripture, 
the way to get God's attention 

345
00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:27,100
is not screaming and shouting, 
its Whispering. 

346
00:21:28,500 --> 00:21:33,300
Because he's that close. 
In fact, when he sent his son, 

347
00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:39,600
Jesus to Earth, he said and call
him Emmanuel, which means god 

348
00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:45,200
with us. 
And when Jesus left Earth, he 

349
00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:50,200
said I'm going to leave behind 
my Holy Spirit, which is God in 

350
00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:54,500
us. 
You don't have to scream and 

351
00:21:54,500 --> 00:21:55,800
shout. 
He is close. 

352
00:21:56,200 --> 00:21:59,300
Close enough to whisper. 
Look what it says in Psalm 34 

353
00:21:59,300 --> 00:22:01,800
Verse 18. 
The Lord is close to the 

354
00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,000
Brokenhearted and saves those 
who are crushed in spirit. 

355
00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,500
If there are some of you 
listening to me right now and 

356
00:22:09,500 --> 00:22:12,700
you would classify yourself as 
crushed and spirit. 

357
00:22:12,700 --> 00:22:20,800
I want you to know, maybe God 
has never been closer. we would 

358
00:22:20,800 --> 00:22:24,700
see our situation differently, 
we would see God differently, 

359
00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:28,700
but the last thing I want to 
tell you through the light of 

360
00:22:28,700 --> 00:22:34,600
Jesus, I think we would see 
ourselves differently. 

361
00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:40,900
It was a couple years back, my 
oldest son was just barely 

362
00:22:40,900 --> 00:22:44,200
walking and we were it was a it 
was a warm day and we were 

363
00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,700
outside and I was just looking 
at him and some of you you've 

364
00:22:48,700 --> 00:22:52,100
been there were you are just 
overcome with emotion as you 

365
00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:56,500
stare at your kid like your 
heart is completely full and you

366
00:22:56,500 --> 00:22:59,800
can't really articulate it and 
it was just one of those special

367
00:22:59,800 --> 00:23:04,900
moments and I immediately called
my dad And when he picked up the

368
00:23:04,908 --> 00:23:09,700
phone, I said, Dad. 
I'm standing here looking at my 

369
00:23:09,700 --> 00:23:15,100
son and I am overwhelmed by how 
much I love him and it's in this

370
00:23:15,100 --> 00:23:18,700
moment that I fully understand 
what you mean. 

371
00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:25,700
When you say you love me. 
It was only until I could see 

372
00:23:26,500 --> 00:23:31,000
myself to the eyes of a father. 
That I understood how much my 

373
00:23:31,000 --> 00:23:35,300
father loved me. 
It was as I looked at Zane, I 

374
00:23:35,300 --> 00:23:39,200
realized how my father looked at
me. 

375
00:23:41,200 --> 00:23:45,200
Some of you, you're getting 
ready in the morning and your 

376
00:23:45,200 --> 00:23:48,200
spouse is in the bathroom. 
And you, maybe you're like me. 

377
00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:51,900
And sometimes I'll write Post-it
notes and sometimes I'll have a 

378
00:23:51,908 --> 00:23:55,700
little rap poems, which they 
don't go over well, but I do 

379
00:23:55,700 --> 00:23:59,600
them anyway. 
Sometimes I'll sing her song. 

380
00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:05,000
And you know we got the mirror 
in the bathroom and I'll say 

381
00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:12,000
things like oh my goodness. 
Whoo you are looking good today 

382
00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:20,600
she's just will you quit And 
she'll put on a certain outfit 

383
00:24:21,300 --> 00:24:23,400
and spec. 
How does this look? 

384
00:24:24,200 --> 00:24:28,300
And I'll be like, whoo. 
I don't know if I'll even that. 

385
00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:30,600
That you look way too good. 
No one's going to be able to 

386
00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:36,100
work today, will you stop? 
Sometimes I'll just be a decent 

387
00:24:36,100 --> 00:24:39,200
human being and I know you look 
beautiful. 

