The New Birth of Agong Testimony

It's a new beginning for Agong Testimony. Decided to start anew with this blog, dedicating more for views and thoughts rather than everyday "reporting" of life. More discussion on God rather than myself.
Therefore I've removed all the all post. However, to keep some of the old records, I've compiled the section on "A Proverb A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away" - original without any editing. Here it goes:

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 31:8-9 :
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy."

As an instructor in NS now, I am accountable for my man under me. Have to speak up for those quieter trainees who try their best already. And whenever exercising of punishment and rewards, I have to be just and fair.

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 2:12-15 :
"12Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, 13who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 15whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways."

For those who seek Wisdom will be forewarned about these men, and thus forearmed and less likely to be taken into sinning and walk their dark and devious ways. For sin is such a reality, these men described here are very true in our society. I learnt this real well especiallt in NS. Sometimes I truly think, if I do not know Christ and His word, I will definitely be influenced by these army mates and friends of mine and indulge myself in sin too. But thank God that from His word, comes wisdom and thus kept me from following their perverseness and crooked path.

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 3:27 :
"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act."

God gave us many blessings, I must learn to be generous. Who would really deserve good? I don't think my neighbours deserve-but so do I. I do not deserve the blessings God showered on me, the grace and salvation God gave me. But it was given. How then could I withhold any good to others who are in need when it is in my power to act? May the Lord help me.
Also, this passage also reminds me not ONLY to award punishments, but also rewards. Punishment is necesary, but when others do well, I must learn to reward too. So to all teachers, parents, and people given authority over small or large groups of people, when it is in your power to act, do not forget to reward those who deserve it k? =)

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 4:24 :
"Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. I always have a tough time controling my speech in the past. Vulgarities seems to be part of my vocabulary. I know it is not right, but everybody is using it! It was only when I was in sec 2 when I was determined to put away perversity and corruptness from my lips. My friends also doubted that I could, but with lots of prayer(yea, lots of them) and determination, I forsaken these vulgar languages. And, oh Shane, no, just now i didn't slip any vulgar words too. Guess you heard wrong. =)
However, I still am not able to tame the tongue. For what I have to say I do not say, and things that I should not say, many a times I said.
~May the Lord help us.~

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 5:8 :
"Keep to a path far from her (adulteress), do not go near the door of her house."

Its pretty clear that this passage talks about our part to play to avoid temptation. Though the temptation (adulteress) here talks more of sexual sins, this can be applied to all other temptation as well. It is no good asking God to "lead us not into temptation" if we deliberately go to those places or do those thigs likely to arouse it. It was the kind of self discipline Jesus was referring to in Matthew 5:28-30 "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.", which He said in the context of adultery. Of course not asking us to literally pluck my ears, cut my tongue and my hands, but, did we even put in the effort to avoid sin? May the Lord help us.

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 12:9 :
"Better be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food."

I was just talking to my dad about a car that only costs $20,000+. I thought of having a car, and really want to have one. But should I be entitled one? This verse indeed spoke to me. Do not go for something that I cannot really afford and forgo the basic necessity like food and transportation. It is better to have no car and yet still have basic appliances(servants) at home like fridge and TV, than to have a car and not being able to meet the basic necessity of a family.
~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 15:1 :
"A gentle answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Indeed, what is the need of using harsh words or tone? No matter what the circumstances, chances are thatn things will worsen. Some would argue that saying harsh words to correct people will be more effective, but now I guess I can't agree. A gentle answer can be a firm answer, but replied with love and concern. Harsh word will only stir up anger, stir up emotions with people. May the Lord forgive me for every harsh words I said, and help me change and use more gentle answers to ALL.

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 20:22 :
'"Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you."'

As much as you have sinned against other people and hurt them before, there will be times when people sin against you and hurt you. They may do us wrong, but this verse tells us to 'wait for the Lord'. For the Lord 'will deliver you'. For we know that God is just and fair. If anyone do wrong to you, I urge you my brothers (and sisters too) that you cry out to the Lord and hand the matter to Him. He will not only deliver you, but with His righteous judgment, brings forth a nice ending. It is just whether you trust God to deal with it, or you trust with yourself to deal with the situation. I thank God that from what I experienced, not many people sin against me or do wrong to me. But if it really happens, I pray that God will help me to cast it to God instead of judging it myself.

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 24: 1-2 :
"Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble."

