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Illumin8 is a mini-mag created with the aim of sharing the incredible stories of what God is doing in the lives of young adults. It's about sharing testimonies and lessons learnt that are real, applicable and relative to twenty somethings living in South Africa. It's about God calling people to use the gifts He has given them, and those people responding to His urging. It's about giving the glory back to God. It's about hope, truth and light! 2 Timothy 1:10b “He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News”
Citation preview
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ILLU
MIN
input / output
the brain issue
EDITION 1June 2008
what’s inside?
renewing the mind
l
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lrenewing the mind
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s
9
hiqsvzOUDo not conform
yourselves to the
standards of this world, but let God
transform you inwardly by a com
plete
change of your mind. Then you will be able
to know the will of God - what is good and is
pleasing to him and is perfect.
9Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God
transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able
to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.
Romans 12:12
Editors Message
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Dear reader
I am so excited to be writing the editorial for the first edition of Illumin8. From the first moment the idea was
suggested, I had absolute certainty that this concept was from God and it is a conviction that has been confirmed
numerous times. But before I get ahead of myself, let me explain what Illumin8 is!
Illumin8 is a mini-mag created with the aim of sharing the incredible stories of what God is doing in the lives of
young adults. It's about sharing testimonies and lessons learnt that are real, applicable and relative to twenty
somethings living in South Africa. It's about God calling people to use the gifts He has given them, and those
people responding to His urging. It's about giving the glory back to God. It's about hope, truth and light!
The idea was born during a Skype chat session that I was having with Leanne one day. It was just an ordinary day,
just an ordinary chat. We've both seen how much God has done in the small group of people we meet with weekly
in our home group. We decided that these miracles need to be shared and so Illumin8 came into being. Initially we
thought it was going to be a news letter for our cell group but then we thought – why restrict it? Why not share it with anyone we
know who might enjoy having a look at it (even if it's just for the kick ass layout and design)? God has taken a passing comment
and transformed it into what you are now reading as the first of what we hope will be a long chain of earth shattering,
awe-inspiring, peace inducing, love creating and joy spreading minimags! During our initial brainstorming session, we
settled on the name Illumin8 (with an 8!) and as youwill see many of the sections continue with this theme. Some research
by Katy revealed that biblically 8 is the number representing new beginnings! How appropriate as God has used Illumin8
to inject new life into our spiritual lives and fading friendships. We hope and pray that Illumin8 will bring a spark of life or
energy into the areas your life that need resuscitating the most.
So without further ado, allow me to introduce our staff:
There is me, Lucy, who is the editor in chief. There are Leanne and Katy who are the layout designers.
There is Hayley who is our foreign correspondent living in London. And that's about it at this stage….!
Because this is our first edition, each section is going to have a brief description on what you can expect to find.
For example – this is the editorial and you can expect to find my thoughts, whether you want them or not!
We know that God has great plans for this offering that we dedicate to Him. Please feel free to forward it to
whoever you want and look at the Communic8 section for details on how to join our mailing list.
Wishing you a June filled with God's love and richest blessings!
Lucy
It's about sharing
testimonies and
lessons learnt that are
real, applicable and
relative to twenty
somethings living in
South Africa. It's about
God calling people to use
the gifts He has given
them, and those people
responding to His urging.
It's about giving the glory
back to God. It's about
hope, truth and
light!
1
“He broke the power of death and
the way to life and immortality through the Good News” - 2 Timothy 1:10b
illuminated
mContents
1. Grey Matters- Lucy Goodwin
2. 8 Brainwashing Techniques- Katy Breytenbach
3. Testify - Lucy Goodwin
4. Hayley’s Comment - Hayley Brett
5. Double Take - Leanne Barnard
6. Elev8- Katy Breytenbach
7. Elev8 Prayer Calendar- Katy Breytenbach
8. In the Spotlight- Leanne Barnard
9. Fascin8- Leanne Barnard
10. Stimul8- Leanne Barnard & Lucy Goowin11. Cre8tive Corner- Cornelius Smit
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
Communic8We want to hear from you!
2
r
s
Should you wish to communicate with us, please email us at
[email protected]. You can use this address to send us
feedback, to submit testimonies and to ask us to add you to our mailing
list.
