THE SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING OF EASTER TO CHRISTIANS.

What does it mean or signify to you? The meaning of Easter is Jesus Christ's victory over death. His resurrection symbolizes the eternal life that is granted to all who believe in Him. The meaning of Easter also symbolizes the complete verification of all that Jesus preached and taught during His three-year ministry. If He had not risen from the dead, if He had merely died and not been resurrected, He would have been considered just another teacher or Rabbi. However, His resurrection changed all that and gave final and irrefutable proof that He was really the Son of God and that He had conquered death once and for all. However, Easter did not always symbolize Christ's resurrection from the dead and the meaning of Easter was quite different than what Christians celebrate today. The feast day of Easter was originally a pagan celebration of renewal and rebirth. Celebrated in the early spring, it honored the pagan Saxon goddess Eastre. When the early missionaries converted the Saxons to Christianity, the holiday, since it fell around the same time as the traditional memorialof Christ's resurrection from the dead,was merged with the pagan celebration, and became know as Easter. The meaning of Easter was also changed to reflect its new Christian orientation. Today, the meaning of Easter, for million of Christians, is that of honoring and recognizing Jesus Christ'sresurrection from the dead, and His glorious promises of eternal life for allwho believe in Him.

STRENGTH WITH OTHERS

Truly strong people are not arrogant. Cowardice on the other hand causes arrogance. Cowards hide behind their own power and authority. When we decide to live each instant fully, with all our might, tolive true to ourselves and make thepresent moment shine, we discover and bring forth immenseand unimagined strength. Our real strength lies in our capacity for empathy with others and the action we take on their behalf. What is easily done can be easily undone. To move steadily forward on one’s chosen path, step after step, whether or not others are watching; to meet difficulties with the steady, relentless strength of ceaselessly flowing water—such firmness of purpose, such integrity and perseverance builds a foundation that can never be compromised. One cannot become a starring player in life if one is easily swayed by one’s emotions over every little thing. Strength of character lies in performing the drama of life with courage and confidence, practicing self-reflection and self-control under any circumstances. In life when we feel we have reached a limit, that is when the true battle begins. Just when you despair and think it is impossible to go any further, will you become apathetic, or will you say it’s not over and stand up with an unyielding spirit? The battle is decided by this single determination. Gold is gold, no matter how muddied it becomes. The truth always wins out in the end

HOLY SATURDAY AND SOME FACTS THEREFROM.

Holy Saturday is the final day of Holy Week, the final day of the traditional 40 day Lenten Fast, and a part of the Triduum, and commemorates Jesus lying in the tomb until his resurrection on Easter Sunday. In 2013, Holy Saturday falls on the morning and afternoon of March 30th. Basic Facts About Holy Saturday Liturgical Color(s): Violet (Purple) Type of Holiday: Part of Paschal Triduum Time of Year: The Saturday of Holy Week Duration: 1 day Celebrates/ ­Symbolizes: Waiting atthe Tomb of Jesus, meditating on His Death Alternate Names: Sabbatum Sanctum, Black Saturday Scriptural References: Matthew 27:57-45; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:44-56; John 19:38-42 Introduction Holy Saturday, Sabbatum Sanctum in Latin, is the last day of Holy Week, and the 40th day of the traditional Lenten fast, although Lent ends liturgically on the evening of Holy Thursday. The evening of Holy Saturday begins the third and final day of the Paschal Triduum. In the Latin Church, no Masses are celebrated on Holy Saturday, and the day is essentially a sparse time of reflection upon Christ's death and burial in anticipation of the Great Vigil of Easter (Paschal Vigil). The vigil usually begins the night of HolySaturday, lasting until Easter morning. Very little happens on Holy Saturday, that is until the beginning of the Great Paschal Vigil.

HOW MUCH OF HOLY SATURDAY DO YOU KNOW.

