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When only the best is needed, see Dr. Johnny Gayton at eyesightassociates.com. This is the Truth Network. Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is set for one flaw. Introducing first, from Lithuania, he weighs 123 kilos, the Russian nightmare, Nikita Kolob. Welcome to another episode of Q&A with Kolob, the Devil's Nightmare. Welcome back to another episode, Q&A with Kolob, Questions and Answers, where you, the caller, get to ask me the questions. Now, I say it quite frequently, but if you're listening to The Man Up Show, and I hope that you are, then you know that I'm basically asking all of the questions. I'm going to take a personal phone call from yours truly, the Russian nightmare, and be able to ask me some questions, and it can be anything. It can be life-related, it can be wrestling-related, it can be ministry-related, it can be whatever. And I've got a special friend on the line with me today, all the way from Nashville, Tennessee.
In fact, are you familiar with these top worship hits, songs like I Could Sing of Your Love Forever, how about Resonate, Cry Holy, or Here I Am to Worship? With me today, part of the music group, Sonic Flood, Rick Heil. Rick, welcome to Q&A with Kolob. Yo, Kolob. Mr. Nikita, I love you, my brother.
Well, and I love you and your families, your lovely bride, Cece. I mean, we go back a ways now. I guess our first introduction was back to the cruise days, right, when we were on cruises?
Oh, yeah. We were doing the cruise with a cause, and they would fill up a boat, and it would be like all kinds of people who loved the Lord, and we would pick a destination, and we'd go there, and we'd get off, and we would share the gospel, and have a crusade that evening, and we had concerts on the boat. And that's fun, trying to sing a concert on a boat while it's, you know, on high seas. While it's rocking on the seas, right? I bet.
I bet you've got to strap them drums down, don't you? So, it's been fun, man. We've been all over the place, and we've been having a great time with Jesus, seeing his word and his power manifest all over the world.
Well, and I'll just tag onto that just real quick. Something that was interesting is, you know, we hit that island. It was an incredible concept. They'd rent the entire cruise ship, and they'd be filled with Christian speakers, and artists like yourself, and musicians, and all kinds of—and so it was an incredible few days, fun days on the boat. But then to get to wherever the destination was, and to get off, and I remember one trip to Jamaica, we were literally there for 36 hours, Rick, with Cruise with the Cause. And in that 36 hours, they collected, by the time we all got back on the boat, they collected over 25,000 decision cards. People that had made some sort of decision for Jesus, whether in the prison or schools. It was insane.
Yeah, it was crazy. So, anyway, and so we became friends from there, you know, been able to support you, and of course your lovely bride. I know she's, I guess, technically a lawyer. Is that right? Yeah, she works with the American Center for Law and Justice, with Jay Sekulow and his sons, and they are going out doing a fantastic work, and she just recently got back from Geneva, you know, trying to defend Israel against the evil.
The tyranny, yeah, the tyranny. Wanting to take over, and so she does international human rights, focusing on religious liberty, basically Christian persecution all around the world, and also they are involved in the defense of Israel. So, you know, whenever you hear about a pastor getting out of prison, basically she's got her hand in it. So they've been doing incredible work, and she did run for Congress here in 2010 here in Middle Tennessee, and you and some friends just ran out to help her and endorse her, and we just love you guys so much, because you guys are the real deal. Well, and as you are, anyone who spends any time around you will find out relatively quick that you are as well, and I mentioned Sonic Flood.
Sonic Flood celebrating 25 years in the music business. In fact, you're going out on a 25th anniversary tour here in 2024, but I didn't realize until our conversation, our interview on the Man Up show, that you were with Big Tent Revival. I'm familiar with them, of course heard of them as well, but Rick, you weren't even, just condense the story down, I want people to go over to the Man Up show and get the full story, but you weren't even really supposed to be able to sing. I mean, you diagnosed at age 11 or something, yeah, yeah, you weren't even supposed to be with us, right, you were diagnosed at age 11, take a couple minutes to just share with our audience what happened at age 11 and how God has just blessed you. Yeah, at age 11 I was diagnosed with a disease called Crohn's disease, which is inflammation of the intestines, basically the body is rejecting the intestines and trying to kill it, and so when that happens, you get ulcers and all kinds of nasty stuff happening in your intestines, of course we need our intestines to absorb nutrients out of food and to live.
