Easter with Koloff!

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This is the Truth Network. Once a world champion wrestler, now a champion for Christ. Once the Russian night now the devil's worst nightmare in your tagteam partner cheetah call time back to another episode of man up show Nikita cool off. Once the Russian nightmare. Now the devil's nightmare. Hey drive a special show for you today and Easter show on Easter show with the nightmare about that would hey, when you when you think of Easter living this question out there right off the top of the show when you hear Easter what you think about.

I mean what what does Easter mean to you. I mean it's all to be all over the spectrum right what Easter looks like. I mean, is it about bunny rabbits is is is that what Easter is about. I know maybe it's about Easter egg hunts is about Easter egg hunts and Easter baskets.

I me what what what immediately gets your mind when you hear the word Easter.

Well, let's talk about that today on the man up, show and if you remember, if you listened to my special Valentines presentation and if you didn't shame on you go back and listen to that podcast on the special Valentines show that I did. But you'll you'll probably know, your learning by now like I love history like I really do like, I'm a history guy was always a history guide and always love history, but I'm fascinated by it now. I mean, I love to travel to other countries.

Maybe years ago when the Lord led myself the million dollar man Ted DiBiase and another friend of ours Jason Sanderson on on a pilgrimage to Israel and I knew that I knew I was supposed to go in God's perfect timing. He just worked it all out we went. We spent three days touring and in Jordan and then we spent eight days touring in Israel and its an incredible memory because we were in Jordan we were touring like Roman ruins that were like three 4000 years old… Hundreds three or 4000 I mean I was fascinated by that scene always walking through Townsend center squares and where they had chariot races in the building of aqueducts in columns and pillars in it. Anyway, I'm rambling, but I just can't tell I just I just love history and and then we want to, that the ruins of Petra and that was the last thing we did right before the next day we were baptized in the Jordan River that's historical right. Who else was baptized there. All I know many of Jesus right John the Baptist baptizing people in the Jordan and and and we actually got to see the promised land kind like Moses from Mount Mount Nebo. We got to see it before we descended the Jordan Valley got baptized and then for the first time stepped foot into Israel when you want to talk about history. If you're a Christ follower and I want to encourage you make make that journey yourself. One day back.

Hopefully in 2022. We may put a Easter trip together to Israel potentially following a social media annual you'll probably learn more about that in the upcoming LS Jesus comes back first. But history to walk the streets of Jerusalem to going to some of the ruins of caper number. I mean just again I mean just words can even express so I love history sort talk about Easter special Easter show this weekend. Easter and so when it comes to history when and where you might even say how did this originate anyway. What why do we celebrate this holiday known as Easter when it comes to bunny rabbits and Easter eggs and strike baskets in the coloring of eggs and Easter egg hunts, how will that start anyway hope we get to that. How do we get to from from what really that the real true meaning will talk about this. Towards the end of the show what the real true meaning of Easter is fit to now it's turned into this holiday in the eating of chocolates and in some cases big to get the family get-togethers and and lunches and dinners right. While the exact origin is to start with the Easter Bunny Academy to start with the body. The exact origin of the Easter Bunny is it's it's somewhat clouded in mystery because like many of these types of things right.

One theory is that the symbol of the rabbit stems back to a a pagan tradition celebrated at the beginning of spring.

Specifically, the festival of of an op public in a butcher, a bunch of these names and words. But astray EOSTRESS Ya astray I maybe I don't know his bear with me don't know. Anyway it was a pre-Christian goddess in England, a goddess of fertility, whose animal symbol was of Bonnie imagine that you know anything about rabbits which I didn't know much until I did my homework on this. I do a little bit but they're no further energetic breeding that's a good way to say they have lots of Bonnie's right there known. Further, energetic breeding will echo that fits into fertility, doesn't it. Having traditionally symbolized fertility and the. The only reference to this goddess comes from the writings of the venerable BD, a British monk who lived in the late seventh and early eighth century. How about that for history rabbits usually give birth to a big litter of babies did you know what I called you know any idea and I guess you rabbit breeders out there.

You probably know the answer to this but if you don't.