The Holy Saturday! The History of Holy Saturday: Also known as the Easter Vigil (a name more properly applied to theMass on Holy Saturday night), Holy Saturday has had a long and variedhistory. As the Catholic Encyclopedia notes, "in the early Church this was the only Saturday on which fasting was permitted." Fasting is a sign of penance, but on Good Friday, Christ paid with His own Blood the debt of our sins.Thus, for many centuries, Christians regarded both Saturday and Sunday, the day of Christ's Resurrection, as days on which fasting was forbidden. (That practice is still reflected in the Lenten disciplines of the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, which lighten their fastsslightly on Saturdays and Sundays.) By the second century, Christians had begun to observe a total fast (no food of any kind) for 40 hours before Easter, which meant that the entire day of Holy Saturday was a day of fasting. No Mass for Holy Saturday: As on Good Friday, there is no Mass offered for Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil Mass, which takes place after sundown on Holy Saturday, properly belongs to Easter Sunday, since liturgically, each day begins at sundown on theprevious day. (That is why Saturday vigil Masses can fulfill our Sunday Duty .) Unlike on Good Friday, when Holy Communion is distributed at the afternoon liturgy commemorating Christ's Passion, on Holy Saturday the Eucharist is only given to the faithful as viaticum —that is, only to those in danger of death, to prepare their souls. In the early Church, Christians gathered on the afternoon of HolySaturday to pray and to confer the Sacrament of Baptism on catechumens—converts to Christianity who had spent Lent preparing to be received into the Church. (As the Catholic Encyclopedia notes, in the early Church, "Holy Saturday and the vigilof Pentecost were the only days onwhich baptism was administered.") This vigil lasted through the night until dawn on Easter Sunday, when the Alleluia was sung for the first time since the beginning of Lent , and the faithful—including the newly baptized—broke their 40-hour fast by receiving Communion. The Eclipse and Restoration of HolySaturday: In the Middle Ages, beginning roughly in the eighth century, the ceremonies of the Easter Vigil, especially the blessing of new fire and the lighting of the Easter candle, began to be performed earlier and earlier. Eventually, these ceremonies were performedon Holy Saturday morning. The whole of Holy Saturday, originally aday of mourning for the crucified Christ and of expectation of His Resurrection, now became little more than an anticipation of the Easter Vigil. With the reform of the liturgies for Holy Week in 1956, those ceremonies were returned to the Easter Vigil itself (that is, to the Mass celebrated after sundown on Holy Saturday), and thus the original character of Holy Saturdaywas restored. Until the revision of the rules for fasting and abstinence in 1969 (see " Reader Question: Observing Lent Before Vatican II " for more details), strict fasting and abstinence continued to be practiced on the morning of Holy Saturday, thus reminding the faithful of the sorrowful nature of the day and preparing them for the joy of Easter feast. While fasting and abstinence are no longer required on Holy Saturday morning, practicing these Lenten disciplines is still a good way to observe this sacred day.

HOW MUCH OF GOOD FRIDAY DO YOU KNOW?

Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus. It is the most solemn day in the Christian calendar. The dates of Good Friday,which vary each year, occur between March 20 th and April 23 rd . It falls on the last Friday before Easter . It is the pinnacle ofthe Holy Week. All Christians observe this day with great humility and reverence. It is this spirit of humility and reverence that is reflected in each of the Good Friday PowerPoints , which can be used as a preaching aid on Good Friday. History of Good Friday As early as the first century, the Church set aside every Friday as a special day of prayer and fasting. It was not until the fourth century,however, that the Church began observing the Friday before Easteras the day associated with the crucifixion of Christ. First called Holy or Great Friday by the Greek Church, the name "Good Friday" was adopted by the Roman Church around the sixth or seventh century. This collection of Good Friday videos reflect the types of traditions associated with the history of Good Friday. Good Friday Origins There are two possible origins for the name "Good Friday". The first may have come from the Gallican Church in Gaul (modern-day Franceand Germany). The name "Gute Freitag" is Germanic in origin and literally means "good" or "holy" Friday. The second possibility is a variation on the name "God's Friday," where the word "good" was used to replace the word"God," which was often viewed as too holy to be spoken aloud. Good Friday Traditions Good Friday rituals and traditions are distinct from every other Church observances. They add to Good Friday's significance. The ceremony is somber, with priests and deacons dressing in black vestments. The pulpit and the altar are bare; no candles are lit. The purpose behind the solemn presentation is to create an awareness of grief over the sacrifice of God's only begotten Son. Today, many churches hold special services on Good Friday evening to commemorate this important day. ( View our collection of flyers designed to announce Good Friday services) Good Friday Church Rituals Starting anytime between midnight and 3 a.m., priests and other clerics begin to recite specific prayers. At the morning ceremony, the priest or church official recites lessons from the scriptures. Afterward, there is a succession of prayers asking for God's mercy and forgiveness on all mankind. At the noon hour comes the Adoration of the Cross, where a representation of the True Cross isunveiled and the clergy and laity pay homage to the sacrifice of Christ. In the Jerusalem Church, a remnant of the True Cross itself ispresented for the ceremony. Next comes the Mass of the Presanctified, in which the priest or church official takes Communion from the host that was blessed during the Maundy Thursday ceremony. The ceremony concludes around 3 p.m. with a procession, which is followed by evening prayers. In many Protestant churches, GoodFriday observances begin at noon and last until 3 p.m. This coincides with the hours that Jesus hung on the cross. These services often include sermons on the last seven phrases that Jesus spoke while being crucified. Other services include reenactments of the Passion according to the Gospel of John, processions of the Stations of the Cross, and the singing of appropriate hymns. The library of Good Friday clipart provides a collection of images to aid the in celebration of Good Friday. To many Christians, Good Friday isa day of sorrow mingled with joy. It is a time to grieve over the sin of man and to meditate and rejoice upon God's love in giving His only Son for the redemption ofsin.

