10 WAY S T O S U RV I V E EXAM SEASON
SPRING EDITION 2016
J- S O M E T H I N G & T H E M I C A S A M U S I C L E G AC Y
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Y O U R C O M PA N I O N F O R T H E C H R I S T M A S S E A S O N
S C O P E M AG A Z I N E . C O. Z A
IDENTITY
INTRODUCING STUDENTS TO A BIGGER SCOPE OF OUR WORLD TODAY THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL.
TEAM
CONTRIBUTORS
Publishing Director - Jonathan Just Creative Director - Michael Just .. Publishing Coordinator - Zoe Ras Finance Manager - Brad Latre
Main Feature - Mikhail Manuel
Managing Editor - Megan Schilder
Engage - Adrian Wilson
Copy Editors - Michka Lawrence, Dimpho Liphapang Proofreader - Munshya Mupela Designer - Branden Michaels Photographer - Zukiswa Minyi Videographer - Zukiswa Minyi
Paradigm Shift - Lindiwe Mpofu Reason - Theuns Jacobs Resound - Joseph Gage Interview - Grant Porthen, Steph Farren Marile Strauss, Philip Strauss, Helpful Hints Michka-Maxine Lawrence
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PERSPECTIVE
D E A R E S T R E A D E R,
In Varsity Pulse, Rati Mashego confronts what we may be missing out on if we settle for a filtered view of ourselves and the world around us. For the interview section, four inspiring church leaders present a letter they have written to their younger, 20-year-old selves, addressing insecurities and concerns they had for their future – something I think many of us
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My Story - Stef Martin
FIRST WORD
Let’s talk about identity, shall we? Because what does that even mean!? The word often gets thrown around along with questions like: “How would you describe yourself?” And for a lot of us, this question brings more questions than answers! But evaluating what those are, you’ll soon find many others you walk past on Jammie Plaza, or share tutorials with, or even go to church with, just as jaded with confusion.
SPRING EDITION 2016
Varsity Pulse - Rati Mashego
CONNECT WITH US:
Phew! What a year it has been! From the shockwaves of political uncertainty and Beyoncé’s ‘Lemonade’, to the coolest Snapchat filters and ‘multiracial’ emoticons – this year has already been something to write home about.
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can relate to (see page 15). Cape Town’s very own, Chris Werge shares some of his ideas on identity and how that plays out in his music for the New Tune page. And Michka-Maxine Lawrence gives us a most helpful guide to forging through exam time like a boss. All the clarity you need to live a full life is found in relationship with God, believing in Jesus Christ and growing in your understanding of His word. Let Him amaze you with the answers only He can provide. HAPPY READING E V E R YO N E !
03 WHO D O YOU SAY I AM? 05 #NOFILTER 06 WHY I BELIEVE IN ‘THE GOD OF THE OPPRESSOR’ 08 WHAT’S THE POINT OF MARRIAGE, ANYWAY? 09 BELIEVING IN THE BLUEPRINT
REVIEWS 11 J’SOMETHING & THE MICASA MUSIC LEGACY 13 UNCOVERING UPCOMING ARTISTS 14 BEST BO OKS FOR YOUR MADIBAS
TESTIFY 15 INTERVIEW: LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF 17 MY STORY: STEF MARTIN
SIMUNYE MEGAN SCHILDER
18 ON-CAMPUS CHURCH COLLABORATION
Managing Editor
Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”
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S AV V Y S T U D E N T 19 POETRY & ART 20 10 WAYS TO SURVIVE EXAM SEASON
C.S LEWIS ANY OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE PUBLISHER, SPONSORS, ADVERTISERS, OR SCOPE MAGAZINE.
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PERSPECTIVE
BY MIKHAIL MANUEL
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f you could describe who you are in ten seconds, what would you say? This is the question we asked a variety of students on six main university campuses across South Africa. We got a mixed bag of answers, some students more sure than others. In reality, however, our identity as humans is an extremely complex and convoluted issue – ten seconds not nearly long enough to do it justice!
Figuring out who you are is a process. It could take someone an entire lifetime to be able to say with confidence who they think they are. As students, this is a time of self-discovery where we can analyse and critique common-held beliefs and worldviews – framing the choices we make around what we believe to be fundamentally true. But how do we come to the point of knowing that some things are better for us than other things? And what are our motives behind the key decisions that we make which will determine who we are as people? A lot of the time we care so much about what others say or think about us that we form who we are based on society’s expectations of us. We crave others’ approval and praise, forgetting what our hearts desire most
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which is the love, freedom, joy, and peace that flow from relationship with God. In Mark 8:29, Jesus asked His disciples: “Who do you say I am?” He never asked them this question because he was unsure about His own identity, in need of affirmation, which is often the case with us. Instead, He wanted to make sure that they knew who He truly was and with what authority He was saying and doing the things He said and did. Peter answered Jesus’ question by stating that He is the Christ. Effectually, ‘Christ’ was Jesus’ title. The Greek derivation of ‘Christ’ is translated to mean the ‘Anointed One’ or the ‘Chosen One’. This was significant because the Old Testament prophets prophesied about a coming King that would set God’s people free. Isaiah predicted that “a King will reign in righteousness”1 and Daniel prophesied the “coming of an anointed one, a prince”2. Jesus’ time on earth was the fulfillment of many prophecies by many people over many centuries. To understand the purpose behind why Jesus came to earth, Paul tells us in a nutshell that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”3 I think each person will be able to understand these words by first deeply considering the state of their own heart. At the core of who we are is a yearning to feel loved and to live with
freedom, joy and peace. But these desires are never fully met because we are sinful, searching in all the wrong places for satisfaction and always coming away empty. To see the truth in that statement, we need only to look at any human rights issue in the world. You will find that the fundamental desire behind the fight for equality is a group of marginalised individuals wanting simply to feel loved, free, joyful and peaceful. My parents fought for these fundamental desires when they struggled against the Apartheid government. Gay rights movements around the world have fought for marriage equality for decades under the same auspices. Today, Fees Must Fall, Rhodes Must Fall, and every other student protest is a struggle for the same cause. Everyone wants to feel loved and live freely with joy and peace. God never intended for us to attain these fundamental desires by forcing social or government reform, or trusting in these things to save us from the problems we face. They will never fully be able to solve the real problem of sin in our hearts. Only Jesus can. This Messiah has made it possible for anyone to experience abundant life because He died so that our sins might be forgiven. He rose in victory over death and has promised to restore all things to how they were meant to be in God’s perfect world where “there will be
no more death or mourning or crying or pain”4. All who are called His children will be able to live with their Father forever. LOVE “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”5 Is it not true that we feel most loved when we are accepted unconditionally? I believe it to be the case. The Merriam Webster Dictionary mistakenly only describes love in terms of feelings, affection and emotions. But love is action. To love is to accept someone irrespective of their flaws, putting their needs and wants ahead of your own. “Greater love has no one than this that someone lay down his life for his friends.”6 That’s exactly what Jesus did for you and me and now He is calling us to do the same. FREEDOM The sense of freedom you have always yearned for will be fully realised. Picture Sarafina on stage in her black and white school uniform, afro hair and broad smile, the joy beaming in her eyes singing: “Freedom is coming tomorrow!” Sarafina sings with jubilation because she has declared that the oppression of Apartheid in South Africa will end. That song captures the joy that we ought to experience to an even greater degree when we know we have been forgiven and set free from sin. JOY You will have the utmost joy. In 2 Samuel 6, King David is described to be leaping, dancing and rejoicing before the Lord. David possessed a special relationship with God, one that was rare for the era in which he lived because few truly understood God’s love for His people.
