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An Awaited Weekend

I had anticipating this day to arrive for quite some time already. Waiting just to finish most of the paper and having a week to study for my next, i felt the need to be back home and just rest. Going for the weekend has always been rest for me. It was seemingly hard to concentrate even when i try to study. Influence such as the TV, newspapers and my soft confortable bed makes me decide on the alternative rather than what im suppose to do. Thats why i prefer to spend my study break in campus rather than at home although i have the direct connection to the Net at my fingertips that may act as a diversion, I'm still able to concentrate on my studies. Maybe the presence of room mates in the room who may be studying generates a longing to study. Peer influences can really helps to make one study. I had all the rest i needed, all the newspapers to read and all the TV show to turn to constantly.

Arsenal vs Manchester United

It was also the weekend where my favourite football team Arsenal would be competing against the likes of Manchester United to proceed to the finals of the F.A Cup. It would be a challenge for the underdogs Arsenal (thats what im accustomed to call them as they're are much the favourites by many. Maybe, that's why i like them so much. To be able to prove that being the underdogs, they are able to show the world that they can make it and prove the public wrong.) However, luck seems to be on the other side of the coin as Manchester United ultimately cruise into the final meeting with Milwal in the final of F.A Cup. It wasnt much of a fair game to me, the way i see it as the referee was pretty buyers when it came to challenges by the opposing. Arsenal didnt deserve that many yellow cars or even was disregareded a penalty chance when Mikael Silvestre clearly had a hand to the ball but his covering body cause a barrier to the referee sight. Gunners wasted many attempts in the first half and most probably that was why they didnt win. Attempting to put on Henry, Reyes and Kanu produce a strikeforce of 4 with Bergkamp in the front. However, it was all in vain as neither of them manage to salvage a goal although chances were applenty. I was prettydisappointed with the midfield especially Edu, who constantly wasnt paying attention and kep losing the ball, Ljunberg keep flying the ball out and Bergkamp wasnt as fast in attempting to outrun the many defenders that were before him. It was also sad to see both Reyes and Ljunberg suffering from injuries that may leave them out for about 3 to 4 weeks. This would indefinitely cause some problems in trying to manage the team and put up the best line up for the continuous number of games that Arsenal will be facing in this comin weeks. Chelsea in the second-leg of the Champions League Semifinals and Liverpool and Newcastle in the League. Hoping that the Force and determination that they had garnered so far would not burn out and may they go through it with strength and compusure. It seems like not only we are the only one sitting for finals, football teams like Arsenal were also in the similar like us. Wishing the Gunners the best! Show them who you really are and what makes you one of the best team in the World.

Not Even A Hint
(CAUTION! = A Very Open Sharing. Do not be surprise of what you read!)

I had started to pick up a book this week that i had initially started and never really had the urge to continue due to exams. It had been interesting reading a chapter a day after i awoke from bed. However, this weekend, i decided to just pick it up and read it. It was a book written by Joshua Harris on the subject of lust called "Not Even A Hint". I was blessed to receive two copies of the book, one by mailing Joshua Harris to receive a free copy of it that he was issuing to bloggers and also i receive it as a present from a very dear friend of mine. The first few chapters of the books seems very interesting and it define what was lust about. Last week, my reading brought me to how to take precautious measure on how to overcome lust, merely by isolatiing yourself away from things that may encourage lust in you heart. At this point, i began to be a little sceptical and that make me think a little. The author suggested about refraining, my perception were more of facing it. How would ignorance stop one from lusting? You can ignore it but for how long. It was something that i had tried doing before but it didnt stop my lust. Then, a thought came to mind. In order to face lust and reject it, we first need to refrain from allowing lust to set in. And one of the ways is to refrain from things that causes lust to settle that we are able to face it and reject it when faced with it. It seriously change my perception and cause me to be more determined in combating lust in my heart.