Quote of the Day from the Vatican

"Living Holy Week means entering more and more into God's logic, the logic of the Cross, which is not first of all that of pain and death, but thatof love and self-giving that brings life. It is entering into the logic of the Gospel." - Pope Francis

NSCDC OGA AT THE TOP SAGA

Nigerians are beginning to expresstheir disapproval by the rate at which the story has gone and thinks the victim should be pardoned at this time since it could only be assumed to be a common mistake, including unverified rumours that the wife to the victim went as far as visiting Channels Television to alert the management of the gravity of damages the programme has caused his family, and tweets said to have been made by a famous artist known as “Rugged man”, blaming Channels Television presenters for acting unprofessionally. I was opportune to watch the programme life and I believe the presenters did what was supposed since it was their duty to carry theaudience along. The scandal depicts a great show of dismal, negligence and malpractice in the security sector. This is one opportunity to get things right, in as much as we all know that no one is perfect, someactions should be intolerable hence we intend to revive the sector. Theexasperating fact of the issue is not only that the victim does not know the official website of his organization which could only be assumed to be careless ignorant mistake, but that he does not know what a website is, the format of a website, and that a website should end with a worldwide generic domain (.com,.org, co.uk, .co, .gov.ng etc.). This divulges the rate of gross inequality of recruitment processes not only in our security apparatus but also in the public sector at large, more qualified candidates apply for positions but those positions are being influenced and manipulated by top politicians, directors, and other senior public servants who unduly give out those positions to incompetent candidates. Most government parastatals are fond of what is commonly known as secret or in-house recruitment, which gives them the opportunity to select their relatives and well-wishers, thus, resulting in highrate of inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the sector. Morecompetent and qualified candidates roam the street in search of jobs but those jobs are given out inaptly. The issue of a security commandant not knowing what awebsite is at this time of computer era goes far beyond reasonable doubt that there is a misconduct in his recruitment exercise, which in a working society would not only lead to rigorous screening and re-check, but also questioning of the recruitment team that was in-charge of his recruitment processes. How was he recruited? Did he pass through a school of learning? How did he pass through the rigorous screening tests for a security post? Does he have a basic knowledge of computer and internet? How would he efficiently and effectively discharge of his duties without the use of computerand internet? Does he research online? There are questions and there should be answers

BidADVERT

Promote your Website with BidVertiser. Get $20 in FREE clicks.

The Power of Attitude

Just as cherry, plum, peach and damson blossoms all possess their own unique qualities, each person isunique. We cannot become someone else. The important thingis that we live true to ourselves and cause the great flower of our lives to blossom. Envying another’s beauty will diminish your own. But when you praise beauty in others your own beauty deepens. Patience is, in and of itself, a great challenge and it often holds the key to breaking through a seeming impasse. Anyone who has ever made a resolution discovers that the strength of their determination fades with time. The important thing is not that your resolve never wavers, but that you don’t get down on yourself when it does and throw in the towel. Sometimes we complain without thinking much of it, but the frightening thing about complaining is that every time we do, a cloud descends over our heart,and our hope, appreciation and joygradually wane. “Dig beneath your feet, there you will find a spring.” The place whereyou are now is crucial. Never try to avoid that which you must do. If you always have a shallow perspective and pay attention onlyto trivial things, you are sure to get bogged down in all kinds of petty worries and concerns, and not be able to move forward. Even relatively minor hurdles or problems will seem insurmountable. But if you look at life from a broad viewpoint, you naturally spot the way to solve anyproblem you may confront

What Relationship Unviels

Only in relationship can you know yourself, not in abstraction and certainly not in isolation. The movement of behavior is the sureguide to yourself. It's the mirror of your consciousness: this mirrorwill reveal its content, the images, the attachments, the fears, the loneliness, the joys andsorrow. Poverty lies in running away from this, either in its sublimations or its identities

What Relationship Unviels

Only in relationship can you know yourself, not in abstraction and certainly not in isolation. The movement of behavior is the sureguide to yourself. It's the mirror of your consciousness: this mirrorwill reveal its content, the images, the attachments, the fears, the loneliness, the joys andsorrow. Poverty lies in running away from this, either in its sublimations or its identities

Just as the pure white lotus flower blooms unsoiled in muddy water, our lives, which are supremely noble, can continue to shine even amid life’s harshest realities. Rather than becoming discouraged, know that encountering a wall is proof of theprogress that you have made so far. Suffering only gets worse when we try to run from it rather than facing it. There will be times in life when youcannot succeed. Or times when hardship seems about to crush you.Such times are inevitable, yet we should not allow our spirits to be broken by them. Reality is harsh. It can be cruel and ugly. Yet no matter how much we grieve over our environment and circumstances nothing will change.What is important is not to be defeated, to forge ahead bravely. If we do this, a path will open before us. A person’s true nature is revealed at times of the greatest adversity. Anyone can hit a wall. The anguish felt then is proof of one’s desire to move forward. But all is for naught if you falter at that moment. Action—that is the key tobreaking through an impasse.

''Nuggets of wisdom''

Nuggets of Wisdom is a blog that deals mostly with the issues of existence, challenges and relationships. All personal challenges are all trashed through nuggets. Nuggets of Wisdom is owned by Chukwunasa Igwe, a Nigerian and an Engineer. A down to earth person with outstanding humility. ''nuggetsofWisdom''http://gainmoneyfast.com/-174448.htm