IKDG PART I

i am home. after an eternity overseas. 3 weeks is definitely more than i bargained for, but it's ok, i still survived.

breakdown of the trip:

hong kong
pros: visiting relatives, hanging out with cousins, having scott randomly stop by where i was staying because he thought it was time for add/drop, mahjong, chillin' with ophelia and michelle on my last day there, and seeing my grandma for the last time
cons: hot, a LOT more walking than i was used to, only seeing one NBA finals game, getting crushed by 32908 elevators

beijing
pros: got to see forbidden city and great wall again
cons: HOT, a LOT more walking than hong kong

japan
pros: GREAT weather, first time there, good food, ran into johnny and emily at the airport!
cons: everyone had too much makeup on..even some guys =\ and no one spoke english

all in all, a wonderful trip, but i am still glad to be home =)

for you ofoto freaks, go to my ofoto.

now to the good stuff. you may be wondering what the heck that "IKDG" stands for in that title up there. figure it out yet? eh? c'mon, you can do it..

..ok maybe you can't. and even if you can, i don't really care. IKDG stands for "I Kissed Dating Goodbye." many of you should know what this is. if not, then you must be utterly confused right now. IKDG is a book by Joshua Harris. i firmly believe that 10 or 20 years down the road, i will be able to honestly say this book changed my life.



if you have noticed, i have been "reading" this book since january. let's just say i like to squeeze each book for all it's got =P but anyways, on my final plane ride from detroit to houston today, i finally finished the book.

IKDG is split into 4 parts. i highlighted and marked down stuff while i was reading through the book on the 209384 hours i had on the plane. if you're not interested in this, then just disregard the rest of this post. this entry is not so much for everyone who reads this but also for myself. you know, for those rainy days when i get the dandy idea to browse through my old blog posts.

but if you ARE somewhat interested or just incredibly bored, i hope that these notes and quotes will really hook you onto this book because i REALLY enjoyed reading it. it has definitely changed my perspective on many things, and i hope you will take the time to get a hold of a copy of IKDG and read it for yourself. don't be intimidated by the title =)

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1. So this is love?
Beyond what feels good, back to what is good

I’ve come to understand that God’s lordship in my life doesn’t merely tinker with my approach to romance – it completely transforms it. God not only wants me to act differently; He wants me to think differently – to view love, purity, and singleness from His perspective, to have a new lifestyle and a new attitude.

I’ve come to realize that while friendships with the opposite sex are great, I have no business asking for a girl’s heart and exclusive affections if I’m not ready to consider marriage.

As I’ve sought God’s will for my life, I’ve discovered that a relationship wouldn’t be best for me or for the one I’d date right now. Instead, by avoiding romantic, one-on-one relationships before God tells me I’m ready, I can better serve girls as a friend, and I can remain free to keep my focus on the Lord.

True love isn’t just expressed in passionately whispered words or an intimate kiss or an embrace; before two people are married, love is expressed in self-control, patience, even words left unsaid.

2. The little relationship principle
(that leads to big change)

The joy of intimacy is the reward of commitment.

3. The seven habits of highly defective dating
recognizing dating’s negative tendencies

1) dating tends to skip the friendship stage of a relationship
2) dating often mistakes a physical relationship for love
3) dating often isolates a couple from other vital relationships
4) dating can distract young adults from their primary responsibility of preparing for the future
5) dating can cause discontentment with God’s gift of singleness
6) dating can create an artificial environment for evaluating another person’s character
7) dating often becomes an end in itself

4. Counterculture romance
five attitude changes to help you avoid defective dating

1. every relationship is an opportunity to model Christ’s love
2. my unmarried years are a gift from God
3. I don’t need to pursue a romantic relationship before I’m ready for marriage
4. I cannot "own" someone outside of marriage
5. I will avoid situations that could compromise the purity of my body or mind

You and I will never experience God’s best – in singleness or in marriage – until we give God our all. We’ve held on to old attitudes, foolishly clutching a lifestyle that the world tells us will bring fulfillment. God asks us to hand it all over to Him.
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go buy the book already -- you won't regret it. i promise.