This litter of babies is called kittens so they became a symbol of new life, and legend has it that the Easter Bunny lays decorates and hides eggs as they are also a symbol of new life. Or I can obviously an egg can be used for breakfast or put it in an incubator and produce more chickens right so the Easter Bunny what why do we give Easter baskets you ever wondered that we just automatically do it right. A member I member my kids going out like every year like I gotta go get their Easter baskets. You know it, and they wake up Easter morning and eight Avenue on you know on going through the basket and everything that that was in their wall yacht astray again.

I don't know him say that Retta probably should research a little deeper would carry a basket filled with eggs to encourage fertility and since seedlings and eggs are associated with new life. The baskets came to symbolize new life as well get that that's perhaps the main reason why we still give baskets filled with goodies during the holidays. Now, according to other European folklore.

Some other European folklore. A lot of this all took place over and in the in Europe. The rabbit was said to leave a basket filled with colored eggs for children and when settlers ready for this, immigrated to America they brought that story with them and that tradition carried on in fact Pennsylvania Dutch settlers were to bring the tradition to America, where its popularity exploded during the Victorian era, and eventually as it was called the Osterhaus or Auch Ostrow because these are couple German attempts of Annunciation became the Easter Bunny and the baskets became receptacles for candy toys and plastic eggs that so many enjoy today.

Well talk about Easter eggs. Why do we die. Jim wanted that again. I can member you know having fun with the kids buying all the Easter died.

I can still see the little thing you sick and again the little wire thing and dip it in the make all the different colors, and try to a collage of colors right with all the kiddos just happen you know having fun doing now, but you ever wondered why or maybe you don't care but you learn today.

Why do we die eggs well one account back in the Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches Easter eggs are dyed red, check this out, read to represent the blood of Christ with further symbolism being found in the hardshell of the eggs you got a bully, a gray hey don't you never done that. Don't try to die like that on boiled both hard-boiled eggs. First, just in case you're wondering, read it know that. But the further symbolism being found in the hardshell of the egg which symbolized the sealed the seal to of Christ and then the cracking of the egg symbolized his resurrection from the dead as well as I never knew that centuries ago, Christian missionaries observed community members hunting for eggs in the spring so they began using the food as a tool to describe Christ's new birth and resurrection they would die the eggs based on what colors meant to the church to check this out yellow represented resurrection. That's with the yellowing represented resurrection blue.

The blue egg represented love the red egg is already mentioned was for the blood of Christ, and that they would if they didn't just die the eggs, yellow, blue, red, they would they would paint. Various scenes this kind of cool.

We should implement this again today. Maybe some do. I don't know what this chemical they would paint. Various scenes from the Bible on the eggs and hide them limited the egg hunts right and and hide them, and that the child who found the egg would come back and have to tell the story that was painted on that a hey that's one way of helping to educate the children to all the Bible stories is in it that's pretty creative. Hey, maybe that's something you you might implement this Easter paint some Bible stories on your eggs go hide him. Let your children go find him and then see if they can tell you to put Jonah. You know, put Jonah and the whale on the aerial maybe paint a picture of of the people crossing the Red Sea crossing the Jordan River.

All kinds of stories that you could paint on on the eggs. We so appreciate our listeners if you will support this program with a financial gift of any amount. I will send you a personalized copy of my latest book Kita tail of the ring and rejection go to call off.that's cool off.and the ET Zoloft.net and make your contribution for the Russian nightmare here for crescent automotive buying a car is a nightmare for you, my friend Ryan and Jimmy Johnson. At present, automotive make it simple to find your preowned dream car, no hassle. The windshield pricing no matter where you live your dream body drive crescent.com is all you need to know is right there with) everybody drive crescent. You should drive crescent.com what we mentioned Easter egg hunts. Okay, enough. I used to have a blast about to be known, I really did.