All past editions of Illumin8 (when we have more than one that is!) can be
viewed at [email protected]. However, you will need to
create an account before you can view these. We've created a file to walk
you through creating a Google Account, which we've attached to the
same email from which you received this edition of Illumin8.
We also have a Facebook group you can join if you want to communicate
with other readers or post comments. Look for illumin8!!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
EM
AIL
GO
OG
LE
G
RO
UP
SFA
CE
BO
OK
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.” - Dr Seuss
* see our terms for submitting content (page15)
I read an article the other day about being a twenty
something and all the challenges it brings with it.
Having started my first job in February this year I
could relate to so much of it. The last two months
have been a roller coaster of ups and downs. I've
had days when I feel like I can conquer the world
followed by days when I'm not sure I'm capable of
making myself a decent cup of tea! The positive
affirmations and negative criticisms have been
battling it out for territory in my mind
and I have to confess that initially
the baddies had the upper hand! I
was really starting to lose hope and
the joy was seeping out of my spirit
when slowly the tide started to turn.
It all began with Romans 12:12:
“Do not conform yourselves to the
standards of this world, but let God
transform you inwardly by a complete change of
your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of
God - what is good and is pleasing to him and is
perfect”. (GNB)
I read that verse and I went forward on the lookout for
ways that God was changing me by altering my
mind.
The first time it happened I was training in a different
city and waking up at 5 am every morning to sit in
crawling traffic for two hours to get there. It was really
taking it out of me and I would get to work everyday
and rant and rave for at least 15 minutes about taxis
and bad drivers. I would then feel marginally better
for most of the morning, but by 2 pm I was starting to
This month's feature article explores the mind altering effect God can have on you if you give Him the opportunity. It's about the impact that the thoughts in that fascinating grey organ, otherwise known as the brain, can have and how God gives clarity to the confusing and troubling issues and areas of your life.
get annoyed again because I knew the reverse trip
was fast approaching. Then one day, God said to me,
“Don't complain. Be grateful.” My response? “Are you
mad? I'll try not to complain but I sure as hell won't be
grateful for the traffic.” And so I tried. I started a
campaign of not complaining but I didn't give thanks.
Occasionally it worked and I managed to maintain a
good mood throughout the day. But for the majority, I
was unsuccessful and I carried out the remainder of
my training with my daily rant as a major
feature.
The training ended and I started a new
project. I was now based in my
hometown and so traffic was a thing of
the past. And yet after a week I was
horribly depressed. I hated my job, I was
bored, I was lonely, absolutely nothing
positive seemed to be happening in my
life. And again God said, “Don't complain. Be
grateful.” It must be said that this time the message
was a lot firmer. The first time I got it was from a
passing comment, but this time it was a strong and
clear message from a friend which quite frankly was
hard to take! But I was desperate for something to
change.
The next morning I woke up and instead of sinking
into my usual black mood and having a good cry
before even getting out of bed I thanked God that I
had a job. On the way to work I thanked God that I
had a car and could still afford petrol, even with the
monthly price hikes. When I was bored at work I
prayed for people and read my Bible. I shifted my
I've had days when I
feel like I can conquer
the world followed by
days when I'm not
sure I'm capable of
making myself a
decent cup of tea!
by Lucy Goodwin
3
Grey Matters
lovedread
liesnegativity
jealousy
kindness
hope
pain
violence
focus and started looking at things differently. The
center of this change in perception was a change of
heart. Expressing my gratitude has become the first
thing I do when I'm having a bad hair day or life starts
to get me down!
This humble beginning has been reinforced by a
book I started reading called The Difference Maker
by John C. Maxwell. It’s about how your attitude
affects how you cope with situations. In it, he explains
how our emotions become our thoughts which in turn
become our actions which, when repeated often
enough become our attitudes which affects how we
see life's challenges and how we respond to them.
I realized that my attitude towards
everyday life is not great. One of
the ways this manifests itself is
through Sunday night blues. I
think I started suffering from them
when I was in boarding school.
