by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
For quite a while God has been whispering to me “rest” and “listen”. I tend to fill up my days and weekends with lengthy to do lists, leaving precious little time to focus on a refreshing quiet time in God’s presence. God didn’t have binge watching my favorite shows in mind, or leisurely scrolling through Pinterest for fashion advice or ideas for my next home improvement project. For me, kayaking slows me down enough to rest and listen. When I’m out on the water I’m far removed from my daily routine and all environments that keep me busy or distracted. Rivers are my favorite place to kayak. They provide rich variation in scenery and abundant opportunities for leisurely exploration as I soak in God’s masterful creation. Amidst my summer of kayaking and slowing down to focus on listening to God I spent time praying about how to fully comprehend and operate according to God’s vision for CCS. The vision of Crosshill is “A world of graduates eager and passionate to fulfill both the First Commission (Genesis 1:26-28) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). A world of graduates engaging in cultures for the redemption of souls and the redemption of entire societies to the glory of God.” Keeping such a profound vision at the forefront can be a challenge, to which God provided a most fitting analogy. In an article I read recently, the author conveyed that a person or organization’s vision serves as a riverbank, where “every decision that needs to be made is made with the intention of flowing in the same direction and staying within the bounds of the vision.” God's vision for Crosshill extends beyond the school grounds and into the homes of each family. It's a shared riverbank, and we’re all navigating the river of life together, traversing the rapids, floating in the peace and love of a godly community, and sometimes just keeping our heads above water. As we strive to move in the same direction we must be mindful that each decision made by a student, parent, teacher, pastor or administrator, no matter how large or small, impacts that vision. Our decisions either stay within the bounds of fulfilling the First and Great Commission or jumps the riverbank. I have been inspired by families of both campuses who have made vision-impacting decisions this past summer. Many have wisely invested their vacation time and resources on mission trips, sharing the gospel in other countries. Others have made financial decisions to provide opportunities for new families to be brought into the vision of CCS. Even more have been involved in activities that have taken their discipleship to a new level. I want to encourage and challenge us all to spend time meditating and praying into the verses that are the foundation of our vision: the First Commission in Genesis 1:26-28, and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. It is through the practice of immersing ourselves in the Word and listening to God that we will receive the wisdom and understanding to grab hold of our purpose, use our gifts to their full potential, and realize the vision. And when we find ourselves “up a creek without a paddle”, we’ll be able to trust that He who is faithful with lead us in the right direction. – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
It always seems about this time of year that I get a little depressed about the absence of college and professional football. It’s been awhile since the Superbowl and other bowl games, and the preseason is still a ways off. While I may only watch a couple of hours of football each weekend in the fall, it often produces positive memories with family and friends. Included in those memories is attending Beaver football games. There is a open-air staircase that we generally take to get to our seats. Though it seems to spiral upward infinitely, it is not a chore to climb through the various landings as we anticipate the exciting view at the top. CCS has its own Superbowl going on this Friday. Students of all grades will be participating in valuable activities. Preschool and Kindergarten students will participate in the CCS All-Star Meet hosted on the school’s south campus. First through Sixth-grade students will compete in the Santiam Track Meet at Linn-Benton College. Seventh and Eighth-grade students will actively serve at both of those events. High School students will be off-campus continuing their worldview training and engaging the community of Salem through prayer and the proclamation of the gospel. The school’s mission of making disciples includes the alliterative phrase discover, develop, deploy. Naturally, much of schooling and parenting is often focused on discover and develop. Students are constantly encouraged and given the opportunity to learn truth and assimilate it into their daily lives. The greatest truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ alive and powerful in the hearts of students. Yet to focus alone on discovery and development would be tragic. It would be similar to climbing a spiraling staircase that simply went around and around, but never gained elevation to a destination. The grand purpose of training students to discover and develop is so that they can be deployed in God’s Kingdom. This Friday’s events are an excellent depiction of the spiraling growth disciples are charged with. Students in the primary and elementary grades will continue to discover and develop their character through cooperative activity and competition. Middle school students will grow in selflessness as they focus on demonstrating love for others. High School students will consider God’s call for them in His creation, and actively engage in the redemption process He started at the cross. While the views at the top of God’s spiraling discipleship process are breathtaking, the staircase always leads upward further. All of us are constantly in the discipleship process, choosing to discover and develop in new ways to be deployed in ever-increasing degrees. Whether it is our homes, neighborhoods, or community, Jesus asks us to, “lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35). – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