Today, we too can have the same level of intimacy with God as David had, understanding the ultimate sacrifice God made for us in dying on the cross so that all can draw near to Him. That consistent relationship with God is what will bring you true joy. PEACE You will have peace. David writes, “He leads me besides still waters. He restores my soul.”7 Matthew Henry explains how this passage shows that God will not only provide us with rest but also with refreshment and delight. I can testify to this truth. I have always had trouble with clarity over the potential direction of my career and often fret over daily decisions. This verse helps me to remember that my true rest is found when remaining in His presence. Jesus is everything your heart has always yearned for; love, freedom, joy and peace. These deepest desires and where we go in search for them shapes who we are. Whether you regard yourself as an average Joe, plain Jane, freedom fighter, student activist, university executive, or sports hero – whoever you think you are – in God’s eyes you are more. You are His beloved son or daughter. “Who do you say I am?” A question Jesus is asking you today. However you answer won’t change who He is. But I can guarantee that once you have come to know the love, freedom, joy, and peace only He provides – it will change who you are forever. ENDNOTES:
AT THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE IS A YEARNING TO FEEL LOVED AND TO LIVE WITH FREEDOM, JOY AND PEACE.
1. Isaiah 32:1 2. Daniel 9:25 3. 1 Timothy 1:15 4. Revelation 21:4 5. Romans 8:1 6. John 15:13 7. Psalm 23:2-3
MIKHAIL MANUEL is a Development Consultant; he recently graduated from UCT and will be returning to do his Masters in 2017. He loves spending time with mates, reading novels and going for early morning runs.
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PERSPECTIVE
VARSITY PULSE
BY RATI MASHEGO
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remember the days of MXiT and BBM and how they began. When MXiT first came out, I think I was in grade 6, if not grade 7. It was such an interesting time. Picture it; a young primary school me being told that he can now start talking to anyone as long as they were online too. I could even speak to girls! What this meant is that I would start crafting my MXiT language to be trendy and using shorthand to say things like “brb” (be right back), “tms” (tell me something), and even “soz dc lm plz” (sorry I got disconnected, could you please resend your last message). You see from that MXiT age a new filter started being applied to my life, a filter that affected how I would interact with people from that day forward. I know it may sound a little dramatic for me to say that social media and instant messaging platforms affected my life that drastically; but the truth is that they really did. From being shy and socially awkward, to gaining a particular smoothness, albeit somewhat fake, it was enough to build ‘real life’ confidence. You see, from the beginning it was firstly about getting people’s phone numbers so that I could invite them on MXiT and wait for them to accept because, let’s get real, no one actually enjoyed talking to ‘Joebanker’, and chat rooms just seemed like too much of a predator’s watering hole. After making it through that first step I needed to make sure that my MXiT banter was on top form. And if I managed to keep that up to date then I knew that at the next social gathering I would have enough friends around me to make it look as though I wasn’t a loner. Does this sound familiar? The development of BBM was no different in terms of performance requirement and potential reward. The only added demand was that of actually getting a specific phone, and brace your backwards self if your friends find out that you don’t have a Blackberry. But then something new happened and changed not only the way that we interacted with the world, but also the way that we started to see the world. The emergence of the ‘Instalifestyle’ was the beginning of a larger quest to try and capture the beautiful and fun things in life with the ‘Intstacommunity’. I am in no way saying that any of these things are bad. I, in fact, believe that they are very good. I simply wander how dissatisfied we are
THERE HAS TO BE MORE TO LIFE THAN TAILORING EVERY MOMENT AND SITUATION TO BEST SUITE THE ‘INSTAFEED’.
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with our immediate situations that what we focus most of our attention on is the reach of our photos and virtual popularity. We get so busy looking for the right filter to suit the particular photo to cash in a few likes, because it’s all about the likes and followers right? Likes are fleeting, hashtags are forever changing along with everchanging trends, and people eventually get over looking at the photos of the then ‘good life’. Think about it for a moment; does the constant refreshing of your feed on any given social media platform ever leave you feeling like you have experienced enough? Or does it simply leave you feeling like the next refresh of that feed can not possibly come soon enough? There has to be more to life than tailoring every moment and situation to best suite the ‘Instafeed’. The way I see it, we have been invited into an amazing world around us, with stories of millions of people to share in. There is no need to try and change what the Author has already created as perfect. So if we are going to filter our reality, I would recommend looking at the world through the eyes of the One who created it. Surely, if He saw that “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31), and we don’t see it as good enough, then He must see something that we don’t. Does He see things that are real and meaningful while we are so fixed on the things of here and now, which aren’t that meaningful? What good is an author who writes with no plan, or a novel with no essence? I want to be alive the way He created me to be alive, and if the intention of God – the Creator – was a “very good” one, then I cannot help but be certain in knowing that there is more to life than filtering every moment of it. Maybe what we need to do is ask the Author to open our eyes afresh to see the goodness of the world around us, every day. After all, it is His world, perfect and unfiltered.
RATI MASHEGO Spending time with my friends in Cape Town where I study, and spending time with my family in Johannesburg makes me happy. So do coffee, the church communities I’m a part of, and new ideas and personalities.
PERSPECTIVE
PARADIGM SHIFT
BY LINDIWE MPOFU
“L
oose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, set the oppressed free and break every yoke”.1
If the message of Jesus encouraged oppression, then this verse is self-defeating and misplaced. Which oppressor’s manifesto includes a section on letting the oppressed go free? The Gospel of Jesus was never meant to be a message of oppression, but one of love and freedom, and let’s face it – it’s pretty difficult to torment someone with love. If anything, the message of Christ sees us all as being under the oppression of sin and He offers us eternal freedom. “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”2
In His letter to the Galatians, Paul reminds us that in Christ the barriers of social structures are overshadowed by our equality. There is neither slave nor free, meaning that the Christianity of the slave owner should be the same as the Christianity of the slave. God loves us all equally as His image-bearers, and those equal before God deserve equal dignity, but our current social structures do not afford dignity to every image-bearer. I believe that if Jesus was in fact the message of the oppressor, then He would not have chosen to be incarnated as a Jew – a marginalised, oppressed people group under the Roman rule. Surely, if He was the poster child of oppression, would He not have come into the world as a Roman Emperor? Unfortunately, with the conflation of some church denominations in South Africa, at the height of colonisation and Apartheid, the message of Christ was used to justify oppression and segregation.
