Reflections on Prayer

Guest post by Robin McKenzie

It seems to me that a lot of our prayers are Santa Claus prayers: giving God a list of things that we want him to do. Quite a few of these are things that God has already done such as forgiving us. Instead of begging God to do things he’s already promised to do seems we should thank him for what is already done and affirm him for what he is going to do. What do you think? Consider the subtle difference in wording I put in the Lord’s Prayer below. I find it helpful because it reflects a major difference in my attitude when I pray it this way.

A variation on Lord’s Prayer Matthew  6:9-15

God, I declare you are my father in heaven

I will seek to honour your name

Your kingdom is coming 

so help me to do your will on earth as it is in heaven

Thank you that you have given me what I need for the day 

Thank you that you have forgiven me for the ways I have dishonoured you

And help me to forgive those who wronged me

Thank you for protecting me from going astray

And from the evil one

For yours is the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever 

Amen

An appreciation of Charles Ringma on his 80th Birthday

 Last Friday evening about forty friends of  Charles Ringma gathered in Brisbane to celebrate his 80th Birthday. There was a lot of creativity and laughter in the personal tributes that were presented. Here is my tribute.

Integrity and hospitality are two words that describe what I appreciate and respect about Charles. Integrity and hospitality, in the broadest and deepest sense of both words.

Charles embodies integrity. Charles’ head, heart, and hands act in harmony and synergy. There is consistency between what Charles believes, what he says, what he writes, how he acts, and what he loves. This may be why Charles has been such an influential teacher and leader. 

Charles embodies hospitality. Charles and Rita have opened their home to diverse people over decades. But this is just one dimension of his hospitality. Charles also models intellectual and relational hospitality, including to people with different theological backgrounds and perspectives. Charles has been hospitable to me, inviting me into spaces, conversations, and initiatives.

When I read church history, over two thousand years I am struck by two things. First, how people who claim to be following Jesus do an amazing job of stuffing things up at every level: how they act, what they believe, and what they love. At such times it is hard to see how the church is the body of Christ, embodying his presence in the world. The sin of humanity abounds in breadth and creativity. Second, despite these abysmal failures, in every age and context, our merciful God raises up individuals, communities, and institutions that restore some sanity, integrity, and spirituality to the church. The church then becomes an instrument of blessing and a positive change agent for society.

Charles is a beautiful example of an individual who for his adult life, God has used in diverse contexts to be a shining light in communities and institutions to help guide them back to Jesus and the Kingdom of God. This influence may be because Charles draws from the best thought and practices from two thousand years of church history and from the global church.'

I have only known Charles since 2014. When I reflect on my own Christian pilgrimage, I am struck by two things. First, how I often mess things up, just like the church. Second, God is merciful and at crucial moments God brings me into contact with individuals, communities, and institutions that, just like the church, I need to get back on track and progress. Charles has been such a gift from God to me. Around 2010 I came across Resist the Powers, Charles devotional book, based on Jacques Ellul, and it resonated deeply with me. Hence, I was very happy when in 2013, Paul Mercer told me about a theology reading group led by Charles in his home each month. That then led to being involved in Theology on Tap, and being part of the “holy” scribblers, an eclectic writing collective.

Charles, best wishes. Thank you for your friendship, your partnership, your wisdom, and your example. I hope the LORD grants you many more birthdays.

How should churches care for the homeless?

My wife Robin and I are involved with Village Mosaix a ministry of our church that cares for the marginalised in our community, including the homeless. Given our lack of experience and expertise, we are eager to learn from others who have worked long and hard in this challenging field. Here is a review by Robin of a book that we both find helpful, encouraging, and challenging.

Not Just a One-Night Stand: Ministry with the Homeless by John Flowers and Karen Vannoy

The authors ask a lot from those of us who want to care for the marginalised in our cities, nothing less than mutual transformation. It is true that the homeless aren’t the only ones that need to be transformed. We all fall short of what God has planned for us. The poor have as much to teach us as we have to give them. Church attendees have their own addictions they struggle with. It may not be the same as people on the streets but include things such as food, control, ego, anxiety, attention, work, and the good life filled with many toys. 

The authors challenge us “to learn why our “help” often doesn’t help.” We need to stop thinking of ministering to the homeless and instead see it as ministry with the homeless. Reflecting this from the very beginning with a participatory style of service. We don’t get bonus points for having our hearts and wallets in the right place if our actions are in the wrong direction.  Dignity and respect are vital. Here are a few problematic attitudes: we feel sorry for you, we have a great deal, you have so little, we are not as broken as you are, and we have come to help you.

The authors challenge us to care for others, not for any thanks that we might receive, but because Jesus has told us to love our neighbours. A real zinger for many churches is that the authors explicitly say a hot meal is not enough. 

There are many good stories and some not so good. They encourage readers to want to go deeper in our mutual transformation together with the poor. 

The four-page epilogue gives some helpful suggestions on where to start. The one challenging me the most was having a close enough relationship with people in our area so they will tell us what they need rather than us assuming we know. This book is written from an American perspective where there are some different resources and attitudes to Australia, such as fewer government services and vastly larger numbers of homeless. However, the ideas and lessons are transferable to the Australian context.