An Oldy but a Goody

I have been involved in some important teaching discussions about grace lately.
Frankly, I am sick of the bait-and-switch sales tactics I have seen in many Christian circles all my life. "God's grace has left nothing for you to do!" followed, after the fact, by, "Just remember that if you do not live as if Christ is your lord you are not a believer."
Yet there are so many places even in NT scripture that seem to insist upon our doing something in order to be truly a part of Christ's kingdom.
How can we both enter into God's eternal rest and work out our salvation?

Here are some interesting views on the topic:
"Free Grace"
"Apparently Not-so-free Grace"

(PS. Does the idea that no Christian will ever fall into mortal sin - and that, if they do, they were never a Christian - destroy the completeness of God's grace?)

So

I've been wondering lately if the creation of art must necessarily be an alienating experience - something that isolates and drains the artist. Sometimes I sense that the leech is just beginning to suck my blood - that if I ever gave myself over to it fully (which I feel I must to do something remotely great) I would destroy my life.
Does the artist truly have to use himself as a living wick if others are to have light? Or is this all just bleeding heart bullcrap? How can I create in honest profundity without pushing those I love away?

(Maybe you're wondering why this, after a month of no posts, is all I have to offer. Well, the reason is simple. This is all I have to offer. I'm a blank at the moment. A useless, scared blank. I'm sure it'll pass, so come back a little later.)