388
00:24:40,900 --> 00:24:45,200
And she go. 
Yeah, right. because women are 

389
00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:58,500
not complicated and Fellas. 
Have you ever have you ever 

390
00:24:58,500 --> 00:25:03,900
wished that you could pull your 
eyes out of your head and shove 

391
00:25:03,900 --> 00:25:07,400
them in her head? 
And then turn her head towards 

392
00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:12,300
the mirror and go. 
Now look at you Look at you 

393
00:25:12,300 --> 00:25:17,100
through my eyes. 
Because then she'd know, 

394
00:25:17,500 --> 00:25:21,900
wouldn't she? 
She would know how she can take 

395
00:25:21,900 --> 00:25:24,900
your breath away. 
She would know how radiant she 

396
00:25:24,900 --> 00:25:27,600
looks to you. 
She would know because if just 

397
00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:31,100
for a little bit she could see 
herself through your eyes. 

398
00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,900
It would be a game-changer Your 
kids are getting frustrated at 

399
00:25:35,900 --> 00:25:38,700
you, by the way, your parenting 
in the way you're coaching them 

400
00:25:38,700 --> 00:25:41,500
in the way you're saying, yes to
certain things and know that 

401
00:25:41,500 --> 00:25:44,200
other things in your kids are 
like how could you do this to 

402
00:25:44,200 --> 00:25:46,200
me? 
You don't even love me and you 

403
00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:53,100
just wish you could book. 
Look at yourself. 

404
00:25:54,400 --> 00:25:57,700
I am for you. 
I am good to you. 

405
00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,800
I am trying to protect you and 
equip you and Empower you and 

406
00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:05,000
help you say yes to good things 
and no too bad things. 

407
00:26:05,100 --> 00:26:10,600
If you could just see yourself 
through my eyes but you tracking

408
00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:19,100
with me, if I could wish 
anything today, all across this 

409
00:26:19,100 --> 00:26:24,100
region, it would be that you 
could see yourself Through The 

410
00:26:24,100 --> 00:26:31,300
Eyes of Jesus. 
That's what I want for you. 

411
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:39,300
And whether we know each other 
or not, would you just let me be

412
00:26:39,300 --> 00:26:41,300
your pastor for just a few 
moments? 

413
00:26:43,300 --> 00:26:47,400
But I want to tell you what, I 
think you would see what I know 

414
00:26:47,400 --> 00:26:51,400
you would see if you could see 
yourself Through The Eyes Of 

415
00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:54,700
Jesus. 
If you could see yourself to the

416
00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:59,100
eyes of Jesus, this is what 
you'd see that you are not an 

417
00:26:59,100 --> 00:27:05,300
accident, your parents may not 
have planned you, but God did 

418
00:27:05,700 --> 00:27:07,700
you are put together by God 
himself. 

419
00:27:07,700 --> 00:27:11,300
You were knit together in your 
mother's womb, you were made in 

420
00:27:11,300 --> 00:27:14,200
His image. 
You were made to Proclaim good 

421
00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,700
news to the lonely. 
The sick, the hurting and the 

422
00:27:17,700 --> 00:27:19,900
poor. 
You have Heavenly water for the 

423
00:27:19,900 --> 00:27:21,700
Thirsty. 
You have Godly food for the 

424
00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:24,300
hungry. 
You have freedom for the 

425
00:27:24,300 --> 00:27:28,300
captives and Liberation for 
those in bondage, your life has 

426
00:27:28,300 --> 00:27:32,300
purpose and value. 
You bring light into the 

427
00:27:32,300 --> 00:27:34,400
darkness. 
You exchange Beauty for Ashes 

428
00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,300
morning for dancing and despair.
You bring joy. 

429
00:27:37,300 --> 00:27:41,800
If you could see yourself 
Through The Eyes Of Jesus, you 

430
00:27:41,800 --> 00:27:45,200
would realize that is that your 
past has been redeemed. 

