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Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 1

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 2

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Heavenly Bound Magazine would like to Invite you to the “Take Of Your Mask” Event happening today. Date: Today Time: Right Now Venue: Where ever you are now RSVP: with YOURSELF

We hope you can join us for this event God Bless and hope you enjoy this Month’s HBM

Love Kittens 3rd October 2015

P.s Please note that this is a real event happening today and we want you to join us. No fee required, we just want you to be true to yourself.

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 3

The Mask

By Katleho Mthembu.

I think I have watch the Mask many, masks. Because what we have to many times and towards the end remember is that when we wear a when Jim Carrey takes of his mask mask we pretend to being something and is asked by his friend if he sure that we are not. We put on masks because we want to look and feel different. We are so tired from having to pretend to being someone else that we become too tired to be our awesome, flawsome selves. Another thing about the Stanley Epicus (The Mask, Jim Carrey) is that whenever he wore that mask boy oh boy did he think he was invincible. Like the guy was being shot at but he was uhm how can I say this… uhm pulling a Neo (The Matrix). Yes it was funny and all (trust me it was) “Jim Carrey as The Mask” but if we bring it to real life we also that he wants to throw away that one think we are invincible whenever we thing that brought him happiness, I wear that mask. Like nothing can just think it brought him a whole lot of penetrate us no matter what anyone grief more than happiness. Yes he is says or does to me, while I have this seen as a hero at the end of the day mask on, no can do anything to me. but the guy did get arrested because What we don’t realise is that we are as the Mask he robbed a bank and not invincible, we do get shot at and went to the Coco bar one of the it hurts to the point where you just hottest clubs at that present moment. want to lock yourself in your room Yes I am getting to the point I want to and just let it out like cry. I don’t make so please just be patient with mean like “oh I’m watching a very me. So where was I….ah yes Jim sad movie” type of crying. No I mean throwing away his mask. Oh by the running nose, blood shot eyes, way he also gets the girl. chocking type of crying. And there is nothing wrong with that in actual fact Now every time he took off the mask crying is good for one. It’s like you he would feel tired and disorientated are just being vulnerable and that is which is something that happens to not such a bad thing. us after we have taken off our Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 4

What I have realised is that people eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee are afraid to be vulnerable. And I do eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery boring. I mean get why that is the case. People can I see life as a fruit salad. We are all use that against you and some of us the different kinds of fruits in the were raised being told that being salad and God all Mighty is the vulnerable is a weakness, which is yogurt that makes it extra ordinary. not. Are you not human? If you are Now if we were all apples…I think not than I welcome you to planet doctors would run out of business Earth where humans and animals and we would all be walking around roam. The trick to vulnerability is looking like we are like part of some knowing who to be vulnerable with. It school. Please note I was never a can be someone you can trust like fan of school uniform. Never was, your teacher or even your family. never will be. The best person I can be vulnerable Now my question from me to you is with is God because He is there all that why don’t you go into the world the time and He wants to listen to as yourself? Let’s just take a moment you and I. to think about it… After a few nights of wearing the … mask and taking revenge on those that did him wrong, Stanley decides I mean what’s the worst that could to go see a Mask specialist. Yes happen? Yes they might laugh at you there are people who just decided and make fun of you but what you they want to specialise in the don’t know is that they are actually different types of masks from around applauding you for doing something the world. Hmmm…sounds like a they can’t. Hey that’s what I think. career. Anyway he tries to explain what happens when he puts on the Oscar Wilde once said and I quote mask and he even dares to put on “Man is least himself when he talks the mask in front of the guy only to in his own person. Give him a mask, turn into a fool. By the way the guy and he will tell you the truth.” wrote a book called “the different Hmmm…that is like saying wearing a types of masks people wear.” The masks brings out a person’s true reason why Stanley went to see this self. In that case why do you need a specialist is because he had a date mask to do so? Why not take off that with the lovely woman he has fallen mask and just be bold and say or do in love with. Well actually the woman what you would do while wearing a has a date with the mask and not mask? Stanley. So the specialist tells him to What I will say to you is that I’d go as himself AND as the Mask. So rather not be liked while being my he had to be two people but in one own self than being LOVED while body. I mean why not go as yourself? being someone else. I am me and Why not be yourself? I mean if we that all you are getting. Crazy and were all the same person life would all. be very very very very very veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 5

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 6

The beauty of being yourself irrespective of the environment Songezo Gwanya sheds some of the imperative tips of being you.