When I was first diagnosed, they didn't know a lot about it, basically you're born with 24-ish feet of intestines, they've taken out about 21 feet of my intestines, leaving me with three feet of intestines and my colon after six operations, I believe. So it's been a long ride, it's been brutal, I can't say it's been all fun, but I know that what Satan means for evil, God uses for good. When I was 14, right before I went into the hospital, one year I was given a guitar for Christmas and this hippie chick that was volunteering, just kind of roaming the halls like, hey, you want to learn how to play that? And I was like, yeah, so I was playing John Denver and Eagle songs in bed there, and then I fell in love with music, always grew up singing in church, and that's the only thing we allowed was the voices. So a cappella. An a cappella. I know the term, I know the term, so you did a cappella singing, okay. Yeah, it was like, no instruments allowed, because that would be great to hell. It's something you're going to hell.
Something's wrong with it, but it's coo-coo, you know, yeah. Every time you're reading the Bible, something's banging, somebody's blowing a horn at the Jesus or whatever, but they're like, no, you can't do that. Roll the trumpet and the walls of Jericho will fall. Yeah, you better not, we're just going to sing. No, I told you to blow some trumpets, but are you going to be in for a rude awakening when you get to heaven, when everything is making noise, glorifying God? That's right, you're going to have your hands over your ears, some of you people are going to have your hands over your ears, I'm just saying, right?
But, no, that's good. I think David, too, I think he played a harp, I mean, he was, right? Oh, yeah, come on. Anyway, we could go on and on with that, but, so, so, so, okay, so you, obviously, you've been gifted to sing and gifted to play these instruments and Sonic Flood. I mentioned going on 25th anniversary, 25 years, Rick, with Sonic Flood, come on.
Oh, I feel so old. Young at heart, young at heart. I'm trying to sing, I'm trying, I'm trying, yeah, but, anyway, so, it's a testimony, really, after I, you know, look back at how I've just been laid up for months on end, being fed intravenously at the nose to predigested food and being worked on by surgeons and whatnot, it's like the Lord still continues to sustain my life, allow me to live, and I'm like, God, if you allow me to live, then use me to your glory, what is it you want me to do? And the Lord, he put the love of music in my life, and I like doing it, and I think some people like hearing it, so we're going to go out praising the Lord.
And so if you want to be a part of it, go sign up for our newsletter at SonicFlood.com, and we'll keep you in the know about all things the Flood. And, because, yeah, I'm telling you, you're going to want to go to one of his concerts, and what's amazing, too, I know you described your concerts as, you know, you have the opportunity to share on the platform what you just briefly shared with us today, our listeners today, and really the miracle that you are, a walking miracle in overcoming all these physical health challenges, and then the ability to sing. And I want to say this, too, because, you know, somebody listening out there, I'm like, okay, Sonic Flood, 25 years, okay, let me just emphasize that, so go sign up for their newsletter, Sonic Flood, all one word, SonicFlood.com, go sign up for their newsletter, go check out their music, right, Sonic Flood sold over, or almost, probably more than, 2 million albums producing, producing some top worship hits that you might be familiar, I'm familiar with some of these, I could sing of your love forever, resonate, cry holy, here I am to worship. I'm guessing you've heard at least one of those songs, if you haven't, go on YouTube, look up Rick Heil, look up Sonic Flood, look up one of those songs, and I assure you, once it starts playing, you're going to go, oh my gosh, I think we've sang that in church a hundred times, you know, so, I'm just saying, Rick, you're amazing. I'm sorry, you're probably singing about a thousand times.
I bet, I bet. Well, you go check out his tour, keep him and his lovely family, his bride, Cece, in your prayers as she does the tedious work that she does. And so, Nikita Kolof here, and I am excited. Did you hear the huge announcement, the big announcement?
Well, maybe it's a minor announcement. Anyway, Facebook, go look up my new fan page, Nikita Kolof Fans, and like it, and follow today. Would your company, business, or you personally like to partner with me in supporting Kolof for Christ Ministries, the Man Up Show, and Man Up Minutes? Go to kolof.net and click the donate button.
You can give monthly, annually, or one time. God bless you for making a difference around the world. If you would like to support Kolof for Christ Ministries, for a gift of $25, Nikita will send you his two CDs, Adoration and Declaration. For a gift of $50, Nikita will include his book, Wrestling with Success. And for a gift of $100 or more, Nikita will include a signed copy of his newly updated life story, A Tale of the Ring and Redemption.
