by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
Do you remember the day you purchased your first cell phone? My first cell phone was so cool! It had a tiny little screen on the outside that told me what time it was. I could flip it open and use the number pad to text messages to my friends (if they had a cell phone). It could hold a charge for days (probably due to its lack of function and its lack of personal use)! A couple of years later I upgraded to a phone with a full keyboard that conveniently slid out when needed. The screen was twice as big, and the pictures I took could even be emailed to others. Then in 2013 I ended my holdout and purchased my first smartphone, a Samsung Galaxy S3 (don’t judge me Apple lovers). Literally, the purchase opened my eyes to a “whole new world”. While the learning curve was steep, as was the cost, the convenience and functionality changed my daily life dramatically. This past fall, the screen on my S3 cracked and I was in need of a new phone. I was very content with it, so I simply wanted to replace it with a similar model. But as I did some research, I realized the S4 had many significant improvements and that the S5 had again made jumps ahead in technology. When I finally visited a store, the S6 was revealed to me and my jaw dropped to the floor. What a fine advancement of technology. I had to have one. All I could think about was getting this new phone. Within a few days, a completely content spirit had been consumed with constant thoughts of a driving “need” for an upgrade. The school is focusing on the character trait of gratefulness during the month of December. One of the key points of gratefulness is to be content with what you have and to not complain about what you don’t have. Even with a Samsung Galaxy S3 cell phone, I was in the top 10% of the world regarding comfort and wealth. And yet when the next best thing was revealed to me, the contentment I thought I deliberately held was easily given away. I am reminded of what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11b-13: “...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” There is nothing inherently sinful in seeking to upgrade your personal cell phone. But in the land of plenty, the pride we have in our lifestyles can quickly snatch away our contentment, which is the root of our joy, peace, and hope. During a month where getting oftentimes trumps giving, let an attitude of gratefulness fill our homes. May we daily practice expressing sincere appreciation to God and others for the ways they have blessed our lives. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
The past month I have been coaching the Crosshill Christian School girl’s middle school basketball team. It has been a very fun and rewarding experience. My only regret is that I wish there were more practice time – there is so much to cover! As skills are introduced or reinforced, it is a coach’s responsibility to continue to remind and reteach the correct technique. I often find myself fulfilling this coaching duty with a large degree of passion and sometimes increased volume. I have made a deliberate effort to remind the girls how much I love them, the purpose of my words of correction, and the larger importance of life itself. In fact, this very process of learning the game of basketball is necessary for growth in one’s mental, emotional, and spiritual maturity. As I walk the hallways and classrooms of CCS each day, I observe this process occurring on a regular basis. Teachers work hard to train students effectively. We want to not merely respond to misbehavior, and not just attempt to simply manage each situation. But rather we choose to consider the purpose of the leadership we provide to students. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ. True disciples possess a degree of maturity that eventually is not dependent on external controls. When one of my basketball girls travels while pivoting, I insert my encouraging instruction to not only bring to her attention the infraction, but to train her to perform it correctly in the future. As a basketball coach, my desire is to develop a mature basketball player that will consistently pivot in competition without traveling. When our students demonstrative behavior that is inconsistent with being a disciple of Jesus Christ, we must insert ourselves into the situation. Correction is certainly necessary, but more important is training the student for future success. We read in Hebrews 12:11 “No discipline [or correction] seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 As correction is provided, the process can be painful for both the deliverer and the recipient. So much so that there is a temptation to tone down the correction so much as to deem it ineffective. The result of watered-down correction is the absence of righteousness and peace in the lives of our students. A soft heart that pursues both righteousness and peace are components of becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Each one of us can consider moments in our own lives where correction was present, either through natural consequences or the direct intervention of a leader in our lives. But we don’t focus on the pain, but on the fruit. When a pair of my basketball girls executes a screen-and-roll perfectly on the court this week, I will not be thinking of the multiple moments of painful correction, but rather will focus on their success. As parents, may we keep the purpose of training in focus, and demonstrate courage and consistency with our children. Both in our homes, and on the basketball court! – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
