Another month, another post. Or should I say, another slow friday night, another post. Lately my mind's been mulling around this topic of grace, this idea that the more I recognize the reality of my sinfulness, the more I will delight in God's grace. Or as Jesus said, he who has been forgiven much, loves much. Manning suggests that it's in our moments of greatest defeat that we can find the greatest satisfaction in His grace. But it's really hard to see it that way sometimes. Maybe it is all a matter of perspective but my sin always seems to lead to disappointment, with myself, with being seduced by "lovers less wild," defeat in not doing what I want to do but doing what I hate. Maybe it is unrealistic expectations. Maybe it's not bad to come to the end of myself. Maybe it knocks me off my high lofty perch that I so delicately build for myself, propping up more and more fragile supports to decieve others, and often myself, that I actually belong there. Maybe it's this very circular reasoning that brings me back to the grace of God, flooding anew over a disappointed, defeated wretch like me. That might be a grace worth delighting in.

In other news, I read an article recently about C.S. Lewis' view of literature (He was a literature professor after all). He suggested that art is to be "recieved" and not "used". He said that to "use" art for your own ends is mercenary, that art is meant to be "recieved" by the reader/viewer/listener/whatever. For example, the author of the article suggested many pastors will come up with many a sermon outline tying into the new Chronicles of Narnia movie. He said that defeats the purpose of the movie. I think I like that perspective. It puts words to what I've long thought to be true. So now, when you go to see the movie, watch it for what you can get out of it, not how you can use it. Ok, enough from me for now. Peace.