by Andrew Corbett | 2021 Oct,22 | Pastor's Desk
One of the most difficult tasks for any leader, parent, or grandparent, is not success but succession. Even some of the best leaders who have declared in their conference-talks that there is no success without a successor have often actually ended their leadership journey without a successor. Even biblical leaders rarely succeeded at siring a worthy successor. This predicament is pronounced in the relationship between King Hezekiah and his son Manasseh. Manasseh had two claims to fame (or infamy). Firstly, he was Israel’s longest serving king. Secondly, he was Israel’s most evil king. Yet, he became a trophy of redemption. What can learn about passing the baton on from the transition from Hezekiah to Manasseh? This is what will explore.
by Andrew Corbett | 2020 Sep,24 | Pastor's Desk
A brush with death will sometimes have a dramatic effect upon a person. It can (and has) cause(d) people to re-evaluate their priorities and reset their life on a completely different course. This phenomena has been the basis for several Hollywood blockbusters including, Big Fish (starring Albert Finney, Ewan McGregor, Danny DeVito), and Meet Joe Black (starring Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt) are two great examples. But it’s not just the stuff of movies. Throughout history there have people who have had a brush with death which has shaped them to live a life without fear and accomplish extraordinary things. Examples include Martin Luther, who nearly died in a storm and cried out to God to save him (he is now the second most written about person of all time), and Winston Churchill who nearly drowned as a child. How differently would you live if you knew when you were going to die?
by Andrew Corbett | 2020 Jun,26 | Pastor's Desk
How did King Hezekiah respond after experiencing such a dramatic answer to his prayers and witnessing an extraordinary act of miraculous deliverance? We can only surmise. But if history is anything to go by, then Hezekiah may have responded over time in the way that most such recipients have responded. History almost universally reveals that a person’s spiritual state is inversely proportional to their level of material success and popular acclaim. I cite two examples who immediately support my point: King Solomon, and, Jesus of Nazareth. Perhaps it was God’s grace then that Lord announced to Hezekiah that he was about to die soon…