After the long cold winter, any day of warm sunshine has quickly brought out the sprinklers, slip-n-slides, water balloons, and kiddie pools. Willamette Valley weather is all about the seasons, and just about everyone is ready for the summer season, even if it isn’t here yet. Nothing is quite as shocking as running through a sprinkler or jumping into water that feels like recent glacier-melt. Shocking screams of delight of all-too-eager children tells us that summer is just around the corner. As the school year comes to its end, it can also be a shocking transition into summer. The days are longer and new schedules await. Even though the school commitment has ended, the summer season can be just as busy and certainly less routine. Deuteronomy 11:19 provides wise instructions regarding how families should spend their time. “You shall teach them (God’s principles) to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” While part of this lifestyle is fulfilled daily through discipleship training at Crosshill, the most vital instruction occurs in the home. Just as daily Bible classes and weekly chapels are coming to an end, structured family devotions can easily vanish in the summer as new schedules begin. Structured learning such as schooling and devotions have tremendous value, but of greater value is a lifestyle of learning. While the chaos of summer will be unpredictable at times, many families will have a few predictable changes. There will be more hours traveling together as a family. There will be more hours staying up late enjoying the nicer weather. There will be more adventures outside and less living room entertainment. All of these “spontaneous” activities will provide life-on-life modeling and mentoring as time is spent with our children. Just as an unprepared Bible teacher or an unprepared Pastor would not be surprised if their teaching was ineffective, unprepared parents should be equally aware. Am I only prepared to talk with my children this summer about my interests? Or am I prepared to engage my children with their interests, getting down on my hands and knees (so to speak), investing my life into theirs? And am I spending quality time alone with God so that I can engage my children and their interests daily through a Christian worldview? I am grateful for those at Crosshill who daily disciple my children. But as the school year comes to an end, and I consider this upcoming season, I realize that without intentionality in my parenting, my children may return in the fall fairly unchanged. If I’m not prepared, my parenting may be as shocking as getting sprayed unexpectedly by a cold garden hose, or randomly attacked by a wild water balloon. Just as the swimming pools will warm up and our bodies will acclimate, may we as parents warm up and acclimate our priorities to maximize all the opportunities this summer provides. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
It always seems about this time of year that I get a little depressed about the absence of college and professional football. It’s been awhile since the Superbowl and other bowl games, and the preseason is still a ways off. While I may only watch a couple of hours of football each weekend in the fall, it often produces positive memories with family and friends. Included in those memories is attending Beaver football games. There is a open-air staircase that we generally take to get to our seats. Though it seems to spiral upward infinitely, it is not a chore to climb through the various landings as we anticipate the exciting view at the top. CCS has its own Superbowl going on this Friday. Students of all grades will be participating in valuable activities. Preschool and Kindergarten students will participate in the CCS All-Star Meet hosted on the school’s south campus. First through Sixth-grade students will compete in the Santiam Track Meet at Linn-Benton College. Seventh and Eighth-grade students will actively serve at both of those events. High School students will be off-campus continuing their worldview training and engaging the community of Salem through prayer and the proclamation of the gospel. The school’s mission of making disciples includes the alliterative phrase discover, develop, deploy. Naturally, much of schooling and parenting is often focused on discover and develop. Students are constantly encouraged and given the opportunity to learn truth and assimilate it into their daily lives. The greatest truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ alive and powerful in the hearts of students. Yet to focus alone on discovery and development would be tragic. It would be similar to climbing a spiraling staircase that simply went around and around, but never gained elevation to a destination. The grand purpose of training students to discover and develop is so that they can be deployed in God’s Kingdom. This Friday’s events are an excellent depiction of the spiraling growth disciples are charged with. Students in the primary and elementary grades will continue to discover and develop their character through cooperative activity and competition. Middle school students will grow in selflessness as they focus on demonstrating love for others. High School students will consider God’s call for them in His creation, and actively engage in the redemption process He started at the cross. While the views at the top of God’s spiraling discipleship process are breathtaking, the staircase always leads upward further. All of us are constantly in the discipleship process, choosing to discover and develop in new ways to be deployed in ever-increasing degrees. Whether it is our homes, neighborhoods, or community, Jesus asks us to, “lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35). – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