When my son was a toddler everything went into his mouth. To my frustration, and many times, disgust, if it fit, it went in. I was constantly telling him, “Yuck, don’t put that in your mouth, that’s not for eating”, or “Take that out of your mouth it’s yucky!” Yuck was my word, and as many times as I repeated it, I questioned if he truly understood. One evening at dinner, after only eating one tiny bite of his food, my sweet boy proclaimed “Tastes like yuck!” I retorted “What do you mean it tastes like yuck?” Then it dawned on me that of all the objects he placed in his mouth, my dinner was yuck. His truthfulness, although comical, stung a little. We are called to speak truth into the lives of our children, and one another. That has always been uncomfortable and challenging for me. I have either been afraid of speaking the truth, or my awkward dispensing of it left me with the unfortunate taste of foot in my mouth. The other person was usually left confused, or frustrated. Over the years God has provided me with ample opportunities as a spouse, friend and parent to practice. I would love to share that continued practice has made “perfect”, but in all reality, a growing relationship with a perfect God has increased my understanding of truth. Scripture teaches that speaking truth is speaking love. 1 Timothy 1:5 beautifully reveals that "The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (AMP). God himself is truth, as is His written word, which forms protective boundaries, and exist for our benefit. Sharing God’s truth as He intended inspires us to change. Smacking someone upside the head with the truth may result in outward conformity, but will have no lasting effect. Our motivation must be to lead others closer to Christ, only then will we blessed with witnessing the transforming power of the truth. Ephesians 4:15 encourages us to “Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” (AMP) Without the key ingredients of truth and love, our recipe for discipleship will “Taste like yuck!” – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
There is a story that often gets retold at certain Kronberger gatherings. I was very young when my parents owned a dairy farm. Each summer, they would put up their own hay for the cows to eat during the winter. It was hot, dusty, and dirty work. To this day, I disdain harvesting hay, especially stacking bales in an overheated oxygen-deprived barn. For some of the dirtiest work, farmhands might cover their mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and sometimes cover their itchy eyes with large goggles. One afternoon, the goggles were missing on our farm and they had last been in the possession of me and my older brother. The way the story goes, my dad stood me and my older brother in front of him and asked us which of us had taken the goggles. I would respond that I had no idea where they were, as did my brother. Then my dad would proceed to “discipline” my older brother who was usual suspect #1 in most cases, while I stood there untouched. Each time my brother would try to persuade me to remember how I had taken them, and each time it was he who received some “persuasion” from my dad. At some point, recognition dawned on my face as I exclaimed, “Now I remember! I took the goggles. I know right where they are!” This month we are focusing on the character trait of truthfulness. Being truthful allows a person to earn future trust by accurately reporting past facts. Students’ relationships with others is based upon trust. The degree of trust often correlates to how truthful they have been in the past. Our relationship with God is quite similar. Jesus taught that “whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” He was revealing a principle showing that how we conduct ourselves in the small areas of our lives impacts the biggest areas of our lives. Nothing is more important than God’s calling for each of our lives. How our character develops directly impacts how God can trust us with the plans he has for us (read Luke 16 to learn more about this interesting parable). In all truthfulness, I do not remember the time I misplaced the hay goggles. Perhaps my limited long-term memory explains my limited short-term memory as a 5-year old. Still, I learned from that experience how truthfulness can affect how others trust you. I don’t know if my brother has ever gotten over it; he sure is eager to tell the story as often as he can! But I do believe I have learned how to consistently be truthful, and appreciate the trust placed in the school to disciple your children. May we be successful in teaching them the value of truthfulness this month. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
The longer I live this one life God has given me, the more the pile of mistakes I make seems to pile up. I hope the rate the pile grows is decreasing, but there are days I wonder. I know I have been bought with the price of the blood of Christ and I am a new creation. I also know only Jesus was perfect, and through His grace and forgiveness what He asks of me is to simply follow Him. And yet the mistakes at times seem to continue. I am reminded of the apostle Paul who lamented in Romans 7:21, “so I find this law at work: although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” Yet he also declares in 1 Corinthians 5:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So often I try to fix my mistakes of my own effort. This will always be a losing effort as the complete holy law cannot be fulfilled. Yet there are short seasons where I feel I have improved myself due to my disciplined efforts apart from God. In those moments, only my selfishness and stubbornness are honored. I sometimes wonder what does that victory from God look like? Paul paints a beautiful picture in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7: “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” These verses help me realize that I am simply a jar of clay. I am brittle and easily broken. This jar of clay is full of cracks through the mistakes my flesh stumbles into. I cannot fix these cracks. Yet God has put his light in my heart, and in this cracked pot of clay. Without the cracks, the light would only brighten this small container. But the ironic benefit of the cracks is that they allow the light inside to shine out to others. And because of the cracks, it is clear that the light does not come from me, but from a more eternal and powerful source. It is miraculous that God can use the cracks in our life to shine His light to us and through us to others. Paul remarks in Romans 6 how we should respond to how God uses our mistakes to shine His light. Our attention should shift from the mistakes and focus on His light. This is true victory. The cracks may remain in this life, but His light will continue to shine forever. Let your light shine today... his perfection in your imperfection. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
