​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

The summer of 1997 was one of the best summers of my life. First off, that was the summer I met my beautiful bride. Mrs. Kronberger served me a bacon cheeseburger at a restaurant 300 miles from home and it was love at first sight (bite). The other highlight was the college summer job I had acquired. I was paid a generous wage as a foreman of a crew traveling the northwest states maintaining warranties on a particular roofing product. Another benefit was a $30/day allowance for meals. Not only was I banking money for college expenses, but I was saving money by not having to spend any of that hard-earned cash on summer living expenses. It was a win-win!

Another win-win allows Crosshill Christian juniors and seniors to take as many as 5 concurrent college credit classes. These courses are provided by CCS instructors who have also qualified as adjunct faculty with Corban University. These courses satisfy both high school diploma requirements and Corban University requirements. Credits earned can be eventually transferred to the college or university of their choice. Some CCS graduates have already earned a half-year of college before starting their freshman year!

In order to earn the college credit, families must pay Corban University a discounted tuition rate for each course. The number of dual credit course sections paid for by Crosshill families this year was 45. That means potentially 135 college semester credits will be earned by CCS students this year. Perhaps the most impressive number is the collective savings parents experience through the CCS concurrent credit program with Corban University. This year, parents will save almost $160,000!  

Nothing beats a free bacon cheeseburger served to you by your future wife. But a close second might be the savings available to Crosshill upperclassmen choosing to get a head start on their post-graduate degree. 
​
– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​​by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

Risk-taking is not in my nature; nevertheless, I am occasionally drawn to experiences that force me out of my comfort zone. I was presented with such an opportunity recently, where  I voluntarily squeezed myself into a harness, tethered to a cable 829 feet above the ground, and jumped. It wasn’t the result of a dare, or to prove anything, my reasoning was rather simplistic; I thought jumping off of a building would be fun. That thought was seriously challenged as I heard the countdown “Three… two… one…”  
 
I am not content living a predictable, ordinary life. I am committed to God’s plan for the extraordinary life that comes with tethering to Christ, accepting the risks clearly stated in Matthew 16:24-25, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” Not surprising, it has been a rollercoaster of mountaintop and valley experiences, profound and painful seasons in which God called me out of my comfort zone, stretching and strengthening my trust and faith.  

God loves risk takers, and for our encouragement, the Bible beautifully describes all of their stories. God’s beloved have risked being lied about, reviled, persecuted or killed, yet were all blessed “for your reward is great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). Those who decided the risks were too costly and turned away had very different stories. Their risk-aversion greatly impacted the lives of many, and they missed the miracles God surely had in store for them.    

Working out our salvation is a risky endeavor, yet Jesus removed the eternal risk so we may live in confidence and kingdom-mindedness. Through faithfully engaging in the work of discipleship, we are equipped to do the work God has prepared for us. Discipleship takes us out of our comfort zone into God-ordained areas of risk: witnessing to family, admitting failure or weakness, forgiving the “unforgivable”, loving others like Jesus, learning to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).  And when we are called into these areas of courageous obedience, we are assured the victory and spiritual growth amidst the struggle.

Right in line with many of my struggles and God-ordained leaps, my exit from the Sky Jump platform was not graceful. Nevertheless, becoming a projectile on a 40mph trajectory did prove to be exhilarating and fun. Would I do it again?  Definitely, but at this point I am looking forward to the exhilarating and risky leaps of faith God had planned, so His glory may be revealed in my life and through my testimony.  

What area of risk is God calling you to?
​
– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

One of my chores as a young child on my parent’s dairy farm was to clean out the holding pen each morning. This hour-long chore began at 6 am and required the use of a snow shovel and a hose to clean up the mess left by 100 cows that had just been milked. But my fondest memories include the occasional arrival of a red Chevy truck driven by my grandpa during that 6am hour. As he walked in my direction, he would always take pity on my snot-nosed exhausted appearance. Taking the adult-sized shovel from me, he would give me a hug and send me back to the house where warmth and breakfast awaited me.

There seems to be a separate set of rules when grandparents are around. Certain privileges perhaps reserved for special occasions often become commonplace when grandparents are in charge. I can't wait to become a grandparent! Our relationship with God is very similar. He has a different set of rules. For those who surrender their lives to Jesus, the shame, guilt, and eternal consequences of sin this world requires have been completely removed. Those rules do not apply to believers. Our salvation comes through the blood shed on the cross by Jesus Christ. We have been bought at a price!

Ambassadors living in foreign countries also get to live by another set of rules as they don't have to pay taxes and generally are immune from legal prosecution. As Christians, we are ambassadors for Christ, as God makes His appeal to others through us (2 Corinthians 5:20). Just like foreign ambassadors, we are immune to payment for our sin and eternal judgment. We are citizens of a Kingdom that is not of this world.  The temporary ruler of this world (Satan) would like to charge us with the guilt of our sins. But Christ’s death on the cross lifts this heavy burden off of our backs so that we experience true freedom. This freedom is not so that we can do anything we want to do, but rather so we can be all that God wants us to be.  

Throughout my life, there have been many people who have stepped in and temporarily shared one of my burdens. When my grandpa would step in and do my chores for me, my response was always one of gratitude and obedience. God daily shares our burdens through His Son, Jesus Christ. Gratitude and obedience are also natural and necessary responses. And as ambassadors for His Kingdom, may we share the benefits of the Heavenly Kingdom with others. 
​
– Adam Kronberger / Head of School