I love playing all kinds of games. I also am a big stickler for rules. Without rules, games quickly become chaotic and pointless. And as a lover of rules, I always use the rules to my advantage as much as possible, especially the lesser known or misunderstood rules. Oddly enough, when I remind my family of an unusual or forgotten rule, it always seems to move me closer to victory. Of course, my stubborn allegiance to the game maker's set of rules forces me to follow the letter of the law. I confess I may not always be the easiest person to play games with due to the tight hold I constantly have on the rule book. Often, I compromise the goal of family fellowship to satisfy my personal legalism. The first King of Israel, Saul, seemed to have a similar fault. In 1 Samuel Ch. 15, we read how God gave clear instructions to Saul to utterly destroy the sinful nation of the Amalekites for their opposition to God’s people. Yet in the heart of the battle, Saul’s men were tempted by the loot available from their victory. Despite God’s instructions, Saul feared his men more than God and allowed them to keep the best of the spoils of victory. When confronted by Samuel, Saul’s excuse was that the animals were kept to offer sacrifices to God. Saul was using the religious rules of the day to circumvent serving God so he could serve himself (similar to the Pharisees during Jesus’ day). In the Old Covenant, sacrifice represented the religion of the day. It’s purpose was to teach the Israelites about the concepts of sin and redemption. But the sacrificial system was the means to a greater end: a relationship with God. The foundation of any relationship is built upon trust. God needed to know that He could trust Saul to obey. Yet Saul used the “rules” of the day to rationalize his own behavior to satisfy his own selfish needs. Samuel responded to Saul in vs. 22 with the always applicable “to obey is better than sacrifice.” As a fan of rules, my default setting is to adhere first to the system of rules. While rules can serve a wonderful purpose, I often find myself obeying the rules rather than obeying God. Obedience to God is less about the rules, and more about the heart. To walk in the fear of the Lord is to first ask “Is this loving?” and “Is this wise?” While it may not be “wrong” to use the rules of the family game to my advantage, it is not necessarily the “right” thing to do. We are called to love God and love others in our actions rather than serve our own interests. CCS has plenty of rules (sometimes I wish there was more!), and they serve minor though necessary purposes. But the heart of discipleship is not founded upon the “sacrifice” of adherence to rules, but rather a “heart” seeking to obey God. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
I have always been fascinated by the biblical accounts of Daniel’s life. His steadfast faith and devotion to God has inspire, guided, and challenged me. Chapter 3 is my particular favorite, especially the spectacular ending where Daniel and his buddies are thrown into the furnace, yet walked out calm, cool, and collected after facing the greatest test of their character and faith. I dare not add or detract from scripture, yet part of me likes to imagine the scene with the guys all high fives, fist bumps, and the fourth man giving them a congratulatory smack on the rear as they exited. The fiery furnace metaphor is my self-evaluation tool when I believe God has allowed a person or situation to refine my character by cranking up the heat in my life. However, my furnace exits are not typically graceful. Sometimes I visualize myself crawling out of the furnace, hair on fire, and the fourth man can’t high five or fist bump because he’s having to hold the fire extinguisher. Other times I stumble out, singed, smelling like smoke, and I didn’t even notice the presence of the fourth man because I was frantically searching for an exit sign. When the smoke clears, how can we walk out of the fire confident, victorious, and more Christ-like? In every furnace scenario God efficiently plans for growth, provision, and a divine opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, who is always with us in the flames. Sure, at times we start our own fires and God allows us to endure the consequence of extinguishing them, but just as often God brings the fire to those who are faithfully serving, living lives fully honoring Him. The “Daniel difference” in any circumstance is a determination to have a teachable heart, obediently submit to the work, and expect to experience a new level of faith and stronger character throughout the process. God’s word provides us with trusted instruction from spiritual giants who have successfully walked through their own fires. If, like me, you are continually challenged and in need of Godly advice, study Daniel; he’ll show you how to stand against temptation and compromise to live a life of integrity. Are you backed into a corner, afraid, or in a royal mess? Consult Esther, she’ll teach you about courage, tact, and timing. Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Sit for a while at the feet of Jesus and discover what it means to truly find healing rest in Him. Have you messed up completely, or acted out impulsively? Turn to Peter, who’s been there, and reminds us that, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” (2 Peter 1:3). – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