Go to www.kolof.net and donate today. You're listening to the Truth Network and truthnetwork.com. Alright, so it is called Q&A with Kolof, Rick, so let's segue transition.
I have no clue what you're potentially going to ask me, but go ahead and just fire away with your first question. Okay, we talked about our love for the Word, and the Word transforms our hearts and minds, and so what's your favorite verse? So my favorite verse, great question, is now Colossians 1.10, and it's broken down into four parts. Let me see if I don't screw this up.
So it's broken down into four parts. It basically says this, kind of this is my translation of Colossians 1.10, live a life, and I don't pray this every single day, but there are plenty days, plenty mornings, you know, when I roll out of bed and hit my knees before my feet hit the floor, you know, I pray this. I pray sometimes Galatians 2.20, which is I've been crucified with Christ, it's no longer I, Nikita Kolof, who lives, but it's Christ who lives in me. In this life I live in the flesh, because I'm still in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and delivered himself up for me. And if not, Colossians 2.20, then Colossians 1.10, which says this, go out, my goal today is I hope I go out and I live a life today that's worthy of the Lord. Like, in other words, honors him, that the things I do today honors him, and that I fully, emphasis on the word fully, please him in thought, word, and deed, right? Through my actions, my words, and my thoughts, and the most challenging part for me is my thoughts.
And then bearing fruit for every good work is part three, and then part four is that I would grow in the knowledge of God, Colossians 1.10. Yes, I love that. I mean, I like how you emphasize the thought life, because that is the battleground. It is truly the battleground. The mind, right? That's the battleground, right? The mind, and that's why God says in his word to transform your mind by the renewing of your mind.
That's right. That's where the battle is, you know, truly, because, you know, I don't know how I watch all these weirdo stuff on Instagram and stuff like that. Every once in a while you're on there, which is great. Doing weird stuff. But people are like having these near-death experiences, and then I've heard many times, I said, God brought to mind the way I thought about a person, affected that person. What? Okay.
And then I would hear it again through another person who had a near-death experience. It's like, interesting. So the way we feel about somebody, and God says not to hate them in your heart. Right. And that's so, you know, that's what you have to do. If you want to live according to God's word, Colossians 1-10, then you must somehow God transform my mind and my thought life so that I truly do love others as you love me and love them. That is hard to do these days. It's challenging.
It's challenging. Let me tag something onto that, because Lex Luger and I do these camps now called Man Camp, and it centers around 1 Thessalonians 5-23 being whole, W-H-O-L-E, whole in spirit, soul, and body. And the soul being the mind, will, and emotions, right? And so, you know, there is an enemy of our soul, Satan, the devil, and of course he's been known to attack physically.
Your physical body over the years has been under attack. Job, the book of Job would be a great example of a physical attack. But then he also, you know, as I said, the battleground is the mind, right? Hence the importance of renewing the mind every day, because the enemy of our soul is going to try to whisper, I won't necessarily call him sweet nothings, but he whispers some things. Evil nothings.
Yeah, exactly. Well, I know you're asking me the questions, but I do at least need to ask your favorite scripture. It's Psalm 103. Praise the Lord. I tell myself, never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins, and he heals all my diseases. He ransoms me from death, surrounds me with love and tender mercy, and he fills my life with good things. Come on.
Hey, I would expect nothing less from a worship leader, a scripture that has praise the Lord in it. Come on, come on. That's right. All right. You got another question for me?
Yeah. How much did you weigh at your heaviest? In the peak, the day I walked into Jim Crockett's office in Charlotte, North Carolina, I was approximately 285 pounds with 8% body fat and a 34-inch waist.
That's crazy. 34-inch waist? A 34-inch waist. I don't even know how big my thighs were. Yeah, I'm not even sure how big my thighs were. I think my traps were bigger than my thighs.
Where did you find pants to fit? You know what I'm saying? You know what, Rick? It wasn't the pants, actually.
Although the waist had to be taken in, of course, but the jacket. Here's what's crazy. I'll never forget. Like, if somebody go YouTube right now, because the one thing I hear about the most is when I sickle David Crockett, the announcer, okay? I hear about that more than anything, and that coat I had on was a size 54.