Now it wasn't the harder you know we buy the plastic ones. You crack open a crack in half and what I would have fun doing. Maybe you do this very same thing maybe don't do this at all is not obvious he put different little candies in their but my kids always knew in some of them there was going to be money. They were money motivated to go find the eggs and frustrated when they couldn't find him. And then of course as you can gather with four children. If one only got three cents and the other got three dollars one was happier and the other so I tried my best to make sure each child got about it about an equal amount of of cash. Ola it in their in their in their egg hunt. What but I would I put different: mostly coins but every thing on my slip a dollar bill in there and you know they they get a greenback in addition to the coins and all excited about about the you'll add it all up in Encino much the God of course I was there that they love the candy as well but but why an Easter egg hunt ever wondered about that, why, why do we have Easter egg hunts well documented for what I learned. The first Easter egg hunt can be traced back to none other than Martin Luther Martin Luther, a central figure during the Protestant Reformation and men hid the eggs ready for this for women and children defines the women even went on on the Easter egg hunts of the men would hide him in the women and children go go find him and then they they have the happy act of of of finding an Easter egg during the hunt, and it was supposed to remind remind them of of the joy of that the women, Mary Magdalene, lean Mary mother of James Salome shalom again apologize for butchering these these names and words. But but but check us out. So it was supposed to. When the foundation supposed to symbolize the joy, the women experienced and what they felt when they came to Jesus is empty the cave that the tomb and found it empty and so just given given the women and even the children the opportunity to to enjoy experience that joy that joy well the Christian holiday celebrated each and every year has in his been observed it's been at this holidays been observed since the second century. Now the real reason is not about Easter bunnies not about egg hunts, dying eggs, although there's a lot as I just explained a lot of great symbolism involved in all of that. But more than anything, this this this Christian holiday symbolizes and/or it's a way to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, and you know it. So get to two huge holidays every year right Christmas and Easter. I mean Christmas just the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The babe lying in a manger. The shepherds out in their fields and the Angels showing up in announcing the Savior's birth them going running into the village. The find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. The wise man who sometime later would make their trip of their their venture to define the child. The young child and present their gifts of frankincense, gold, and murder. An amazing story. The birth of Jesus. And then there's Easter, the resurrection of Jesus. Ever wonder why there is a sunrise service to me.

Some churches still do that. I don't know what everybody does that. Some do well there is a reason why Easter Sunday is often celebrated with a church service at at that. We just say the crack of dawn by it was early at dawn on Easter morning that Mary went to Jesus is to define dignity which is why so many churches will all still hold services at at at the early hour of of dawn to honor this momentous occasion that you just got tradition of sunrise service.

From what I could tell dates back to 1732, when the first service was held in Germany by the Moravian church was a group of young men who gathered at first light of dawn, the town's graveyard to sing hymns of praise and the next year. The entire congregation joined in bed by 1773 the first Easter sunrise service, check this out for you history buffs in 1773 the first sunrise service for Easter was held in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It like that for a piece of history.

That's from broadcasting these shows from Winston-Salem for my last wrestling match was officially well there's a lot of history Winston-Salem why an Easter feast. Ever wonder that Wyatt Easter fees. While we can thank Lance for our big Easter feast. Originally Lance required people to fast for 40 days, excluding Sundays at the fast on Sundays at Lent first Psalm is just a special time of prayer and sacrifice and good works in preparation of the celebration of Easter for others it's more commonly observed by having people give up up an indulgence. Maybe that's you write. I would give up your caffeine him to give up chocolate will hold up all the goes Easter but just get to give up television or maybe in modern-day vernacular. I'm at a given social media. You know, for the 40 days of Lent, the exact end date for Lent can vary slightly depending on whether the churches following Western or Eastern practices, but it tends to and near Easter. So come Easter Sunday people are definitely ready to dig into some sweet and savory dishes that they've been missing for 40 days. Although the choice of what to serve for Easter dinner might come down to taste and preference for some, the menu holds great significance.

For example, in the early Jewish history lambs were sacrifices offerings to God, and served regularly as part of the Passover feast.