The clump of quail had just landed on the other side of the fence and ran under a clump of brush a few hundred yards away. All I had to show for my afternoon of hunting so far was an empty game bag and a sore shoulder. My teenage pride was hurting. The “No Trespassing” sign stared at me from the fence which stood between me and my bounty, and seemed to be mocking me. Perhaps if there had been no sign, I would have simply continued hunting legally on my side of the fence. But the presence of the sign and forbidden adventure caused my heartbeat to increase, and an opportunity to repair my damaged pride seemed to be at hand. I climbed over the fence in defiance of the law and felt a surge of power as I literally took my life into my own hands. By nature, we humans tend to rebel against any authority but our own. There exists this natural inclination to want to step beyond the boundaries that have been set for us. Often, the disregard for authority is built less on rebelliousness and more on the desire to be self-governing. Since creation, humans have generally not performed well when it comes to following instructions. Adam and Eve, the nation of Israel, and even King David chose to chart their own path in direct defiance of God’s perfect instructions. During the month of May, Crosshill is focusing on “doing what is right, even when I don’t feel like it.” This definition for self-control is designed to develop self-governance in the lives of our children. Self-governance is making the right choices out of personal conviction, rather than external threat, shame, or manipulation. Self-governance is a quality that humans are generally born with. We want to be in control of our own lives, making our own choices. The reality is that humans are also born with a sinful nature which frequently perverts our decision-making. When I made the decision to break the law and climb over that fence, I did not struggle with self-governance, but I did struggle with self-control. I had no problem making my own decision, but I had a problem in making the right decision. This is where active parenting comes in. We are called as parents to provide external governance so that the “right decisions” are made known to our children. Yet controlling our children is only a temporary tool, not a comprehensive plan. We cannot control our children forever, and the fruit we see as a result of our control can be encouraging but is fleeting. True self-control is built upon both self-governance and a new identity. “Therefore if anyone is in Christ; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). Our job as parents is to highlight the sin that lives inside of us and our children and its destructive power. We are to model and train our students to take control of their own lives by surrendering control to God and His will for our lives. When we understand we need to live within God’s fences, our lives become the best adventure of all. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
It seemed like the worst day of my life. I felt like I was going to throw up. I was certain I had lost my cell phone! I could not find it anywhere. I thought I had left it behind at the gym. After checking with the front desk, nobody had seen it. I’m sure somebody had stolen it. I was already counting up the cost of replacing it. Stress and worry were growing exponentially as I considered how I would suffer without my phone over the next few days. How did this happen? How could I be so careless with my phone? I drove home utterly defeated. I felt like I was going to cry. My wife instantly sensed something was wrong and I confessed my crisis to her. As I thought back through the last few hours, there was one more possible place to look. After working out, I had spent five minutes walking through a furniture store. It had been such a quick stop, but I distinctly remember sitting down in one particular chair. Had my phone fallen out of my pocket? We sped down to the store, with my family waiting patiently and prayerfully in the parking lot. I walked into the store and asked the clerk if they had seen a black phone. They had it! I marched out of the store with my phone held high in the air for my family to see (and everyone else in the parking lot) like I had just won an Olympic medal. For hours after that experience, I had an elevated heart beat and a permanent smile on my face. I felt like I had won the lottery. Others who have seemingly lost something valuable only to find it later can understand the emotional roller coaster. In fact, Jesus himself understands this dynamic all too well. To help us understand,he used parables about coins, sheep, and even a prodigal son (Luke 15) to communicate the highest cause for celebration. When a lost soul returns to their Creator with a heart of repentance and surrender, the entire heavens break out in joyful elation. Each year, God continues to lead the school closer toward His vision and mission for Crosshill Christian, which is discipleship training. More and more students are being trained and encouraged as they choose to share the gospel to the lost in Salem and around the world. As believers, it is a common trap to get caught up with the comforts and ambitions of the American dream, and forget to ask, “What on earth are we doing for heaven’s sake?” Just as I had become careless with my cell phone and forgot its value in my life, I too can become careless with my faith forgetting the value of the gospel in my own life. When we choose to put ourselves in situations where the gospel is shared, we are not only reminded of the transformative power in the lives of others, but in our own lives as well! – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