Whoa, that's huge. Because that's the only thing that fit the shoulders, and then I'd have to try and get it tapered for the waist, right? But that jacket, somebody go YouTube that right now.
You see me sickle David Crockett. That white coat, that white sport jacket was a size 54. Crazy. Crazy. Yeah, dang. That's crazy, dude. It is.
Now, not that anymore. And what was your height at that point? 6'2". 6'2". 6'2". So you're a big dude. Yup, yup. So was your dad big?
He was not, actually. So I'm the, quote, baby of the family. I'm the youngest of four.
An older sister and then two older brothers. But no, they're like very pretty lean, and he was slim. He lived to be 92. And he was very lean and slim, right up to his passing, you know, stepping over that threshold onto the celestial city, onto heaven. But no, not, I mean, he was tall, but kind of lanky, but very thin. And my older brothers, like my oldest brother was a gymnast in high school, of all things, right? So that tells you how big he was. He was stretchy. Yes.
And again, just small framed, right? So for me to pack on 285 pounds on my frame was a lot. It was a lot. That's gross. Like, how many eggs do you eat?
Like, I see him like eating raw eggs. I could never do the raw deal. I couldn't do the rocky deal. Sorry.
Could not do it. I like my food cooked. Yeah, I like my food cooked, just like I am not a sushi guy.
No, thank you. Cook my food, including my pizza. Well, that's good because, you know, they're starting to say parasites are just laden, they're laden with parasites. Gross. I'm just saying, cook my food, that's all. But to answer your question, I mean, it was not uncommon.
Let me just put it in perspective this way for you and all of our listeners. Back in those days, to maintain that frame, of course, I'd be in the gym anywhere from two to three hours a day in the midst of wrestling every night, basically. And I would consume anywhere between five and 10,000 calories a day. Oh, my word. Yeah. You had no free time. Yeah, I spent my time eating, working out, and wrestling, and driving. That was about it. What about pooping?
You probably pooped a lot. Well, there was an occasional passing of the torch there as well, yeah. Alright, we got time for one more. On to a bigger and better thing.
You got one more for me? How can I be a part of the man up thing and the steak night thing? Because I really want to lead worship at one of those.
Come on. Here's what I tell everybody what they first have to experience is just that. We love, Lexi and I love for everyone just to come, and I'll say it this way, Rick, be a Mary, not a Martha, but a Mary, and come to camp and just take off all the hats, take off the worship hat, take off the ministry hat, the family hat, take off all the hats, and just come and receive whatever God has for you over the course of those few days. And it's a unique experience for every single guy, and then once you've experienced for yourself, one, now you have a testimony to go tell others, and two, then I have guys who are like, I want to come back and serve. And I'll just tell you right now, Rick, we would love to have you come and do some worship at the camp. We got to get you to take the hats off, come experience it first. We do one every spring, every fall.
Every spring, but what a time of rest for you, for real. Like, you're a giver. You give, give, give, give, give. Man, I tell all guys in ministry, I'm like, look, you're not here to minister, you're here to be ministered to, and you're just going to let us love on you for a few days. That's what we're going to do. I can receive.
Good, good. My pastor had trouble receiving. He's like, man, I don't know how to receive. I'm like, well then, we'll teach you, Jay. We'll teach you how to receive.
So, yup, and for those listening out there, of course you've heard me talk about it before, but just go to, just go to Kolof.net and click the link to the man camp and learn more about it. So, Rick, you're amazing. Sonic Flood, 25 years anniversary. 25.
Go to SonicFlood.com, sign up for the newsletter. Hey, go look up some of those, I'm serious, go look up some of those songs on YouTube. Come on, Here I am to worship, cry holy, I could sing of your love forever.
Hey, guess what? One day, those of us who are Christ followers are going to sing of his love forever. So, love you and CC, Rick. Thank you so much. Love you, Kolof. You rock, brother. Alright, sir, and thank all of you.
You're so faithful every week to tune in to Q&A and the Man Up show. Go out today and live a God-filled, God-blessed day. Shine like stars! Shine like stars!
Bam! This podcast is made possible by the grace of God and your faithful prayers, support, and generous gifts. May God bless you for your continual contributions. Go to Kolof.net and donate today. Nikita Kolof here.
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