My brother and I used to beg my
mom to take us back to school on
Monday morning even if it meant
getting up at 4am because having
to pack up and drive back to
school on a Sunday afternoon
was just too depressing! Those
days are past now, but still the Sunday night blues
remain and if anything they have gotten worse in the
last few years. I feel them hovering in the air from
about 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon and often by 6
PM I am in such a bad mood that it might as well be
Monday morning already. Of course Monday is never
as bad as I think it is going to be, but my mind has this
horrible habit of making something seem so bad that
it doesn't really matter how good the thing is; I've
already let it affect me. I think the worse part is that
when the bad mood has me in it grip, there is very
little that will shift it, a fact that my long suffering
mother will attest to!
But I can honestly say that that this has started to
change. My new attitude to life means that the
goodies are on the up and much of my mind is now
reclaimed territory! My flatmate no longer thinks
Shrek has moved in when she sees me on a Monday
morning. I no longer allow the thought that the
holiday will end to ruin the last three days of it. Work is
not a holiday devouring and soul destroying monster
anymore, but rather a new and exciting phase of my
life. I'm starting to realize that there may be
something in those quotes on the sugar
packets after all: happiness is indeed
the journey and not the destination!
The difference between this and every
other time in my past when I've
endeavored to become a better
person? This time it comes from God,
not the latest self help book or episode
of Oprah. And can I let you in on a little
secret? When I stopped resisting God's
ins t ruc t ions , when I s topped
complaining and I had a grateful heart,
the joy came easily! I don't have a daily
struggle to break my old habits. God did that for me.
I know there is a lot of work that needs to be done in
my mind and spirit before I reach the standards God
has created me for, but I know that God has started
transforming me and if I allow Him to, He will perfect
me in time. Every time I overcome a bad mood, or go
to bed on a Sunday night with a smile on my face I
know that a change has taken place within me. Too
often we think God only works in big ways and we
overlook the everyday miracles he's performing in
our hearts and minds.
Romans 12:12 has become the battle cry for the side
of me that refuses to be brought down by
circumstances and desires to be joyful in all things.
The baddies will never go away and while it is true
that they still win the occasional skirmish, I can
assure you that they will not win the war!
This time it comes from
God, not the latest self
help book or episode of
Oprah. And can I let you in
on a little secret? When I
stopped resisting God's
i n s t r u c t i o n s , w h e n I
stopped complaining and I
had a grateful heart, the
joy came easily!
4Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
No one would allow garbage at his table, but many allow it served into their minds. - Fulton John Sheen
1. Feed your brain
2. Brain-gym 101.
3. Cut out the noise
4. Speak the words.
(the Word).
Don't be afraid to
ask questions even if sometimes there is no
answer. It causes us to think and make
decisions about the things we believe in instead
of just letting life happen.
. Find a place
and time where you can meet with God
exclusively. For example in your room, at a
coffee shop, in your garden. Listen to Him and
let the Holy Spirit speak the truth into your heart.
Be honest with God too, He knows your heart
and your thoughts.
Choose your
attitude. Don't be embarrassed to speak to
yourself out loud either. If you find yourself
thinking "I'm ugly" or "I'm a failure" resist those
thoughts out loud.
8by Katy Breytenbach
brainwashing techniquesGet your mind squeaky clean step by step
5
things. While you're driving to work is a good time, waiting in
those endless queues at the bank etc. Challenge yourself with
the things you say and think about at these times.
- Find people who you can
be accountable to, who can challenge you in the things you
know are wrong. For example if you like to complain, don't
hang . Ask people
to "rebuke" you when you do something God is asking you to
change.
. Physically find a verse or a song
you can stick up somewhere (eg. on your television or computer
screen) or play every time you do something that would
threaten your relationship with God and the way you think. If
you are being tempted to think wrongly, go to the gym, phone
someone or go make yourself a cup of tea.
I'm a visual person so sometimes
writing my prayers and thoughts down helps. It also gives me a
good way of recording when God answers my prayers,
strengthens my faith and allows me to see things objectively.
Write down all your negative thoughts, attitudes and worry and
then rewrite them with resolutions from the promises of God.
For example "I will make a concerted effort to expect the best
from people this week and love them" because the Bible says
"Love your neighbour as you love yourself.
5. Make it work.
6. Don't play copy cat
7. Do something
8. Start a journal.
Practice His presence in everyday
around people who love to complain
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
This section is known as 8 and will be different each month. It could be 8 ways to… or 8 reasons why… or as is this month's topic, 8 Brainwashing Techniques. The aim with 8 is to give you some practical advice on how to apply principles
relevant to the month's issue, or how to deal with some of the challenges facing twenty somethings today. Hopefully it will spark some inspiration to go and create a new beginning!