Then, when Jesus died during Passover. He represented the ultimate sacrifice for us and the Lamb of God and the animal evolved into a symbol for Christianity. The celebration of Easter is an international event, but few cultures refer to the holiday by its famous name. Early Christians call Christ's resurrection ready piece soft piece soft. I did try to look that one up and I hope I said that right. Don't be offended. All you messianic Jews out there I said it wrong. It's a Hebrew word for Passover today. Most languages use a variation of that name IP/in French piece soft sounds pretty yet anyway possible in Spanish poss qua in Italian sock and Albanian just poss in Swedish so there's but it's up you probably wonder why Doug decided I should look up Russian man. I dropped the ball on that one.

Hello Russian nightmare doubles nightmare.

Why not you know St. Russian next time. Or I'll remember that for late later date.

Some say the first Easter Bunny was a legend in your documented back into the 1500s.

According to some sources, the Easter Bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s. As I mentioned with the German immigrants and settled in Pennsylvania and transported there tradition of of egg laying the egg laying here member" memo is called all storehouse or Dr. Howells and the children may nest in which they could lay their eggs were all all and all you know is I kind of bring the special Easter show start winding this up and bring it to a conclusion. I just after reemphasize, you know it's not about the Easter Bunny really is.

And even though it's not about the Easter eggs.

Not about the egg hunt, not about Easter baskets. I mean, no matter when it came to America or when it was first initiated.

Whatever the actual numbers are it's it's all about Jesus. That's really the bottom line. It's all Easter is about Jesus.

Now that's not to say you can's celebrated and do some the things we just talked about. You can you can go go do that this Easter go do that have any history can't have a big party in celebration of the big feast. It'll go hide the eggs let let let your kids find them, but more than anything. Make sure your children, your family, everyone that that your your celebrating Easter with you know that knows the real reason for this season cut use at a Christmas right here is the real reason for the season Jesus, while the real reason for the Easter season is is just as that just Jesus.

Jesus, Easter and Christmas to special holidays for every Christ follower Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Easter celebrating his resurrection in all of your listening today and and and I've I've known others over the years that Easter was a a memorable day for them because that was actually the day, you know, maybe they don't frequent church all that much, but they go on. I called CEOs they go on Christmas and Easter only write CEOs Christmas and Easter only but there's many who because of that date. They surrender their heart life to Jesus on Christmas or at Easter at a special Easter production in a lot of thought of churches will do special Easter productions typically or have special Easter services.

What you don't know Jesus you're listening today I can IN the show by saying this today. You don't know Jesus man make that decision today. Don't wait any longer in this Easter. This Easter 2021 to be one of the most memorable easterners you will have ever had. Why, because you always remember it was on that Easter that I surrendered my life.

I surrendered my heart to Jesus and life. I assure you will never be the same and most likely you'll even look at Easter in a whole different light. Your eyes will be open to see Easter and a whole different way.

So I hope you've enjoyed today's show prayer. Prayer is not complicated just asked for forgiveness commit surrender, repent, invite Jesus into your heart and I hope some of the history I shared with you today. I hope you enjoyed it and and now you know a little just a little bit more as I do about the backdrop of of Easter. But most important, can I emphasize.

I can't emphasize enough that most important.

As you celebrate Easter today. Make sure your hearts in the right place. Your eyes are focused on the cross, and you realize it's all about Jesus tax return into the man up and remembered today and every day God is with men, I would like to challenge each of you to consider spending five days with less liver and I am pursuing the heart of ladies listening will send your manhole with God godly husband and God do you give them your blessing and am signed up today at band camp thought in full. Pastors you would like to bring cooperative price ministries and man up conference to your community. Go to co-op.org and email. Remember this. It's time to man up Alameda green vinyl tile from the carpet that right now number one in the reader's with a war that had more thing. This is Nicole and I want to thank lemons support for supporting my new show man on Saturday afternoon at 1230 on the truth that were mechanical fear if you're needing to buy a car and have marginal credit for considering using buy here pay here that's worse than taking the Russian sickle Winston-Salem motorcars will put you behind the wheel of a car you can rely on while helping rebuild, repair or establish your credit score conveniently located on Silas Creek Pkwy. in Winston-Salem. Be sure to check them out today that W, S, M. C. The number one.com because you are number one this is the Truth Network