Reading through the chapters, i stumbled upon one called "Guys and Girls - How are we different, and how can we help each other?". At this point of time, this was one chapted that caught my attention the most as it mentions about understanding our fellow brothers and sisters and knowing what are weaknesses lie in and how to help one another overcome lust by understanding the general knowledge of girls and guys. It also speaks that lust does not only come from males only but also females as well. Although, males are more easily aroused by the physical espect, girls can also struggle with it as i began to read futher to the next chapter where is spoke about "Self-Centred Sex - How do i deal with Masturbation?. Somethings i thought was pure fascination by girls were actually lust by itself. It make me learn more about girls. Besides that, the author at the ending of that chapter challenges readers to look towards marriage as one way in fighting lust. However, lust may continue after marriage if we do not overcome it before hand as keeping lust in our hearts may trigger other problems that may affect a marriage. It also mention that marriage and sex are inseparable in God's design. Sex? The word itself has been a taboo to many, mainly Asians who are afraid about speaking about it. The world view on sex has somewhat been distorted by lust to a point that pornography seem to portray it as sex but actually that is presentation of lust itself. Reading further, this paragraph caught my attention the most;

"We have to understand that in God's sight, when a man and woman marry and join their bodies together sexually, something spiritual occurs-they really do become "one". When a husband and wife makes love, it is a living picture of spiritual reality of marriage-two people melded into one. But this physical joining is only one part of the union. Marriage is the combining of a man and woman at every level-not just sexually but emotinally, spiritually and in every other way."

Boy, was i in awe by that statement. It seriously challenge me in a way to change my perception on sex and overcome lust all together because i know that sex in God's view is something different or would i say magical. I aint afraid to say at times i do wonder what sex is all about. Is it what we see portrayed in a pornographic movie? I had in the past caught glimpses of this and sometimes i felt pretty disgusted by those actions. It did confuse me and at times i do wonder or try to find out what sex really is. When i came upon the phrase saying "sex is spiritual", I was pretty amazed by that statement. To know that sex is far more than what is portrayed by the world, it only encourage me to overcome lust all together and expect God's view on sex after i get married. I am more determined to get rid of lust in my heart, something that i had been secretly struggling with for quite a while. As i prepare myself to enter into a relationship with a girl, i need to get rid of this rubbish and expect God's view on relationship and by God's grace, marriage to follow on. I hope that this has not startled anyone reading and i dont mind that i have because if Joshua Harris can be so open in his book on lust, i should be and learn to be able to deal with it rather than hide it and make it a secret sin in my heart. Besides, I recently began to have this principle that there is no such thing as privacy in this world because there is always someone looking at you. And you better hope that it isn't Him. It's actually a pointless hope because He is always there looking down. One of the ways to fear God is to know that He is right beside you even when you are alone. Freaky right, but its the truth!!!

Bow The Knee

The time has come where one of the most historical event in Christianity will be remembered this week. Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The day that Jesus Christ gave his life on the Cross to save men from their sins and how he conquered death and rose up three days later. It is certainly God. My church this year has been going full force in this year Easter production. A bigger production with bigger budget to spend on an extended stage, a new line of costumes and interesting props. It was quite a common affair for my church to have a production such as things mainly to reach out to the outreached in Seremban. Its quite surprisingly at times to see a church in a small city to be able to come up with a production such as this. Sometimes i really do wonder, how did we manage to do something like this? Such production that i can say for sure is quite common in bigger cities like KL where churches are bigger and have the finances to hold such as event. It is truly God's blessing i can say for sure. I was supposed to be apart of this production as one of the characters in the play but i turn down to the offer due to my current involvement in the CF back in campus and also not being able to come back every week for practices. It would be selfish to say yes although it really seem like a good oppurtunity for to serve. It also reminded me of my previous participation in similar productions during Easter and Christmas where i used to be apart of the choir team. Though, i had been away from it for quite some time, i learned many things from it mainly learning how to sing and also enjoying the company of my fellow church members. This are some of the pictures i took during the weekend as they did a promo for the very first time just to get the church members excited about it so that they can call their friends to come for it.



So for those who are around Seremban and would like to catch a glimpse of what Easter really means, do check out the link for more info. I'll be around on Friday if anyone wanna join me. Just give me a buzz and I'll be glad to accompany you there.:D