Living Stories

Uhm…Beer fests, we need to talk.

As was expected, with the sudden explosion of breweries in South Africa over the last 5-6 years, came the “World vs Kanye” love/hate relationship we have with beer festivals. It’s an irritating relationship, because you’d give up anything (okay, maybe not anything) for “her”.

Because that’s what love does, right?

But it’s annoying also in the sense that there’s no reciprocation of your love.…

Sometimes, trying to win at life, or conquer the past is as effective as attempting to overthrow ISIS with a paper clip. But sometimes, life gives you glimpses of what it would look like to come out on the other side as David next to a fallen Goliath.

I’m graduating today, with a bachelor’s degree in theology. Which probably don’t mean much, depending from which side of the neighborhood you’re…

Soweto Gold– both nouns synonymous with history and spirit of our beloved Johannesburg. It was on gold that this city was found, and it was in Soweto that one of the greatest world leaders (Nelson Mandela) once lived. These two things came together and produced the glorious liquid gold that is Soweto Gold- a brewery in the heart of the South Western Townships of Johannesburg.

Everything about the…

The sermon, it’s this ancient art form that was used to inspire, draw in, and make way for people to better understand their connection with the Divine. It’s been about sharing the death and resurrection mystery of Christ. But it’s been hijacked by egotistical men and women who believe they are the way to God, instead of opening an invitation for people to seek, experience, and accept God for…

Something sort of two weeks ago I scribbled the word GROUNDED! on a piece of paper and left it on my desk, amongst the many pieces of advice, tweets, ideas, and ramblings I jot down, when I should be finishing off two very important sermons (like now).

I have no recollection (to quote that guy) as to how the word got to me, let alone whyit got to me. But it has been sitting with me ever since.…

Hello Clarens Beer Festival

It truly is THE one-of-a-kind beer festival in the country. I didn’t want to believe it, intil this past weekend, when it happened. Or, more so, when it happened to ME. It felt like a #MeetTheBrewers weekend, because most of my favorite breweries were there, delivering some super brews.

Myself and Murray from Beerhouse, touched down in Clarens just after 12pm, after a long struggle with Pico’s…

As if the craftbeer scene in South Africa weren’t cool enough already, with breweries springing up everywhere, creating serious beer lover’s FOMO (it’s a thing), last year the owners of Just Brewing Company gave us the inaugural Beer Boot Camp– “a full day symposium focusing on delivering a high quality educational experience to South African brewers and beer enthusiasts.” (FYI, it (beer boot…

Oh! Darling…please believe me.

While the eyes of the (beer) world were fixed on the takeover of SABMiller, by AB Inbev, Kevin and Philippa Wood – founders of Darling Brew were getting ready to unveil their new spectacular brewery and tasteroom, in the heart of Darling- the mothering town of the great ‘Rocking the Daisies’ festival.

The town of Darling were synonymous with wildflower carpets, Tannie Evita and the Daisies…

We’ve all heard it, right?  Or, at least, most of us heard it. That awkward 5 minutes of, “my child, you’re growing up and your body is changing, and we need to discuss a few things about it.”You both wished it over, and you never spoke about it again. But then you grow up and you realize that the talk isn’t that awkward actually, because it’s everywhere, and everyone is talking about it, and…

In the beginning of this year, I made a conscious, intentional decision to not purchase any clothes for the whole of 2015. It was an idea I stole from a friend I spoke to one evening. And as someone that don’t worry too much about trends, but have a distinct serious long-term relationship with shoes, I though this would be an easy “challenge”.

Buy quite to my surprise, I realized how attached…

CHANGE: is it truly possible for people?

ivorswartz:

Read my latest post.

Originally posted on Poormans Friend:

In a story by Jamie Tworkowski called “Welcome To Midnight” he asked the questions, “…is it possible to change? Is it really truly possible to leave the past behind…?

I’ve wrestled with these questions and their answers in many different ways and settings over the last 9 years of my life since I left prison. And I’ll probably…

CHANGE: Is it truly possible for people?

In a story by Jamie Tworkowski called “Welcome To Midnight” he asked the questions, “…is it possible to change? Is it really truly possible to leave the past behind…?

I’ve wrestled with these questions and their answers in many different ways and settings over the last 9 years of my life since I left prison. And I’ll probably still wrestle with them as the years progress. Because the past can…

This is for the ones who think they are too big, too small, too thick, too boney, too boyish, or too girly.

This is for the ones who think they are ugly.

The ones who think they should hide out.

And the ones who gets judged for it.

The ones who let their external appearance determine their internal feelings.

The ones with their fingers in their throats after every meal.

The ones who get kicked…

I know there will be days when it feels as if this life wants to squeeze every ounce of happiness out from your leaking heart…BUT, hold on.

I know, “it gets better”, often sounds more flirtatious than it actually is, and healing can cause more pain than hurting does…BUT, hold on.

I know, inside, you dreams feels more like windswept ashes than the sweltering fire you once thought it was…BUT, hold…