pearliegates

Amazing grace , how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost , but now am found Was blind , but now I see pearlie

pearlie Photo (c) 2007 C. Cordelia

My son asked me what I thought was a very superfluous question. Calvin: What is your favourite key on the keyboard? Mommy: None. Calvin as usual: What is your favourite key on the keyboard? Mommy as usual: I have none! All are important to me. I need them all. Impatient Calvin: Yeah, but what is your favourite key on the keyboard? Resigned mommy: Okay, okay - the Ctrl button. Not a very amused Calvin: Very funny. But amused I was. I did not realise the pun at first, but with his reaction, I had to laugh. If I had to have a favourite key on the keyboard, it will have to be the Ctrl-button, with all the shortcut I can do with it: Ctrl-C, Ctrl-X, Ctrl-Y, Ctrl-A, Ctrl-S and my favourite, Ctrl-Z, the undo-miracle-button. It would be nice though to have the Ctrl-button in life too now wouldn't it, but I'd rather let God have it instead. pearlie

Rejoice! In the Lord Always pearlie (Four in Greek - c hairete en kurio pantote )

My all-time absolutely utterly favouritest Christmas cantata and we are doing it this year. I am beyond words. To let you in how much this piece of music is a part of my life, ever since we did it more than 20 years ago, whenever I read the Christmas portions of the Gospel of Matthew and Luke, I sing that part of Scripture based on this piece. pearlie

I am pretty stressed out lately, to the point that I get panicky at the slightest feel of loss of control. On my way to work this morning, I was rummaging through the new selection of mp3 sermons I had just downloaded. I thought to myself, "Wouldn’t it be nice to listen to Dick Lucas on Philippians?" Scrolling down the mp3 list, I settled on this series of four sermons by Dick Lucas entitled “All I Want”, and as you would have it, they were his expository Tuesday Lunch sermons on Philippians 3. The Epistle to the Philippians is my favourite Pauline epistle. And believe you me, Dick Lucas seem to have that calming effect on me – his tone, his faithful handling of Scripture, his dry wit and his sometimes no nonsense word of exhortation. My favourite Pauline epistle and my favourite expositor-preacher, combine these two and it should settle me down. I don't believe in coincidences. God hears our every thought. pearlie

pearlie Photo (c) 2008 Pearlie Ng

It suddenly became so real - the desires of the flesh, the struggle, and the results or deeds thereafter. Pastor Chris gave us a very apt and timely sermon today - important lessons from the experience of our 40-day fast. I did not realise the 40 days is going to be so hard, and I am not even going on a full fast. During the past month, I have been irritable, testy and quick-tempered. I became apathetic about things, jaded about life. On the 2oth day of the fast, the towel was almost thrown in. I was so tired while driving back from work that I "logically" worked it out in my mind that I might as well give up. I blamed everything on the fast. And it is "logical" that I give it up so that thing will become normal again. I sent Pastor a text message but his reply was simple - hang on. When I arrived home, I sank myself into the sofa. In a slumped position, I tried to come to my senses. I soon began to realise how much I depended on the things of the flesh. The dr

I was the designated driver today, driving Calvin here and there for his activities. That is normal except that I kept getting stuck - traffic was bad wherever I went. pearlie Photo (c) 2007 Jon Ng

Today is the final session of "The Corinth that Paul Saw" held in my church by Kar Yong . Two more things he brought up: Roman baths and Roman villas. Roman Baths I suppose it is embarassing to say that I never realise that public baths at that time were necessary things to have. I thought they were nice to go places like the spas we have these days. How wrong was I. I never realised there weren't many private bathrooms or toilets in homes in those days. If you need to go, you need to run. If you need to bathe, you'd bathe in public. The bath in Corinth are already in ruins and Kar Yong showed us this Roman bath in Bath, England. Photo (c) 2004 Ian Britton The significance of this information is quite great. The people of those days who took their baths in public, it was also a place where they socialised. And Paul having stayed in Corinth would have been to the bath as well. If we read 2 Cor 11:23 onwards, we see why it matters. 2 Corinthians 11:23-25 Are th

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things. ~ Philippians 4:8 pearlie

cuti.com.my While in Melaka, Calvin was disappointed that he did not get to visit the art gallery there. To compensate, I brought him to the National Art Gallery in Kuala Lumpur today. I have not been there myself and I must say it was worth a visit. Josip Generalic, Flower Stump, 1971, Oil on Canvas Of all the work there, I was attracted to the work of Josip Generalic (1936-2004). I soon found out that his genre of art was call “naïve art”. I never knew there was such a thing. According to Wikipedia.org, “naïve art is characterized by a childlike simplicity. It is a gross oversimplification to assume that naïve art is created by people with little or no formal art training.” Little or no formal art training? More like an in-born talent. pearlie

