by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

I have to confess, I am a morning person. Sometimes I can’t wait to go to bed just so I can get to my morning time quicker. I love getting up while it is still dark and usher in the new day. My mind is at its sharpest before the clutter of the day and fatigue of decision-making takes over. My morning routine includes a hot homemade latte, a warm fireplace, my favorite chair, and a basket with my Bible, favorite devotionals, and journals. To top it all off, I can look up across the room at any time and gaze at my beautiful bride doing the same thing (she kindly gives me the seat next to the fireplace).  
Perhaps my favorite and most productive time of my entire morning is when I wrestle with God in my journal. Writing out my thoughts and prayers requires me to slow down and really process what I am thinking and feeling. It also provides God space to speak into my heart and mind. A few mornings ago I was declaring on paper my desire to give up complete control of all areas of my life to God. But even as I was writing it down, I knew I didn’t mean it completely. So I said as much. “God, I want you in control of my life. You are much better at it than me. But I sure love being in control and it is difficult to give that up.”  

Why do we always want to be in charge? Is it because we can make sure we get what we want? Is it because we are too proud and want to prove we can do things on our own? This human struggle is not new. In an often quoted passage in Joshua 24, Joshua asks the Israelites to “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Joshua then declared that “as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Jesus himself also taught that nobody can serve two masters; you will hate the one and love the other.  

As I wrestled with God that morning about who should be in control, God in his infinite wisdom spoke a truth to me that changed everything. He said, “Adam, you can have control of giving control over to me.” Seriously? So simple, yet so profound. That struck me like a lightening bolt. It connected with me on all levels. God has given me a free-will to choose on my own. I have the power, so to speak.  And I choose Him! I choose Him to be in control. To some that might sound like surrender, which it certainly is. To me, it sounds like an adventure, as I battle daily to give complete control to God. In fact, there has been so much peace since that conversation with God. As long as God allows me to choose which flavor of latte I have in the morning.  

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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

Recently, my son and I were preparing to spend our Saturday morning participating in Upwards basketball. I had reviewed our game time, the location of the contest, and even factored in additional time just to be safe. On the way to our destination we made a planned stop at an unfamiliar supermarket to purchase snacks for the team. I had been expecting a self-checkout line, but was forced to use the only option of a live checker.

And that’s when my education began, right there in the checkout line. I could feel my blood pressure rise as my precisely timed itinerary was being hijacked by an unanticipated wait at the supermarket. In line ahead of me were two senior citizens both in motorized shopping carts loaded to the full. I only had two items. If only I had arrived ahead of them, or better yet, could self-checkout, I would be done in no time.  The customer next to me also had two items, and my eye-rolling and audible sighing helped encourage them to be disgruntled as well.

Another customer joined our line, also with only two items. Now this was a bonanza!  All three of us could now share in my personal misery. My attitude in the moment had me at the center of the universe, or at least this particular supermarket. As the two elderly customers fumbled through multiple failed attempts at payment, I was worried we were trapped indefinitely. The customer who recently arrived walked right past the line straight up to the checker. Finally, somebody was going to give them a piece of their mind!  

And then it happened. My hard heart broke, and then softened, as I watched this kind soul pay for the stranded couple’s grocery’s for the amount of $138, just like that. I did not miss the opportunity to highlight this tremendous generosity to my son, who was certainly impressed. He agreed that saving your money allows you to help those in need when the opportunity presents itself. He had been listening to the teaching this month on the character trait of generosity, and had just seen it in action in a big way.

My lesson came from Jesus as I reflected the rest of the day on my attitude in that moment. I want to be a follower of Christ, but sometimes my human flesh gets in the way. I don't’ think God was waiting for me to pick up the $138 check. The world’s needs are not on my shoulders alone. He had a plan and it was fun to watch. But I do know that my attitude was certainly selfish. He reminded me of my desire to live out the greatest two commandments. I want to love God and love others daily with my thoughts, words, and actions. Generosity is about giving to those in need. Sometimes I wish generosity was something I could simply check off once a month. I am thankful for Jesus caring enough to not only bless that needy couple, but bless this needy man with an important lesson. May the lessons continue in the classroom and in our homes.
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

It doesn’t take long listening to Dave Ramsey’s radio program or podcasts before you realize his purpose is to share “God’s and grandma’s ways of handling money.” Perhaps you have read his best-selling book “The Total Money Makeover” and understand the concept of “living like no one else so later you can give like no one else.” Maybe you have completed his “Financial Peace University” course and practiced “gazelle intensity” as you plow through his seven baby steps toward financial peace. Or you could be one of Crosshill Christian’s upperclassmen taking his “Foundations of Personal Finance” course for high school credit, becoming aware of the common pitfalls of credit cards and other preventable debt. While there may not be consensus on Dave Ramsey’s people skills and investment strategies, there is no debate about the large number of people his teachings have rescued.  