?
“Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to
explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness
and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15b-16a
“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in
his heart.” 1 John 5:10a
We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that testimonies have
to be dramatic to be effective. In the
sensational times in which live, the
testimonies of ordinary people often
don't get told. This is a huge loss,
both to you, the person who isn't
telling their story and to others who
might benefit from hearing it.
Generation X (those of us in our 20's
and 30's now) is characterized firstly
by our sense of individuality and secondly, by the strong
friendships we create and cultivate. We are people who don't
want prepackaged, mass produced messages but rather relate
to personal experiences. We cannot underestimate the positive
impact our stories will have on others. Sharing our lessons and
struggles with friends and family strengthens us as Christians
and is a much more effective means of witnessing to people who
aren't Christians than any theological debate! A testimony
shows that Christianity has a place in this day and age. It shows
the awesome power of God working in the lives of ordinary
people like you and me.
Testimonies make Christianity relevant. They make Jesus
personal.
TestifyGod has given you a story which
He wants you to share. It doesn't
necessarily have to be the story of
how you came to Christ. It can be
about a lesson God has taught
you, or a tough time God pulled
you through. If it has helped you
grow spiritually He wants you to
tell others about it. So if you
feel that you are in a bit of
slump in your spiritual life,
or if you have gone through
a time of trial lately, make
some time and sit down to
write your testimony. And if
you already have one, then
spend some time rereading
and updating it.
Each month we will feature
someone's testimony in this
section. So please, write yours,
send it to us at
and watch this space!
Sharing our lessons and
struggles with friends and
family strengthens us as
Christians and is a much
more effective means of
witnessing to people who
aren't Christians than any
theological debate!
God has given you a story
which He wants you to share.
!
Send us yours!!
by Lucy Goodwin
6Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
* See terms & conditions
C
CWow, how exciting being part of something like this!
Living overseas, I meet so many new people every day and I'm used to the who,
where, why and what questions so allow me to introduce myself quickly… My
name is Hayley and I have been living in London for just over a year to get some
work experience and do some travelling. I work in publishing and am studying
teaching part-time. Happy one day, confused the next, sometimes homesick,
more
often excited…I'm pretty much your average twenty
something!
As those of you who know me (and those who will get to
know me!) know, I always express myself better by writing
rather than speaking. And when it comes to writing, there's
nothing I enjoy more than a good old letter! Whether I'm
happy, sad, angry, frustrated, excited or confused… I write
letters! Living in London at the moment, letters have
carried me through some of the most exciting, challenging,
interesting, exhilarating and just plain homesick moments
(thanks mom!)
While I'm not shy in a lot of situations, I have to admit that I've always been shy
about giving my testimony to people; strangers and friends alike. Ok, maybe
more stubborn than shy! And so, because our God works around our issues, He
worked around my stubbornness and put my good friend Lucy in my path with
the idea of Illumin8. Here was God (through Luce) saying to me: 'Ok, you like
writing letters so write a letter!' He couldn't have picked a better person than
Lucy to get me on board… her enthusiasm and passion was contagious. So here
I am, writing to you, from the muddy island of Britain. Talk about God
transforming me by renewing my mind!
Hayley’s
Comment
A
our overseas correspondent
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
When something is God's will or plan and He wants someone to do
(or write) something, believe me, He makes the signs very visible,
the path very clear and the transformation process so complete
that next thing you know you're having editorial brainstorming
sessions in cyber space and writing to people about random things
that you hope will make someone, somewhere nod in agreement!
In my monthly comment I'll be sharing my thoughts
and experiences about living abroad (something so relevant to our
generation) and life in general. I hope that you will be able to
translate them to something relevant to you once in a while! And
don't worry guys, this isn't a travel blog, but I will be writing from
some pretty cool places on God's awesome Earth!
I have no doubt that Illumin8 is God's will and has His blessing or
that those reading (and writing!) will be blessed, transformed and
renewed too! What more could you want!?
Take care and nice meeting you all ;-)
Hayls
- Hayley Brett
Happy one day,
confused the
next, sometimes
homesick, more
often excited…I'm
pretty much your
average twenty
something!
