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！

​I like times of quietness. However, cultivating time to be quiet in this busy world is a real challenge, yet so important. Time to reflect on our priorities, and to perhaps reorder our lives, to be refreshed and replenished, is easily omitted in favour of activity. Periodic retreats can be wonderful, but a rhythm of regular times alone or with a loved one to take stock of life, is likely to be more achievable. I have found weekly, group meditation times of just 20 minutes can also help maintain an inner peacefulness. Attending regular worship provides a fresh, spiritual perspective on life, too.

Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy conducts a weekly Christian Meditation group at 1.30pm Thursdays at St. Columba’s chapel, Figtree Street. A Monday evening group is being considered if there is sufficient interest. Please let me know if you are. It’s free and a very simple practice of letting go and allowing God space to move in our lives.

I also like quiet people. Often their thoughtfulness keeps them in the background, where they think and act with great care and consideration. The book Quiet. The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain (2012) was very illuminating and affirming for me. Cain illustrates our need for contrasting personality types, while showing that our society tends to honour and promote louder people, overlooking those who are quiet, serious or sensitive. Ironically, while we usually enjoy the ‘life of the party’ extroverts, when life is more serious a quiet friend who will listen is a greater ally.

The activities offered by the Community Chaplaincy team cater both for people who are quiet and for those who are more outgoing. You are welcome to join one of our Walk and Wonder groups, Cooking Fun for Everyone, Single Mums Supporting each other or the various Family Fun events we run. More details are on the website.
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Some wisdom from the Bible: ‘You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you,’ Isaiah 26:3 (GNT).

沉默地力量無窮（Karen 牧師3月2日的博客 'Quietly Powerful'）

我喜歡靜默的時刻。無論如何，在這煩囂的世界裏，得時間作靜默修練是認真的挑戰，雖然這是重要的。找個時間反省處事的輕重，甚或調整生活的先後層次，把它翻新一點或充實一點嗎，可是我們礙於忙碌，很易把這時間忽略了。參與不時集體退省活動是極好的，但定時獨自修行或陪同喜愛的人細訴人生，可能較有效果。我發覺，每星期20分鐘的集體默想也能維持內心平安的。其外，參加定時的崇拜，亦能給予生命一個具活力的，聖靈的境界。
 
Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy 每星期四下午1時30分,於 Figtree Street的St. Columba's Chapel舉辦一個基督教的集體默想活動。假若人數足夠，可能會加添星期一黃昏時間一組的。有興趣參加的，請通知我。這是個免費的活動，它讓我們輕易地放鬆自己，讓出空間給神進入生命裏。
 
我也喜歡靜默的人。很多時他們的深思令他們給忘在幕後，獨自僅慎地作活。Susan Cain (2012)作的《Quiet. The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking靜默。內向者在這嘈吵世界的力量》這本書，對我來說很具啟發性和肯定性。Cain說明我們需要正反對比人格類型者並存，卻然社會高舉嗆聲者而忽略沉默、莊重或感性者的。諷刺地，我們歡迎那些‘宴會的靈魂’的外向者，但生活是較嚴肅的,而靜聽者才是我們較大的伙伴。
 
我們Community Chaplaincy社會牧者兼容好靜者和較外向的。歡迎參加我們的Walk and Wonder Groups借步行驚嘆自然奇妙組、Cooking Fun for Everyone適合各人的烹飪樂趣組、 Single Mums Supporting each other單親互助組，或其他Family Fun家庭歡樂節目。
 
從聖經所得的智慧：‘神啊，請賜與緊守信念者圓滿的平安而讓他們信賴你’Isaiah 6：3 (GNT)


免責聲明：以上翻譯是義務譯者個人所作，一切錯誤與Community Chaplaincy無關


沉默地力量无穷  （Karen 牧师3月2日的部落格 'Quietly Powerful'）

我喜欢静默的时刻. 但是在这烦囂的世界里,得时间作静默修练是认真的挑战,虽然这是重要的.找个时间反省处事的轻重,甚或调整生活的先后层次,把它翻新一点或充实一点吗,可是我们碍于忙碌,很易把这点时间忽略了.参与不时的集体退省活动是极好的,但定时独自修行或陪同喜爱的人细诉人生,可能较有效果.我发觉,每星期20分钟的集体默想也能维持内心平安的.其外,参加定时崇拜,亦能给予生命一个具活力的,圣灵的境界.
 
Lane Cove Community Chaplaincy每星期四下午1时30分, 于Figtree Street的St. Columba's Chapel,举办一个基督教的集体默想活动.假若人数足够,可能会加添星期一黄昏时间一组的.
 
我也喜欢靜默的人。很多时他们的深思令他们給忘在幕后，独自僅慎地作活。Susan Cain (2012)作的《Quiet. The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking靜默。內向者在這嘈吵世界的力量》这本书，對我來說很具启发性和肯定性。Cain说明我们需要正反人格類型者并存，却然社会高举嗆声者而忽略沉默、莊重或感性者的。讽刺地，我们欢迎那些‘宴会的灵魂’的外向者，但实际生活是較嚴肅的而靜听者才是我们較大的伙伴。
 
我们Community Chaplaincy社会牧者兼容好靜者和較外向的。欢迎參加我们的Walk and Wonder Groups借步行驚嘆自然奇妙组, Cooking Fun for Everyone适合各人的烹飪乐趣组, Single Mums Supporting each other单亲互助组，或其他Family Fun家庭欢乐樂节目。


從圣经所得的智慧：‘神啊，请賜与緊守信念者圓滿的平安而让他们信賴你’Isaiah 6：3 (GNT)


免責声明：以上翻譯是义务譯者个人所作，一切錯誤与Community Chaplaincy无关.