​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

As I was walking by the construction site of the new Eagle Building on the South Campus, I noticed several workers completing many similar tasks. Curious, I walked up to them and asked them what they were doing:

“Can’t you see, I’m cutting this piece of wood,” was the first response I received. 

Another replied, “I’m earning $400 a week.”

But a third put down his saw and thrust out his chest proudly. “I’m building a legacy for discipleship training,” he said.

This fictional story illustrates how people have different views of work and the tasks required of us. Work can be viewed as a necessary evil to keep bread on the table; as a means to a substantial nest egg; as a means to fulfillment and identity; as an obligation to community; or as a means to a life of leisure.

We are more than material beings tasked with completing mundane functions. Above all, we are spiritual beings tasked to discover the moral and spiritual significance in every aspect of our lives. Our students are increasingly transitioning from learning to application. As future spouses, parents, and employees, there is purpose and meaning beyond the definitions the world provides. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving” (Colossians 3:23-24).

Whether you are cutting a piece of wood, spreading butter on a piece of toast, or sharing a moment with your family, consider the work of “building a legacy of discipleship training.” 
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

It seems like the occupation of a news weatherman is about the only career you can be wrong more often than right and still keep your job. And for good reason. Weather can be simply unpredictable despite the best computer models. But I am considering moonlighting as a weatherman as I think I have found a dependable method... my limited shoe closet. It seems without fail, every time I choose to wear fancy dress shoes, the campus will experience ice, snow, and/or soggy soil. By the end of the day, my delicate shoes will be in desperate need of attention after trying to help maintain a safe and accessible campus. But when I proactively put on my pair of rugged Romeo boots to start my day, the clouds inevitably part and the ground dries up.

It appears that the plentiful Willamette Valley water is slowly returning to its rightful place in local streams and rivers. The river banks constrain the life-giving water from making a mess elsewhere. The apostle Paul declares that “the love of Christ constrains us” to live our lives differently (2 Corinthians 5:14). Just as the banks of a river direct the flow of water, the selfless love of Christ directs us to action. We no longer care only about the people who care about us. Instead, it becomes our deepest desire to love all people as He loved us.  He died for all of mankind, friend and foe. His love was for the whole world!

We show Christ’s love to others through our daily interactions, service, and words of life. God often gives us a powerful opportunity to do all of them at once. This next week, over a hundred CCS high school students, staff, and parents will love others through building 3 houses (in Mexico) and sharing the gospel and praying with others at home and abroad. Only the gospel can change a person’s life completely and is the most vital fruit of our love.  

The apostle Paul declared “how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15) Please pray that the beautiful gospel would be abundantly shared by the beautiful feet of those going on mission trips this week. And if you see any more snow, ice, or floods this spring, I suppose you can blame me for choosing the wrong pair of shoes!  
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Not many types of movies are as exciting as a good spy flick – there's just something irresistible about secret agents, intrigue, and double crosses.Children especially seemed to be naturally drawn to playing the role of a detective, lookout, reporter, or undercover spy. Give a kid a cardboard box, a pair of binoculars, some free time, and you will have a “not so secret” shadow watching your every move.

Unfortunately, some kids grow up to be double agents of their Christian faith. An encouraging 94% of Christians who compose the “millennial” generation (23-38 years old) agree that coming to know Jesus is the best thing that can happen to them. Yet almost half of that same group believe it’s wrong to share one’s faith with others. Many young adults are posing as double agents of the Christian faith. They understand its value for their lives, but are unwilling to share its power with others. In fact, choosing to withhold the Good News from others may indicate a soil that is being choked out by the weeds of this world, rather than producing a harvest (see the Parable of the Soils-Matthew 13).

Our partnerships with parents, educators, and church leaders are vital to train this next Generation Z (22 and younger) to eagerly live out their faith in both word and action.  Rather than training spies, we want to train soldiers in God’s Kingdom. The true identity of a successful spy is never known. As believers in Christ, we want our identity to be fully known by others. Just as a soldier is known by their discipline, countenance, and uniform, believers should be known by their love for God and others, desire to bring glory to God, and a life full of grace, joy, and kindness (see the New Testament for a more complete list of God’s design for each of us). 

It is challenging for believers to live out their faith in this culture where good is called evil and evil is called good.  Yet we know of the truth, the way, and the life. Families who partner with Christian schools have a convenient talking point to enter into meaningful conversations of faith. May we not only train this next generation to let their light shine in a dark world, may we model that ourselves.  
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

As cold winter weather has many wishing of flying south to warmer weather, it reminds me of one of my favorite inventions at many airports... the moving walkway. These rolling sidewalks allow willing passengers to potentially double their speed, helping them reach their boarding gate much quicker. And similar to escalators common in shopping malls, this invention is especially celebrated by children, providing much-needed entertainment for the bored traveler.

At recent Open Houses for prospective parents, over 60 new families investigated the mission of Crosshill Christian in their pursuit of Christian schooling. By its very nature, discipleship training within the context of Christian schooling has the ability to accelerate spiritual transformation in the lives of our children. Just as stepping on a moving walkway can increase the speed of reaching a destination, partnering with a discipleship training Christian school can increase the maturity of a disciple. Christian schooling can extend the spiritual foundations built in a Christian home during the many school hours of the week.

In order for a moving walkway to truly accelerate transportation, a person must continue walking after stepping on the conveyor belt. Youtube is littered with the lazy and inattentive who simply stand as the sidewalk moves. Without fail, when the walkway ends, an abrupt fall results. Similar results are possible in the spiritual lives of our children. If their faith is compartmentalized to only momentary components of their lives, there is a greater potential for an abrupt fall during one of life’s many transitions.  

Crosshill prioritizes the integration of each student’s faith with their pursuits in academics, athletics, family, church, community, entertainment, and eventually the workplace. When the storms of life arise from surprising directions, only a consistent foundation built upon the Rock will be firm enough to stand upon. May we all help accelerate the spiritual transformation in this next generation each day of the week in every area of their lives. 
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School