7
The Meaning…There is no greater gift than the peace that God offers. The Bible calls it “A peace that
surpasses understanding”. In the mad rush of our lives this type of peace definitely eludes us
as does our understanding of the concept. It's something far deeper than just relaxation.
Why the term peppermint peace? See for yourself! Find a really strong peppermint and put it in
your mouth. Feel that burning in your throat as you breathe in and out? It's as though there is
no room in your mouth for anything but that freshness! It eclipses everything else and makes
every breath feel like your first.
This is what God's peace does for us: fear is gone and anxiety is a distant memory! There is
only clear, fresh, life-giving air entering and restoring your soul. It's the result of living in God's
spirit. This is how we could feel all the time! It's the knowledge that your steps are in line with
God’s and that he is smiling on you independent of external circumstances. Ask Him for this
peace and to teach you how to live in it continuously.
Take 1
Take 2
Double Take
The feeling of
fresh, life-giving
air entering and
restoring your
soul as you walk
in line with
God's will.
“
“
by Leanne Barnard Pepper-mint
Peace
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
Double take is all about mixing it up, thinking outside of the
box and throwing the old cliques out the window! Each
month the eye opening expression will be summarized in a
bookmark, which you can cut out and keep if you decide to
print Illumin8.?
Eye-opening expressions to give you a new perspective
#
#
8
Elev8by Katy Breytenbach
I have been discovering recent ly what
RELATIONSHIP really means. Not just any
relationship, but the one that should take priority
over every other one in my life (and too often does
not).
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says "Be joyful always;
pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (NIV)
Pray continually? Practically
speaking how am I supposed to do
that and why? Am I supposed
become a social recluse, shut out
the world and pray? How do I pray
all the time in my working, weekend,
everyday life?
It's not that hard if you think of it in
terms of a relationship. Think of your
best friend or someone you spend a
lot of t ime with. It involves a two-way
communication. You enjoy each other, listen to each
other, have fun together and sometimes just being
around each other is enough. In the same way to
pray is to have two-way communication and
interaction with Our Maker made possible through
the grace and love of Jesus Christ.
Growing up, whether I knew it or not I had
a deeply ingrained idea of what it meant to
pray. Brushing my teeth seemed delightful in
comparison! I never knew that it was giving
me a chance to "hang out" with a friend, a
Father and a comforter. Praying continually
maybe isn't such a "tiring" thing then if what it
really means is having a relationship with
Someone who wants to speak exciting truths into your life,
who wants to see you live out your dreams and who will also
support and help you every step of the way. It's exciting, it's
sometimes deep, it's sometimes shallow, it's honest, and it's
real. Find yourself the nearest Bible and check out the
Psalms if you doubt it. That's being real and that's what it
really means to be praying continually, to be in a relationship
with the Saviour, to know what it is like to be in His presence.
So how does "praying continually"
(having a relationship with the King!) fit in
with this month's issue? When we spend
a lot of time with people, whether we
realise it or not, we start to speak, think
and act like them. It transforms us either
in a good or a bad way. When I was
studying and had to do my internship, I
was around people in a high pressured
environment who always used to swear
and curse. Automatically I started to
swear at little things even though I am not
a person who usually swears. It took hard work on my part to
stand against that.
Likewise when we spend time with, chat to and listen to God
(pray) making Him a part of our everyday life (continually), we
start to speak, think and act like Him. And that's a good
thing! I can't think of anything more perfect than becoming
more and more like the One who is perfect and knows me
inside out. He wants me to be transformed because He
knows my deepest desires and He knows what things can
harm me in my thinking and He knows the things that will
make me come alive so that I can shine for Him.
I have a friend who for years thought that she was less than
clever. Teachers at school used to tell her that (maybe you
Growing up, whether I
knew it or not I had a
deep ingrained idea of
what it meant to pray,
brushing my teeth
seemed delightful in
comparison.
9Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
Elev8 is a section dedicated to prayer. The idea is firstly, to elevate your focus off yourself and onto some of the bigger
issues around us. Secondly, prayer is about elevating your requests to God and relying on Him to resolution the things you worry about and need assistance with. This month, Katy gives her insights into prayer and some practical ways to strengthen your prayer life.
