August 2002 Volume 83 Number 8 "serving the protectors"
Chaplaincy Talking to a mate
By Bob George

The amazing scenes on television recently, immediately after the World Cup Soccer final, have set me thinking. Apart from in church, prayer is normally a private act. But there, on the field – in full view of the international television cameras – some of the Brazilian soccer players were huddled together holding hands and kneeling in prayer.

Would they have prayed as openly if they had lost that all-important match in the eyes of their nation? And would the believing members of the German team have prayed in the same way had they won that prestigious final?

Prayer is a conversation with God, just like talking to a mate, except the other party cannot be seen. Prayer requires more of the heart than the tongue. It is trusting in someone greater than you, which is a big step to take for many of us who take pride in our self-sufficiency.

Prayer does not change God, but it can change those who pray. And they, in turn, can change the circumstances that prompted prayer in the first place.

There is a story about an assistant to former US president, the late Lyndon Johnson. This assistant was at a lunch and was asked to say grace. As he was giving thanks for the food, the late President Johnson interrupted him. “Speak up,” he said, “I can’t hear you.” The assistant muttered: “I wasn’t speaking to you, Mr President.”

During the recent final of the World Cup Soccer, those praying were intensely engaged and oblivious to all else.

I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of those praying Brazilian soccer players. They were overcome with emotion at winning. Interestingly though, they turned to God when they were victorious, and not just when they were in need.

Usually, people pray when they are in strife and desperate. Some people treat God like they do a lawyer and only turn to him when they are in trouble. Yet God is happy to receive our prayers, whether we are stressed or happy.

Prayer is not so much using God, as it is God providing for us. Resorting to prayer in whatever situation we find ourselves is not a sign of emotional weakness, but more an indication of healthy dependence on someone other than ourselves.

The assurance throughout the Bible is that God honours our prayers, even if we do not see the results immediately. His provision is well worth tapping into.

SA Police Chaplains

Welfare Section 58	David Marr	8364 3567
	Senior Police Chaplain.
Academy 8	Brenton Daulby	8272 8324
Adelaide: 158	Vacant
Adelaide Hills Division 54	Vacant
Ceduna 214	Sybil Peacock	8625 3505
Christies Beach 20	Peter Coote	8381 3039
		0412 818 995
Clare 202	Michael Dutschke	8842 3681
Communications 172	David Hand	8376 5612
Elizabeth 52	Lindsay Mayes	8281 8088
Far North 210	John Folkman	8672 5011
Firearms/Records	Dianna Bartlett	8337 8552
Gawler 52	Brian Tscharke	8522 2288
Glenelg 22	Vacant
Henley Beach 18	Tim Kowald	8449 6868
Holden Hill 44	Rod Dyson	8365 1170
Kadina 71	Vacant
Kingston 208	Vacant
Mount Gambier 208	Brian Ashworth	(w) 8723 1353
		(h) 8725 2537
Murray Bridge 200	Malcolm Bottrill	8532 5536
Naracoorte 208	Bruce Cliff	8737 2457
		0417 811 702
Norwood 60	Lynton Wade	8362 2227
		0418 831 703
Nuriootpa 204	Andy Kowald	8562 1011
Port Adelaide 6	Jeff Oake	8341 5930
Port Pirie 206	Steve Ardill	8632 3977
Prosecution Services 176	Vacant
Port Augusta PS 210	Mark Thomas	8642 2487
		0401 671 850
Port Lincoln 214	Lester Reinbott	8683 3018
Riverland 212	Robin Zadow	8588 1540
Salisbury 53	Vacant
South East	Terry Natt	8571 1114
Sturt 12	Chris Beal	8278 9578
	Ian Dempsey	8296 7292
Tea Tree Gully 48	Bob George	8395 9363
Thebarton Barracks 32	Vacant
Transit Division	Rob Packer	8332 9155
Victor Harbor	Graham Rogerson	(h) 8552 1718
		(w) 8552 5029
Whyalla 218	Tony Redden	8649 3593

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