To all beloved Malaysians big and small,
Teropong Dunya Aki Andan would like to wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2009.
Receiving and ushering a new calendar year is either of little significance or one that is full of new hopes. It depends on how one takes it.
The year 2008 that is about to end when the clock strikes 12:00 tonight has been full of many surprises. Some of the surprises had been foretold before they arrived. But one that was hardly believable was the defeat of Barisan Nasional in four states in West Malaysia, namely, Perak, Selangor, Kedah and Penang. Equally surprising was the inability of the Barisan Nasional in retaining a two-third majority in parliament. Not so surprising but awaited with much prediction was the inability of the Barisan Nasional in unseating PAS in Kelantan. Lately there was one event that came as a surprise was the ban on Padang Serai MP, Gobalakrishnan, from entering Sarawak.
The year 2009, as Teropong Dunya Aki Andan sees it, will be filled with a number surprises. One of them is likely the change in allegiance of some of the MPs from Sarawak. And should the State General Election be held in 2009 or even later, Teropong Dunya Aki Andan predicts that Barisan Nasional would likely suffer defeat. I had foretold this premonition in my past postings. Many of the current state assemblymen will not have the chance of sitting under the roof of the new DUN complex as elected representatives. It will not surprise us that many new faces will occupy the new DUN complex.
To close and bid farewell to the year 2008, Teropong Dunya Aki Andan once again likes to wish every Malaysian regardless of political affiliation or religious, racial or social background a very happy and prosperous New Year. May the year 2009 be celebrated in atmosphere of peace, tolerance, harmony and joy.
4 hours ago
4 comments:
Happy New Year!
Keep up the superb work!
We will prevail,surely.
We will cry over each other's shoulders if need be.
Will be with you all the way.
Dear Bro. Henry,
As the year 2008 came to its end during the last few days and yesterday, messages of good wishes for the year 2009 were sent or conveyed in many forms everywhere including in your blog.
Today being the first day of the New Year 2009, I decide to do something different through [numpang]your blog in sharing some thoughts for the New Year 2009by "introducing” the Book of Proverbs.
The Book of Proverbs is the 20th book in the Old Testament after Psalms and before Ecclesiastes.
PURPOSE:
To teach people how to be understanding, just and fair in everything they do. To make the simple minded wise. To warn young men about some problems they will face. To help the wise to be good leaders (1:2-6)
AUTHOR:
(King) Solomon wrote most of the book. Agur and Lemuel contributed some of the later sections.
DATE WRITTEN:
Solomon wrote and complied most of the Proverbs early in his reign about 970 B.C.
SETTING :
The Book of Proverbs is a book of wise sayings, a text book for teaching people how to live godly lives through the repetition of wise thoughts.
KEY VERSES
How does a man become wise? The first step is to trust and reverence the Lord. Only fools refuse to be taught (1:7)
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Book uses varied literary forms: poems, brief parables, pointed questions and couplets. Other literary device include antithesis, comparison, and personification.
COMMENTS:-
1. The desire to learn and understand is woven into the very nature of human beings. We analyze, conceptualize, theorize, discuss, and debate from science to supernatural. We build schools, institutions, and universities where learned professors can teach us about the world and life.
2. Knowledge is good, but there is vast difference between knowledge (having the facts), and wisdom (applying the facts to life).We may amass knowledge, but without wisdom, our knowledge is useless. We must learn to live out what we know.
3. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, left us a legacy of a written wisdom in three volumes - Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon. In this books, under the inspiration of (God’s) Holy Spirit,
he gives us practical insights and guidelines for life.
4. The megatheme of Proverbs is the nature of wisdom: HOW DOES A MAN BECOME WISE? According to Solomon, the first step is to TRUST and REVERENCE THE LORD. “The fear of the Lord is beginning of knowledge [wisdom] ”Prov.1:7)
5. Proverbs covers a wide range of topics, including youth and discipline, family life, self-control and resisting temptation, business matters, words and tongue, knowing God, marriage, seeking truth, wealth and poverty, immorality, and wisdom.
6. The Proverbs contains holy mixture of common sense and timely warnings. They are not meant to teach doctrine, but a person who follows their advices will walk closely with God.
7. The word “proverb” comes from Hebrew word which means “ to rule or to govern”, The sayings, reminders and admonitions provide profound advice for governing our lives.
