Bunnies & Easter

It is  easy to get caught up with the things associated with the Easter like new clothes, Easter Bunnies, even getting ready for the one of the biggest church services of the year. We can lose focus of the meaning of Easter.

The origin of the Easter bunny is not Christian nor does it have anything to do with the Christian observance of the resurrection of Christ. The Rabbit and eggs were a symbol of symbol of fertility and spring time. The rabbit was a symbol of the pagan festival of the goddess Eastre. The rabbit was her symbol. (1) In Egypt and Persia eggs were given in honor of the start of spring. (2) Christians incorporated the pagan tradition of coloring eggs into the Christian observance of Easter. The earliest mention of the Bunny in connection with Easter is in Germany in the 1500’s. The Easter bunny was introduced in the untied states in the 1700’s by German settlers. (3) By the 19th century Easter baskets and chocolate were used in the United States, however Easter was not widely celebrated until after the Civil War. (4) I have nothing against Easter bunnies especially the chocolate ones but they have nothing to do with the.

How Deep the Father’s Love for Us performed by Skillet

Notes:

  1. Jerry Wilson, Easter Traditions
  2. Marian Murdoch, History of the Easter Bunny
  3. AustrialianMedia.com, Easter Bunny History
  4. Murdoch.

Holy Week — Monday

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NLT)

And Can It Be That I Should Gain?
By Charles Wesley & Thomas Campbell
Preformed by the Gaithers and Friends

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died he for me, who caused his pain
for me, who caused his bitter death?
Amazing love! How can it be
that you, my Lord, should die for me?

Refrain:
Amazing love! How can it be
that you, my Lord, should die for me?!

No condemnation now I dread,
for Christ, and all in him, is mine!
Alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne
and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.

Refrain

 

Holy Week Theme: Love with No End

For me Holy Week is a time of reflection. For the past several weeks I’ve been struck by the depth of God’s love.

Love motivated God to create a plan for my redemption.

Love was the reason he sent His only son to take my place.

Love was why Christ willingly laid down His life.

Shine On Us Performed by Avalon
Words and Music by Michael & Debbie Smith

Lord, let your light, light of your face shine on us.
Lord, let your light, light of your face shine on us.
that we may be saved, that we may have life
to find our way in the darkest night.
Let your light shine on us.

Lord, let your grace, grace from your hand fall on us.
Lord, let your grace, grace from your hand fall on us.
that we may be saved, that we may have life
to find our way in the darkest night.
Let your grace fall on us.

Lord, let your love, love with no end come over us.
Lord, let your love, love with no end come over us.
that we may be saved, that we may have life
to find our way in the darkest night.
Let your love come over us.

Top 10: Superhero Movies

The Big Guy helped me compile this list.

#10: Spider Man 2 TBG

spidy2

 

#9: Captain America: Winter Solider — I like what I like. DH

wintersolider

#8: X-MEN First Class TBG

xmen1stclass

#7: Avengers: Age of Ultron — I’m a Marvel fan. To me the Avengers are the cornerstone of the Marvel Universe.  DH

ultron

#6: The Dark Knight TBG

darkknight

#5: The Avengers  — I’ve always been an Avengers fan.  This is still one of my favorites. DH

avengers

#4: Iron Man TBG

ironman

#3: The Incredibles  — With the popularity and success of The Incredibles I’m surprised it has taken Disney so long to come out with a sequel. DH

incredibles

#2: Guardians of Galaxy TBG

gotg

#1: Captain America: The First Avenger — Captain America may be one of my favorite recent movies. I’ve always enjoyed super hero movies and grew up reading comics. Captain America was one that I really didn’t know much about his story until this movie.  DH

capamerica

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Stuff You Need To Know: U. S. National Parks

Months ago I stated sharing fun, quirky and odd facts as Facebook status with #stuffyouneedtoknow. I was tired of all the negative stuff that came through news feed. So, it was my way to lighten things up.  I’ve learned a lot of cool stuff and have decided to expand it to my blog. So the topic for the inaugural blog edition of #stuffyouneedto know is United States National Parks.

  1. The National Park Service was August 25, 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service as a bureau in the Department of the Interior. Originally, the National Park Service was responsible for protecting 35 national parks and monuments. In 1933, 56 monuments and military sites controlled by the Forest Service and War Department were transferred to the National Park Service.
  2. Park Ranger Roy Sullivan was struck by lightning 7 times during his 35 year career as a park ranger at Shenandoah National Park.
  3. Delaware is the only state that doesn’t have either a national monument or national park.
  4. A South Dakota miner started calling Mount Rushmore by this name after a visiting New York attorney – Charles Rushmore – inquired about the name of the granite cliff. The name stuck and became official in 1930.
  5. Castile de San Marcos in St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest masonry fortress in the United States.  Built from conch shell bricks the Castile  withstood bombardment from British cannons with little damage. Each night the Spanish troops would remove the cannon balls from the walls and repaint the Castile. The Castile never fell to attackers.Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, Florida
  6. Yellowstone is the oldest national park in the world. It was created in 1872 when President Grant signed the Yellowstone National Park act.
  7. 95 percent of Biscayne National Park us 95 percent underwater. It is known for its beautiful coral reefs.
  8. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most visited national park in the United States.

    Great Smoky National Park
    Great Smoky National Park
  9. Many believe that Hot Springs National Park not Yellowstone is the oldest national park. Even though the Hot Springs National Park became a federal protected area in 1832. It didn’t become a national park until 1921.
  10. The 2,180-plus-mile Appalachian National Scenic Trail passes through 14 states.

 

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Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey slammed into the Texas Coast near Rockport as a Category 4 storm. It is the worst storm to hit Texas in 50+ years. Harvey has been downgraded to a Tropical storm but is dumping an enormous amount of rain. Many areas like Houston are facing epic floods.