On a large scale, the Christianity of the oppressor and that of the oppressed became different; instead of being united through faith in Christ, we were divided by it. This was a hypocritical corrupted presentation of the Gospel; it was a sin issue rather than a Gospel issue. The nature and character of Christ remains constant. Even when we propagate the suffering and decay of the world, He constantly reveals Himself as our only hope for true freedom. the son of man walked on Egyptian And Eastern soil and wasn’t just a Western construct Or a master used to control us But what the Master used to free us And it was a crooked system just like this that left the King of Kings bloodless Yeah, we are truly a descendant of a King only His reign is infinite3 HOW DO I RELATE TO A ‘WHITE’ JESUS WHO CLAIMS TO BE GOD? Jesus was not white. Shocking, isn’t it?! He was actually a Jew named Yeshua. Jesus Christ’s coming was a message of salvation within a distinctly Jewish framework. ‘Christos’ means Messiah – the long awaited Jewish King – who also happens to be the King of all nations. While locating the historical Jesus is important, He cannot be reduced to a mere Jewish sage. He is the
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PARADIGM SHIFT
WESTERN ‘WHITE’ CULTURE HAS STEERED MUCH OF THE CHRISTIAN NARRATIVE FOR SO LONG THAT, AT TIMES, CHRISTIANS CONFUSE WESTERN CULTURAL PREFERENCES WITH WHAT IS BIBLICAL.
Son of God. At the same time, merely looking at a supernatural Jesus can degenerate into the myth of Him just being an archaic version of Superman. I believe that in order to fully relate to Jesus, we ought to see Him as fully man (a Jewish man) and fully God, meaning that His identity is not confined to his ethnicity but transcends to His divine attributes. Western ‘white’ culture has steered much of the Christian narrative for so long that, at times, Christians confuse western cultural preferences with what is biblical. A typical example is the famous paintings depicting Christ as a white man with long brown hair, wearing a white robe and ‘Jesus sandals’. This image, plastered across church halls and even children’s’ books, has unfortunately become so deeply embedded in our mind’s eye that most Christians do not realise it. We also see this in the way that some of us ‘do church’ devoid of the diverse cultural expressions of worship. There seems to be an abiding polarisation in some pockets of the South African church when it comes to cultural and ethnic reconciliation. We see the tension play itself out in the blogosphere, in denominational discussions, and in the verbal jousting among Christians on social media. Colonisation and the segregation caused by Apartheid are partly to blame for the mono-cultural expressions of worship in some churches. The book of Acts gives an account of the church as a multi-ethnic community of believers existing for the unification of all people in Christ, and not simply for cute rainbow-nation-churchphoto-opps. The politics of identity are largely contentious in the times we are living in, which is why the question of relating to Jesus as God is important for each of us to explore. The way we answer that question will most likely influence how we relate to the world around us. It is crucial that we look to the doctrine of the Gospel to find these answers.
The Gospel begins with a common creation narrative. It does not view people fundamentally as Black, White, Coloured, Indian etc. Alternatively, it implores that we are all descendants of the race of Adam, which was created good. The Gospel indicts us with a common fall narrative. We have all rejected God and sought to put ourselves over others, using whatever worldly category we can; beauty, wealth, ethnicity, gender, religion, and so forth. We are all guilty. The Gospel offers a common salvation. The solution is something that is external to us, that is, the vicarious righteousness of Jesus. It leaves no room for boasting. No one can point to something internal by which to place him or herself over another. Not only that, union with Christ means that everyone united to Christ is united to one another.4 The Gospel doctrine promises a common glorification. Within the context of gospel doctrine, space exists for diversity and multiple groups because we share one narrative consisting of creation, condemnation, redemption, and glorification. Our differences are real, but they don’t go nearly as deep as this narrative which has now become our narrative. Revelation 7: 9-10 gives us a glimpse into the glorious unity in diversity which will be perfected in heaven, as multitudes from every tribe and tongue worship the Lord with ONE VOICE. Our cultural and ethnic differences are a beautiful gift from God which ought to be celebrated and not thwarted. Moving towards unity in this way will move us closer to the reality of heaven. But till that day, this side of heaven, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”5 ENDNOTES 1. Isaiah 58:6 2. Galatians 5:1 3. Gangland by Propaganda ft. Lecrae – Church Clothes 3 4. Ephesians 2:11-22 5. 1 Peter 4:8
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LINDIWE MPOFU Born and raised in Zimbabwe, moved to CT to study Politics and Public Administration. I am a bit of a Daniel in Babylon - I have an untamable passion to see South Africa reconciled to God’s purposes. I recently joined the team at Shofar Rondebosch’s Nations Company - an NGO aimed at equipping future African leaders for transformation and reconciliation.
PERSPECTIVE
REASON
BY THEUNS JACOBS
“G
od, not you, made marriage. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest detail of marriage…So guard the spirit of marriage within you.”1
These Bible verses are hard to reconcile with current cultural streams. Popular discourse on marriage revolves around happiness, and around justice. In terms of happiness, marriage is seen as a prime source of happiness. People get married to be happy. The joy of the wedding day must continue perpetually. If the happiness wavers, the marriage is reconsidered. Marriage is reduced to an emotional state. In terms of justice, marriage becomes a public platform for advocacy groups. In this view, marriage becomes a goal post for societal change. Justice occurs when all can enter into traditional marriage, regardless of sexual identity. In the process, marriage becomes a signpost on the way to a particular view of society. Marriage is reduced to societal approval. Both these views put the cart before the horse. Marriage is not primarily about happiness or justice. Instinctively we know that marriage ought to be sacred. It has to be a calling. It has to be inviolable. It ought to be honoured by all. It should be scary and exciting at the same time. In biblical thought, marriage is an expression of covenant. And covenant has jarring elements. It is extreme. It has an all-or-nothing ethic.
“Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.”2 Marriage must be honoured by all. Whether you are married or not. Whether it is your marriage or not. Marriage is beyond all of us. It is not an object for selfgratification. Marriage should be revered. It should be cherished. The marriage bed must be kept pure, for God will judge adulterers, and those who have sexual relations outside of marriage. It refutes the possibility of living together before marriage. After all, how can marriage be honoured if the privileges of marriage are taken with none of the commitments of marriage? Therefore, marriage has a strong moral tone. For many, this view of marriage is too daunting. This high moral view of marriage only makes sense when the covenantal basis of marriage is considered. In covenant, extreme promises are made, and extreme
commitments are made to those promises. It is elevated to a matter of life and death. If the promises are fulfilled, it brings life. If the promises are broken, it brings emotional and spiritual death. Why so extreme? Covenant is extreme because it is the relational mode of an absolute God. God only relates in covenant. The idea of a ‘quick fling’ is from man, not from Him. He never intended for two people who are romantically involved to just ‘live together’.