431
00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,500
Your sins have been forgiven, 
they have been covered by the 

432
00:27:48,500 --> 00:27:51,100
blood of Jesus. 
They've been nailed to the 

433
00:27:51,100 --> 00:27:52,900
cross. 
They've been cast, as far as 

434
00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:56,000
from the East is from the west 
by his stripes. 

435
00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,700
You've been healed, your sins 
are no longer your shame, but 

436
00:28:00,700 --> 00:28:05,900
the introduction to the story of
how God has made you knew 

437
00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,500
therefore, you can claim what it
says in second Corinthians 5:17.

438
00:28:10,700 --> 00:28:15,100
Therefore, if anyone Point to an
anyone, you can point to your 

439
00:28:15,100 --> 00:28:17,100
neighbor, you can point to 
yourself. 

440
00:28:17,100 --> 00:28:19,900
You could point to me and I 
could point to you, everybody 

441
00:28:19,900 --> 00:28:24,500
say, anyone, if anyone is in 
Christ, he is a new creation. 

442
00:28:24,500 --> 00:28:29,100
The old has gone and the new has
come, if you could see yourself 

443
00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:32,800
Through The Eyes Of Jesus, this 
is what you'd see that because 

444
00:28:32,800 --> 00:28:37,000
of his spirit that he placed in 
you, when you got baptized that,

445
00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,700
you have everything you need for
an abundant life. 

446
00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:42,200
You can be loving even when it's
difficult, you can. 

447
00:28:42,400 --> 00:28:44,700
A joyful. 
Even in painful circumstances, 

448
00:28:45,000 --> 00:28:47,100
you can have peace in the midst 
of uncertainty. 

449
00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:49,600
You can be patient in a world 
that is rushed. 

450
00:28:50,300 --> 00:28:53,300
You have the power to be kind 
and good and faithful, and 

451
00:28:53,300 --> 00:28:56,900
gentle to the power at work in 
the holy spirit that is in your 

452
00:28:56,900 --> 00:28:58,900
life. 
You have the ability of self 

453
00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:02,100
control, the ability to say, no 
to the things that seek to 

454
00:29:02,100 --> 00:29:05,500
destroy your relationships, your
purpose, and your calling. 

455
00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:10,800
If you can see yourself Through 
The Eyes of Jesus, you'd realize

456
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,300
that you no longer have to live 
in fear because the Bible 

457
00:29:14,300 --> 00:29:18,400
teaches that perfect love casts 
out fear but perfect love is not

458
00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,300
something you possess or 
something you know it is a 

459
00:29:22,300 --> 00:29:27,600
person you know perfect love has
a name and it is the matchless 

460
00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:33,200
precious life-altering name of 
you know it helped me out all 

461
00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:38,400
yes you do that that name the 
name that is above every name 

462
00:29:39,100 --> 00:29:42,800
can be Own and can be trusted 
that, even though you walk 

463
00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,300
through the valley of the shadow
of death, you will fear no evil.

464
00:29:47,700 --> 00:29:51,700
Because he's with you you're not
alone if you could see yourself 

465
00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:55,500
Through The Eyes Of Jesus, you 
wouldn't be as worried or as 

466
00:29:55,500 --> 00:29:58,800
anxious because you would have 
access to him. 

467
00:29:59,700 --> 00:30:02,800
Jesus says come to me all of you
who are weary and heavy laden 

468
00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:06,300
and I will give you rest, you 
would know in your heart, the 

469
00:30:06,300 --> 00:30:08,900
truth of the song you sang, when
you were young. 

470
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:16,100
He's got the whole world. oh, 
you know, it That's who I'm 

471
00:30:16,100 --> 00:30:18,300
talking about. 
If you could see yourself 

472
00:30:18,300 --> 00:30:20,500
Through The Eyes Of Jesus, you 
would realize that you were the 

473
00:30:20,500 --> 00:30:23,100
object of his affection that he 
lavishes. 

474
00:30:23,100 --> 00:30:25,800
His love on you. 
And that even when you are weak,

475
00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:29,300
you are strong because he is 
your strength. 

476
00:30:30,300 --> 00:30:33,300
If you could see yourself 
Through The Eyes Of Jesus, you 

477
00:30:33,300 --> 00:30:36,300
realize that your future is 
bright and secured. 

478
00:30:36,300 --> 00:30:39,800
You have a place in heaven. 
He is preparing a place for you.

479
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:43,400
The reservation has been made, 
your name is on the list. 

480
00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:47,500
This world is not your home. 
There is something better coming

481
00:30:47,500 --> 00:30:51,700
your way. 
So would you please stop chasing

482
00:30:51,800 --> 00:30:56,200
Shades and step into the 
abundance that God has to offer?

483
00:30:56,500 --> 00:30:59,100
I want you to think about that 
as we move into a time of 

484
00:30:59,100 --> 00:31:07,600
decision, I want to talk to just
three groups of people real 

485
00:31:07,600 --> 00:31:10,700
quick. 
There's some of you in here that

486
00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:13,200
you've never started an 
intimate, personal relationship 

487
00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:16,700
with Jesus Christ, for one 
reason, or another, it's just 

488
00:31:16,700 --> 00:31:19,000
never been your turn. 
Never been your moment, and I 

489
00:31:19,008 --> 00:31:22,400
get it. 
You've seen other people do it. 

490
00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:25,300
You've had questions about what 
it would look like for you to do

491
00:31:25,300 --> 00:31:28,400
it, or maybe you're hearing all 
of this for the very first time 

492
00:31:30,400 --> 00:31:31,900
and I just got to tell you where
I'm at. 

493
00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:37,600
But, when I think about an 
intimate personal relationship 

494
00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:40,600
with Jesus Christ, and those of 
you who call The Crossing home, 

495
00:31:40,700 --> 00:31:42,700
you've heard this before, and 
you're gonna have to back me up 

496
00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:45,800
in just a second. 
But if you were to ask me about 

497
00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:48,100
my relationship with Jesus 
Christ, I would just tell you 

498
00:31:48,100 --> 00:31:53,800
two things one, it is the single
greatest decision that I have 

499
00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:58,100
ever made. 
And my biggest regret is that I 

500
00:31:58,100 --> 00:32:01,200
didn't do it sooner and I know 
what you're tempted to think. 

501
00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,600
Yeah, that's great, but Clayton,
you know you're a professional 

502
00:32:04,600 --> 00:32:06,900
Christian. 
You're paid to be here. 

503
00:32:07,100 --> 00:32:09,900
This is part of your thing here 
me you don't have you don't have

504
00:32:09,900 --> 00:32:17,400
to trust me. 
In fact I wouldn't But I'm not 

505
00:32:17,400 --> 00:32:21,400
the only testimony in this room.
I'm not the only life that's 

506
00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:24,400
been repurposed and redeemed in 
this room. 

507
00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,500
I'm willing to wager that I'm 
not the only person in this room

508
00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:29,100
who would agree with those two 
statements? 

509
00:32:29,100 --> 00:32:31,400
That it's the best decision 
they've ever made and their 

510
00:32:31,400 --> 00:32:33,400
biggest regret is they didn't do
it sooner. 

511
00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:37,100
Let me prove it to you, if you 
would agree with those two 

512
00:32:37,100 --> 00:32:38,800
statements, would you put your 
hand up? 

513
00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,400
You are standing or sitting 
right now in a room full of 

514
00:32:42,400 --> 00:32:46,800
testimonies. 
And it could be your testimony 

515
00:32:47,100 --> 00:32:50,100
too. 
So there's some of your going 

516
00:32:50,100 --> 00:32:51,300
but Clayton, I don't know 
enough. 

517
00:32:52,800 --> 00:32:55,500
I hear you. 
I hear you. 

518
00:32:55,500 --> 00:32:58,900
I get you don't know enough but 
that hasn't stopped you from 

519
00:32:58,900 --> 00:33:00,900
making all kinds of decisions in
your life. 

520
00:33:02,500 --> 00:33:05,500
Some of you you put toothpaste 
in your in your, in your gas 

521
00:33:05,500 --> 00:33:09,900
tank if there were instructions.
You bought cars and You Don't 

522
00:33:09,900 --> 00:33:13,000
Know Jack about cars, you do 
what I do, does it have cooled 

523
00:33:13,000 --> 00:33:14,400
seats? 
Because I'm a big boy. 

524
00:33:15,400 --> 00:33:17,600
It's all I need to know sir, 
right. 

525
00:33:18,500 --> 00:33:21,500
Did you know everything about 
women before you got married? 

526
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:25,300
Probably. 
Not Did you know everything 

527
00:33:25,300 --> 00:33:27,000
about your job before you took 
it? 

528
00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:30,300
Did you know everything about 
your house, before you bought it

529
00:33:30,300 --> 00:33:32,100
with she had, but you bought it 
anyway. 

530
00:33:34,300 --> 00:33:38,100
You just have to know enough. 
Well, you know, more along the 

531
00:33:38,100 --> 00:33:41,800
way, you better believe it, but 
sometimes you just got to go, do

532
00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:44,700
I know enough and for me, I knew
enough. 

533
00:33:46,300 --> 00:33:48,000
I knew that I was not living the
life. 

534
00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,700
I was designed for, I knew it in
my soul, I knew that there was 

535
00:33:52,700 --> 00:33:55,500
something wrong that needed to 
be fixed. 

536
00:33:55,800 --> 00:33:57,800
There was a hole that needed to 
be filled. 

537
00:33:57,800 --> 00:34:04,000
I knew that whatever it was, it 
wasn't in me. and then someone 

538
00:34:04,000 --> 00:34:09,400
told me about Jesus, that was 
all I needed. 

539
00:34:10,300 --> 00:34:13,699
That he would take all the 
broken in me and he would put it

540
00:34:13,699 --> 00:34:18,100
back together that he would 
redeem and repurpose my life. 

541
00:34:18,500 --> 00:34:21,800
I knew enough. 
And there might be some of you 

542
00:34:21,800 --> 00:34:25,000
in here today that you're going 
you know what it's been a long 

543
00:34:25,000 --> 00:34:28,100
enough and there might be some 
of you here today saying I know 

544
00:34:28,100 --> 00:34:30,900
enough and just a few moments 
we're going to give you an 

545
00:34:30,900 --> 00:34:34,100
opportunity can walk over by the
baptistry you can talk to 

546
00:34:34,100 --> 00:34:36,600
somebody here about how to start
that relationship with Jesus 

547
00:34:36,600 --> 00:34:37,500
right now. 
You're going. 

548
00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:39,800
But I don't have clothes to get 
wet and change, just so, you 

549
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:41,300
know, we've already got all the 
stuff you need. 

550
00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:42,900
So that would that that's not an
excuse. 

551
00:34:43,900 --> 00:34:46,800
And I can just tell you, there 
is no better way to celebrate 

552
00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:50,400
Easter than to live it. 
Because that's what happens when

553
00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:55,500
you get baptized, you are buried
and you die to yourself. 

554
00:34:55,500 --> 00:34:59,000
And then you are brought back to
life in the newness of Christ 

555
00:34:59,200 --> 00:35:00,500
and that could be your story 
today. 

556
00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:03,700
The second group of people I 
want to talk to are those of you

557
00:35:03,700 --> 00:35:08,000
who you have, you followed Jesus
for a while at some point but 

558
00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:12,100
you haven't been following him 
lately. if you're to be honest, 

559
00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:17,600
you're kind of surprised that 
you're here, you know, you used 

560
00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:19,900
to be super committed or super 
involved. 

