Home
About
Books
Contact
Steve Cordle -
  • Home
  • About
  • Books
  • Contact
Browsing Category
Archive
Uncategorized

What I'm Reading (and why)

It’s been saids that “All leaders are readers”.  I agree. However, I have become convinced that leaders don’t just read, they read the right stuff.
I am acutely aware of how many brilliant, world-class, timeless writers I have not read. Since my time is limited I need to be deliberate in choosing my reading. Here are recommendations from my recent reading:
1. I am reading more biographies.
I don’t know why I haven’t done this already, because reading a biography helps me spend time with exceptional people, and I never fail to be influenced in the process. Recent worthwhile books include:
– C. Peter Wagner’s biography Wrestling with Alligators, Prophets and Theologians. (The title makes sense after you read it!)
– I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the road to Peace. by Izzeldin Abuelaish. An extraordinary account of a truly amazing man: a Palestinian doctor who became staff at an Isaraeli hospital, suffered incredibly (3 children killed by Israeli shelling) but still refuses to hate. It dose of reality will change the way you look at the Arab-Israeli conflict.
2. Spiritual Growth
Ruined for the Ordinary – by Joy Dawson — about hearing and responding to the voice of God.
3. Most Challenging: Knowing Christ Today – Dallas Willard
Dallas is a philosopher and it shows in the this book. Though it’s not easy reading, I found it worth the effort since it deals with issues debated by secularists: how moral knowledge disappeared, the existence of God and whether God revealed himself.
That’s it for now – stay tuned for more!
Continue reading
Uncategorized

Is Today the Day?

Many scholars believe Jesus died and rose again in 33 A.D. If that is so, then based on the biblical record, Jesus rose from the dead on April 23, 33 A.D. (you can check out http://www.christianity.com/ChurchHistory/11629555)
So happy 1978th anniversary of the resurrection!

Continue reading
Uncategorized

Why You Should Lead

The Egyptian revolution shows why you should step up to lead in your community.
It wasn’t long ago that the world watched in amazement as the central square of Cairo, Egypt filled with throngs of protesters demanding drastic change in their government. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the Egyptian uprising (as well as those all across the Arab world) is that they seem to be spontaneous mass mobilizations. There was no individual leader spearheading the movement, and thus there was no one to arrest in order to quell the revolution.
The leaderless protests were successful at driving Egypt’s dictator, Hosni Mubarak, from power – unthinkable just a short time ago. But since then, there has been no progress in forming a new government, let alone a new national future. Egyptians are nervously waiting through a period of political limbo.
What will happen in Egypt? Will we will see secular democracy emerge, or will it be a Sharia-law religious state? Will the new Egypt be friendly toward the West and the United States or not?
I do not pretend to have any answers to those questions, but I am convinced that what whatever direction Egypt takes will be a result of a leader taking her there. We will not see a spontaneous crowd in the square forging the new national vision.
A leaderless crowd can protest, but it cannot build. It can reject the present, but it cannot map out the future. In short, a crowd can complain but it cannot govern. Leaders are required to cast a vision for the future which will resonate with the crowds.
It’s not just Egypt which needs leaders, we do, too. You might expect me to refer to our federal or state government here, but I won’t. I’m thinking closer to home. Your community needs leaders. Your child’s Little League, your school board, church, family reunion, or local zoning board (the list is endless) all need people who will step forward and lead constructively. You can be that someone.
Stepping up to leadership means shifting from criticizing to generating ideas. Anyone can complain, it takes leaders to chart a path toward progress.
Are your daily conversations filled with vented frustrations over what “they” are doing, or with ideas about how things could be better? Those who focus on solutions instead of articulating problems are not only happier, but they make a greater difference than those who settle for complaining.
Yes, you will be criticized when you step out to lead. You can count on it. That is the price of leadership. Unselfish leaders are willing to pay that price in order to move toward a brighter mutual future. One composer whose work was ravaged by the critics was reminded, “Keep composing. No one ever built a statue of a critic.”
Take the risk, step out and lead. Your community will be stronger for it. Don’t settle for complaining, share some ideas and act on them. Our future depends on it.

Continue reading
Uncategorized

Marked By Grace

On Saturday March 12 I was on the treadmill at the gym, squeezing in a workout before heading to the church for worship. A few minutes in, I collapsed, my heart in a “fatal arhythmia”. I’m told that a gym employee, who was not scheduled to be there that day, started CPR. A doctor happened to be working out nearby and jumped in to help. It turns out that the day before he had been re-certified in the use of A.E.D. machines, and used the gym’s AED to restart my heart.
At the hospital I learned I had an artery 95-99% blocked, and a heart by-pass operation has given me a fresh start: the docs tell me I can be running half-marathons this time next year!
I’m sure this experience will shape me in more ways than I can tell, but so far my dominant impressions are:
1. God wants me here. The heart cath doc showed me my blockage and said “You are one lucky guy…” and another tech said “someone must be watching over you..”.  I believe God in his grace wants me here.
2. I don’t control as much as I think I do. I tried to eat right and work out. I wasn’t overweight and my levels were all normal. But I still went down. And through no merit or efforts of my own, I am here today and will be healthier than I was before. I live by grace.
I have joined the ranks of those who sport the chest “zipper”;  when I see my scar in the future, it will remind me that I am “marked by grace”.

Continue reading

About Me

Steve Cordle is the founding and lead pastor of Crossroads Church, a small group-based congregation with five locations in the Pittsburgh metro area. He also leads a18movement, a non-profit dedicated catalyzing church plants globally. Steve is the author of three books: A Jesus-Shaped Life, Hear it, See it, Risk it, and The Church in Many Houses. He coaches pastors and church planters in the United States and Western Europe. He enjoys running, playing classical piano, and all Pittsburgh sports. Steve is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary (M. Div) and United Theological Seminary (D. Min). Steve and his wife, Linda, have three grown sons, three daughters-in-love, and three grandchildren.

Subscribe to My Email List

Recent Posts

  • Something to do
  • The Church under renovation
  • Healing after George Floyd
  • Small groups in the New Normal
  • Wrong Side of Which History?

Archives

  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • May 2018
  • June 2015
  • February 2015
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • April 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • October 2013
  • December 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • July 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011

Categories

  • Uncategorized
  • Video

Recent Comments

  • Pam on A Letter to my United Methodist Friends
  • Charley Tyler on A Letter to my United Methodist Friends
  • The Rev. R. David ("Pastor Dave") Reynolds on A Letter to my United Methodist Friends
  • The Rev. R. David ("Pastor Dave") Reynolds on A Letter to my United Methodist Friends
  • Robin McQuain on A Letter to my United Methodist Friends

© 2018 Steve Cordle