8. As we are preparing, focusing, and engaging ourelves in bringing about CHANGES for the better among us and our community during the Year 2009, may the book of Proverbs become our guideines to change first within and outside.
Al-Benny
Dear Bro al-Benny,
Yes, I have been receiving many new year's wishes via sms since last night through today. They come in many forms including hilarious allusions to some cheap liquour available in town. But one like yours is the first and the only one. While I greatly appreciate those good wishes from friends and relations that I have just referrred to herein, the most meaningful is one that you had posted in this blog.
It has been quite sometime that I have not revisited the Proverb. Your posting serves as an excelllent reminder for me. Thank you, my friend.
Some years ago while serving as a temporary teacher in one rural primary school, I had to resort to one of King Solomon's ways in solving one particular problem involving two pupils claiming rightful ownership over one 'bemban' sleeping mat. It was about 8.30pm on one fine evening, after I had dinner with my two other colleagues, one pupil named Insul (not his real name but real person)came to my residential quaters complaining that another pupil named Jang (not his real name but real person) had taken his sleeping mat. I immediately went to their hostel to find out and solve the predicament. It shocked me to find how it was possible that two pupils could be claiming ownership over one sleeping mat out of a sudden when over the past many days everything was alright and/or both actually had their own respective sleeping mat. Insul insisted the mat was his while Jang also maintained the same mat was his too. Insul said that Jang's mat was partially burnt the previous night caused by a spilled oil lamp and hence took and claimed his (Insul's) mat.
I was totally running out of idea. Suddenly I remembered King Solomon. I took the mat and got a knife and wanted to cut the mat into two equal pieces and gave them half-piece each. Insul suddenly cried loudly and appealed to me not to do that and agreed to let Jang took the mat on reason that his father would be very angry if the mat were to be cut as such. But Jang insisted that I should cut the mat into two to do justice to both of them.
Upon seeing the reactions of both pupils, I immediately knew the true owner of the mat. I immediately took the mat and passed it to Insul as I was satisfied he was the true owner of that sleeping mat. But somehow before I passed it to Insul I made a quick look at the reverse side of the mat. To my relief, there was written the word 'Insul'. My judgment was therefore indisputable, which was in fact that of King Solomon's (1 Kings 3:23-27).
Indeed it is more than true that knowledge ought to be accompanied by wisdom. And wisdom is always coming from above. Solving problems with our knowledge and skills many a time meets a deadlock. It is the wisdom from above that always provides the solution.
To all Malaysians of all walks of life and religious backgrounds I sincerely wish all of you a better future in 2009 and in the years to come. Let our common faith bind us in oneness in building this nation into a better place for posterity.
Dear Bro. Henry,
Good morning !!
Thank you for the encouraging words. Especially so with the wisdom of King Solomon and your profound story of “Tikai Bemban”.
It is a privilege to “numpang” your blog as visitor share what I believe are worthwhile thoughts. I am encouraged again to share further below on THE BLUE PRINT in the book of Proverbs. In the next posting, I will continue sharing on the MEGATHEMES of the book of Proverbs.
Now, THE BLUE PRINT:-
1. WISDOM FOR YOUNG MEN & WOMEN
Solomon instructed young men of his day like a father giving advice to his son. While many of these proverbs are directed to young men, the principles supporting them are useful to believers: males, females, young and old. Anyone beginning their journey to discover more of wisdom, will benefit greatly from the sayings. As Solomon said : “ I want to make the simple mind wise ! I want to warn young men about some problems they will face” ( Prov. 1:4)
2. WISDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE
Solomon wanted to impart wisdom to all people regardless of age, sex, or position in society. The short wise sayings five us practical wisdom for daily living. It is of benefit when we study them and integrate the principles into our lives. Solomon wanted to teach his people how to live. More so how to act in every circumstances, for he wanted to be understanding, just and fair in everything they did.(Prov. 1:2,3)
3. WISDOM FOR LEADERS
In addition to the proverbs which Solomon collected, men of Hezekieh collected many proverbs that Solomon and others wrote. While most of them are general in nature, many are directed to the king and those who dealt with the king. They are useful to leaders and those who aspire to be leaders. As Solomon said: “ I want those already wise to become wiser and beome leaders to explore the depths and meanings in the nuggets of truth (Prov.1:5,6)
It is my prayer as others are also interceding that our leaders may become wiser and the aspirating ones may be wise as they fear and believe God described the Bible.
Shalom,
Al-Benny
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