I N BI BLI CAL T HOUG HT, MAR R I AG E I S AN EX PR ESSIO N OF COV EN AN T. AN D COVENANT HAS JAR R I N G ELEMEN T S. IT IS EX T R EME. I T HAS AN ALL-O RN OT HI N G ET HI C. No other type of relationship can contain His fierce love, or His absolute holiness. And marriage embodies, in human form, the love of God towards people. Marriage has a divine-like ability to bless. It creates a life together, it bonds a family together, it shapes a legacy. But equally, if dishonoured, it can bring great destruction. Gary Thomas once said, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than make us happy?” Marriage is holy. And marriage shapes us in holiness. When we are holy, we will be truly happy, and his justice is also shown through it all. His Spirit inhabits even the smallest details of marriage. ENDNOTES 1. Malachi 2:14-15 2. Hebrews 13:4
THEUNS JACOBS is a pastor from Shofar Christian Church. He lives with his wife and son in Cape Town. Shofar has extensive campus ministries. For more details, please visit: www.shofaronline.org.
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PERSPECTIVE
ENGAGE
BELIEVING IN T BY ADRIAN WILSON
“N
ow to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen.”1 Day after day, scientists and researchers spend hours trying to figure out the perfect formula. Formulas to cure illnesses and formulas to simply make life easier. I often wonder what life would look like if I had the formula for a rare invention like Coca Cola; just imagine being able to know the exact code behind million-rand projects and inventions like this. I could get used to the idea of life-long holiday trips and weekend getaways. As much as this sounds like a ticket out of the hustler’s lane and straight into cruise control, this requires a particular formula, and for a long time I lived in pursuit of following this formula. For me, finding the perfect formula meant finding the lucky ticket out of the ‘stuck zone’, and straight into the magical circle of life. All the more buying into the ideal that that’s all life is meant to look like—a circle. I thought that the only way to get here was if I found ‘the formula’, replicated it and hit the auto-pilot button on my life. It was meant to be easy. However, the more I searched and tried to find the formula, the more I realised it wasn’t exactly what I thought it would be, and my pursuit became a little chase with no finish line.
The world constantly lures us to believe that the only way we could obtain success in life is if we buy into the ‘formula ideal’, making it difficult for us to see any other option. I was caught in this rat race until I eventually came to know that, in fact, I was called to live according to my blueprint. A blueprint is an untouched, unaltered design—an original. A blueprint is the original outcome; no formula can replicate what the blueprint is meant to achieve, and neither can it alter the blueprint. I often wondered why it is that I wasn’t aware of the difference earlier on in life. I now realise that it wasn’t that I couldn’t see the opportunity to live according to my blueprint, but rather that I was so swooned by the perks that came with the formula, that I thought it was a quick fix for ‘the good life’. But if I consider the meaning of a quality life, I realise that there are no such things as ‘quick fixes’ if you’re wanting to build something that lasts. Similarly, a fast food restaurant’s burger can never compare to a good homemade slow cooked meal. And although we enjoy the convenience of a fast-foodrestaurant-manufactured burger, it doesn’t compare to the satisfaction we get when we’re seated at a table topped with a heartily prepared meal that took welldeserved time. Of course, formulas are fantastic for produce and service, but for an individual who has been designed with greater purpose and potential, a formula is just not enough. A formula is there to reach a specific outcome, so if step two and three get messed up,
BECAUSE WE ARE CALLED AS INDIVIDU ONLY A BLUEPRIN T DESIGNED BY THE DNA – CAN TRULY SUPPLY THE PLAN, P 09 SPRING EDITION 2016
THE BLUEPRINT would that not mean that my outcome would be too? Furthermore, a formula can be duplicated for Fred, Mike and Amy—all of whom would reach the same outcome. But we are each created as individuals, with a unique purpose that leads to a unique outcome—an individual plan. A life lived only to reproduce an outcome – one previously portrayed as success – is a life having accumulated a lot, but may be void of having left a legacy founded on more than just bricks and mortar. We came into this world naked, and that is how we are going to leave this earth – taking nothing materialistic with us while leaving behind whatever we’ve built. It should matter to us that, once our days on the earth have come to an end, people are positively impacted by how selfless, kind and loving we had conducted our lives. Just as these traits matter in the general dynamic of life on earth, it holds intrinsic value in our unique blueprints. Juxtaposed is the formula, which is utilitarian by its very nature. Because we are called as individuals with a specific mission, then only a blueprint designed by the Creator – who knows our very DNA – can truly supply the plan, purpose and course for our lives. This changes the game from a life forced into the parameters of a formula, to a life that embodies a purpose-driven declaration of freedom to be everything we’ve been created to be. It becomes simple when we take ourselves out of the rat race game and enter into a life that rests in its unique purpose. I believe that the outcome will pleasantly surprise us, being so much better than what we could expect or imagine it to be
in the end. There is a great degree of comfort found in knowing that, although I exist in a world inhabited by billions of people, who I am and what I am created for is not just a copy-paste situation. I realised that even though I may not be able to see the full blueprint of my life just yet, I know that it was created by Someone I can fully put my trust in and believe for strength to carry me through every season of uncertainty. No matter what comes our way, if we keep following the blueprint God has mapped out for us, it might not make complete sense for a few moments while we are immersed in our current position, but it will become a lot clearer in hindsight. We are each a unique declaration of God’s glory in the way He has created us. Embrace the best blueprint He has marked out for you. A blueprint designed by Love.
ENDNOTES 1. Ephesians 3:20-21
ADRIAN WILSON is a 26-year-old Quality Assurance Analyst by trade, but also an under cover cosmonaut who legitimately owns a piece of land on the moon. When weekends come you can find me on the golf course or messing around with some tech. I’ve got a passion for the youth and absolutely love people. #EverybodyLoveEverybody.
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REVIEWS
RESOUND
J’SOMETHING
& THE MI CASA MUSIC LEGACY BY JOSEPH GAGE itting on a couch in a beautiful old apartment, I eagerly wait for J’Something to join me at any moment. Admiring the architecture around me, it feels like a place full of history and life, the colourful flower garden outside showing that it was also one worth preserving.
S
I hear a knock at the door and in strolls J’Something, or just ‘J’ as he introduces himself. The most noticeable thing about him is his smile. This guy is happy. After some initial small talk, we begin almost immediately chatting about God. It was beginning to become apparent what made him so happy. Excited to hear what he thinks about his band and their success: “If you could describe Mi Casa in one sentence, what would it be? “ “A band that is focused on creating a legacy through music,” he answers almost immediately. Funny, that is what I thought the building we were in must have – a legacy.
THE MORE WE EXPOSE O CULTURES AND LEARN W WE’LL STOP BEING SO IG THINGS THAT WERE IMPO 11 SPRING EDITION 2016
Mi Casa has certainly made a great start in leaving behind a legacy. Songs like ‘These Streets’ and ‘Heavenly Sent’ are well remembered from a few years ago and more recently, ‘Jika’ and ‘Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend’, are loved by millions all over the continent. It is no surprise that they have won a number of accolades over the last five years including South African Music Awards for Best Dance Album, Group of the Year, and Record of the Year. But how did this legacy start? “I think God intended for us to be together. It was in 2010 on the rooftop of the Radisson Hotel in Johannesburg. Soul Candi was hosting a party. I had just moved to Joburg after studying in Stellenbosch. I had nothing to do in Joburg and was staying on a cousin’s couch so I went to this party. And when I got to this party I saw this DJ playing and I thought he was so cool. And then all of a sudden I saw this trumpeter start to play with this DJ and I thought, ‘Ah, this plot just gets cooler.’ Then my cousin who knew that I could sing said I should go and ask them if I could sing. And even though I’m quite a reserved guy and there were like a hundred people there, I went to the DJ and asked him if I could sing. He looked at me and was like, ‘Yah, okay.’ Then I pickeds up the mic and started to share it with the trumpeter guy and started to do whatever covers I could think of and whatever I could freestyle. “After the show people came up to us and asked for our autographs and where they could get our albums. And I was like let me just get these guys’ names first! And that’s the day that me, Mo and Duda met. And three months later we got into studio and recorded our first song. We had such a vibe that three months later we got our first album out. And then we released a song called ‘These Streets’ and it became record of the year and now five years later here I sit in front of you today.” Mi Casa consists of just three members: J’Something, Dr.Duda, Mo-T. J sings and plays the guitar, Dr.Duda is the producer and DJ, and Mo plays the trumpet. With this lineup, Mi Casa produces a unique jazzy and soulful house sound. And they are planning on bringing this to more of Africa. “We have been working on an Africa tour called the Legacy Tour to start next year. We’ve travelled to a total of 28 African countries. This year we have done about ten. We’ve been working on a whole bunch of new music and collaborations with Wizkid, Yemi Alade, Eddy Kenzo and C4 Pedro – these massive African artists.” His identity in Christ has made him look at life from a humble perspective.
OURSELVES TO DIFFERENT WHAT THEY ARE ALL ABOUT, GNORANT TO THOSE OSED ON US.”
“My identity has always been deeply rooted in the fact that without people I am nothing, so I always pay tribute to the people around me. When I do an interview I feel very blessed to be able do an interview, like why would people want to listen to me? I literally feel like a kid from school who is doing what he loves and that’s music. So I feel extremely blessed that people care and want to listen to what I have to say about my music. But I think that our identity is rooted in humility that without people we are absolutely nothing. And I think that’s what keeps us very close to the ground.” I can personally vouch for him paying tribute to those around him – he even complimented my beard! He has achieved a large amount of influence throughout Africa being in a popular mainstream band. But as a Christian, he uses his influence for what is good. One of the things J is most passionate about is unity and as a result, he hates racism. So I asked him about how he thinks we in South Africa can move on from that to a new identity of racial unity. “It would be extremely ignorant of you and me to think that we could ever fix racism in our lifetime. I don’t think we will ever be able to fix racism. I pray that my kids will have a better picture of a united world than I do right now. “I think one of the biggest steps we can take though is exposing ourselves to different cultures. So many things have been shaped the way they are because that’s just how they were. I remember going to school and my black mates could not have longer hair and if they did, it had to be straightened. Those things were imposed on us. The more we expose ourselves to different cultures and learn what they are all about, we’ll stop being so ignorant to those things that were imposed on us.” God uses Christians in all types of spheres of influence to affect change. “It is our role and responsibility to make a lifestyle out of Christianity which appeals to the masses. And it’s not by Bible bashing. It’s about love and understanding that life is a journey. You can’t fix everything right now, you need to understand that and work on doing what you can.” J’Something and Mi Casa are going places. They are influencers in the mainstream African music world and perhaps one day even beyond Africa. Ultimately, they plan on going somewhere which glorifies God and leaves a legacy of unity to all they come into contact with. If you ask me, that’s exactly what I see. FIND MI CASA ON: MiCasaMusic MiCasaMusic MiCasaMusic MiCasaTVRoom micasamusic
JOSEPH GAGE is an electrical engineering student at Wits. He loves family, friends, the church, sports, music, video games, beards and being happy. All of his love and happiness come from Christ Who died on the cross for him.
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L O CKE D REVIEWS
NEW TUNE
I N
SHINING THE SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL CHRISTIAN HIP HOP BY MILO APRIL
Christian Hip Hop is fast becoming a major genre in South Africa. Below are some of the artists who are helping to grow the movement.
LYRICAL NOVEL
Black Man In His 20s
Born in Limpopo, raised in Polokwane, 22-year-old Tshepo “Lyrical Novel” Nkoana is already making major moves in the industry. He was recently crowned ‘Artist of the Year’ at the 2016 University of Johannesburg Student Choice awards. His body of work from his Abstract Thoughts mixtape put him on the map and got him recognised as a nominee for the award. He is currently working on his follow up album titled Abstract Thoughts 2: Conscious Tshepo. He is also the Co-CEO and artist of Page 1One Records. Look out for him!
CHRIS W E R G E BY PHATHISWA MAGANGANE
C
hris Werge Interviewed by Phathiswa Magangane At the age of 24, Chris Werge [Vir-ga] can already say he’s launched a full-length album called Exposure; recently released a foot-thumping, heart-warming music video for his single On My Mind; taken part in the first South African edition of the highly acclaimed singing competition, “The Voice” with Bobby Van Jaarsveld as his mentor; and he casually served as the opening act for James Blunt during the Cape Town leg of his South African tour. How long has he been at this solo music career you ask? Just 8 months, officially. Granted, Chris has been involved with music since Grade 2, but it was only at the end of 2015 that he decided to put down his pencil as a graphic designer and trade it in for his guitar and a career as a full-time musician. “The theme for this month’s edition is identity, when people hear the name Chris Werge, what would you like to come to mind?” Undaunted by the possible complexity
ALBUM A P P R E C I AT I O N
THE ETERNAL SON 13 SPRING EDITION 2016
GRUTH
of this question, he calmly affirmed his humble and down-to-earth nature and replied, “I’d like People to think of me as a genuine guy.” So what role does God have to play in this talk of identity construction and realisation? For CW, it’s still a process: “I definitely haven’t got it made by any standard yet. I don’t think anybody has but that’s the beauty of faith, it’s a journey [and] it’s amazing that we have a Heavenly Father who never changes. He is always consistent no matter what.” It is our Awe-Inspiring Creator whom Chris wishes to show to the world through his music. “If I didn’t have the status, if I didn’t have Facebook and the likes, my page or my image, who am I as a person without any of that?” probes CW. It is so easy to get swept up in what others think of you when you don’t know who you are. So who is Chris Werge [Vir-ga], you ask? A God fearing, hard-working, and humble, Indie-folk, singer-songwriter from Cape Town gaining South Africa’s attention one song at a time.