Our children are growing up in a consumer-driven, ad-infested, get-what-you-deserve culture. I applaud the invention of the DVR (TiVo) for its unintended benefit of virtually removing all commercials from a household (when the remote is in the hands of an expert user). What other “inventions” need to be inserted into our homes and daily lives?

During the month of January, the school will focus on the character trait of generosity. Generosity is carefully managing resources so that a person can freely give to those in need. Students will be challenged to learn how to save not just so they can spend on themselves later, but also so that they can spend on others later. Generosity is not just about preparation, but also about developing initiative to find those moments to give, expecting nothing in return.  

A book that had a significant impact on my life is titled “Money, Possessions, and Eternity”, authored by Randy Alcorn. Among other things, he outlines how the recent inventions of insurance, retirement portfolios, and government welfare often become convenient substitutes for faith. When all contingencies have been considered and prepared for, the tendency to depend on God decreases, and the tendency to depend on yourself and your stuff increases. How can we combat this imminent growth of personal pride?  

The answer is to practice generosity. Giving of our time, energy, and resources reminds us that all we have comes from God and belongs to Him. It helps us live a lifestyle of an “open hand” rather than a “clenched fist”. As we stretch ourselves to give beyond the comfortable cultural norms, we also are given the opportunity to trust in God and grow our faith.  

Where does one start? Begin by having daily conversations with God about how He wants you to use the resources He has given you. Historically, only around 5% of evangelical Christians regularly tithe. The conversation on tithing has already been started in God’s Word and is a wonderful place to start. The heart of generosity is just that...the heart.  God and His church are not short on resources. He owns it all. The business of soft hearts sold out to him often suffers. Generosity points the heart of the giver and even the receiver back to the ultimate Giver. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). As we practice and teacher our children to become more like Christ, let us remember that it all starting with generosity. 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

The start of each new year begins the usual practice and renewed focus on getting control of our lives, downsizing, organizing, and dropping those extra pounds. Although I would like to drop a few bad habits, this year my plan is one of rebellion against the norm: to gain, go big, get more, and lose control! I want to gain momentum in my spiritual life, and get more quality time with my family and friends. I also want to go big, all in, and learn to truly lose control of my life to the One who is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present.

Taking a note from God’s economy, to get more we must give more, and that is achieved by becoming more like HIm in the area of generosity. Generosity is about investment, which God lovingly, creatively, and consistently expresses through His creation, and specifically in our personal relationship with Him. There have been more times than I can count where I have experienced divine proof that  He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Out of His generous character He has taught me through trials, encouraged me into victories, and lavished His loved on me despite the times I have disappointed Him. 

Looking to the Bible for God’s example on how to be “all in” and more generous, shining brightly are the believers documented in the book of Acts (2:42-47). These believers were wholeheartedly devoted to the teachings of the Apostles, and made the act of worship and fellowship with other believers a daily priority. When anyone among them was in need, they sold their property or possessions to provide. Their attitude and actions showed they understood completely that everything is God’s and to be used for His purposes, people, and ultimately His glory. The result of such generosity was amazing unity, prosperity, and an incredible number of new believers. The lost couldn’t help but be attracted to the indescribable, unexplainable joy experienced by a people living for God above all else. 

With the knowledge that biblical examples apply and are relevant to our present time and circumstances, if we resolve to make even a few changes towards becoming more like those in the Acts church, we will witness unbelievable possibilities!  Forgiving and loving generously will lead to reconciliation and unity. Giving a greater measure of ourselves and our resources in ministry to others and our relationship with God will create life-altering results. I cannot help but wonder… what will we experience if we truly go all in?   

May we use whatever gifts we have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms (I Peter 4:10),​ ​


– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal