by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

It seemed like the worst day of my life. I felt like I was going to throw up. I was certain I had lost my cell phone! I could not find it anywhere. I thought I had left it behind at the gym. After checking with the front desk, nobody had seen it. I’m sure somebody had stolen it. I was already counting up the cost of replacing it. Stress and worry were growing exponentially as I considered how I would suffer without my phone over the next few days. How did this happen? How could I be so careless with my phone?  

I drove home utterly defeated. I felt like I was going to cry. My wife instantly sensed something was wrong and I confessed my crisis to her. As I thought back through the last few hours, there was one more possible place to look. After working out, I had spent five minutes walking through a furniture store. It had been such a quick stop, but I distinctly remember sitting down in one particular chair. Had my phone fallen out of my pocket? We sped down to the store, with my family waiting patiently and prayerfully in the parking lot. I walked into the store and asked the clerk if they had seen a black phone. They had it! I marched out of the store with my phone held high in the air for my family to see (and everyone else in the parking lot) like I had just won an Olympic medal.

For hours after that experience, I had an elevated heart beat and a permanent smile on my face. I felt like I had won the lottery. Others who have seemingly lost something valuable only to find it later can understand the emotional roller coaster. In fact, Jesus himself understands this dynamic all too well. To help us understand,he used parables about coins, sheep, and even a prodigal son (Luke 15) to communicate the highest cause for celebration. When a lost soul returns to their Creator with a heart of repentance and surrender, the entire heavens break out in joyful elation.

Each year, God continues to lead the school closer toward His vision and mission for Crosshill Christian, which is discipleship training. More and more students are being trained and encouraged as they choose to share the gospel to the lost in Salem and around the world. As believers, it is a common trap to get caught up with the comforts and ambitions of the American dream, and forget to ask, “What on earth are we doing for heaven’s sake?” Just as I had become careless with my cell phone and forgot its value in my life, I too can become careless with my faith forgetting the value of the gospel in my own life. When we choose to put ourselves in situations where the gospel is shared, we are not only reminded of the transformative power in the lives of others, but in our own lives as well!​     
 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

The stage was set to fulfill every math teacher’s dream. The students were at their desk diligently taking notes. New and stimulating material was being clearly presented by the teacher. One of the most complex examples, which took up the entire whiteboard, was nearing its climactic finish. All that remained was the final answer, which would further establish the beauty of the new material.  

But something was wrong. The expected final answer was not going to arrive on time.  The calculations appeared to provide a messy and incorrect solution. The teacher took a step back and stared at the board, pretending to be in deep thought, simply reflecting on the beauty of the math example. But the teacher is in a panic. Something had gone wrong with their calculations. The teacher needed to not only find the mistake quickly, but also strategize how to fix it in front of the entire class.

Now the teacher can hear murmuring among the students. They have now sensed that something is wrong. Do they know there is a mistake? Do they know what the mistake is? Should the teacher ask the students for help, to hopefully point out the undiscovered mistake?

The life of a math instructor has taught me much about pride, humility, and grace. So has parenting. Much like teaching, parenting is often being on the stage taking the lead on working through a problem. And just as mistakes are occasionally present in my math lectures, mistakes are also present in my parenting. Yet these parenting mistakes can actually expand my parenting effectiveness. If I was a perfect person, much less a perfect parent, then it would have been unnecessary for Jesus Christ to die for my sins. My imperfections as a parent point to the grace of Jesus! As parenting is often focused on the imperfections of our children, our own imperfections provides common ground to celebrate the grace of Jesus in all of our lives.

Just as math problems have absolute correct answers, God’s law also provides an absolute benchmark. But that benchmark has no power in itself. It only provides the guidance and boundaries to define holy living, for both parents and children. But if we only focus on the rules, we are missing out on the power. The power comes through the grace, love, and transformation of a heart surrendered to Jesus Christ.  

As a math teacher, I must admit more than I like that I do make mistakes in front of my students. Yet just like parenting, it is an opportunity for more learning and trust-building. As I openly troubleshoot the mistake in front of the students, I model the important process of self-awareness, humility, and responsibility. As I allow a student to highlight and fix an error, student confidence grows and often trust is built through teamwork. As a parent, trust and love increases when we openly discuss the need for transformation in my life as well as the lives of my children. Whether you are a math teacher, a parent, or a child, the grace and power of Jesus Christ is the answer to every problem.     
 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

I have always been fascinated by the biblical accounts of Daniel’s life. His steadfast faith and devotion to God has inspire, guided, and challenged me. Chapter 3 is my particular favorite, especially the spectacular ending where Daniel and his buddies are thrown into the furnace, yet walked out calm, cool, and collected after facing the greatest test of their character and faith. I dare not add or detract from scripture, yet part of me likes to imagine the scene with the guys all high fives, fist bumps, and the fourth man giving them a congratulatory smack on the rear as they exited. 