Early one morning before the sun came up, I was attempting to complete my morning devotions while my 8-year old son was attempting to complete his own reading. Out of the blue he asked me, “Dad, did Samuel really only see his parents once a year after being dropped off at the temple when he was six?” He must have been somewhere between the judges and the kings in his “Jesus Calling” Bible Storybook. After I answered his question, we continued our dialogue. I eventually asked him a question, “How would you like it if I dropped you off at church so you could live there permanently?” My son cocked his head slightly, paused, and then replied, “Sure, as long as I could have all the the food in the church kitchen!” I am often reminded that my children’s thinking process somehow always seems to run through their stomach. Their physical comfort and wants drives many of their spontaneous decisions. As I reflected on this developmental phenomenon, God quickly brought to my mind my own tendency to be led by temporal desires. Perhaps my favorite time of the day is when I wake early in the morning and place myself in a familiar chair with a familiar cup of coffee, and I spend time with my good, good Father. My best friend and wife Chauntel joins me as well (after I have provided her with a sweet cup of coffee). Recently, my children have interrupted our special time in the morning. It’s like they can somehow sense the light is on in the living room, and they soon magically appear. Most kids don’t want to go to bed early, but our children don’t want to get out of bed late. Regardless, my special “quiet time” with the Lord has been interrupted by the pitter patter of feet, the chomping of dry cereal, and constant questions from my children reading their Bibles. Here’s how my subsequent conversation has gone with God: “Lord God, please give me the patience to endure the hardship of my children ruining my quiet time each morning.” “Really, Adam. That’s what you want to pray about. You are angry that your own children are choosing to imitate the very disciplined behavior you hold so dear?” “But God, how can I survive without completing my morning quiet time.” “Well Adam, the very fact that you are choosing to have this conversation with me indicates we know each other well. Including them in your mornings will only draw you and I closer. I will give you the grace to do both.” Boy do I have a lot to learn! I am so thankful how God chooses to live with us through intimate relationship as we seek him out every day. May our children hear and see the value we put on spending time with God, as we disciple a generation of Samuels! – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
When I was a child, I struggled at times with obeying my parents. I know this puts me in the minority as most of you were probably perfect children and are currently parenting perfect children. But perhaps for some this article might be helpful. Obedience continues to be a challenge for me at times. There are just so many instructions and commands that I am asked to follow that I disagree with. And then there is this instruction manual called the Bible, of which my flesh can constantly be in conflict with. As the apostle Paul writes, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24) There are two main truths that helped to not only transform my behavior, but helped me develop a deeper relationship with God. First, I needed to be reminded that all authority is put in place by God (Romans 13:1). Second, I needed to surrender to the fact that obedience to authority is about the who, not the what. Pastor Andy Stanley says it best, “Most of us believe a big lie when it comes to our clashes with authority. We mistakenly think that the issue is right and wrong. When authorities ask us to do something we don’t want to do, we argue as if what they are asking us to do is wrong. Somewhere along the way we get the notion that what we want is right. The truth is, what we really want is our way. It is a mature student who can distinguish the difference between arguing for what is right versus arguing for their way.” For the month of October, the school will focus on carrying out the directions of those who have authority over me. Students will be encouraged to obey quickly, cheerfully, and to go the extra mile. While exceptions are occasionally necessary so that wrong commands are not obeyed, the greater growth need is in the area of surrender. When children learn to surrender to parents, they will be more successful to obey the authority within their own culture and society. Their standing in their community will directly affect their ability to fulfill the Great Commission. Learning to submit to earthly authority is vital practice to carry out the directions of God Almighty who has authority over all things. I have already been using the teachings on obedience on a regular basis in my home. The most effective training we provide our children does not come in a single family meeting, but in the daily commitment to identify disobedience and teach and require proper submission to authority. Still, we and our children may sometimes feel “wretched” about our inability to be perfect. Paul concludes in Romans 7, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (verse 25). – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
I absolutely love it when a passage of scripture that I have read several times over the years stands out in a special way that lets me know God is about to reveal something to me. It’s exciting, and happened recently as I read John 14:23 where Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching”. As I spent time praying and thinking about that scripture, I was encouraged regarding my love for Jesus and of the many teaching I live by, yet couldn’t help but acknowledge the fact that there are several teachings I couldn’t quite remember. God was shedding light on the spiritual discipline I struggle with most, scripture memorization. I can fully and confidently recite the McDonald’s jingle from my childhood (You know the one, “Two all beef patties…”), yet cannot accurately recall the passage of scripture I tried to learn recently! Thankfully, when we work to place God’s Word in our heart, it is never lost to us. If we are faithful to learn scripture, God is faithful to bring it back to our memory at just the right time. As parents, the depth of our scripture knowledge provides us with either limited or limitless resources to help our children grow in godly character and understanding. Many of us grew up continually hearing, “because I said so”, and