R I V E R S
They Don’t Care
Yanga “Gruth” Zweni is originally from King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape, though he resides in East London. He has an album out currently called Salt and Light which is worth the listen, especially the single They Don’t Care produced by Mawat – definitely a banger! He released a cypher along with his label mates Lux Kent and AV titled Legacy: The Cypher and according to the man himself, this is but an appetiser of what to expect from the Living Legacy Movement team in the near future.
LUX KENT
Image ft. YeYe
Luxolo “Lux Kent” Kentane, also from East London in the Eastern Cape, is probably the biggest underdog in the game currently. He just recently signed for Fresh Impressions, which is a label that houses names like Blaque Nubon and Lilly Million. He is also the “Co-Captain” (as he calls himself) of The Living Legacy Movement, and having heard his Past 12 mixtape I can safely say that he has a lot to offer the industry. He is currently working on an EP which he says should be complete soon. Brace yourself for maturity and musicality all in one project. HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Blaque Nubon, Ricwa, C-Jay, Incense, Danny V, Courtney Antipas, Last Days Fam, Clay Misfit and Lyrical D’cyples.
&
ivers and Robots exist with the aim of producing and promoting creative worship music and art in the UK. Since 2012, they have been Jonathan Ogden on vocals, keyboard, guitar and samples, David Hailes on guitar and vocals, and Nathan Stirling on bass and vocals.
R
More recently they released a new album, The Eternal Son, in May this year. Part of the aim of the band is for their lyric content to be based directly on Scripture – easier said than done. Not only are their lyrics sound, with a firm foundation in the Bible, but their music is catchy, creative, and easy to listen to. A personal favourite on the album is the second track,
R O B O T S ‘The Fullness of God’. Here is one line from the chorus: “In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell / Through Him, He will reconcile all things to Himself.” There has been a rise in creative worship bands with the likes of Rend Collective, Citizens and Saints, Kings Kaleidoscope and others coming to the fore. All of them, while very different stylistically, seem to share a common thread of indie, or at least elements thereof. Rivers and Robots, with their new album, raise the bar, and make me want to see such ventures being undertaken by creatives here in South Africa. ~ MATT O’ KELLY
REVIEWS
FOR YOUR READING
O
ur hearts are after something. It’s an undeniable part of human existence. We spend our lives searching for something to put to rest the unrelenting yearning for something more. Affirmation. A good reputation. Financial security. Freedom. Success. Simply put, we were created to find meaning and lasting satisfaction in the ‘everything’ that our hearts desire so intensely. And all of this is found in the ‘everythingness’ of Jesus. Personally, this is one of most refreshing books I’ve ever read – it wrecked my heart from beginning to end because it spoke to me so simply and profoundly. Turns out, the gospel isn’t just a message about Jesus that people outside the church need to believe in order to be accepted by God. Everyone needs the gospel, because at the heart of it is a new identity where God secures for us in Jesus what none of us could secure for ourselves. This book is predicated in Paul’s letter to the Christians in Colossae who were faced with a plethora of conflicting ideologies which sought to distort the knowledge they had of who Jesus is that seemed compatible with some kind of add-on to authenticate their faith. This is so relevant today, especially for those who want to know which beliefs about the world are true and actually worth pursuing. Tchividjian shows us why ‘Jesus + x’ is such a dangerous formula (x being feminism, for example, would imply that the gospel considers women with low regard, which is a common misconception). He also examines how, through the book of Colossians, the gospel came alive for him in the midst of his own personal crisis. He honestly shares how the gospel freed him from his own struggle with idolatry, which wasn’t bowing to a golden calf but placing his entire identity in how much people liked him. He writes to everyone – those in and those out of the church. He addresses what he calls ‘performancism’ in the church, where
B O O K B I T E
Christians try to become better, thinking that doing good works and obeying God more will mean that He will love them. He also addresses lawlessness, where those outside the church break all of the rules because they believe their behaviour keeps them from being accepted by God. Both of these groups are mistaken. The determining factor in a relationship with God is what Christ has done: His performance and His obedience – not what we must do. God’s love doesn’t grow with our obedience and shrink with our disobedience, because it’s based on Jesus. This sets us free from trying harder or becoming apathetic, because we realise that it’s not really about us at all. I tend to fall into the performance camp – believing that “God will love me if I___” and it’s such a relief to know that this exhausting practice actually goes against who God is. If you find yourself in the “God doesn’t/can’t love me because___” group, God loves you anyway. God’s love or acceptance isn’t based on our ‘good’ behaviour. This is liberating for Christians and nonChristians alike, because it means that our behaviour, whether good or bad, will never disqualify us from the love of God. The gospel is not only counter-cultural, but also counterintuitive. We’re so accustomed to earning our place and working for what (we think) we deserve, that we believe phrases like “God helps those who help themselves” when the Bible is actually clear that “God helps those who know they cannot help themselves”. This book reminded me of Jeff Bethke’s famous spoken word piece, ‘Why I Hate Religion but Love Jesus’, where he, just like Tchividjian, really captures the message of the radical freedom that comes with the gospel, because “religion says do. Jesus says done. Religion says slave. Jesus says son”. Sons neither have to work for nor can they ever lose their place at their father’s table. And that is what the gospel makes us: sons and daughters of the all-loving Father. ~ MATSHEPO MADUPELA
THE FREEDOM OF SELF-FORGETFULNESS
TIMOTHY KELLER
“I
f we trust in Christ, what should our hearts be like? It is not simply a matter of morally virtuous behaviour. It is quite possible to do all sorts of morally virtuous things when our hearts are filled with fear, with pride or with a desire for power.” When you pick up a new book promising to tell you more about Jesus and this Christian walk, there is a tendency to sit at the feet of the author, look to him/ her and think “Ok, teach me new things I don’t yet know.” What is special about this
small, 7 page book is that the author has turned everything to the word of God and sits with its reader at the feet of the Author of Creation saying, “Ok, God, teach us new things we don’t yet know.”
to popular belief, God’s thoughts are outside the menial opinions of man. If our ideals are structured around societal norms, then we are settling for an understanding that is void of ultimate perspective.
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness by Timothy Keller is a gem of a book based on a sermon he gave from 1 Corinthians 3:21-4:7. Keller addresses man’s source of personal accreditation – the ways in which we feel most validated and how that affects the way we contribute to society. Contrary
Keller probes the manner in which we view ourselves according to the ideals we’ve adopted. He will get you thinking about where you have seen it fit to adopt these ideals from, and why. ~ MÉGAN SCHILDER
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TESTIFY
INTERVIEW
TO M Y YOUN GER SELF
DEAR 20 YEAR OLD STEPH, A few years have gone by now, not enough to grey my hair, but years enough to chisel experience into gems of wisdom. You have recently given your life to follow Christ. Much has changed and will change. Right now you feel the closeness of God. You are strengthened and encouraged by the sweet times of fellowship you share with Him. This fellowship is fundamental, take heed however, for there are times ahead where you will have to walk in His ways without the feeling of His touch, without the audibility of His voice. I encourage you to immerse yourself in His word, the Bible. This is His character, His way and His will revealed. Also, place yourself under the discipleship of women who have walked faithfully alongside the Lord. This will serve to guide you, keeping you in the fold of God where the gems of wisdom will in turn chisel your experience. Take care, dear heart. You are loved,
Steph 15 SPRING EDITION 2016
RIGHT NOW YOU FEEL THE CLOSENESS OF GOD.