The fiery furnace metaphor is my self-evaluation tool when I believe God has allowed a person or situation to refine my character by cranking up the heat in my life. However, my furnace exits are not typically graceful. Sometimes I visualize myself crawling out of the furnace, hair on fire, and the fourth man can’t high five or fist bump because he’s having to hold the fire extinguisher. Other times I stumble out, singed, smelling like smoke, and I didn’t even notice the presence of the fourth man because I was frantically searching for an exit sign. When the smoke clears, how can we walk out of the fire confident, victorious, and more Christ-like?  

In every furnace scenario God efficiently plans for growth, provision, and a divine opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, who is always with us in the flames. Sure, at times we start our own fires and God allows us to endure the consequence of extinguishing them, but just as often God brings the fire to those who are faithfully serving, living lives fully honoring Him. The “Daniel difference” in any circumstance is a determination to have a teachable heart, obediently submit to the work, and expect to experience a new level of faith and stronger character throughout the process.

God’s word provides us with trusted instruction from spiritual giants who have successfully walked through their own fires. If, like me, you are continually challenged and in need of Godly advice, study Daniel; he’ll show you how to stand against temptation and compromise to live a life of integrity. Are you backed into a corner, afraid, or in a royal mess? Consult Esther, she’ll teach you about courage, tact, and timing. Sick and tired of being sick and tired? Sit for a while at the feet of Jesus and discover what it means to truly find healing rest in Him. Have you messed up completely, or acted out impulsively? Turn to Peter, who’s been there, and reminds us that, “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a Godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3.  
 
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– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

I recently sat in on a discussion with 30 teenage students from CCS and an adult speaker. Students’ hands were raised high in the air, sometimes for minutes on end, waiting for their chance to ask a question or give a remark. Throughout the 90-minute meeting, students were on the edge of their seat listening intently, their minds actively at work. While you might think I was sitting in one of our own classrooms, you might be surprised and excited with the environment we were in.  

The students were visiting with the Interim Pastor of the local Unity of Salem Church. The beliefs of the church are relative, undefined, and clearly incompatible with the Christian faith on numerous points. As dialogue began, the students were quick to identify the inconsistencies presented by the speaker. Any apologetics professor would have been proud as the students exercised their minds through debate. Students politely, yet eagerly, bounced in their seats with hands raised ready to expose illogical thought in light of the truths of creation, the fall, and the redemption of the gospel.

But then a strange thing happened. I believe the sincerity of the students, combined with their politeness and graciousness encouraged transparency in the speaker. She pointed out that not only was she confused about her beliefs, but a recent diagnosis of terminal cancer had her feeling hopeless. As the conversation continued, much of the tone from the students adjusted. While the eagerness remained, the original purpose of winning an important argument was replaced by the infinitely more important concern with the minister’s soul. While the discourse about truth remained intense, an atmosphere of concern and even love grew as did our relationship with her.

This month students will be focusing on the character trait of discretion. Ultimately, discretion is avoiding unwise decisions to show love for others. The teenage students who had this conversation during their recent Mission Adventures were given the opportunity to demonstrate discretion. Instead of focusing simply on truth, students realized the importance of love. Many of them decided to adjust their tone and strategy as they became more aware and considerate of the other person and their circumstances. Truth without love often rings hollow. But truth with love is a reflection of Jesus.

One of the most exciting elements of this experience was how students began transferring the truth of the Bible from Sunday School or their parents’ living room to their individual hearts. Every parent desires their child to develop an authentic faith of their own that transcends their current environments. One of the key components of the school’s mission of discipleship is guiding students through engaging the world they live in with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

While the interim minister did not receive Jesus that day, she certainly met 30 passionate Christian teenagers. These teenagers are not robots, reciting memory verses with no understanding.  But young men and women applying the truth of their faith through logic, sincerity, and passion. Just about everyone in that room felt the enormous value of that experience, climaxing at the end with multiple prayers for this minister to find what she is looking for... Jesus Christ.    
 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent