I have been battling a family of “voles” (lawn mice) under my front porch who occasionally frustrate me with small holes in my front lawn. I thought I had fully eradicated them this past summer, or at least encouraged them to harass a neighbor instead. But a few weeks ago some new holes opened up in my front lawn and it was time to re-engage in the battle. I pulled out my vole traps, seasoned them with peanut butter, and provided a tasty trail of oats from their hole to my perfectly placed trap. A week went by with no action in my traps. And then a surprise snowstorm blanketing our community, my front lawn, and my traps. After my son made a snow fort in my yard, my traps were kicked into random places under piles of snow, though oddly still fully set. I let them be, mostly out of laziness (it is cold outside!). Then recently I came home and discovered one of my traps had caught a vole! Even after sitting there in the cold for weeks, and being kicked around, the temptation of the bait was too much to resist.

The apostle Peter reminds us that our enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). His desire is to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). He is an expert in setting traps (see Genesis 3). And he can be relentless. And our children are his desired targets. Developing disciples committed to Jesus is the biggest threat to his evil plans.

I was amazed that even though my bait was old and frozen, and my traps were well out of place, they eventually still captured their prey. We should be reminded that the traps of the enemy are still present and effective in luring our children. As parents, may we remain vigilant to protect our children with consistent training. May our homes be a place of love and safety and constant truth. May the bait of the enemy be so bland and cold and distant that it has no chance with our children. As we find small "holes" in the landscape of our lives, let us re-engage in the battle. 
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by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

A commonly referenced rule is that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert or master of a skill. That would probably explain my woeful ping pong play, my inconsistent homemade pizza dough crust, and certain household chores I just can’t seem to do right (well, that is another story).  It also explains the importance of ongoing training for lead disciplers and teachers as their responsibilities seem increasingly complex and diverse. 

As a Crosshill community, we have now passed 100,000 hours of on-campus activity for the 20-21 school year. I suppose we could now claim that we collectively have mastered how to flourish as a discipleship school during this global pandemic. Based on the reports from students, parents, and teachers, as well as the smiles on so many faces, I would admit some truth to this claim. But as we have all experienced, flourishing during a global pandemic is less about mastering a skill and more about making constant minor adjustments.

When the nation of Israel experienced their 70-year captivity in Babylon, God instructed the exiles to build houses, plant gardens, and even marry and increase in number. Despite the suffering of their circumstances, God had a clear plan for peace and prosperity according to His metrics. The adjustments made by the Jews did not compromise their commitment to God, but rather confirmed their faithfulness by meeting His expectations. 

As our campus enters into the next 100,000 hours of discipleship activities during this global pandemic, and our families collectively log even more hours, may we keep in mind what God expects of us. Through prayerful reflection, may we consider what instructions He has for us during this season, just as He did for the exiled Israelites. While I’m sure God expects me to soon master Sourdough Breadmaking, I know He has instructions for my mind and soul and feet as well.