I remember this young beautiful be successful. This is not a bad thing lady telling me about her new but once one forgets him-or-herself relationship, she described the and imitates what the other person is boyfriend as a gentleman… no, doing it’s totally wrong. actually the man of her dreams. I Psalms 139:14 reads, “I praise listened to her attentively while in you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully the back of my mind I thought of the made; (a) marvellous are your woks, kind of a mask this boyfriend might and my soul knows very well.” Every be wearing. It was not long after individual is fearfully and wonderfully that, that she came back to me made, why then should we be asking what she is supposed to do copycats of other people’s lives? The because the “gentleman” was answer might be easy, it’s because cheating. you do not know who you are and what you stand for. Have you found yourself in such a situation? Maybe not exactly the same scenario but you’ve been lied to by a “good person” or “gentleman” or whomever. The so called “all loving” or “caring people” who hurt and destroy other people’s lives, they come with all kinds of impressive personalities to get people where they want them to be.

We all have masks on Each and every one individual is created for a specific purpose in life. And we all have varying talents to one other but at the end of the day they all work together to the glory of God and good for the people but due to the influence and other contributing factors from the society we live in, an individual deviates from his/her talents to someone else’s talents. During this period a person loses him-or-herself and puts on someone’s life. We are all influenced either positively or negatively; it all depends on our reaction to the influence. One, in most cases, imitates someone they admire or consider to

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 7

Why should one put on a mask? do, because this individual is perfect. Is it for closure? Many people He has not done any mistake in life nor are ignored out there by their families, will He ever; He is the Christ the Son friends and the community itself. The of the living God. only way to connect is to put on a He gave Himself up to be spat mask that will blend in nicely with the on, beaten and mocked in all ways that environment and certain people they all people may be saved and follow want to please at that particular time. Him. It’s not worth it to be loved by the Often people who do this have a low whole world for the person you are not, self-esteem. be yourself and live your life. We really There are Christians who are need what you can offer to humanity. known to be sincere Christians on We have had the person whom you Sunday only, does that surprises you? are living for, now we want you. It shouldn’t, the society changes Remember the three servants people and Christians are part of the given the talents? Let’s look at the one society. They are only holy on the first who hid it and never used it. The Lord day of the week but during the week was displeased with him, he was cut they are something else, to define this off from the presence of the Master, act we will call it hypocrisy. maybe you having a talent that you not using instead you living someone’s life. You’ve been into two or more places; The Lord God won’t be pleased with they are some places you enjoyed you and as a result you shall be cut off better the presence of the Lord Almighty. In than others, right? Maybe you love this Heritage Month know the real you. travelling and exploring. It is a great We hope your enjoyed your Heritage thing but have you taken some time to day! travel inside you; to search for the real you and to find out new things about you? Email: [email protected] #HeritageMonth The only person to imitate #BreakingBoundaries Do you have any idea who is the right person to follow? Surely you

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 8

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 9

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 10

Meet Lisa Mahlaba. October’s 21ioner   

1. What was your funniest moment in life?

Yoh, first question so difficult! So many funny moments in my life guys. Oh but that one time.... (yoh angazi bra!)

2. Would you go out your way to help a friend?

Most definitely. Because I have the kind of friends that always go out of their way to help me when I need it.

3. Which habit are you most proud of breaking?

Biting my nails. As a kid I use to bite them all the time. Now I have lovely natural nails. Fake nails for who?

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 11

“Hello Lisa…*Waves*” know they are even there, meanwhile they are chopping you into pieces. I 4. How many pairs of shoes do you don't think Pirates even bath. own? 12. What was your favorite cartoon Too many.  Need to give away growing up? some. Any suggestions? Sponge Bob 5. If you were a superhero what powers would you have and what would your superhero name be?

Power: Read minds

Name: The know it all.

6. What talents do you have?

People say I can sing, but I'm not sure.

7. If you could go back in time to change one thing what would it be? 13. What is your favorite book of the Eating that whole cake that one time... bible? Why? Lol. Seriously though nothing. I'm The whole Bible is my favorite. No happy in life right now and everything honestly I don't have ONE favorite... that has happened led me here. Proverbs, Daniel, Romans and Changing the past would lead to an Colossians are there at the top though. alternative reality. No thanks. 14. Who has been the greatest 8. Would you rather trade some influence on your Christian life and intelligence for looks or looks for why? intelligence? My mother. She's such a strong Looks for intelligence. Most definitely. praying woman. When I'm sick she'll 9. If you could ask you future self-one pray even for a small illness. question what would it be?

Are you happy?

10. What scares you the most and why?

My loved ones dying.

11. Pirates or Ninjas? Why?

Ninjas. I mean... Come on. They are FREAKING AWESOME. You never Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 12

Bottom right is my sister…the one next to me

20. Facebook or Twitter?

Facebook. Twitter is too much work to keep up with. Lisa and mommy dearest P.s I love those red may I please have them?? Love Kittens

15. If your house was on fire and you could grab only 3 things before leaving, what would they be?

My whole room. No? My ID, my photo 21. What do you think of our initiative? album and my phone. LOVE IT. you guys are doing a great 16. Do you dance crazy when no one thing here. GOD BLESS YOU'LL!!! is looking? *******************thank ALL. THE. TIME. Also when people you*************************** are looking.  NO. Thank YOU!!! 17. Pen or Pencil?

