The end is near! What's the new plan?

Now is that time of the year where most of us start to draw up a list of new year resolution. For most of us the list is pretty much the same as last year and the year before. In fact if I still had the page I had in 2013 I would probably just change the dates to 2015. I'm sure I'm not alone in this.

While most of us might have not achieved  our resolutions, some people started with theirs and some even achieved them. If you are that person and you are reading this right now; shout out to you. Too bad I don't know you personally but you and everyone like you deserve a Bell's. Whether you have achieved or still in the process, compliments for actually starting.

For those like me who due to many reasons and a bit of laziness from our part did not even start on our resolutions, thank God for 2015. We have a chance to turn things around and start something. Let's rethink our strategies and just start something. Whether we have the resources or not let's just start something in 2015. I believe starting is the most difficult part of any project. If we conquer this crucial part then we halfway to achieving our dreams.

So to all those who started something in 2015, to them that achieved their resolutions and those in the process of,  and to us how haven't yet started; let 2015 be a year of change and improvement.  Let it be a year of new goals and new heights. Let it be a blessed year for all of us.

From me @PowderBlaq, thanks for reading. God bless!

Monateng Safari and Lodge in pictures

A picture speaks thousand words

Mr and Miss Pretoria 2015 Finals

Lombardy Boutique Hotel and Conference venue located east of Pretoria will host the much anticipated finals for Mr and Miss Pretoria 2015 on the 14th of November. The event looks to carry on a yearly tradition for young men and women to showcase their talent.








The winners will Walk away with R50 000 in cash and prizes including:

• R8000 cash
• Weekends away from Sun International
• Weekend away on the MSC OPERA
• R2000 voucher from Soviet Clothing
• Hair Service for a year from The Hair Salon - Hair Extensions Jenadine Havenga
• Gym Memberships from Virgin Active
• Consultation vouchers from Dr Reza Mia
• Hampers from Sensual Solutions from Dr Robert Rey
• Make up Courses from Halouw - Make-up Academy
• R2000 tattoo voucher
• Vouchers from Jen Khan in Sandton City
• Evening Wear and Rentals from Peaches and Spice
• Porfolios from Out of Africa Deon Van Wyk
• Hampers from Hunters Extreme and Hunters Gold
• Hampers from Smirnoff Vodka
• Hampers from Redbull
• Hampers from Ceres Fruit juice and Lipton

Live life like the lion you really are

The is something majestic about lions. You feel it every time you are next to them. They have a sense of royalty. They boasts with authority and confidence. They never doubt their God given role. 

They know who they are. They will never compromise their being for whatever reason. Not even during starvation do they lose their pride. They are lions and they know it. They roar so loud as if they don't care who their noise may upset. They do it because indeed they don't care. After all, they are the Kings of the jungle. 

If I should learn anything from them is the importance of knowing your identity. Knowing who you are. Your identity is not determined by your surroundings or circumstances. A lion knows who he is whether he is living under captivity at the Pretoria National Zoo Park or roaming around with freedom at the Kruger National Park. Your identity is given to you by God. It's your birth right. Is not a man made gift that may expiry with time nor is it a spouse's gift that may be reclaimed when love ends. 

It is important to know who you are in this life. Once you know that you realise that your circumstances are not so significant because they are subject to change. You will not be trouble by the friends that change like seasons nor the people that talk behind your back. When you know who you are you will walk and boast with pride not for what you have but for who you are. Identity gives one a sense of pride, belonging, confidence, dignity and joy. 

Be a lion today. Know who you really are in this world. Know your God given role and fulfill your purpose with pride. It's not where you are in life but who you are.... 
I know who I am in Christ. I know I'm the head and not the tail. I'm blessed going out and I'm blessed coming. Find your identity in Christ. Find your God given talent and purpose and you will live a joyful life of contentment.

Men's health : What is a varicocele and how can it affect your fertility?

VARICOCELE

The veins in your testes (like those in the legs) have valves that help blood to flow upwards towards your heart. If your valves stop working, blood pools in the veins, which buldge or dilate, this is called varicoceles.

Who usually gets a varicocele?

It is usually first noticed in males between puberty and the age of 35, especially in late adolescence. About 15% of all men have varicocele. For many it is not a problem and does not require treatment. But nearly 40% of men who have fertility problems have a varicocele. If it is associated with infertility, it may need to be treated.

Who do varicocele cause fertility problems?

Varicoceles raise the temperature in the testicles, which may affect the production of sperm, as well as sperm movement and/or shape. It may also affect other aspects of sperm function. However, it is unknown by what mechanism varicoceles may impair fertility.

What are the symptoms and signs?

The patient is usually aware of a lump, especially when standing, but it disappears when lying down. The lump may have a bluish appearance through the skin; it is soft to feel, like a bunch of grapes or a “bag of worms”. 

Degree of discomfort or pain varies considerably from one person to another, with others experiencing no form of discomfort while others experience a dragging pain, especially in hot weather or after exercise.

What is the risk?

A primary varicocele is basically a relatively minor problem without serious consequences. However, in some men the discomfort is such that a surgical treatment is required – others can live with a very mild discomfort.

What are the treatment options?

No treatment is necessary for a varicocele that is not causing any discomfort.

For mild discomfort and swelling, the patient can wear firm-fitting underpants or a jockstrap. Keep in mind that the discomfort and swelling tends to disappear when lying down.

There is no medication proven to treat varicocele hence when treatment is necessary, surgical management is employed.

Surgical treatment?

Surgery is recommended if the varicocele is causing significant discomfort, or is associated with a reduced size of the testicle or with infertility.

It must be noted that varicocele may recur after surgical treatment, and that in the case of infertility there is no guarantee that it will improve a man’s chance of fathering a child.