?
10
have experienced something like this in your life?). She really
believed it for the longest time, so much so that it affected what
she decided to study after leaving school even though it would not
have been her first choice. Until years later she started meeting
with the Truth. God started revealing to her what He thought of her
in their conversations with each other. With the support of her
family and friends she went on to study something that she had
always wanted to do and passed with flying colours. Her life had
been transformed by the renewing of her mind through the help
and power of the Holy Spirit; her relationship with Him and her
decision to change the way she thought about herself with the
help of others.
Being aware of God's presence all the time (in a state of constant
interaction and prayer) changes us. Being in the presence of
Love, Goodness, Justice, Mercy, Grace, Faithfulness, Royalty,
Compassion, Magnificence, Uncompromising Holiness (the list is
endless) will change us. When we meet with Truth, it's impossible
to stay the same.
So I dare you to let Jesus be a part of your everyday life as you
would a closest friend. He's always around anyway! Join me on
this discovery and let the Father show you His transforming power
through the exhilarating adventure of having a real relationship
with Him!
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
Elev8 calendarWant some ideas on how to pray or what
to pray for?Check this out (and please
share with us what works for you).
Sunday Monday Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday FridaySaturday
Thank Him! FamilyFind a place where you can sit in nature. Find things to thank Him for in your life and the lives of others. Also take a time out, whatever you are comfortable with, and listen to what He has to say to you.
Pray for your fami ly members or issues in your family; perhaps have a photo album or page with pictures of your family members and write down things for each of them as you pray and listen to what God has to say.
The Nations Looking outward
Listen to the news on your local radio station or TV. Alternatively go to or and find something or someone to pray for. Hot topics to pray for will be included each month but there is so much out there, that these are by no means comprehensive.
www.News24.comhttp://www.prayerit.com
ReflectLooking inward
Have a look at your own life and perhaps things or sin you are struggling with. Give it to God and ask Him to help you change. Symbolically wash your hands or while showering give these things to Him.
A friendSMS a friend and ask them what they need prayer for and make an effort to hold them up to God throughout the day;
Local is Lekker!Pray for your local church or community
1 Timothy 2:3-4Pray for the people you want to get to know Christ. You can just mention their names to Him while you are shopping or doing your housework
JUNE ‘08
“When we meet with Truth,
it's impossible to stay the
same. “
Zimbabwe (Both the political and
humanitarian issues)
Earth quake victims in China
Cyclone victims in Myanmar
Global Aids pandemic
The nations – hot topicsXenophobia
Economy - God provides as all
prices rise
Crime
Prostitution
Our nation – hot topics
Anyone who stops l e a r n i n g i s o l d , whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.
- Henry Ford
Th ink ing i s t he hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.
- Henry Ford
If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. - Henry Ford
Don't find fault, find a remedy; anybody can complain.
- Henry Ford
SPOTLIGHT
11
“In the spotlight” is a monthly feature which shares the wise words of a famous person and provides a short history on their contributions to society. This month, we feature Henry Ford, as his history and thoughts relate well to the importance of developing and renewing minds.
Most people seem to credit the invention of the car to him. In actual fact, he wasn't the inventor. Even though he held many patents on mechanisms designed for vehicles he is best remembered for creating the factory assembly approach and through this, completely revolutionising the car industry. 1
According to Lee Lacocca, writer of an article in the Time magazine on Henry Ford 2,”The boss was a genius. He was an eccentric. He was no prince in his social attitudes and his politics. But Henry Ford's mark in history is almost unbelievable. In 1905, when there were 50 start-up companies a year trying to get into the auto business, his backers at the new Ford Motor Co. were insisting that the best way to maximize profits was to build a car for the rich. But Ford was from modest, agrarian Michigan roots. And he thought that the guys who made the cars ought to be able to afford one themselves so that they too could go for a spin on a Sunday afternoon. In typical fashion, instead of listening to his backers, Ford eventually bought them out. “
The black Model T was launched in 1908 and was hailed “America's Everyone car” 2. In order for it to be successful however it needed further thinking. Henry therefore, worked on making a sufficient infrastructure for the vehicles. His logic was: “Just like horses, cars had to be fed”2. Ford pushed for gas stations everywhere and campaigned for better roads - which eventually led to an interstate-highway system.
