In Jesus’ Name and Ramona’s

Jesus

Image via Wikipedia

I had a weird, prophetic dream last year.

I dreamed I was praying with a group of people. I wasn’t sure what their theology was, and it seemed a bit odd. At the end of the prayer, someone closed  by saying, “In Jesus’ name and Ramona’s.” 

I woke up, thought, “What a weird dream,”

and fell back to sleep. A few hours later I woke again after the same dream. This time in the dream I had succumbed to the theology of the group and ended my own prayer with “In Jesus’ name and Ramona’s.”

All day long I wondered what the dream meant, but dismissed it as just another funny dream. I thought of the two people I knew named Ramona, but didn’t see any connection.

I told our Wednesday Morning Bible Study group who laughed at the oddity.

The next night, Thursday, I picked up our son from swimming practice. The sun had set. The temperature had dropped to around freezing. Parent’s idling cars filled the parking lot in warmth waiting to pick up their swimmers.

I heard a car somewhere having difficulty starting. The battery was obviously a goner. I went over to the car and asked if I could help. She said, “Sure, my son works 45 minutes away, and I don’t know if he can leave to get me.”

I got some battery cables, lifted both car’s hoods, and went to work.

The swim mom came out of her car and said, “By the way, I don’t know your name.” 

“Tom,” I said.

She said, “Mine’s Ramona!“

In Jesus Name, and Ramona’s. Wow!

Help people in Jesus’ name. You never know who it might help.

Endless Swimming

1 Timothy 1:8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

What keeps our three kids swimming endless laps for hours a day? Have you ever tried swimming for three or four hours?

What makes our girls (HS Senior and College Sophomore) get up at 4:30 a.m. to swim and lift weights for two hours, and then come back for another three hours in the afternoon? I don’t ever have to tell them to get out of bed!

Every few months there is a monster swim meet.

The swimmers live for meets. The meets GAUGE their effort in swimming endless laps. The meets keep them swimming. They get faster. They beat personal times and school records. They keep on swimming endless laps. The ribbons do NOT keep the swimmers coming back to the pool after a meet. Much more is needed than a silky ribbon with writing on it.

Now, here’s the question: What keeps Christians swimming “endless laps”? I mean, what keeps a Christian wanting to get up early and meet with God, or go to church every Sunday? What motivates the endless laps of giving generously or serving others? Why would anyone plod through the difficulties of being part of a Christian community?

What is the GAUGE that Christians use to let them know they are doing the right thing, getting “faster” or honing their skills? In swimming terms, where are the MEETS? I know there are rewards, and Paul tells us to run like someone running for the prize, but the endless laps can get tiring and maddening.

Sunday morning worship is not the guage. Sunday attendance is an illusion. On Sunday morning only a handful of “swimmers” are “in the water.”

How does church leadership know if their “swimmers” are getting “faster”? We simply cannot take attendance as a good indicator! We all know horror stories of people who have attended Sunday morning and Wednesday night services, but cannot “swim.” One pastor I know had become a Christian only after he had finished seminary and had started his first pastorate!

Around these parts, fall “Revivals” act like gauges. Some churches have annual “Leadership Conferences.” Summer Vacation Bible Schools act like a gauge for many churches.

I think that Jesus was very clear about what gauge to use. He sent his disciples out while he could oversee their efforts. He told them he was sending them just like the Father had sent him. He commissioned them right before ascending into heaven. He sent his Spirit at Pentecost to empower them to do what he did.

A swim meet measures the advancement of a swimmer by placing him/her in a situation that “tests” their ability. Jesus devised “tests” for his disciples. He asked them questions, sent them out and brought them into awkward and painful situations with him like the cleansing of the temple and going into Samaria to find the “woman at the well.” In the early church, the disciples continued these “tests” by sending out missionaries, taking younger Christians with them on church planting trips and going into awkward situations like Greek temples and crowded marketplaces to talk to people.

Jesus upset comfort zones to “test” people’s faith. The gauge is simple: how much is there a WANT TO go into the discomfort zones? Churches will lose members this way, but it is Jesus way. Endless meetings aren’t a gauge most of the time. Our discomfort zones will test what we know, feel and believe. They prove if our “relationship with God” is real or a placebo. They test our spiritual muscles to see if we have swum or standing on the sidelines.

How have you entered a “discomfort zone” recently to test your faith?

Nov. 21 Swim Workout

This is a good strengthening and anaerobic workout to increase your VO2 uptake. It was a good heart day for me.

4 x 50m warm up

2 sets of the following

4 x 25 m on 30 sec, pull buoy every other one

4 x 50 m on 1:15, pull buoy every other one

4 x 100 m on 2:30, pull buoy every other one

1 set immediately following

4 x 75m on 2:00, pull buoy every other one

4 x 50m on 1:15, pull buoy every other one

4 x 25m on :30, pull buoy every other one

100m cool down

Total: 2300m, Time: 60 min.