Pen. I'm not in grade 2.

18. When you think about God what’s the first thing that comes to mind?

Love.

19. Last person you argued with?

My sister. Love her to death though. Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 13

Losing the Mask

By Paige Sig

Masquerade! Paper faces on parade . . . Masquerade! Hide your face, so the world will never find you! – Phantom of the Opera

Who doesn’t like a good story or movie about someone who wears a mask? I know I do! There is a certain air of mystery & excitement when the leading character dons their mask. Their real identity becomes their greatest secret.

Okay, now let’s return to reality. What about you? Do you enjoy wearing a mask just like a character in a story, so that “The world will never find you”? So that the world will never find the real you. The you who has more faults than you care to count.

Disguising oneself is an art that many of us have mastered, yet it is an unknowingly cover the true beauty that illusion to think we can hide who we lies beneath. really are. Just when you think you have everyone fooled, there is still one I will be perfectly honest with you. I who sees through your little don’t like everything I see behind my masquerade…the one who created mask. I would rather hide those you. God sees who you really are, blemishes from my family & friends. because he isn’t looking at the Yet, hiding them doesn’t make them external. He is looking at the internal. disappear. No, on the contrary. Most of the time they fester and grow, making For the Lord does not see as man them harder to hide. The only way to sees; for man looks at the outward truly get rid of these imperfections is to appearance, but the Lord looks at the hand them over to Grace Himself! heart. {1 Samuel 16:7 NIV} Some of us have been playing this You cannot put a mask on your heart, pretend game for such a long period of no matter how hard you try. But get time, that we may not even recognize this: God doesn’t want you to wear a the real deal. Be honest with yourself. mask. He has created you to be Are you wearing a mask? Is this the beautiful! The problem begins when real you? we try to hide our imperfections. We

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 14

It may have been a long time since real one. Someone who relies solely you have seen the real you. So I will on the Grace of God. warn you, removing this mask might be a little unnerving, in fact it will be Don’t let fear of others seeing the real downright uncomfortable. But here’s you keep you from revealing your true the deal, this isn’t really about you. beauty. Your family needs you to be This is about a hurting world who you. Your friends need you to be you. needs help. There is someone out And most of all, Jesus needs you to be there right now waiting for you to be you. When you are real, He can work the true beauty that you were created through you to help touch a hurting to be. world.

Let’s stop this pretension of being a True beauty lies on the other side of perfect human being and start being a the mask.

(http://becomingbeautiful.org/losing-the-mask/)

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 15

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 16

Young Christian On the Move

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 17

A chilled Sunday session with a brother. By Katleho Mthembu Sunday 19th September 2015 a rainy SK: well I was born in the East rand at a afternoon here in Vosloorus. The day I Benoni hospital to Gugulethu Mnisi and decided to chill with a fellow brother and Musawenkosi Mbatha. I lived with my friend in Christ. Most of us might know him grandparents as a toddler in Soweto, as the guy who always asks questions at Medowlands zone 10 before we moved to every workshop or the guy who has an Orange Farm to a place called Driezek. awesome voice. Or wait I think I’m running Stayed there till I was 7 than I moved to out of ways to explain this month’s Young Spruitview to live with my father in the Christian On The Move. Ladies and millennium…Attended the rest of my gentlemen please feast your eyes on this primary school at Alston Primary School month’s YCOM, Sakhile Mbatha. I had a than proceeded to Bedfordview High lil, 2 hour chat with him to find out about School until I matriculated in 2009 and who he is and what he is about. Let’s get chilled at home till I went to EWC in 2012 to it. to do a course in financial management which I completed in 2014. HBM: Who is Sakhile Mbatha? SK: Sakhile Mbatha is a kind and friendly person. He is a Christian by faith and a kasi boy by choice and lastly he is a generous entrepreneur. HBM: 2 things stand out from what you have said. Christian by faith, kasi boy by choice. Let’s start with the Christian part, when did you choose Christianity? SK: well it was in 2008 when I took my faith seriously and I got baptized on the 6th of 2009 HBM: 6th of when? SK: January. HBM: Just as the New Year started? Was it the motivation of choosing that date behind the saying “new year new beginnings”? “Kasi boy by choice” SK: Nope it was not, I had heard the word HBM: Spruitview in Vosloorus? So is that and Brother Desmond Mabuza had come how you ended up at Vosloorus Church Of to teach me further then I accepted Christ Christ? on that day as my Lord and saviour. SK: Well I was newly baptized and my HBM: I know that you are 23 or so…and holidays where over and I needed the you got baptized when you were 17. Can nearest Church Of Christ around so it you give us a short background story on turned out to be Vosloorus Church Of yourself? Christ.

