This must have been another black mark on football. The match between France and the Reublic of Ireland was crucial in that it was a playoff to decide which of the two countries would go to the World Cup in 2010. Ireland had played impressively and scored in the first half. France was now desperate. All that it needed was a draw to go through having won the first leg 1-0. As the ball was headed towards the Irish goal mouth, the unthinkable happened. Thiery Henry instinctively stretched out his left hand to stop the ball and then kicking it, only to allow his teammate Galas to head it in. The same scene must have been replayed millions of times over the U Tube, and watched by millions all over the world.

Thiery, being the "gentleman" as he was, admitted after the match that he did handle the ball but he did not do it on purpose. That is the catch or the "escape clause". "I stole, but I did'nt do it on purpose". "I sinned but I did not do it on purpose?"

Why was David described by God as a man after His own heart? Obviously, David did things much worse than just stretching his left hand. He actually used his hand to murder. Here is the difference- David readily confessed and repented. That's the difference.

Would matters have been different if Thiery had quickly run to the referee to tell him he had handled the ball? After all "he didn't do it on purpose." If he had, the whole world and even his fellow French citizens would have been proud of him. Every one would have saluted him. I would vote him as the the best football gentleman and ambassador. Even if France failed to qualify for the World Cup, every French citizen would be able to walk tall. I remember an incident some years ago when Michael Owen ran to the referree to tell him his decision was wrong even though it was decided in his favour. See?

How should I conduct myself as a Christian? Would wearing a wrist band "What would Jesus do" keep me from doing the wrong things "not on purpose?" In the first place, I just wonder if there is really such things as "I sinned but I didn't do it on purpose." The closest to this is probably Adam blaming Eve for offering the fruit to him.