He also had a completely unique approach to wages. Critics scorned at his “ludicrous” scheme of raising wages to $5-a-day minimum-wage where the average wage in the auto industry then was $2.34 for a 9-hr shift. According to Lacocca 2, “The critics were too stupid to comprehend that because Ford had lowered his costs per car, the higher wages didn't matter — except for making it feasible for more people to buy cars.”Henry Ford made his mark on history by not only creating an affordable car but in completely rethinking his approach to production, human resources, marketing and business.
References:1.Fascinating facts about Henry Ford [O]. Available: http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventors/ford.htm Accessed: 24 May 20082.Iacocca, L. Time. 1998. Time - Big Wheels Turning [O] Available:http://www.time.com/time/time100/builder/profile/ford.html Accessed: 24 May 2008
iN THE
?
by Leanne Barnard
Your brain uses 20% of your body's energy, but it makes up
only 2% of your body's weight.1
Your brain may be full of nerve cells, but it has no pain
receptors so doctors can operate on your brain while you're
awake and you won't feel any pain at all. 2
Be careful what you eat as studies have shown that it can
affect your IQ. An analysis of 1 million students in a New York
school district showed that school cafeteria food affected IQ
scores to an astonishing degree. When preservatives,
coloring, dyes and artificial flavors were removed from the
cafeteria menu researchers found that 70,000 students
performed two or more IQ grade levels higher than
before.2
There are about 100,000 miles of blood vessels in the brain.
If they were stretched out they would circle the earth more
than four times. 3
Recent research proves that your brain continues to produce
new neurons throughout your life. It also proves that it does
so in response to stimulation (do those brainpower
exercises).3
Fascin8
1.Mamma's Health [O] Available: http://www.mammashealth.com Accessed: 1 May 20082.Productivity Booster Info Centre [O] Available: http://www.productivitybooster.com/brain_facts.htm Accessed: 1 May 20083.Gillman Steve: Ten amazing brain facts [O] Available: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Ten-Amazing-Brain-Facts/117926 Accessed: 1 May 2008
12
renewing th
e mind
g
g
4
p
9D
o n
ot c
on
form
yo
urs
elv
es to
the s
tan
dard
s o
f this
wo
rld, b
ut le
t Go
d
tran
sfo
rm y
ou
inw
ard
ly b
y a
co
mp
lete
ch
an
ge o
f yo
ur m
ind
. Th
en
yo
u w
ill be a
ble
to k
no
w th
e w
ill of G
od
- wh
at is
go
od
an
d is
p
leasin
g to
him
an
d is
perfe
ct.
Do
no
t co
nfo
rm yo
urse
lves to
the sta
ndard
s of th
is world
, but
let G
od tra
nsfo
rm y
ou
inw
ard
ly b
y a
co
mp
lete
ch
an
ge o
f
yo
ur m
ind
. Then yo
u w
ill be a
ble
to kn
ow
the w
ill of G
od - w
hat
is good a
nd is p
leasin
g to
him
and is p
erfe
ct.
Ro
ma
ns 1
2:1
2
Fascin8 is a section that may be relevant or completely
arbitrary, but fascinate you, it will! Here are some
interesting facts about the wonderful inner workings of
our brains.
Your brain generates 25 watts of power while
you're awake. This is enough to illuminate a
lightbulb, so calling someone a “bright
spark” is no coincidence it seems .1
References
?
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
renewing th
e mind
g
g
p
9D
o n
ot c
on
form
yo
urs
elv
es to
the s
tan
dard
s o
f this
wo
rld, b
ut le
t Go
d
tran
sfo
rm y
ou
inw
ard
ly b
y a
co
mp
lete
ch
an
ge o
f yo
ur m
ind
. Th
en
yo
u w
ill be a
ble
to k
no
w th
e w
ill of G
od
- wh
at is
go
od
an
d is
p
leasin
g to
him
an
d is
perfe
ct.
Do
no
t co
nfo
rm yo
urse
lves to
the sta
ndard
s of th
is world
, but
let G
od tra
nsfo
rm y
ou
inw
ard
ly b
y a
co
mp
lete
ch
an
ge o
f
yo
ur m
ind
. Then yo
u w
ill be a
ble
to kn
ow
the w
ill of G
od - w
hat
is good a
nd is p
leasin
g to
him
and is p
erfe
ct.
Ro
ma
ns 1
2:1
2 Stimul8
13
Since the topic of this month's edition is the transforming of the mind, we recommend you give those little grey cells some exercise. We've included a few riddles for you to have a stab at solving. The answers can be found at the bottom of
the page.
?
Brain Gym 101The Traveling ManA man was traveling to Kasoa. At the bus stop, he met a man with 7 wives. Each wife has
12 sons and 12 daughters. Each daughter of the man's wife's had 4 sons and 7 daughters.
Each son of the man's wife's had 7 sons and 4 daughters. Each grand daughter had 4
friends. How many people got to Kasoa?
Albert Einsteins RiddleThere are no tricks, just pure logic, so good luck and don't give up.
1. In a street there are five houses, painted five different colours.
2. In each house lives a person of different nationality
3. These five homeowners each drink a different kind of beverage, smoke different brand
of cigar and keep a different pet.
Who owns the fish?
HINTS
1. The Brit lives in a red house. 2. The Swede keeps dogs as pets. 3. The Dane drinks tea. 4. The Green
house is next to, and on the left of the White house. 5. The owner of the Green house drinks coffee.
6. The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.7. The owner of the Yellow house smokes Dunhill.
8. The man living in the centre house drinks milk. 9. The Norwegian lives in the first house. 10. The
man who smokes Blends lives next to the one who keeps cats. 11. The man who keeps horses lives
next to the man who smokes Dunhill. 12. The man who smokes Blue Master drinks beer. 13. The
German smokes Prince. 14. The Norwegian lives next to the blue house. 15. The man who smokes
Blends has a neighbour who drinks water.
Fun Online:If you've got the riddle bug now then take a look at these two sites. They both offer online
tests/exercises that not only build your mental stamina for sustained concentration
(sounds like an energy drink ad) but also utilise your math, verbal, spatial, logic, etc. in an
entertaining format. According to Brainwaves “the experience you gain in how to
organize data so you can locate a solution — will build links among your brain cells that,
later, can help you learn new data and spot the most effective pattern to cope with it.” So
tackle the challenge and give your brain the workout it needs:
Queendom – mind stretcheshttp://queendom.com/tests/testscontrol.htm?t=3
Brainwaves:http://www.brainwaves.com/puzzle-home.html Answers:
that he was a the bus stop.Einstein’s Riddle: The German owns the fish
Travelling man: Only 1. It doesn't say the man with 7 wives was going to Kasoa, only
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
Cre8tive corner! Send us yours!!
14
The Creative Corner is a showcase for all the
amazing talent that we know you guys are
harboring! It will feature your poems,
paintings, drawings, artistic photographs or
whatever else you chose to send us that you
created in a moment of inspiration. If words
aren't your strong point – this is the section
you can use to broadcast your testimony, in
what ever style suits you!
?
By Cornelius Smit
Jesus eyes
My life's longing,
My hearts throbbing
Is to see all people
Through Jesus' eyes.
The eyes that see good
In all women, all men.
To show love that confidence do brood
And does not condemn.
To see the prostitute
As a victim of hate
Not an object of pleasure
But as God's stolen treasure.
To see the drug addict
Caught in life's snare
Locked in a cage
Of loneliness…despair.
To see the street vendor
A once happy guy
Now a street wise pretender
Battling with an internal cry.
Take control of my life
Guide your disciples' feet,
Help me show love
To everyone I meet.
A city fairytale
Between the broken glass
Lies my childhood dreams
Once so real…
Now, so lost it seems.
I was going to marry,
Be a movie star,
But now my load I carry
On a road of dirt, not tar.
Madam says I'm so lucky
and so famous,
Cause men come from all over,
For their one hour bliss.
I look out my window
To the world down below.
How did my once okay life
Turn into sorrow and strife.
The men I see outside
Have all had a piece of me.
Those men I see
Tonight… In me they'll confide.
How did I get to this place?
I guess t'was my dad,
Mom left with no trace…
He was always so mad.
If there is a God
Does He really love me?
Because right now, right here.
Him I do not see.
Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008
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15Illumin8 - Edition 1 - June 2008