I used to comment this: "If I am not a christian, I would have done many things I do not do now." I was refering to soccer betting, clubbing, drinking, dirty KTV lounges and more. Not that now as a christian I have lived a 100% holy life-well I don't. But if I am not a christian, if I do not know God's law, nor do I fear God, than these activities really seemed tempting to do! Even if it may not be tempting, but if my friends were to ask me to go and try, I would not have rejected. Though drinking, clubbing or soccer betting may not be plotting violence, but they are sinful in nature. And if I were to think about it now, these activities are prone to causing trouble. These activities will bring in more harm than good. In fact, God's law is not to restrict us, but in fact to give us freedom not to be bounded to sin and addicted to it. Thank God for it. =)

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 28:13 :
"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy."


There is a tendency to conceal sin because sin is mostly loathed and shameful, yet unavoidable for us humans who have sinful nature in us. The only way out to this conflict is to face it and confess openly before God (and if necessary others) and renounce it. Then God covers it under the Gospel with the blood and righteousness of Christ. God wants us to confess our sins to him, because it shows that we know our mistakes and willing to renounce it. This proverb is probably closest to relating to the gospel.

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 5:22 :
"The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast."

This chapeter is talking about the sin of adultery. However, the sin here applies not only to adultery but to all other sins. Sins is not a pleasure as what many thinks. Even though it may seem to be an exercise of freedom at first, in fact, sin will bring about bondage and ensnares the sinner. He will lose his freedom. He may have the uncontrolled craving for the adultery, or may have to yield her demands, or even indulge deeper into the sin in fear of the sin coming to light.

If sin does not ensnares, it is not that scary after all since it is so easy for people to repent. Many people was mistaken by thinking it is ok for Christian to sin since God has forgiven our sinis and you can always ask God for forgiveness anyway. However, sin is NOT a pleasure, it ensnares people.

Illustration: There was this guy who went to someone's house to stay. He forgotten to bring his shaver, so he asked the house owner to lend a shaver. But the owner was a kind man, he broughtout a new and sharp shaver to give this guy. So the guy happily went to shave. Unexpectedly, while shaving and because the shaver being so sharp, the guy accidently shaved his skin off! Ouch! His chin was bleeding profusely. The owner immediately brought out a medicine to let the guy apply. Amazingly, once applied, the bleeding ceased!! So the owner suggest to change for the guy another shaver that is less sharp. However, the guy exclaimed," It's ok kind owner! Even if I cut myself again, I have this medicine!"

Qs: Does it mean that if your sins are forgiven, we can keep sinning??

Only through God's strength can one break free from the slavery of sin. "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." Romans 6:22
Thus if anyone is still struggling in a certain sin, pray to God to strengthen you to come out of it. Through reading God's word and the Spirit;s guidance, it is when you can overcome the sin. You can also find a close/mature brother or Sister in Christ to share about your struggle and seek guidance too.
~May the Lord help us!~

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 9:17-18 :
""Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!". But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave."

That makes sinning a greater temptation! And in order to be tempted, the temptation must have appeared good, attractive and nice, therefore people will be tempeted. Satan will try all way to beautify sin, to make it less ugly and shameful. Excuses like "Everyone is doing so, why I can't? Why not?", "It's not gambling, its calculated risks!", "Finders keepers, losers weepers" and many more thus beautify sins and make it more acceptable. But, these are excuses. From my previous "A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away" entry, we touched on why sin is so scary. Thus my friends, let us not be fooled!
~May the Lord help us!~

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 10:27 :
"The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short."

This verse can be looked in 2 ways. First, those who fear the Lord will be blessed, because God is pleased with them and will shower them with great blessings. ""Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live long ..." Deut 5:16. Thus, if one fears God, he will honor his parents and God will bless him with long life.

Second way we can look at it is the 'scientific' or the human way of logic. If one fears the Lord, he will definitel avoid smoking, drugs, drunkeness, prostitution or commiting adultery. Often, these wicked deeds comes with punishments that cut short the life of the evil-doer. eg, lung cancer, drug addiction, STDs, etc...
~May the Lord help us!~

~A Proverbs A Day, Keeps Foolishness Away~
Proverbs 8:13 :
"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."
From proverbs 1:7 we already know that "the fear of the Lord" is the beginning of knowledge(wisdom). If you fear the Lord, you will have wisdom. And this "I" said in 8:13, is refering to wisdom. Thus, whoever possess this "I" (wisdom) will hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
Sometimes when we read proverbs, we suddenly remember of one person whom we know who fits the description perfectly. One who is proud, arrogant, induldge in evil behavior and speak with perverse words and speech. Its just soooooo easy to think of one person who fits the bill! Because we are just merely pointing fingers! But shall we take time to reflect on ourselves?
For me, I know that I have been proud in many times, and that many times, I fell too. I've been selfish at times too which result in evil behavior. I've not spoken constructive words all the times, in fact said many which stumble others too.
Thus may the Lord help me(and us) to hate evil, clothe with humility, living a life for God and speak what is good for others. And that is through - learning to fear the Lord.