Piper on Freedom of the Will

Most of these posts deal with work. What I have in mind here in quoting Piper commenting on Augustinian thought is that our enjoyment of work not only comes from God, but our enjoyment of work may depend on how our work brings us closer to God. In either case, we enjoy work because God gives us the ability to enjoy work and because we enjoy the utimate giver of our work, God. We need to enjoy work because God has given us work to enjoy because doing our work well glorifies God.

Piper quotes Augustine twice:

Who has it in his power to have such a motive present to his mind that his will shall be influenced to believe? Who can welcome in his mind something which does not give him delight? But who has it in his power to ensure that something that will delight him will turn up. Or that he will take delight in what turns up? If those things delight us which serve our advancement towards God, that is due not to our own whim or industry or meritorious works, but to the inspiration of God and to the grace which he bestows

He defines it clearly in On Christian Doctrine (III, x, 16). "I call 'charity' [i.e., love for God] the motion of the soul toward the enjoyment of God for His own sake, and the enjoyment of one's self and of one's neighbor for the sake of God." Loving God is always conceived of essentially as delighting in God and in anything else for his sake.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Biographies/1474_The_Swan_is_Not_Silent/

Psalm 111:2,3,4

Great are the works of the Lord; studied by all who delight in them.
Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered,
the Lord is gracious and merciful. (ESV)

Work here refers the redemptive deeds of the Lord as in the Exodus. God's work and not just his attributes need to be praised. The current worship songs are great on repeating phrases on vague attributes, but many of these songs make scant reference to the redemptive acts God has performed for us. These redemptive acts, these works need to be studied, praised, and meditated upon.

see cross reference: 119:27

In His Name.

Baseball Terms

Can of Corn -- Easy fly for the outfielder to catch.
Duck snort -- A weak single that falls between the infielders and outfielders.
Dead Pull Hitter -- hits to the same side of the field as he hits. LHB hits to the left field most of the time.
Double-Play Ball - a ball that is hit in the infield that is "tailored made" for an easy double-play.
Dying Quail -- A ball that falls unexpectedly in front of the outfielder for a hit.
zeroes - a perfect game (0-0-0)