DEAR PHILIP, The value of life comes down to one serious decision to take a look deep into your own heart and see yourself being lost in an ocean of sin. Know that the Potter knows how to mould the pot, steady and surely to perfection. All the wasted years B.C. will be gracefully quickened to where God wants you, don’t live in regret. Shout it from the rooftops, mountains and in the valleys low that there is no other CHAMPION but KING JESUS. Take the time to study, be counselled, be mentored and be discipled, for the Lord is coming for His bride. Be ready! From,
Philip KNOW THAT THE POTTER KNOWS HOW TO MOULD THE POT, STEADY AND SURELY TO PERFECTION.
DEAR YOUNGER ME,
THE WAY A GUY TREATS YOU DOES NOT DEFINE WHO YOU ARE, IT SHOWS YOU WHO HE IS.
Jesus is real. He is so awesomely real. All your searching, all the restlessness, all the looking for acceptance and love – Jesus is the answer. Don’t postpone it any longer – give your heart to Him! Surround yourself with people that love God, love you and make you want to be better. Losing your heart to every boy is not God’s plan for you. The way a guy treats you does not define who you are, it shows you who he is. Marrying him will not make it better! In that moment of hurt – FORGIVE – don’t delay! A day without laughter and joy is a wasted day. God says you are worth it. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise. Be kind, be generous, but above all, walk in LOVE Himself. Love,
Marilé
HE WILL REPLACE YOUR BROKENNESS WITH WHOLENESS. DEAR GRANT I know that for a long time you’ve been living with the brokenness of your dad leaving you behind, but I want you to know that it’s not your fault. You’ve been spending all this time blaming yourself, and believing the lie that you have no value. This belief system has led you to seeking your worth in dark places, and has resulted in you being enslaved in a realm where death is the name of the game. Even though I know that at the end of it all God breaks through and wins, I want you to know at this point that you were born for more than this. There is a God in this world that values and loves you, and desires to be with you. He has promised that if you would just cry out to Him that He would be yours, and that He will replace your brokenness with wholeness. With Much Hope,
Grant SCOPEMAGAZINE.CO.ZA 16
TESTIFY
MY STORY
STEF MARTIN F
or a lot of people, myself included, I don’t seem like a person who would believe in God – and I didn’t, for twentyone years. I was proud of this fact: I was intellectually superior to Christians who were too weak to get through their lives on their own and needed a saviour to cling to when everything went wrong. I understood the behaviour, I just didn’t want to be a part of it because I thought it was embarrassing. The Bible was interesting, if only for the basis of reference it gives for other books and some Mumford & Sons songs. I went to a camp last year in Franschhoek – a big thing. I still wasn’t convinced by the whole ‘God thing’, and I had so many questions and misgivings, it just seemed impossible that I would ever understand. I had never been on a Christian camp before, so things were weird at times. For the ten months that people had been talking to me seriously about God, I had known that if I ever did make a decision to believe in Him, I would have to do it of my own accord. I could not do it to please my friends; this is not about them. During my free time at camp, I decided that I needed time away from everyone in order to clear my head and write down some thoughts. But also to really figure out why I was at the camp and exploring the possibility of a relationship with a god that I ridiculed, yet was also interested in. I left my phone, didn’t tell anyone where I was going, and went for a walk into Franschhoek’s gardens. I looked around and saw no one, and didn’t have a phone, so I was truly isolated. I think it was an indication of what the rest of my life would have potentially looked like—always alone. I went back up to the camp for a split session of girls and boys, and prepared to listen to another talk about things that were interesting, but not enough. Nothing was enough to convince me about God, but I kept on listening. Two girls spoke to us, and their stories are the ones that changed everything. I have worked out what happened at this talk, even though I didn’t know it at the time. These are the things I learned: As a result of both stories, it dawned on me that God was
17 SPRING EDITION 2016
real—which is something I had never been able to acknowledge before. Through one of the girl’s stories, I understood that God knew exactly who I was and what I have done, without feeling condemned. She spoke about things that I had never discussed with another human, ever. To hear someone speak about those things in front of 60 strangers, essentially, was unbelievable (funnily enough, I have since gone on to speak about the exact same issues that kept me in the dark, at a student camp held a year after this Franschhoek one). I couldn’t believe her courage, and I knew that it didn’t come from herself. Through the second story, I learnt about the reality of redemption through God, and the restoration that will take place if you ask for it and believe in it. I thought she was going to tell some story about growing up in a sweet home and loving Jesus – I didn’t need to hear that. She is kind and pure and just got married, so you may understand why I would think that she had nothing for me to learn. However, my preconceptions were thrown back at me and my shocked face when she started talking about her past behaviour, and the struggles that she dealt with throughout her teenage years and up until the last few years. Through the combination of those stories, I understand that God knows me, and knows what I’ve done, and that He can help me be restored of things that hold me captive. I am not capable of doing it on my own. I’ve been trying for years, but was slowly losing ground as I went. I don’t think I can undervalue how important it was for me to hear these things – those stories saved my life. The next day, I started praying aloud in the car after sharing the news with a friend in Stellenbosch, and ended up praying the whole way home. I was in tears, so grateful to finally be able to communicate with someone who knows everything about me – not in a weird, secretive way, but comfortably. I didn’t have to pretend to be cool, clever, magnanimous. Somewhere on the N2 I realised with simple clarity that God loves me.
SIMUNYE
PLUGGED IN
CHURCH COLLABORATION ON CAMPUS
WHAT IS SIMUNYE? Simunye is an on-campus church collaboration initiative that operates through the local church network for the University of Cape Town region. Simunye, which in Zulu means ‘we are one’, is a desire for the up-and-coming generation to belong to a community radically changed by the love of God who demonstrate what real unity in diversity looks like. The words from Jesus Christ in John 13:35 are simple but challenging: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Our prayer is for churches with a presence on the university campus to be united in love, creatively expressing what this looks like for all to see. Scope Magazine is merely a medium for those both inside and outside church to see the beauty of the Gospel in this way.
