An unlikely story

This is the first Easter Sunday I've written a blog. With no family here and most of our friends involved with theirs, it feels a bit lonely. It begs the question, frequently asked of me, what brought my husband and I here in the first place?

For those who don't believe in an interventionist God, it's an unlikely story! I was 'called' by God - in no uncertain terms - it took a lot to separate us from our family, friends and vocations we loved. And we are so far from being alone with this story, that it gives the 'unlikely story' of Easter a bit more credibility.

Right from the beginning, it makes you wonder, when Jesus' disciples who were scared stiff of the authorities who were responsible for torturing their leader to death, suddenly emerge from hiding and begin fearlessly proclaiming the unlikely story of Jesus' resurrection. Over the coming years of fierce persecution of Jesus' followers in Israel, they only increase their efforts, spreading their 'good news' much further afield. They generally meet resistance, but they don't give up and go home, but stay, trusting that their God has a plan and a purpose greater than themselves. This belief and attitude has continued now for 2000 years. So many Christians have left homes and families. So many Christians have willingly endured suffering, torture and death. Why? Because they believe this unlikely story finds its origins in a God who loves them and calls them to share this story, so others may experience its reality too. And now one third of the world agrees that this unlikely story actually rings true for them!  


​一个不可能发生的故事   (Karen牧师3月28日的部落格)
这部落格是我第一次于复活节写的. 我们們兩人既无家人在悉尼而朋友各自忙于他们的贺节, 可感到有点孤单.  我经常自问，何苦我的丈夫跟我迁居到这里？

那些怀疑神的介入者会说, 我们所作的是一个不可能发生的事!  实在我们不知如何受神的’召唤’ 了,  忍痛地抛开家园, 离开朋友及熱爱的职位.  我们的经历, 不只孤独那般简单, 它加强了这复活节的 ‘不可能发生的故事’ 的可信度.

你们会奇怪, 为什么那些胆小的宗徒们, 不惧怕处死他们的领袖耶苏的当权者, 突然从避难所走出来,  勇敢地捨身传播那不可能发生的耶苏复活的故事. 随着遭受在以色列多年的疯狂迫害, 他们只更加努力地把’福音’散播远处.  通常他们遇到抗拒的, 但他们不逃避而躲在家中, 相反地坚持停留原地, 信赖他们的神的超然安排和意欲.  这钟信念和态度已维持达2000多年了.  无数的基督徒远离家园. 无数基督徒自愿忍受痛苦, 酷刑及死亡.  他们为了什么? 因为他们深信, 这不可能发生的故事源于神的爱, 祂召唤他们分享这故事, 好让他人也验证这事实的.  结果现今世上有三份一人同意, 这不可能发生的故事确实存在于人间!

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一個不可能發生的故事   (Karen牧師3月28日的博客)
這博客是我第一次於服活節寫的。我們兩人既無家人在雪梨而朋友各自忙於他們的賀節，可感到有點孤單。我經常自問，何苦我的丈夫跟我遷居到這裏？
 
那些懷疑神的介入者會說，我們所作的是不可能發生的事！實在我們不知如何受到神的‘召喚’了，拋開家園，離開親友和熱愛的職位。我們的經歷，不只孤獨那般簡單，它加強了這復活節的‘不可能發生的故事’的可信度。


你們會奇怪，為什麼那些膽小的宗徒們，不懼怕處死他們領袖耶穌的當權者，突然從避難所走出來，勇敢地捨身傳播，那不可能發生的耶穌復活的故事。隨著遭受在以色列多年的瘋狂迫害，他們只更加努力地把‘福音’散播遠處。通常他們遇到抗拒的，但他們不逃避而躲在家中，相反地堅持停留原地，信賴他們的神的安排和意欲。這種信念已經維持達4000多年了。無數的基督徒遠離家園。無數基督徒自願忍受痛苦、酷刑及死亡。他們為了什麼？因為他們深信，這不可能發生的故事源於神的愛，祂召喚他們分享這故事，好讓世人也驗證這事實的。結果現今世上有三份一人同意，這不可能發生的故事確實存在於人間！