parents have been saying, “Just Do It!” long before Nike. Both are dead-end phrases of obedience, leaving no room for discipleship. Our children need to hear how, and why we obey and love God above all others. They need to hear God’s Word come out of our mouths in prayer and praise, every single day. Our discipleship in all situations must be instant, impactful, and because it confronts difficult truths, should be seasoned with godly encouragement. All of this is possible if we have placed God’s Word in our heart. As difficult as it can seem at times to memorize scripture, the process is a benefit greater than knowledge. When we meditate on God’s Word it brings us into a closer and more meaningful relationship with Him. Only then can He reveal to us His will, and transform our lives. God is waiting to spend time with us and inspire us with His amazing truths, promises, and encouragement. I challenge us all to make it a priority to memorize scripture and spend time in the Word. “Just do it!”, because He is our heavenly Father who loves us, and well… in His words, God said so :) May the Word of Christ Dwell in us Richly, – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent
About a month ago I began to prepare myself for an upcoming dentist appointment. I decided that I should start flossing every night, but my motivation was not actually to maintain clean teeth. Rather, I was hoping to prevent the sudden flow of blood from my gums the moment the dental hygienist touched them with floss after another 6-month hiatus. Perhaps it's a guy thing, but I don’t like the idea of someone else being able to make me bleed so easily. The first week of flossing was painful and annoying. But by the second week I found my rhythm and was even enjoying the process, looking forward to my nightly appointment with my floss. But by the third week, my flossing had uncovered a pain in the back of my mouth that I could only presume was a cavity. Throwing my hands up in the air, I instantly became depressed and stopped flossing altogether, feeling there was nothing I could do. When our appointment arrived, my two children and then my wife both completed their cleanings with rave reviews from the dentist. It was now my turn to face the music. I sheepishly approached the chair and quickly confessed my concern about a giant cavity in my mouth. New x-rays were taken, and the dentist was prematurely summoned to examine my mouth. I was soon asked about my personal hygiene and described my recent introduction of flossing into my regimen. Fortunately, it was determined that there was no cavity in my mouth, but simply a cut gum from my new flossing habit. I think that sometimes I view my quiet time with God like flossing. I know how important it is to my walk with Him, but oftentimes I need external motivation to get me going. Once I begin to spend time with God on a regular basis, I often find my stride and enjoy the habit. But as I begin to seek after His own heart, it oftentimes reveals things in me I may not be proud of. Guilt and shame can quickly overwhelm me, and I can easily throw my hands up in the air in discouragement and give up. It is helpful to be reminded that Jesus didn’t come to save the healthy, but to save the sick. God expects us to attend church not when we become good enough, but because we never will be good enough without His grace. We raise our hands in worship not because we are spiritual, but because we are unspiritual and the action oftentimes jumpstarts our hearts. God’s healing and direction is readily available as we allow Him access to our lives through daily time with HIm. I asked my dentist if I was now exempt from flossing due to my gum “injury”. Unfortunately, a couple of days off and I am ordered back into my flossing program. I am grateful for his instructions, just as I am grateful for those people in my life who model and motivate me to spend time with God daily. There is no injury that can keep me from my morning cleansing in His presence. – Adam Kronberger / Superintendent by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal
As we begin this new season of life together it is important to keep at the forefront of our priorities the reality that we are all leaders. Leaders in our homes, our professions, our churches, coaching our kids, and ultimately as Christians. We may not have realized it, signed up for it, or necessarily agree to it, but nevertheless we are called. In our spheres of influence we are to lead others to Christ, and inspire those around us as Paul writes in Ephesians 4:1 “...to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Minute by minute our lives should reflect that of the one who called us. Over the summer I reflected on and thanked God for the many leaders He has strategically placed throughout my life. Their impact inspired me to search my Bible for wisdom in discovering the qualities God desires in all of His leaders. I immediately became intrigued by the journeys of Saul and David. Neither intentionally set out on a career path to leadership, yet both found themselves holding a crown, weighted with authority. Both shared the same God, and likely an equivalent number of failures, yet each had vastly different experiences based on their character. Saul led by fear, caved under pressure, and chose not to take responsibility for his actions. His character exposed that he was more concerned about what others thought, than about what God thought. Conversely, David led with courage and extraordinary faith. He was a man who prayed continually, listened for God’s voice, and when caught in sin, he repented. Because of David’s love for God, obedience, and grateful attitude, he was deemed “a man after God’s own heart”. He was not without flaws, but allowed God to shape his character as a result of them. What will be brought to light when, as leaders, we make a mistake or fail? Do our actions show a desire to please God above all else? Are the decisions we make based on a life humbly submitted to God’s ultimate authority, or do we merely allow God to be a part of our lives? The answers will reveal our character and our potential effectiveness as the leaders God calls us to be in this particular season of our lives. May we all be leaders after God’s own heart. – Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal |
Adam Kronberger
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