Types of surgery?

Your specialist urologist will decide on the method to treat the varicocele after discussing them with you. 

The urologist may choose an operation to tie off the swollen veins and get rid of a varicocele, or any operation to block the swollen veins.

What are the risk of surgery?

Risk to a specific type of surgery include building up of fluid in the scrotum (hydrocele) and damage to an artery.

Varicocele may return after treatment.

Risk to any surgery include infections, pain, allergic reaction to the anaesthetic used and prolonged hospital stay which on its own has complications.

What will happen if varicocele is not treated?

There is not much research available to speculate. Some men will experience discomfort or testicle shrink and others have no problems.

To live, you must let die!

Isaiah 6v1 (KJV) "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple."

We all have desires to live and serve the Lord. We try and try but most of us still feel there's something lacking. We desire not to just say "I'm a Christian"  because I go to church but we wanna walk hand in hand with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. What lacks in us that the apostles had? What are we doing different from what the apostles did? Were they not man like us? Did they not eat food like us? Did they not experience pain like us? How does one walk with the Holy Spirit like the disciples  did after our Lord Jesus Christ was taken into the Heavens? Today we live in a world where we ourselves do not fully allow the fullness of the Holy Spirit manifest in our lives. You see churches and pastors who preach the word of the Lord yet do lack this intimate relationship with the Spirit.
In the scripture quoted above, prophet Isaiah says the year king Uzziah died he saw the Lord. What is important to note in his wording is that "the year king Uzziah died" is not only use in reference to the period in time but also illustrate the significance of allowing something things to die in our lives so that we may also see the Lord. The scripture in the book of Matthew 6v24 (Luke 16v13) tells us that "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despite the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." This is true even in our lives as Christians, we can only serve one master which is God in heaven. However, if we desire earthly materials and objects we exalt it as our master living no space for Christ the Lord. It took king Uzziah to die for Isaiah to see the Lord.

It will take me and you to allow whatever object or material or ideology, to die so that us too can see the Lord. A "master" in our lives is not limited to a man made object or a symbol in which we bow down and worship. No, a "master" could be anything and everything. It is anything that keeps us away from praying, anything that keeps us away from fellowshiping with the Holy Spirit. It could money, certain relationships, it could be lust, gossip/lies, it could be sports, cars, politics. It could be anything. What keeps you from spending time with the Lord? The answer is different for every body.

Whatever your answer, you must allow such "being" to die for Christ said as quoted above that it is impossible to serve two masters. I don't know what is the master in your life, is it your car, your business, your lover or is it in a form of addiction to drugs, sex, porn, alcohol or any other. You must allow it to die today in Jesus's name. However, you can not do it on your own. Don't try to do this on your own. You will fail and fail and the devil will discourage you telling you it can not be done. Those who have ever tried quiting an addiction will tell you. You need the help of the Holy Spirit for you are only flesh and flesh desires flesh things but the spirit desires spirit things.

John 14v26 (ESV) says "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." God knows our weakness. He knows we are human and that certain things might be hard or impossible for us to achieve hence when Christ went into the heavens to prepared us a place he didn't leave us alone. God sent the Holy Spirit to us. He is our "Helper", our "Comforter" and He is here to teach us all things and to continually remind all the things Christ has said. So if you wanna let things that are not of Christ die our of your life, don't do it on your own. Call upon the counsel of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is always there with you, you just have to call upon him and he will manifest in your life (John 14v16).

Amen.

Sinners prayer:
Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, sweet Holy Spirit, I come before you today. I confess my sins unto you Lord. I today take a decision in my heart. I welcome you Lord into my life. I acknowledge that Jesus Christ your beloved son was sent on to earth for me; and that He was crucified on the cross for my sins. He became a curse for me (for it is written that cursed is he that hangs on a tree), and that He died for me and His death was life to me. I acknowledge that Christ conquered death and on the 3rd day He rose from the grave and today Christ is alive. I say with my mouth that Christ Jesus of Nazareth is my Lord and Saviour, for as of now I'm a new creation. Holy Spirit I welcome you in my life to be my friend, my Comforter, my helper and my teacher. Guide my footsteps so that I may from today onwards live a life that is pleasing unto my Father in heaven. Amen.

Why I'm voting today

This is a speech made by former South African President P.W Botha to his cabinet about 27 years ago. It was reprinted by David G Mailu for the Sunday Times, a South African newspaper, in 1985.
I quote…” We are not obliged even the least to try to prove to anybody and to the blacks that we are superior people. We have demonstrated that to the blacks in 1001 ways. The Republic of South Africa that we know of today has not been created by wishful thinking. We have created it at the expenses of intelligence, sweat and blood………We do not pretend like other whites that we like the blacks. The fact that, blacks look like human beings and act like human beings do not necessarily make them sensible human beings. Hedgehogs are not porcupines and lizards are not crocodiles because they look alike. If God had wanted us to be equal to the blacks, he would have created us all of a uniform colour and intellect. But he created us differently: Whites, Blacks, Yellow, Rulers and the ruled. Intellectually, we are superior to the Blacks; that has been proven beyond any reasonable doubt over the years. I believe that the Afrikaner is honest, God fearing person, who has demonstrated practically the right way of being……By now every one of us has seen it practically that the Blacks cannot rule themselves. Give them guns and they will kill each other. They are good in nothing else but making noise, dancing, marrying many wives and indulging in sex. Let us all accept that the Blackman is a symbol of poverty, mental inferiority, laziness and emotional incompetence. Isn’t it plausible? Therefore that the Whiteman is created to rule the Blackman……And here is a creature (Blackman) that lacks foresight….. The average Black does not plan his life beyond a year”.

This is why im voting today.