Lighthouse Ministry Lighthouse Ministry January Newsletter January Newsletter Dear Friends, Most people in America, even around the world for that maer are no stranger to sports. Whether you personally play a sport, or enjoy watching sports, you likely have had a decent amount of exposure as athlec games have woven themselves into the very fiber of many homes. I per- sonally have enjoyed playing basket- ball, coaching volleyball, and most recently, coaching basketball as op- portunies have risen. Each of these posions have been a blessing, and given a plaorm from which to learn, teach, and grow. The process of disciplining ourselves, developing skills, and achieving things you never imagined possible is full of important life lessons. These same principles can and should be incorporated into our spiritual lives to help us overcome life’s challenges and the decepons of our adver- sary. Paul challenges us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imper- ishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjecon, lest, when I have preached to others, I my- self should become disqualified. Paul uses this analogy to challenge us to intenonally pursue our purpose with discipline. Discipline is training our- selves to succeed even in our weaknesses, to overcome the obstacles which could cause defeat. While Paul’s analogy was on an individual basis, there is also another aspect to this analogy I would like to discuss. During my first year coaching Volleyball, I saw in a new way the importance of not only teamwork, but being of the same mind with others on the court. Everyone could be willing to work together, but if they were sll on different pages, no maer how hard they tried, our team was not in sync and would not be compe- ve. On the flipside, when those girls on my team were com- municang, thinking in line with each other, and in one ac- cord, they played like they never thought they could. As a result, they were compeve against teams they never imag- ined they could beat. Recently, our basketball team had their first game, and I have to say, I thought our defense was im- pressively strong. They were really working together, making it very hard for the offense to penetrate. This resulted in an excing victory for us against a team we didn’t expect to beat. I share all this because it directly applies to the church. We have many good people with great talents and abilies. The potenal we have as brothers and sisters in Christ is enormous! Even if we have the best of intenons, mixed with impressive talent, but are not of the same mind, we will be as Paul describes, “as one who beats the air.” It is essen- al that we model aer the early church, being united by the Holy Spirit in one accord. This means liing each other in prayer constantly, communicang, encouraging, celebrang, and consoling each other lovingly. This also means each of us pursuing God passionately, resulng in our hearts being in tune with the heart of God. This is the only way we can truly be in sync with each other, and have an enormous impact on those around us. We can be reminded of these truths each me we see a sports team play. We can marvel at their accomplishments, or be shocked by their defeats. I pray seeing this will invigor- ate us to strive to excellence, humility, and love for each oth- er. I pray that our focus be on fulfilling the Great Commission by not just telling people about God, but showing them God! -Pastor Jacob Masemore “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” “To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known” Lighthouse Community Church Lighthouse Chrisan Academy & Bible Instute www.LMChurchAcademy.org Phone #(610) 682-2109 [email protected]Fax# 610-682-0089 5 Penn St, P.O. Box 287 Lyon Staon, PA 19536 1888-202-4409 Toll Free Pastor Al Zentner [email protected]Home (610) 944-0946 Cell (610) 334-3337 Assistant Pastor Jacob Masemore [email protected](610) 334-9341
Transcript
Lighthouse MinistryLighthouse Ministry
January NewsletterJanuary Newsletter
Dear Friends,
Most people in America, even
around the world for that ma�er are
no stranger to sports. Whether you
personally play a sport, or enjoy
watching sports, you likely have had a
decent amount of exposure as athle!c
games have woven themselves into
the very fiber of many homes. I per-
sonally have enjoyed playing basket-
ball, coaching volleyball, and most
recently, coaching basketball as op-
portuni!es have risen. Each of these posi!ons have been a
blessing, and given a pla'orm from which to learn, teach,
and grow. The process of disciplining ourselves, developing
skills, and achieving things you never imagined possible is full
of important life lessons. These same principles can and
should be incorporated into our spiritual lives to help us
overcome life’s challenges and the decep!ons of our adver-
sary. Paul challenges us in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one
receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25
And
everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.
Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imper-
ishable crown. 26
Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I
fight: not as one who beats the air. 27
But I discipline my body and
bring it into subjec,on, lest, when I have preached to others, I my-
self should become disqualified.
Paul uses this analogy to challenge us to inten!onally
pursue our purpose with discipline. Discipline is training our-
selves to succeed even in our weaknesses, to overcome the
obstacles which could cause defeat. While Paul’s analogy
was on an individual basis, there is also another aspect to
this analogy I would like to discuss. During my first year
coaching Volleyball, I saw in a new way the importance of
not only teamwork, but being of the same mind with others
on the court. Everyone could be willing to work together, but
if they were s!ll on different pages, no ma�er how hard they
tried, our team was not in sync and would not be compe!-
!ve. On the flipside, when those girls on my team were com-
munica!ng, thinking in line with each other, and in one ac-
cord, they played like they never thought they could. As a
result, they were compe!!ve against teams they never imag-
ined they could beat. Recently, our basketball team had their
first game, and I have to say, I thought our defense was im-
pressively strong. They were really working together, making
it very hard for the offense to penetrate. This resulted in an
exci!ng victory for us against a team we didn’t expect to
beat.
I share all this because it directly applies to the church.
We have many good people with great talents and abili!es.
The poten!al we have as brothers and sisters in Christ is
enormous! Even if we have the best of inten!ons, mixed
with impressive talent, but are not of the same mind, we will
be as Paul describes, “as one who beats the air.” It is essen-
!al that we model a:er the early church, being united by the
Holy Spirit in one accord. This means li:ing each other in
and consoling each other lovingly. This also means each of us
pursuing God passionately, resul!ng in our hearts being in
tune with the heart of God. This is the only way we can truly
be in sync with each other, and have an enormous impact on
those around us.
We can be reminded of these truths each !me we see a
sports team play. We can marvel at their accomplishments,
or be shocked by their defeats. I pray seeing this will invigor-
ate us to strive to excellence, humility, and love for each oth-
er. I pray that our focus be on fulfilling the Great Commission
by not just telling people about God, but showing them God!
-Pastor Jacob Masemore
“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”“To Know Jesus Christ, and to make Him Known”