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 18

HBM: And is Vosloorus Church Of Christ, separate us from the love of God which Is could you have called it your new home in Christ Jesus. away from home? HBM: So if you could boil down your SK: Its home and strictly, it’s purely my principles to 3 words what would they be? home SK: Serve God Almighty. HBM: Strictly home…so I heard and seen HBM: in that order? that you are a preacher, care to share with us about the first time you preached to an SK: Yes entire church? HBM: I’ve heard you sing and you can SK: Well it was in 2012 and I was sing. How important do you think music is preaching about Rehab in the bible. to the church? Unfortunately I cannot remember the Sunday and the month it happened in. SK: Music is a form of worship therefore it is very important for us to never do away HBM: If you can describe God in your own with it. Thank you for the compliment. words how would you describe him? HBM: it is a pleasure. So what do you SK: Well God for me is the most loyal think of the state of the music or singing in servant. He caters for us in every way the church today? possible it is only us who discredit him out of our lives. Yet he still has enough love to SK: Well it is different from church to forgive us when we realize our mistakes. church but what I love about the Church of God is an infinite jar of love, patience and Christ in Vosloorus is that we sing from kindness. the hymn book and it shows when we are with other young people from other HBM: So He’s there to serve you? Your congregations who are not familiar with needs and wants? some of the songs SK: No He is there to serve and direct our HBM: Oh right. Earlier on you said you are purpose for a heavenly eternal life a generous entrepreneur. Care to elaborate? HBM: Just making sure I am hearing you correctly. Which scriptures keeps you SK: For me entrepreneurship is about going on a bad day or good day? changing lives both of your clients and employees. I always look out for my SK: Firstly I don’t have good and bad employees needs first as their earnings day…Scriptures that keeps me grounded contribute to their families life. are Romans 8 (the whole chapter), 2 Corinthians 4v7-10, Proverbs 4 and HBM: So you have a business. Can you Philippians 4v9-13 and also Joshua 1. like give us a hint of what it is HBM: Could you just elaborate on your favourite verse SK: Well let’s start from Romans 8 from verse 28-39, this scripture tells me that nothing in my time or times to come should separate one from the love of God …Meaning all situations in one walks in the precepts of God…there we should not let momentary thins or circumstances

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 19

there, it’s a business that will never go out of style. HBM: so how are you giving back to the community? SK: Well we usually organise a group of businessmen each year and they donate something that helps the less fortunate in our community. HBM: Oh wow that is major SK: We try our best. HBM: so what do you think of the Heavenly Bound imitative? SK: it’s a beautiful gig that I think we should all embrace it and help it grow to what it is intended to be. HBM: Well thank you for that. So what do

you do for fun? “Co-owner of Sizanayo Takkie Laundry” SK: I play soccer and I play with toddlers. SK: *laughs out loud* I do. Well the name of the business Is Sizanayo Takkie HBM: Toddlers? Do you have children? Laundry. We provide services of cleaning SK: *Laughs out loud* no but my all types of footwear, we also do belts, neighbourhood is full of them. handbags and sports bags. HBM: So you are a family man? HBM: I see you are marketing or selling your business. SK: Yes, I am big on family. SK: *laughs out loud* Well I’m briefly HBM: Where do you see yourself in the letting you know what we do eSizanayo next 5 years and 10 years? SK: In the next 5 years I plan on opening factory, and should have launched my HBM: So tell me about Sizanayo other business ideas that I have. SK: Sizanayo Takkie Laundry is a service HBM: Where do you see yourself in the enterprise that was established in 2007 on last few months of 2015? the 28th of July by myself and my uncle Mangqoba Mthembu (no relation to Myself SK: Well gain a few clients and go to Katleho MTHEMBU). We provide a par camp *laughs out loud* excellence service and we do all our best HBM: Oh that is the event to close all to personify the Japanese proverb “kazan events. I am praying that Heavenly bound kazan” which means continuous Magazine shows up. improvement. SK: It will my dear. HBM: Wow but why laundry? HBM: Any last words? SK: We saw a gap in the market and we occupied it. And laundry will always be SK: My last words are as follows, there is nothing new under the sun. All things are Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 20

vanity because the perish, in all that we seek to attain we should guard against HBM: Thank you very much Sakhile. wondering off from the faith for there is Thank for your time and may God bless nothing possessed by men that can you. compensate for the value of a soul pleasing unto God. So do you know who can be our next YCOM?? Well inbox or leave us a message on our Facebook page and we might just get to bring you your YOUNG CHRISTIAN ON THE MOVE.

