ZonderFann

in working with skye jethani and his book, the divine commodity, i have found him to be one of the most thoughtful articulate people i’ve had the pleasure of knowing.  his book has proven to be one that i keep coming back to as well.  consumerism cannot be fixed in 7 easy steps.  it is something that must be consciously dealt with on daily (if not more so) basis.  in the book, skye offers spiritual disciplines to combat our tendencies toward consumerism.

today is a blog tour for skye and all over the interwebs (see full list of other blogs participating below).  the premise is a blogger asks skye a question from or about his book and skye answers it.  then readers of said blog(s) comment and skye will be checking and answering any follow-up questions that may arise.

You speak of suffering as being transformative releasing our desires and following in the steps of Jesus.  When we do suffer many people are looking for comfort or others to help them, and might not lead to self-denial, but self-centeredness.  How would you suggest we think outwardly instead of inwardly in the midst of our suffering?

This is an interesting paradox of our faith. We are called by Christ to bear one another’s burdens and to seek to alleviate the suffering of others, but when faced with trails and sufferings ourselves we are to meet them with joy and following willingly in the footsteps of Christ. Consider Jesus’ own earthly life. Virtually everywhere he went he healed those suffering from both physical and social ailments, but he himself embraced suffering and hardship.

One of the most vivid examples of these two elements of Jesus’ life side-by-side is when he’s hanging on the cross and sees his mother and John below (John 19:26-27). Although suffering terribly, he still cares for his grieving mother by commanding John to “adopt” her into his home and care for her as his own mother. Even at the pinnacle of his pain, Jesus still finds the capacity to alleviate the pain of others.

I saw this in my grandfather when he was dying from leukemia many years ago. The disease caused him to lose his eyesight. While in the hospital, he spent time meeting with other blind patients undergoing treatment. He always saw himself as existing for the benefit of others, even in his pain.

As the Apostle Paul says, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” I believe he’s acknowledging that while we live upon this earth our purpose, like Christ’s, is to be a servant—to be an agent of his kingdom wherever we are. While in our pain and suffering we should be praying not merely for God to deliver us, and that is certainly a legitimate prayer, but we should also be asking him to illuminate the ways he wants us to use our circumstances to bless others. But apart from this sense of calling, this divine impulse, we are likely to turn inward and allow our pain to become an excuse for narcissism. 

please visit the other blogs participating in the tour!

Out of Ur (OutofUr.com)

Flowerdust.net (http://www.flowerdust.net/)

Stuff Christians Like (http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/)

Ragamuffin Soul (www.ragamuffinsoul.com)

Monday Morning Insight (http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/)

Mark D Roberts (http://www.markdroberts.com/)

Ben Arment (www.benarment.com)

Church Relevance (http://churchrelevance.com/)

Bob Franquiz (http://bobfranquiz.typepad.com/)

Bob Hyatt (http://bobhyatt.typepad.com/)

Cole-Slaw (http://cole-slaw.blogspot.com/)

The Forgotten Ways (www.theforgottenways.org)

Reclaiming the Mission (http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/)

Shaun Groves (http://www.shaungroves.com/shlog)

Frank Viola (www.frankviola.wordpress.com/)

The Gospel-Driven Church (http://www.gospeldrivenchurch.blogspot.com/)

Christina Meyer (http://w2christina.blogspot.com/)

Lee Coate (http://leecoate.wordpress.com/)

Preaching Today (http://blog.preachingtoday.com/)

Gathering In Light (http://gatheringinlight.com/)

Off the Agenda (http://blog.BuildingChurchLeaders.com)

Take Your Vitamin Z (www.takeyourvitaminz.blogspot.com)

Staying Focused (http://kimmartinezstayingfocused.wordpress.com/)