My mom, my niece, Chloe, Calvin and I took a day trip to Melaka today. Click on the above picture to view my photoblog for the day. pearlie Photo (c) 2008 Pearlie Ng

SH, Calvin and I have recently acquired a liking for drink with aloe bits. The bad news though was that the regular cans of Green Tea with Aloe Bits have high sugar content and the more "pure" form of aloe drink that I manage to find was a tad too pricey to have it too often. So off I went looking for an aloe vera plant instead. I got this one good-looking-of-an-aloe plant and plonked it in our once bare garden. Been enjoying an aloe drink once in awhile ever since. pearlie Photo (c) 2008 Pearlie Ng

This might be something quite sensitive but suffice to say that it is merely my thoughts and opinion of the matter. You are free not to agree with me. The one thing that filled my mind today was the pulpit - with the fact that not only was I lamenting over it at church today but right after service I was also the recipient of an sms from a close friend lamenting over the same thing: the direction and focus of preaching in today's churches. My lament over this morning speaker was on several points, while he gave a fair exposition of the Parable of the Prodigal Son, his initial attestation to several authors has put me off right from the start. I was not familiar with all three names that he mentioned, but the name of Cindy Jacobs was good enough to give me considerable suspicion. I remember being given an article once for a TEE class to read and comment about this so-called prophetess - I am bad with names, but this one rang loud and I was quite sure they meant the same person. I

I was given this book by a very dear brother, Noel Thomas, several years ago. This book is special to me because it was a catalyst that sparked in me the desire to have my faith seek for understanding. If memory serves me right, Noel gave me this in year 2002. It took me several starts, four if I am not wrong, before I got into the hang of it, became so engrossed and completed it in very few sittings. Lee Strobel was an award-winning journalist at the Chicago Tribune. Being legally trained in Yale Law School, he approached the case for Christ using his legal "tools" to investigate the evidence for Christ. It started as he began in the book when his wife Leslie, became a Christian in year 1979. He was a staunch atheist and was stunned by his wife's decision. He prepared for the worst, for his wife to turn into a prudish freak but soon he saw instead the unveiling of a beautiful person from the inside - he was a witness to fundamental changes in her character, integrity

I missed blogging about Week 3 of "The Corinth that Paul Saw" - the session was short. Kar Yong and I were heading to church from the same direction and we both got caught in a bad traffic jam supposedly caused by Olympics fans heading to their rendezvous spots in town to watch the 8:08pm 08.08.08 opening event. What I remember from Week 3 was the Bema at Corinth - the place where Paul might have been brought to Gallio, " But while Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the (bema) judgment seat ," (Acts 18:12) and Paul used that imagery in 2 Cor 5:10: " For we must all appear before the (bema) judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad ." Today, Kar Yong showed us the background behind Paul's usage of the body metaphor. 1 Corinthians 12:14-27 14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 I

pearlie Photo (c) 2008 Pearlie Ng

With stress coming in from all sides, I am ever more in need to be equipped with the living and active word of God, which is sharper than any two-edged sword. I seek for it to penetrate even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; and for it to judge the thoughts and attitudes of my heart. Where I am working hard in the world, I will not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers, but instead I will delight in the law of the LORD, and on his law I desire to meditate day and night. Where I tend to be so irritable and have been victimised, I will not let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. I seek not to not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom I was sealed for the day of redemption. I seek to get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. I seek to be ki

Calvin prepared a meal for me for the first time and I must document it! Linguine with garlic, basil and olive oil, though being a safety-concerned mom, I did help him with the boiling part. It was delicious! pearlie Photo (c) 2008 Pearlie Ng

Psalm 55:1-7 (NASB) 1 For the choir director; on stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. Give ear to my prayer, O God; And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2 Give heed to me and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and am surely distracted, 3 Because of the voice of the enemy, Because of the pressure of the wicked; For they bring down trouble upon me And in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, And horror has overwhelmed me. 6 I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7 "Behold, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah. I seem to have this sense of dread within me - stress coming in from many sides: 6 at last count. So much so I wish I were in the “wilderness”. Apparently, "wilderness" in biblical context has different connotations. In general, th

I never dare to attempt Isaiah. When I read it several years ago when I was attempting to read through the whole of Scriptures, I remember feeling so lost and dismayed at my lack of understanding. As I attended my family church today, which is celebrating its 41st anniversary and Grace Notes was to give the anthem, CAC President Rev Boh Chee Suan spoke from Isaiah 54:2-6. Now that I read it, Isaiah 54:1-8, I found it such a spectacular and beautiful hymn. Isaiah 54:1-8 (NASB) 1 "Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman," says the LORD. 2 "Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs. 3 "For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nation