Keep moving forward Kittens

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 21

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 22

Sermon

Taking Off the Mask

Main Text: Matthew 23:25-26 them laugh, or it may ask, or hide, the Introduction: wearer’s real emotions, such as unhappiness. Have you ever worn a mask before? It can be fun to put on a mask and act like someone else. (Try on a few different Purpose: masks). Why do people wear masks? Do you ever wear a mask? I don’t mean a Usually it is to look like someone or real mask over your face though. something else. A mask hides what you Sometimes people will act a certain way really look like. Sometimes when people so that people will think that they are rob a bank or commit a crime they will better than they really are. They will come wear a mask so no one can see what they to church and say the right things, and look like. That’s why even superheroes in sing loud, and act like a follower of Jesus movies wear masks it’s to hide their true identity so that people cannot know who but it is really just a mask that they are they really are. wearing. What is a mask? Matthew 23:25-26 A manner or expression that hides one’s Jesus was upset with the Pharisees one true character or feelings can be day because they would dress fancy and considered a mask. act like they loved God but really they were mean and unkind to people. In the What is the purpose of a verses quoted above Jesus said that they were like a tomb or a casket that was mask? painted to look really nice but inside were One reason for wearing a mask is to only skeletons. He said that they were like pretend to be someone or something else. a cup that looked nice and clean on the The mask can be a kind of language that outside but were really dirty on the inside expresses the emotion of the figure one chooses to create. When one sees a Matthew 15:19-20 person wearing a mask depicting a happy “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, expression, what do you think it means? It murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, may infer several meanings. It may false testimony and slander. These are convey the mask wearer’s genuine what make a man ‘unclean’…” But God happiness to other people, and make wants us to be clean on the inside. “Pure” Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 23

is a synonym of holiness. Here, it used to metal by refining it in the fire until it was mean a cleansing of the mind or emotions. pure and free from impurities. Jesus wants Like a silversmith would treat the precious us to have a pure, clean, and holy heart.

Do you ever try to make yourself look better than you really are? Do you try to impress people? We all do this at times. But God wants us to be humble. Instead of saying that we love God and other people, He wants us to actually love them! We show that we love Him by our actions, by how we live. 1 Samuel 16:7 God is not fooled by a mask. In 1 Samuel 16:7 it says that people look at the outside but God looks at our hearts. Let us make sure that our actions are pleasing and honorable to God. Conclusion: One of characteristics of Jesus is that He never pretends. He is totally genuine. He doesn’t hide anything because He has nothing to hide. He calls us to join Him, to take off our masks, and be like Him as he makes us “pure in heart.

“Don’t be afraid to show your feelings”

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 24

The Power of Being You!

Songezo Gwanya shares some of the most important aspect on being you This is a journey brethren not just a then they have a hard time seeing the motivation, we walk together until the bigger picture; yet for others it’s very finish line. Along the road there will be easy to have a vision. In the Corporate some difficulties, the question is will world a vision of the company is very you stand? Together we can but will significant for it guides the business to you be able all by yourself? which direction it should head from a certain achieved point; it keeps the There is power in being company focused on the aspired yourself, it takes a lot of work and time destination. However, the lack of a to be who you are supposed to be in precise vision leads to copying from this world we live in but it’s possible. I other companies and achieving have a picture of you calling yourself someone else’s dreams. It is the same “Donald Trump” (because he is filthy with people who have no vision in life; rich) early in the morning when you they wear a mask hiding their failures wake up. It’s not a bad thing but once and disappointment in life. Think about you starting living everyday as if you where you want to be and take are Donald Trump we have a problem necessary steps that will get you there. there. You are different and wonderful, you possess abilities, talents, dreams Believe in Yourself and many more qualities that no one You end up being a contrast of who you has except you, now imagine if you are when you do not believe in yourself. abandon yourself and live someone There is this well-known statement “It’s else’s life, wouldn’t the society suffer? better to be hated for what you are, than to We need what God has placed in you be loved for who you are not” ~Unknown. for our survival. It’s very true, in most cases people who do not believe in themselves do not portray Vision and the lack of it who they really are but instead they do It is the ability to see either things to be loved by other people. The reality of all this is that if you do believe something or yourself in the future in yourself no one will believe in you. through imagination. This is very important as it encourages you to You have talents that no one else has, continue working as hard as you want to achieve them it only takes a strong to succeed in all your tasks, be it belief in them; you must be confident about what you think you can do and School, Parenting, Volunteering etc. It keeps you motivated and seeing when you do it “do it as if it’s your last where you really want to be in life, to time”. It is also imperative to believe in other people visualising something is your vision that it will come true at the right time. very difficult, and in order to do this they have to close their eyes. Even Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 25

