Again the nakedpastor got me, in that I don't understand what is depicted. Is it that if we suffer we will have the advantage when it's time to go home? Or, people think that you have to suffer to get the advantage? Either way it strikes me as odd to assume anyone would really put themselves in that kind of place, because they think it will give them the advantage. God loves us because He loves us and we do good because we love Him. In God's Grace John

I have no trouble understanding the Naked Pastor cartoon and I'm kind of surprised someone does. The Bible makes a point of the expectation that Christians will suffer. "Blessed are those that are persecuted....take up your cross and follow me...turn the other cheek...Paul's attitude toward his own tribulations, etc. etc. When we hit our own trials, however, it is most likely that our first reaction is anger or resentment before falling into martrydom and waiting for (and expecting) deliverance. In other words, we think our suffering has some eternal and heavenly purpose which will eventually be revealed and that the whole painful affair will ultimately result in our being vindicated-- and perhaps revered --for having endured. The whole problem is that we measure the "success" of our suffering by our own human standards and not by God's. We are looking to be honored for having suffered and to reap some personal reward. However, that may not be God's ultimate "all things work for good" goal in the matter and we are therefore disappointed--in HIM.

Are you familiar with the webstrip Sinfest? I wouldn't call the artist "Christian", but I have certainly found his work a helpful tool.

Sample: http://www.sinfest.net/archive...