John Piper rocks

been listening to stuff on http://www.desiringgod.com lately. amazing stuff. thought I'd take notes as I listen to solidify the learning... Piper points out that the bridge between theology and practical living (first chapters of Romans vs second half) is worship. In order to get from point a to point b, a knowledge of God is needed first, but if the will doesn't actively worship in light of what is learned, change will not happen. Sure God made everything, but if I don't take the time or thought to grasp the fact that God made EVERYTHING, it won't turn into application. Who counsels God? Who made God? When did God start? To God, our time to present is like a day! He knows my name. He knows your name. Can I give wisdom to God? Do my thoughts enlighten the God who gave me the ability to think? I know some things about my job, some things about photography, some things about my family. I know nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to God. I love my family, more every day. God's love for me shadows my love for my family. God wiped all of my sins clean with the ULTIMATE sacrifice. God ordains that sin exists... Hard to grasp... Otherwise he would end Satan right now. He can. Satan has no defense against his Creator. The eye that is black is not black because the snow ball that hit it was sinful or containing evil. The fact that God allowed, even ordained the existance of sin, does not equate sin with the nature of Him. My sin is my own, allowed by God. Probably allowed so that I can have choice. My only solution for my sin is God! And my God has paid the ULTIMATE price so that my sin can be dealt with. Would I ever want God to be dependant on me? Odd concept... No, of course not. I gladly, joyfully put myself in the absolute dependance I have for my Creator, the One who died for me. Why does the name of Jesus cause people to become defensive? Why are people repulsed by the love of Christ? Why does our nature from birth turn away from Him? Is it to amplify and contrast against our need for Him? Who can come to Christ but those who have been pursued by Him... And yet he pursues all of us. How humbling it is to consider why I have been given so much mercy to have been brought from a place of shunning Him, to a place of thirsting for Him.