Explore want to contribute good things. Making When God created you He new friends is important but losing really made an extraordinary other friends is not good not unless individual, you were the greatest they help you with nothing good. creation He ever created on Earth. This statement is shocking to some but Winner’s Attitude it’s true, God gave us dominion over all A winner says, “It is hard and I’ll things and gave us a mind to also worker harder”. While a loser says,“ It create things that will help us such as: is hard, I give up on myself and copy aeroplanes, cars, houses etc. Do we from someone”. No one said life is really appreciate who we are? If yes, going to be easy once you are a do we show it? Exploring does not Christian, but it will be meaningful. We necessarily mean to go to America, do not have to change who we really France, Germany or Italy but it means are because of circumstances, instead learn and grow. People do not want to we should lean more on Christ our learn, they prefer to be hooked on Solid Rock. In these times of testing substances. It is impossible to young Christians imitate other people abandon yourself to live like someone and when things are looking good we else if you truly know who you are and are ourselves. A winner does not when you are certain of where you change himself/herself because of the going. situation at hand but he/she is always ready for any wave. Some say you Connecting cannot tackle all problems with one Social networks were made to strategy but I say you can face any connect people all over the world; we trial with the same attitude. The are able to chat at any time of the day attitude of Christ, all of us should have or night with no hindrances because of the same mentality He had. social networks. It was the wonderful innovation everyone benefits from, but God’s Life For by grace you have been now it has grown cold, actually now it saved through faith, and that not of should be called anti-social network, because there is more blockings than yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone boast. For we are accepting requests. Let us learn to His workmanship, created in Christ connect with people and make long Jesus for good works, which God lasting relationships. Those who always change friends show the prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:9-10). inconsistency in their life, these people This are fickle and it’s dangerous to trust life we live, we live it through faith in them. In any relationship let’s be Christ Jesus; we are dead in our ourselves and contribute in a positive transgressions and alive in Christ. He way, “It’s all about what you bring in set an example on how to live a godly than what you receive from your life, as young Christians we should put relationship”. We cannot connect if we on Christ in our lives and stop imitating are led by selfish ambition and do not useless things which cannot take us to Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 26

heaven. We are His workmanship, created for good works. We have a purpose in this life, lets live as such. Imagine God asking you what you did with the talents He has given you, what would you say? It’s either you used them and obtained others or didn’t use them, that will determine your destination.

We are all uniquely and amazingly special to God. Our uniqueness should unite us all; these differences of abilities, talents and dreams must be used to the glory of the Almighty God. Be yourself and enjoy greatness.

If you found this section encouraging let all the glory be to the Almighty God but if not there is still more to come, you’ll be amazed at the improvement we show only if you send us your inputs on growing and doing better.

Yours in Christ,

Songezo Gwanya

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Songezo Blessing Gwanya

#HeavenlyBoundMagazine

#BreakingBoundaries

“Don’t be afraid to show your true feelings”

Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 27

Why are you hiding behind your mask?

By Olga Ntomikayise Shange

What a question!

Being truly oneself is not easy. Many circumstances compel us to keep a set of masks to fit in. At times these masks confuse not only us but others as well.

The mask is safe because that's the behaviour people are expecting; hence it is safe to ACT accordingly. The mask keeps you in good books; opens up opportunities for you; climbs you up the corporate ladder; scores you friends etc. Wearing a mask actually has more benefits. In the past, I have been in trouble so many times, for being real. You would hear people say "Just do as expected and you will have peace...". I called that hypocrisy!

If you try and be real you will be labelled and if you avoid being labelled you will lose your true identity in the process.

The question remains though...why hide behind the mask?

Here are some reasons:  It is safer and does not need a lot of thinking  It is peaceful  You will please the majority  You will gain favours Yet...

For me personally, I would rather have no friends than settle for mediocrity. I would rather be labelled and be side-lined for the truth. I would rather lose worldly favours and gain God's because although they are immaterial yet they are eternal.

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Romans 12: 2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

For this reason I also understand that there is only one of me, if I act like everyone else, who is going to be me? I understand I am unique.

The question remains! Why are you hiding behind that mask?

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By Thabiso Mothiba MINCE AND SPAGHETTI INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Lightly brown onion together with a Spice for Mince and Garlic Salt in oil in a pan on a medium heat. 2. Add the mince and cook until well brown 3. Add tinned tomato and stir well 4. Simmer for 15 minutes and then add the sugar. 5. Serve tomato sauce with the cooked spaghetti or 6. Alternatively use mince to make INGREDIENTS: meats balls.

1. 15ml Sunflower Oil, Olive Oil, See you next month guys   Vegetable Oil (Depending on what you’ve got.) 2. Onion finely chopped 3. 2.5 ml sugar

4. 500g Cooked Spaghetti 5. 500g Beef Mince 6. 10ml Robertsons Spice for mince

7. 5ml Robertsons Garlic Salt

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Awareness Corner… Deaf culture in South Africa: the deaf, are we hearing their silence?

