i may or may not be doing a seminar on suffering on sunday afternoon. but i thought i should mention these links i found over at chris's blog.
you've got Piper against McLaren on suffering.
Piper's point is that God's absolute sovereignty means he desired, for various and inscrutable reasons, the japanese earthquake. in so doing, he garners biblical data
McLaren counters by arguing that God doesn't delight in evil, and that Jesus indeed identifies with us in our suffering.
worth a read and a think.