I've just started reading Volf's new book, Free of Charge. He's wrestling with the idea that God both gives grace freely (because its his essense to do so) and demands something in return (we are recipients and channels of grace).

He seems to be suggesting that the hope of grace, or the intent of grace is transformation. Consequently, anything less than the transformation of the recipient of grace, raises suspicion as to whether grace was truely received.

Thoughts?

I've been taking a walk through Mark Buchanan's "the Rest of God" over the last day and a bit. Time well spent. Besides being well written (you can tell always english lit majors), its very thoughtful and left me feeling like he'd been eavesdropping on my internal dialogue/tension between the part that knows I need rest, and another larger part that speaks on behalf of a large gathering of internal (and external) voices relentlessly clamoring for my attention and time. It was easy to find myself in the story. I'm still digesting.