graham blog

by Graham Mol Today marks the beginning of Lent, a period of 40 days (plus Sundays) leading up to Easter Sunday which is characterised as a time of solemn observance and preparation for the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus. The first day is known as Ash Wednesday coming from the tradition of the observing churches placing ashes on the foreheads of their congregations. One can recall the Jewish practice of going about in sackcloth and ashes, to represent mourning, repentance and humility. While Ash Wednesday and Lent are most closely associated with Catholicism, there are also Churches in the Anglican, Lutheran and Protestant denominations that observe the tradition. Many believers find the traditional practices helpful in drawing their focus to the solemn significance of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. From its start on Ash Wednesday until its conclusion on Easter Sunday, Lent has been a traditional time for fasting or giving something up or abstinence. Just as we carefully prepare for events in our personal lives, as a wedding, or birthday; a commencement Lent invites us to make our minds and hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ life, death and body resurrection. (From 40acts.org.uk) The discipline of fasting was always one of those I never quite "got". I understood the idea and intention behind it theoretically, there are many examples of fasting to be found in the Bible, yet despite this, I had never really made it a practice in my own life. Then one day, as I was reading through Your God Is Too Safe by Mark Buchanan, the way he wrote on the topic of fasting really challenged me. Here is just one of the passages that stood out to me from the chapter as Buchanan considers Jesus' response to the devil's testing after his time of fasting 40 days in the desert: So now the quiz: Who understands - really understands - that we don't live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God? Who not only understands, but withstands because of it, overcomes on the basis of it? The man with his belly full? Or the man with his belly empty? Let me be blunt: If you never fast, then the whole concept of being wholly nourished and sustained by God's word alone will likely be only a nice, sweet, and totally irrelevant idea to you. You may pay the idea lip service, but you'll be too busy licking sauce off your lips to do any more. And worse: If you never fast, when the day of testing and temptation comes, you may not stand. Consumption is killing us. Go fast and live. Fasting, that is denying oneself in order to become hungry, helps us in three areas - it humbles us, tests us and teaches us. We are humbled because we soon see our frailty. Just one day without food and we find out energy levels are depleted. We realise how dependent we are on the "daily bread" that the…

by Graham Mol This morning a particular article caught my eye: Imlonely: How a YouTube music channel became a mental health hub The subtitle of the article reads: Among the thousands of music channels on YouTube there is one like no other. Imlonely started as a musical diary for one person but became a mental health community providing support to thousands of young people going through their toughest times. I was greatly encouraged as I read of how a community of young people (mostly teenagers) has developed in the comment section of the YouTube videos to be a place of comfort and encouragement. Where those who are struggling mentally and emotionally can find that they are not alone in how they may be feeling. There are others who can understand and share their struggle. Words of comfort and encouragement far outweigh the cynical or dismissive comments that one often finds in these online spaces. This all reminded me of one of the most powerful tools of sharing God's love with others: Empathy. Empathy can simply be described as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another". This is one of the descriptions of empathy that we find in the Bible: Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15) A joy shared is a joy multiplied. When something wonderful happens in our lives, we all have that desire to tell someone about it. What a blessing it is to be a multiplier of that joy and rejoice along with someone who is rejoicing. When it comes to the other side of the coin, to weep with those weeping brings comfort in the knowledge it gives the sorrowing person that they are not alone in their time of need. There is someone who seeks to understand and even share in the burden. "You are not alone" are some of the most beautiful words that can be shared with someone, even when they aren't spoken out load. The great thing about empathy is that you don't need to have the answers and solutions to another's problems. Sometimes we are blessedly able to help, but never underestimate the power of presence, coming alongside another, and the difference it can make. It's true that some of us are naturally more inclined to empathy than others. If you struggle in this area do not fear, for we have the Lord with us, His Holy Spirit to guide us. In Jesus we have the most empathetic person to have walked this earth: Therefore, He had to be like his brothers and sisters in every way, so that He could become a merciful and faithful high priest in matters pertaining to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. For since He himself has suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:17-18) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who…