No one can imagine or believe the kind of person I was in the past. Beside my vices, I was also an angry and hot-tempered person.
Without knowing then, I was pretty much consumed with anger with many frustrations about my life all bottled up within.
A wretched mess
I was a walking time-bomb just waiting to explode at a slight provocation.
Back then, this anger would explode especially when I drank. That’s when I lose all resistance of any self-control and let all hell loose.
There were many countless ocassions that I recall how I broke things in a fit of rage or even hurt people that crossed me without remorse. And one of these incidents that I am going to share will depict the mess I was before Christ.
An unforgettable incident
Rummaging through my stuff, I found a police statement made in 2000 by someone against me whom I had physically hurt when I was drunk.
Here’s what’s written:
Around 2 to 3am on 23/11/99. I went to Kelvin’s (that’s my old name) house to take some of my things with my brother. Upon reaching his mum opened the door and let me in. His bedroom was locked so the mum looked for the key to open it when the door is opened by Kelvin himself.
After I take my things he pushed me against the gate and beat me up. he also kicked my face. I want to complaint against him for causing bruises on my body on several ocassions.
Injuries sustained:
Nose might be broken
Face swollen
Lips swollen
Bump on head
Bruises on hands and legs
Bruises near shoulder
Reminder of His Grace
Reading this really serves as a good reminder to me of how God’s grace is so amazing to save and love a wretched person like me- the worst of all sinners.
God’s love is unconditional. He forgives and offers a new life in Him.
Now in Him and with Him, He has taken my past with its hurts and frustrations with Him and replacing them with His Spirit.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17
Thank you Lord for loving me and paying the price for my sins on the cross. And more importantly, making me new!
If You can do it for me, surely You will do it for others!
Amen.
Andrew: Inside & Insights 
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgives us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” -1 John 1:9
wa i guess your first shepherd MUST have a really HARD time taking care of you when u are a baby.
God’s grace must have been in HUGE abdundance in your ‘transition’ then..
Arsenal ROCKS!
hey andrew! your neighbour here, derek’s sis. saw ur link on friendster. well have yet to read ur blog yet. but yea just want to say hello! 🙂
Hi bro,
Great testimony! Thanks for sharing.. now I understand a little more why you decided to stay off alcohol 🙂
james
Wah, u so jia lat one last time, but now, good that u kanna tame by God, transforming you to be a gentleman 🙂
Indeed, it’s encouraging to see God’s amazing power and glory shining forth through your life now.
Continue to jia you, bro :p
Mingchun: Amen and agree with you. But Arsenal does not rock.
Elise: Hello!
James: This is only part of why I stayed off alcohol.
paul2mango: Yes now I very tamed liao… From lion to cat… hahaha…
To God be the glory 🙂
In Christ, you have been renewed. 🙂
Thank you for being transparent by sharing this encouraging testimony. Indeed, God’s work is evident in your life. May He continue to use you mightily. Amen! 🙂
Andrew,I can imagine as i had a horrible temper too,both to loved ones & esp whenever cars crossed me without signal, and getting into many road-rage incidents.
Strange thing is, alcohol has the opposite effect on me. It will calm me down, and i will be getting secrets out of my friends instead. The more the merrier, but seriously, walking around tipsy even with a clear mind is not a good testimony even for a sunday pew warmer who didnt read the bible then.
Once, almost tested positive for drink driving by traffic police outside zouk, twice caught for speeding, and once went to court for speeding excessively. I rem saying to the judge, in front of so many pp, saying “Your honour, i was very stressed that day becoz of studies lah..” And the reply after awhile was “$600 or 6 days”. Hey it wasnt that difficult to choose right? Not considered as police record right?
Hey andrew, how about a barrel of Tiger one day? Just kidding, make that Perrier instead.
James5.16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pet4
I wasnt an alcoholic nor drunkard. I didnt have to drink every week. When i drank, i couldnt stop after 1 glass & i enjoyed mixing different kinds of drinks just to get intoxicated(high). Then His Word spoke to me :
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Those who linger over wine,who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly!
In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,lying on top of the rigging.
“They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up so I can find another drink?”
Prov23
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” Phil3.6