by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

There exists an unspoken law of the universe that whichever checkout line you choose at the grocery store, the one you choose will always be the slowest. The corollary to this law is that if you change lines midcourse, you will only find a slower line.  Unless of course you don’t change lines but only think about it, then the line you had considered but did not move to will move at warp speed. To ease my frustration, I have decided to pick out my favorite checker (Zach), and simply go to his line every time. I enjoy seeing a familiar face, and despite any delay, I feel less like a grocery line victim, and more like a grocery line victor.

Followers of Jesus often use the catchphrases of “open door” or “closed door” when trying to make a decision. Even after a decision has been made, “doors” are considered to either stay the course or change course. Much like the grocery checkout line, it is difficult to stay put when your line seems to be fraught with delays. You are discouraged as you feel like you made the wrong decision and can feel certain that any other decision (line) is now a better one. Circumstances we label as “open doors” or “closed doors” are often used to dictate the next plan of action.

I doubt the apostle Paul has much experience with modern-day checkout lines, but he certainly understood the concept of “open doors” and “closed doors”. In I Corinthians 16:9, Paul decides to continue His ministry in Ephesus rather than moving on because “a wide door for effective work has opened to me.” He had made a decision and was sticking to it. It was his lucky day. It appears he had found the uncommon speedy checkout line. But the latter part of the same verse describes “AND there are many adversaries.” Now that doesn’t sound like a typical “open door” to me. When I define circumstances as an “open door”, it comes with a different AND. Such as AND my life will be easier and more comfortable, AND I will be safe and experience success, AND I will check out my groceries and get home before midnight. 

Yet it appears that Paul’s “open door” was open BECAUSE there were adversaries. The enemies of this world and the dark spiritual forces are adversarial to the cause of Christ. In fact, we should expect these adversaries more often than not when walking through the doors God opens for us. While not necessarily a promise, this idea is a principle that should govern our lives and the lives of our children. Adverse circumstances are often necessary to build perseverance, compassion, courage, patience, and self-discipline. And adverse circumstances need people of character to shine the love and truth of Jesus Christ. So next time you are adversely affected by a slow checkout line, consider other “open doors” of adversity God wants you and your family to walk through and take the time to pray for the passion of Paul. 
​
– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

I think I have invented a brand new career:  “Substitute Dental Patients!” I am not volunteering myself to enter this exciting new field, but rather am recruiting others to sign up soon. I don’t have the logistics confirmed yet, but the main idea is to provide a substitute for all major dental appointments. Rather than undergoing the uncomfortable process of dental reconstruction yourself, a willing substitute will gladly take your place. Through a yet-to-be-discovered process, your mouth will be healed and you don’t even have to enter the dental chair!

Jesus gets pretty excited about sharing His amazing Father with us. He even gives us the roadmap:  “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matthew 5:8).  For some of us, that statement may seem a bit backwards. Shouldn’t we go see God so we can become pure in heart?  You see, the Father is equally excited about sharing His amazing Son with us. In vs. 3-7, we learn about the our responsibility in developing a pure heart.  As we become poor in Spirit, we surrender our will to the creator and center of the universe. Those who mourn over their sin begin to recognize a need to be saved from it. A person who becomes meek begins to realize that coming under God’s full authority releases immeasurable power in their lives. We begin to hunger and thirst for something better through a new “right-ness” with God.  As we seek forgiveness in our lives, we extend mercy to others.  

And just as we are willing and ready to see God, Jesus says we need to be pure in heart.  It’s kind of like going through all the steps to go to the dentist, and your substitute dental patient doesn’t show up! Fortunately for us, Jesus is our substitute sacrifice providing the ultimate purity for our heart allowing us to truly see God and experience His presence, awesomeness, and grace firsthand. God is the one who ultimately purifies our heart through His son Jesus. Paul tells Timothy to demonstrate “love that issues from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a sincere faith” (I Timothy 1:5). It is a sincere faith that genuinely pursues the Father through the Son as outlined through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

I doubt the new “Substitute Dental Patient” career space will be showcased soon on a Shark Tank episode, but one can dream. But perhaps the next time you find yourself or your child at the dentist, take a moment to remember how Jesus was our substitute for the penalty of death our sins deserve. If a “Substitute Dental Patient” did exist, we might do everything in our power to hire them, especially if they were free. The blood of Jesus is absolutely free, and He wants us to see God daily.  Just as daily brushing and flossing keeps a healthy mouth, being in His Word regularly maintains a grateful, healthy, and pure heart. 
​
– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

Many parents spend countless hours attending athletic events for their children at rain-soaked playing fields and crowded basketball gyms. When first starting out, participating in sports introduces children to new friends and new experiences, challenging them to mature in many areas. When children are very young, many sports do not even keep score as simple participation and enjoyment are the clear goals. For example, the Upward organization waits until 3rd grade to begin keeping score for basketball games (though most children are keeping score well before then).  

At the heart of competition is keeping score. Without a score, there is no opportunity to declare a winner or determine which performance was better. The benefits of competition are vast. Children can learn how to set goals and create plans in order to meet those goals, eventually building confidence. Humility can be developed through both winning and losing. Perhaps most importantly, competition provides constant opportunity to reflect on both physical and mental abilities and provide motivation to train to become your best.  

As children begin to pay more attention to the score, sometimes instead of learning to give their best they can instead give less than their best. When losing, children can become easily discouraged and give up or deviate from their training. When winning, children can begin to cruise and just do enough to stay ahead. Instead of competition motivating their best, it can instead be a trap for a defeated attitude or one that settles for average.

Appealing to our competitive nature, Jesus writes, “Be perfect, therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Jesus sets the ultimate standard for our daily behavior. Yet He knew that true perfection comparable to the holiness of God world only come through His own saving grace at the work at the cross. But through His sacrifice, Jesus calls us to be mature and complete just like our Heavenly Father. On our own, when we compare our righteousness against the Holiness of God, we will always be found wanting. We can become easily discouraged just like a child who believes they should win every single game they play for their entire lives. We also can’t simply give up and stop trying, like an immature child whose team gets behind on the scoreboard.

We are most mature and most complete we we compete to give our best in every area of our lives. As parents, spouses, employees, children, and neighbors, Jesus is calling us to reflect Him to others. That is His definition of victory. The best coaches don’t use the scoreboard as the only means of motivation, but sparks the players’ internal drive to become their best. In the same way, as a community of parents and students, may we strive for maturity, completeness, and grace-filled perfection in our lives and the lives of our children. 
​
– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent