The great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God in his ultimate triumph and in his goodness and love which nothing can shake.

Sometimes I even now feel like a stranger in my country. But I knew there would be problems because I had seen the world as a skater. And now? A lot of people in eastern Germany have lost jobs rents went up food costs went up unemployment went to 20 percent. Freedom is good but it is not easy.

I know a lot of Eastern Europeans and because of what they have been through and what they have seen they have an attitude where they are not easily fooled.

Here is the amazing thing about Easter the Resurrection Sunday for Christians is this that Christ in the dying moments on the cross gives us the greatest illustration of forgiveness possible.