561
00:35:19,900 --> 00:35:23,900
You used to have a whole lot of 
used to about you and your faith

562
00:35:23,900 --> 00:35:28,800
but not a whole lot of present 
tense and I don't know what's 

563
00:35:28,800 --> 00:35:31,400
driving that and maybe you don't
either, but I just have one 

564
00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:34,400
question for you. 
Why does God have you here 

565
00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:38,300
today? 
Why did he put you in this 

566
00:35:38,300 --> 00:35:40,900
place? 
To hear this message today? 

567
00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:47,800
If not for the purpose of 
calling you to recommit 

568
00:35:48,700 --> 00:35:55,400
re-engage Maybe God is wanting 
to use this moment in your life.

569
00:35:56,300 --> 00:35:59,300
To get you to stop chasing 
Shades in to chase after him 

570
00:35:59,300 --> 00:36:03,000
again. 
In fact, she also encourage you 

571
00:36:03,008 --> 00:36:04,700
at some point time. 
Maybe you need to talk to 

572
00:36:04,700 --> 00:36:06,500
somebody. 
Maybe you want to come up here 

573
00:36:06,500 --> 00:36:09,600
and just get down on your knees 
and praying to God, I just need 

574
00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:13,300
to recommit to you. 
I need to re-engage, I need to 

575
00:36:13,300 --> 00:36:18,200
reorient my life towards you. 
Third group of you, those of you

576
00:36:18,200 --> 00:36:20,300
call yourself, you know, 
Christians, totally sold out, 

577
00:36:20,300 --> 00:36:21,900
love the Lord, things are going 
great. 

578
00:36:23,500 --> 00:36:25,500
I just don't ever want to be a 
church, that takes the love of 

579
00:36:25,500 --> 00:36:29,200
Jesus and his sacrifice for 
granted that because of what 

580
00:36:29,200 --> 00:36:31,900
he's done for us. 
We should be the most excited. 

581
00:36:31,900 --> 00:36:35,800
Most joyful, most amped people 
on planet Earth are smile, 

582
00:36:35,800 --> 00:36:39,600
should be the hardest smile to 
wipe off our face because we 

583
00:36:39,600 --> 00:36:41,600
just can't get over how good he 
is. 

584
00:36:42,200 --> 00:36:44,800
And so would you at some point 
time with her you come up here 

585
00:36:44,800 --> 00:36:46,600
and get down on your knees and 
just pray, a prayer of 

586
00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:49,400
Thanksgiving over everything 
that God has saved you from over

587
00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:52,700
everything that he's redeemed, 
you from, or maybe as it says, 

588
00:36:52,700 --> 00:36:54,600
you're staying in. 
You're lifting both hands up and

589
00:36:54,600 --> 00:36:57,800
your singing as loud as you 
can't letting God know you 

590
00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:02,600
recognize and you are forever. 
Thankful forever grateful for 

591
00:37:02,600 --> 00:37:05,900
his work on your behalf. 
I want to give you an 

592
00:37:05,900 --> 00:37:07,900
opportunity to do that. 
What you guys stand with me? 

593
00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:14,200
God used this moment right now. 
Here and all across this region.

594
00:37:15,700 --> 00:37:19,400
To bring about lasting change in
every heart not just for the 

595
00:37:19,400 --> 00:37:22,400
hearts that are have been 
running from you or have never 

596
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:24,900
known you. 
But God also bring it about in 

597
00:37:24,900 --> 00:37:27,900
the hearts of people who've been
following after you for a while.

598
00:37:29,300 --> 00:37:32,700
Got to remove the calluses, 
bring a fresh love and a fresh 

599
00:37:32,700 --> 00:37:37,100
commitment out of each and every
single one of us selfishly got I

600
00:37:37,107 --> 00:37:39,400
ask that for every person in 
this room that they would 

601
00:37:39,500 --> 00:37:42,600
recognize that you're in here 
and that you're moving and the 

602
00:37:42,600 --> 00:37:45,400
guy that they would trust you 
with the next step that they 

603
00:37:45,400 --> 00:37:47,600
need to take and your name. 
I pray. 

604
00:37:47,800 --> 00:37:48,300
Amen.