By Pheto Princess Ratau schools and places of work as they find themselves in a society which does not According to the census last conducted in make it possible for them to thrive. the year 2011, South Africa had an estimated population of 51 million. The The old adage goes: “With every cloud census also revealed that 600,000 of the there’s a silver lining…” it would seem a population were deaf and 1.4 million were silver lining has been in existence since classified as hard of hearing. An estimate 1881. The NID (National Institution for the of how many people can communicate in Deaf) has been at work for a combined South African Sign language is not 130 years at the service of the deaf in available. This raises a question of South Africa. However have they been whether or not the deaf are recognized as able to reach the estimated population of part of the general South African deaf people in the country? Just how population and if they are able to integrate many of us understand what deafness is successfully with the hearing in the and its societal effects? general society. What causes deafness? Most of society’s everyday coming and Causes of deafness include the following: going borders on communication. Verbal communication has been the pillar of how • Congenital deafness: we are able to understand each other since time immemorial. Non- verbal • Deafness inherited from deaf or communication forms most of how we hearing parents want what we say to come across to the • Syndromes: such as Waardenburg next person. As it turns out, only 7% of and Usher what we communicate is verbal and 93% of what we do communicate is non - • Deafness caused by illness: verbal. Therefore most of what we meningitis, neonatal jaundice or rubella communicate cannot be heard but seen. • Trauma before, during or after birth With that being the case, how deaf aware are we? • Environmental factors: constant high level of noise or accidents The Deaf form an integral part of our society and are a part of us. In fact some What social effects does deafness of the most influential people were deaf. have? Ludwig van Beethoven – one of the greatest music composers of all time was Most deaf people withdraw from general deaf. Does society do enough to activities which will make interaction a conscientise the hearing of the presence mammoth task. People with hearing loss of the deaf amongst them? Do legal, may end up avoiding conversation educational and religious institutions have altogether as being deaf is immediately set frameworks which make it possible for associated with being stupid. This may the deaf community to have their full also cause them to feel depressed in potential realized? The deaf continue to situations which force them to remain a cultural minority in our churches, communicate with the hearing. An

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inherent embarrassment also comes from people who experience deafness later on in life for an example: people, who were not born deaf but experienced diminishing hearing and ultimate hearing loss in their old age, may feel ashamed as they were born hearing and may no longer know how to communicate with the hearing. What do we do? How do we ensure that the deaf feel no shame about being deaf? How can we start hearing silence?

How do we integrate the deaf in our society? For starters the department of education could start making SASL a compulsory learning area just so the needs of the deaf and all differently abled are not only recognized from university level education. Faith based institutions could also start catering for the deaf in the worship service because even the deaf are fearfully and wonderfully made. The church has in fact started making strides towards that as our very own Autillia Mmanape who studied Deaf Psychology at Wits has occasionally been a sign language interpreter when the need had arisen in various worship services. Finally, the deaf and the hearing all have one thing in common- they are both human. Once we start, as a society, to engage with all people on what makes us one instead of what separates us, most societal ills could and would be cured. Defying a culture which bases our value on accomplishment and not on the value of human life could just give our world a more human face.

P.S Heavenly Bound Magazine would like to acknowledge Lehlohonolo Autillia Mmanatsui for her role and her contribution in the aim to giving Deaf Empowerment. Well done girl. We see you girl.

Go on to Facebook and like the page “Hands Of Speech” Today

So do you know how to Sign and not for a taxi to Joburg?? Let us give you a crash course in Sign Language. Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 32

Let’s get educated

Let’s start with the basics like the alphabets…

So do you have it? Well I’m still taking my time hey…

Let’s move on…a few phrase hey

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Now for the days of the week

At the end of the day all we want you to say with so much confidence is…

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By Pheto Princess Ratau Forgiveness: Matthew 6: 14

It was a fun filled weekend for the sisters in the church of Christ as the long awaited annual international ladies retreat was once more upon us. The hosts -Mamelodi church of Christ in Bufferzone did not disappoint and as usual the speakers followed suit. The theme was based on Matthew 6:14 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you”.

An array of speakers taught and motivated the sisters on how applicable forgiveness is through well-read and researched lessons. Speakers came from as far and wide as Tanzania and Swaziland, making fellowship even more interesting and integrated. The retreat, hosted in Woord in aksie camping site, Kameeldrift, north of Pretoria was nothing short of amazing because it catered for old women and young women alike. Sister Gertrude from Lesotho gave a lesson on how to be a forgiving Christian woman in the workplace; sister Jennet of Tanzania showed the importance of being forgiving as a home maker; and sister Modupa from Atteridgeville gave a lesson based on healthcare and how to care for one’s body when faced with diabetes. Our sisters’ bodies, minds and souls were taken care of as there were physical activities, powerful devotions and great fellowship took place. The ultimate question remained with us, do we forgive as we would want our heavenly Father to forgive us? Do we forgive ourselves? Do we accept forgiveness as well as we would want our fellow sisters to accept forgiveness from us? Women across all spectrums, regardless of race, age and social standing humbled themselves and had immense fun at the retreat. God was within them all as they all moved in one accord during praise and worship and music night, not forgetting the melodious praise and worship music rendered by the Lotus gospel choir in the afternoon. The handover of the next retreat was done and let’s just say the sisters in Cape Town have a lot of preparation ahead of them, with which we believe God’s mighty power will sustain them. As the social media teens would say: fun was had and God was praised!