SCOPEMAGAZINE.CO.ZA/SIMUNYE
SCOPEMAGAZINE.CO.ZA 18
SAVVY STUDENT
Revealed
EXPRESSIONS
MELO MTOMBENI
You revealed yourself when I least expected it. You gave me love when I thought I had it. Jesus Please! Come again. You're invited to take your place. I want to know you as David did. With a heart after your own and in a fleeting moment I needed it. A glimpse of Heaven. A Window so small, your presence. I miss it. I cannot box you. I don't want to...anymore. The questions that I had: When? How? Why me? Why now? I find solace in the fact that I might never get to answer them. But that's okay! I think I'll just live now. In humility. You see, my heart's all aflutter and then it dawned on me. It's because you are my lover, Like no other. See, I was lost but only found in darkness. Scared and confused. My soul knew no rest Dragging me down this deep dark abyss And what people would ask me is this: "How you doing?" I'd put up a brave face and say: "I'm fine." But little did they nor me know, That I didn't know who I was.
But it was the truth of His word that has shown me who I am. And now I rest assured In his salvation I stand. It's like a feeling That transcends all human being Reaching To give this gift freely given To all those who would only just believe in Him. Believe in Him. Believe in Him. But enough about me. Let's look at the world in context. Jump on my ship and I'll fly you to the ends of it. Back track. A couple hundred years ago In the times of the great minds like Aristotle, Newton and Galileo. They looked at the world and saw the divine complexity of nature. Peeking into the great mind of its creator. Reading this book so beautifully designed. And on every page written behind. His signature. Like literature. But greater than any poem or play by Shakespeare. And you don't have to look far to see it either. Because it's sitting (and standing) in this place right here. And that's you and me.
BY CARA LE GRANGE
19 SPRING EDITION 2016
You see, our bodies are a testimony of His eternal creativity. In the way that we move to the music, To how we speak and think. To the dermal grooves, That make up our fingerprints. Do you now see the link!? You are fearfully and wonderfully made! So I ask you to please replace, All thoughts of guilt and shame. Of your past pains that plague you And flip-switch 1-80, To fall into His grace, amazing. Amazing. Amazing. And look, there's no time. 'Cos like the sands of the hour glass, So are the days of our lives. So I ask you youth, Dig down deep. Don't be afraid to dream BIG dreams. So you can also explode supreme! Like a Super Saiyan 3! All the while seeking the truth. So you can also say: You revealed yourself when I least expected it. You gave me love when I thought I had it. Jesus Please! Come again. Take your place. Amen.
SAVVY STUDENT
HELPFUL HINTS
BY MICHKA-MAXINE LAWRENCE
I
’m not a meme person, but during exams I stalk uni accounts because the memes are just all kinds of funny. And despite the relevance and laughs after scrolling through a few ridiculous memes, books and moderators are still real. And we’ve still got to study. Spoiler alert: what you are about to read will actually change your perspective on exams. For the good. 1 RELAX I don’t say this to be unsympathetic, but when the mind is stressed, it’s not able to receive and store information. You can think of a relaxed mind as being an empty room: there is a whole lot more space to fill up and store things. You don’t have to cram and try and force things in. You can sit in front of your books all you like, but until you actually relax, say goodbye to freak-outs and hello to learning. Have you ever tried explaining anything to a friend straight after a break up? Yup, nothing goes through.
So, take a deep breathe, relax, and allow yourself to take it all in. 2 GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME Be present. It’s so easy to get caught up in ‘holiday dreaming’ when you’re sitting in front of your books. But we can never get the most out of one season if we’re too busy thinking of the next or getting caught up in the last. What’s to come will be great, and what has happened is over, but what is, is up to us right now.
3
STUDY
Obviously. You could follow points 1-9, but in the end they all revolve around the actual act of studying. So many times I get prepared for something and I set up so much. But that’s all I end up doing: preparing and setting up. And before I know it, I’ve spent all my time preparing and not actually doing what I’m supposed to do. Sure sticky notes and time-tables are handy, very handy, but if it stops there, then they’ve officially become nothing but colourful time wasters. 4 SLEEP Sometimes it seems like exam season has some partnership with sleep deprivation. But truth is, no sleep equals lack of efficiency. Prioritising your sleep will allow for efficiency when stepping into your study room or exam venue. And two hours of sleep doesn’t count. So take a look at your schedule, and as much as you prioritise chapters one to twenty of your textbook, prioritise sleep! 5 BREAK AWAY Like with everything in life, you need to take time to break away. And, of course, during exam time this looks different to the beach visits and road trips we love taking during the holidays. However, a simple half an hour tea sesh over a friendly chat will keep you sane and your perspective fresh. An overworked mind is as good as underworked.
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HELPFUL HINTS
EXAMS AREN’T MEANT TO BE A PRISON GUARD, BUT INSTEAD ONE OF THE VEHICLES TAKING YOU FORWARD.
6 CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT Wouldn’t it be nice to walk into a room feeling like you’ve actually got this? Like exam season isn’t a punishment, but actually an opportunity to grow and step closer to your dreams? Allow the space in which you study to be a place of growing and learning. You don’t need a mansion sized room with motivational quotes and happy bright colours. Use what you’ve got and create a space that’s inviting. Even if it means tidying up your room. 7 TALK ABOUT IT Believe it or not, thousands upon thousands of students are going through the same thing as you. You’re not alone. At one stage or another we’ve all thought, “The struggle is real.”
So talk about your exam stress, and talk about what you are struggling with. Get it off your chest so you can walk back with only one aim: to achieve your goal. And that doesn’t mean be the chairperson of the complain club, it just means that you can actually say, “I need help,” and know that you’re not alone. An idea is to change up library study time and trade weekend conversations for textbook recitals. Let’s be honest, what we tell our best friends gets stored in our memory box for much longer than going alone.
8 BELIEVE IN YOURSELF You got here for a reason. Seriously. There’s a purpose and a point to all of this, so grab it by the horns, because you can. You’ve been doing it and you’re going to do it again. *Cue Eye of the Tiger.
21 SPRING EDITION 2016
9 KEEP DREAMING These next few lines may blow your mind, so proceed with caution. Exam season can be a season for dreaming. Why can’t you imagine yourself achieving? Why can’t you imagine this season as a stepping stone? Ultimately it is. And in this season don’t be afraid to dream. Remember why you started, and remind yourself of where you want to go. Stir up that excitement that you had when you first got your student card and realised that suddenly your dreams were becoming a reality. Exams aren’t meant to be a prison guard, but instead one of the vehicles taking you forward. 10 PRAY Prayer isn’t only for healing and miracles, it’s for daily strength, guidance and wisdom too. So use it. Pray because when you partner with Jesus, doing your part and allowing Him to work His part, amazing things will happen. There is no reason you can’t experience a deeper relationship with Him and allow exams to be the season that stirs up your faith to move mountains in your academic life.
MICHKA-MAXINE LAWRENCE is a 20-odd-year-old who goes between volunteering at church and modelling part-time. I’ve got a heart for young people, and a dream to open a space where girls can grow and be loved. But with all the mushy things aside, starry adventures and tea definitely make my hit list.
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George Whitefield College NPC (Reg No 2003/003197/08). Registered as a non-profit organisation (NPO No 042885). Registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training as a private higher education institution, under the Higher Education Act, 1997. Registration Certificate No 2007/HE08/002.
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