The stage was set to fulfill every math teacher’s dream. The students were at their desk diligently taking notes. New and stimulating material was being clearly presented by the teacher. One of the most complex examples, which took up the entire whiteboard, was nearing its climactic finish. All that remained was the final answer, which would further establish the beauty of the new material. But something was wrong. The expected final answer was not going to arrive on time. The calculations appeared to provide a messy and incorrect solution. The teacher took a step back and stared at the board, pretending to be in deep thought, simply reflecting on the beauty of the math example. But the teacher is in a panic. Something had gone wrong with their calculations. The teacher needed to not only find the mistake quickly, but also strategize how to fix it in front of the entire class. Now the teacher can hear murmuring among the students. They have now sensed that something is wrong. Do they know there is a mistake? Do they know what the mistake is? Should the teacher ask the students for help, to hopefully point out the undiscovered mistake? The life of a math instructor has taught me much about pride, humility, and grace. So has parenting. Much like teaching, parenting is often being on the stage taking the lead on working through a problem. And just as mistakes are occasionally present in my math lectures, mistakes are also present in my parenting. Yet these parenting mistakes can actually expand my parenting effectiveness. If I was a perfect person, much less a perfect parent, then it would have been unnecessary for Jesus Christ to die for my sins. My imperfections as a parent point to the grace of Jesus! As parenting is often focused on the imperfections of our children, our own imperfections provides common ground to celebrate the grace of Jesus in all of our lives. Just as math problems have absolute correct answers, God’s law also provides an absolute benchmark. But that benchmark has no power in itself. It only provides the guidance and boundaries to define holy living, for both parents and children. But if we only focus on the rules, we are missing out on the power. The power comes through the grace, love, and transformation of a heart surrendered to Jesus Christ. As a math teacher, I must admit more than I like that I do make mistakes in front of my students. Yet just like parenting, it is an opportunity for more learning and trust-building. As I openly troubleshoot the mistake in front of the students, I model the important process of self-awareness, humility, and responsibility. As I allow a student to highlight and fix an error, student confidence grows and often trust is built through teamwork. As a parent, trust and love increases when we openly discuss the need for transformation in my life as well as the lives of my children. Whether you are a math teacher, a parent, or a child, the grace and power of Jesus Christ is the answer to every problem. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
I have always been fascinated by the biblical accounts of Daniel’s life. His steadfast faith and devotion to God has inspire, guided, and challenged me. Chapter 3 is my particular favorite, especially the spectacular ending where Daniel and his buddies are thrown into the furnace, yet walked out calm, cool, and collected after facing the greatest test of their character and faith. I dare not add or detract from scripture, yet part of me likes to imagine the scene with the guys all high fives, fist bumps, and the fourth man giving them a congratulatory smack on the rear as they exited. The fiery furnace metaphor is my self-evaluation tool when I believe God has allowed a person or situation to refine my character by cranking up the heat in my life. However, my furnace exits are not typically graceful. Sometimes I visualize myself crawling out of the furnace, hair on fire, and the fourth man can’t high five or fist bump because he’s having to hold the fire extinguisher. Other times I stumble out, singed, smelling like smoke, and I didn’t even notice the presence of the fourth man because I was frantically searching for an exit sign. When the smoke clears, how can we walk out of the fire confident, victorious, and more Christ-like? In every furnace scenario God efficiently plans for growth, provision, and a divine opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, who is always with us in the flames. Sure, at times we start our own fires and God allows us to endure the consequence of extinguishing them, but just as often God brings the fire to those who are faithfully serving, living lives fully honoring Him. The “Daniel difference” in any circumstance is a determination to have a teachable heart, obediently submit to the work, and expect to experience a new level of faith and stronger character throughout the process. God’s word provides us with trusted instruction from spiritual giants who have successfully walked through their own fires. If, like me, you are continually challenged and in need of Godly advice, study Daniel; he’ll show you how to stand against temptation and compromise to live a life of integrity. Are you backed into a corner, afraid, or in a royal mess? Consult Esther, she’ll teach you about courage, tact, and timing. Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Sit for a while at the feet of Jesus and discover what it means to truly find healing rest in Him. Have you messed up completely, or acted out impulsively? Turn to Peter, who’s been there, and reminds us that, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3. – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal |
Adam Kronberger
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