I spent the day working on my Psalms paper, cooking and eating. After driving Calvin to YMCA for Boys Brigade, I went to D'Lish and spent 3 hours there working on Psalms, with snacks in between the hours. When we were back home, I rolled up my sleeves and starting putting together my family's favourite dish - The Easiest Best-ever Scalloped Potato. I peeled some potatoes, brown several sausages, cut them into slices, cubed some mozzarella cheese and dumped them into a bowl. I topped it with a can of mushroom soup, add a canful of water and pop it into the oven until golden brown. Yumm ... pearlie Photo (c) 2006 Koos Schwaneberg

Psalm 3 (NASB) A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son. 1 O LORD, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me. 2 Many are saying of my soul, "There is no deliverance for him in God." Selah. 3 But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. 4 I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. 5 I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me round about. 7 Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God! For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek; You have shattered the teeth of the wicked. 8 Salvation belongs to the LORD; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah. pearlie Photo (c) 2008 Andrew Richards

pearlie Photo (c) 2007 Scott Snyder

It has been awhile since I fell sick, and I fell pretty sick. Cough, cold, fever, sorethroat, running nose, the whole works. I was given 2 days off. And what have I been doing? One, I was working, still. Two, I did a bit of my psalm assignments. Three, I while it away watching episodes of Star Trek Voyager. Four, I sleep in between here and there when the cough mixture I ingest takes its effect on me. SH was the one who got me into the Star Trek craze. I started watching Star Trek, The Next Generation back in the 1990s. My favourite character is Data. When Star Trek Voyager started its seasons in the late 1990s, I was practically hooked. It is my all-time favourite TV series, even to this date - nothing has topped that yet for me. And my favourite characters are The Doctor and Seven of Nine. To my delight, I managed to get hold of the Star Trek Voyager box set recently. The only problem I had with it was that the moment I sit down and start watching, I could not stop. I will watc

Time is one infamous topic, either there is too much of it like when you are waiting and waiting and waiting for something that just isn't coming, or you need more of it like when you are trying the beat the deadline of which you suddenly realised was yesterday. Let's find out what we think about time by sharing your thoughts to these questions: (1) What do you think about the concept of yesterday, today and tomorrow? Is it a reality? (2) Do you think you have enough time in a day? How much more do you need and how would you manage it? (3) Why do you think others seem to handle time so well, with seemingly more than they could handle and yet seem to handle it all beautifully? (4) Is there time in the new heavens and new earth? Why or why not? pearlie

Pastor Chris' sermon on mission prompted me to think further about the purpose of humankind. His message is mainly on the fact that we are made not for ourselves but for God and for others. I was processing this some time ago and now that it got triggered again, I began to visualise my thoughts: The Trinitarian God out of his love and creativity --> created the heavens, earth, living things, man & woman --> man & woman is to multiply the earth --> man & woman decide to be god themselves --> creation was separated from God --> creation multiplied in that separation --> creation deteriorated in a downward spiral ==> God will make new heavens and new earth We are now in that "==>" period before God makes the new heavens and new earth. Here is where he prepares the people to receive him in faith. Here is when God came in the form of a man to redeem and restore creation to God so that we are no longer separated from Him. Here is where th

Why do I feel that I am always at the losing end? Most of the time I usually try to see to it That everyone is taken care of at every bend But in the end I am the one who’s left in the pit Maybe I am just being foolish and silly Thinking I should be dependable, kind and good But I feel that I am being walked all over really Not that they even realized even if they could So maybe for myself I should be more practical Maybe I should just do what I want Just as long as I think it is right, no pickle Whatever is the operative I’ll be nonchalant But that is not what I am, is it? I am beginning to think it is But I don’t want to just quit Oh God, help me please All rights reserved © 2008 Pearlie Ng pearlie

Picture from http://www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.com/p_corinth_ancient.htm We continued with the second session on the background study for 1 & 2 Corinthians by Kar Yong in our church. I have gained more insight into Paul's letters to the Corinthians in his usages of temple imageries, his usage of language in relation of the imperial cult as well as construction of buildings. Temple Imageries As mentioned last week, Corinth was a place that was full of temples. The picture above shows the elevated temple of Apollos overlooking the Acropolis. Temples were very prominent in the lives of the Corinth people. Everywhere they go, they saw temples, they smelled the aroma of temple sacrifices, they walked into temple activities. The Christians there were Gentiles and at one time of their lives, they would have had experienced temple life and worship. Paul's usage of the temple imagery was brilliant to teach them about unity as a body of Christ, purity in their way of life and