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By Katleho Mthembu. So some of you might think to yourselves “why is a 20 something year old still watching the Disney channel?” Well two reasons. 1) I’m usually watching something on Disney junior with my 2 year old nephew and reason number 2 is because I enjoy watching the Disney channel… Why are you so shocked? And truth be told I do enjoy watching Hanna Montana. Yes that girl who hides behind a fake “ID” if I could say. Maybe a fake persona yes now that sound really up there. So anyway I kept seeing the trailer of the movie about to tell you about and my goodness when Friday the 18th of September 2015 came and went… wait let’s start from the begging.

The movie is called Descendants and was released by Disney. The movie is directed by Kenny Ortega (The same guy who gave us the High School Musical Trilogy) and stars Disney’s best new descendants. See what I did there. Well among the stars of the film is Dove Cameron (Liv and Maddie) and Cameron Boyce (Jessie and the Grown Up movies).

Ok to cut the story short, which I don’t want to, the story centres around 4 teenagers who are descendants of the most popular fairy tale villains. The 4 teens who have spent their whole lives living on the Isle of the Lost (the island of all the villains and their sidekicks) are invited to come live in the United States of Auradon. This is where all the good guys, your prince charming and sleeping beauty reside, away from all the bad people on the Isle of the Lost. The teenagers are told by Mal’s mother that they have to steal the Fairy godmother’s wand (Cinderella) in order that they can rule the world together. Any way they get there and it like a 360 degree change for them. They did things that they couldn’t do on the Isle of the Lost like play sports and and, and well they also find love in a form of a prince. In the end someone wins and someone gets turned into a Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 38

lizard because of the amount of love they have in their hearts. Even I am confused after reading that. I guess we have to watch the movie together than. I guess we have a date together.

Well what can I say about the movie? It’s beautiful because I had a tear or two at a few particular scenes and also goose bumps. Oh my first goose bump was when Ben (Mitchelle Hope) sang an upbeat romantic song for Mal (Dove Cameron) telling her that “Did he Mention that he is in Love with her???” well yes he was doing it at that present moment.

What I learnt from that movie is that you don’t have to be anyone else, you just have to be yourself. I mean be you, do you more often.

“Disney’s Descendants Movie Poster” If you do that with a bit of love and support from your family and also hard work, trust me you shall succeed. I am giving this movie about 4.5 Starlets.

The other half I am saving it for the next movie. And one of my favourite movie has now a part 2 and it’s about a certain hotel, but that’s a story for another day. Until next time Spread love till it overflows. I Am Heavenly Bound I Am Breaking Boundaries Kittens Heavenly Bound Magazine October Issue 39

By Thendo Tera Mulaudzi Good times, bad times. In life we live every day, every year with challenges, no one has a perfect life, God made us to have good times and bad times . The challenge that I faced was peer pressure. I was different from my peers but had no one to be with as a good friend, my friends were all smoking and I was trapped in danger. I could not get out but one day I noticed that God can help. I started praying every night and day for my friend to be changed. I was happy I didn't smoke anymore, God was there to help. Don't trap yourself in danger just because God will help. This is one of the things that challenge Christians; we sometimes want to be happy doing bad things then the future becomes our problem. We must choose happiness that includes good doings. The most important thing in life is God; everything we do we must involve God. If you are in danger call out to God but not only when you are in danger, every day you must talk to God.

Let's pray: God our father we thank you for all you have done for us. What you have done in our lives, please continue being with us every second of every minute. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!

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In this month’s TOP 10 we give you the top 10 tips on takin off our masks. Let’s Do this By Nelson Gamaliel Manyike. 1. God doesn't want us to go to him with fake emotions; 2. If we go to God with our masks on, we are not being real to Him; 3. A mask is not the real you, just like make up, it can change the way you look on the outside but on the inside you know what's really happening; 4. Mask can hide the real you; 5. Masks only help you to pretend to be whatever mask you are wearing; 6. James 1:26 "if anyone thinks he is religious and doesn't bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." In other words we shouldn't act Holy when we are with our fellow brethren and when we are with our friends we act like them. God doesn't approve of fake Christians (Matthew 7:21-23). 7. Always be yourself, never let anyone own you and be with the people who appreciate you the way you are. By so doing, you won’t feel any pressure to wear a mask or fake yourself;

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8. God created us to be unique and for a specific purpose, so instead of trying to be somebody else just appreciate who you are because you never know who is looking; you may inspire them by the way you are, so love yourself and be proud of who you are; 9. You can never be strong in your faith anywhere else if you are not strong at home. If you are not an ambassador of Christ and display his character before your family, it is impossible to be a Christ-like role model in your neighborhood and your school. You cannot build an altar to God until you tear down the altars of the false gods in your life. 10. Be the person the person that God made you to be because the way you is a blessing to someone. Be real to yourself.

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“Whose image? Yours or the Mask?”

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Let’s get playing guys. And remember our prizes. GOOOOOOOOOOOD LUCK 

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