​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

The nightly “tuck-in” bedtime routine probably needs a different name in our house.  More often our children must first be “untucked” from our bed, or a comfortable couch, before any bedtime routine can commence. As much as I often am exhausted and want the bedtime routine to complete quickly, there is much value in investing time into the process. Something curious always seems to happen after about 7 minutes of being present with one of my children around bedtime. Comfortable silence or simple chit chat soon develops into meaningful conversation. When a child is in a safe environment built on trust, love, and good will, it is easy to move from shallow to deeper waters.

At the recent high school retreat, close to 100 students and staff were gathered around a campfire the final night. A very simple but strategic decision had been made to give room for the aforementioned safe environment. True transformation often does not come in the contained classrooms or scripted chapels. Transformation begins in the heart and is fully realized in community.  It takes time. Unscripted opportunities where a child and a parent or mentor are simply present and engaged is at the heart of the discipleship process.

Much like a bedtime routine, when the high school students were asked to share a word of encouragement you could hear the crickets chirping (literally). As the campfire crackled and the minutes passed by, a few courageous students slowly began to volunteer an encouraging word or a thankful comment. It began slowly with teachers often leading the way. And while it was certainly past my bedtime, space and time continued to be given as students entered deeper waters. The result was a group of believers who put aside the things of the flesh in order to walk in accordance with the Spirit. Pride was replaced with humility, discontentment with gratefulness, and discord with forgiveness.  

It was a great reminder to take those moments in time, whether around bedtime or a campfire, and intentionally engage your child with open-ended questions.

– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

The sting of back-to-school shopping prompted me to become that parent; the one on the last day of school who confiscated that dreaded brown paper (teacher’s revenge) bag. I sifted through the bits of broken crayons and gunky glue sticks, foraging for survivors. Few items persevered through the year, except, that is, for the often overlooked rulers, protractors and compasses.

Throughout their schooling, students will be taught measurement principles and procedures. Various tools will be introduced and mastered. Without these vital skills, our children couldn’t tell time or set a goal to save for something special. Imagine a high schooler not being able to estimate how late they can sleep in and still make it to first period before the bell rings.

We naturally measure what’s important to us. We measure the success of our sports teams, our physical health, as well as the health of our bank accounts. But what about the spiritual health of our families? The true measure of a life placing God above all and aspiring to Christ-likeness is revealed in the light of Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”

Are we demonstrating the love of Christ to others? Do we find joy in our work, or do we allow negativity or difficult circumstances to poison our perspective? Are we faithfully sharing the gospel? Is there peace in our home and in our relationships? What is our level of self-control when faced with temptation? Do we respond to stress, difficulties, and challenges with kindness, patience and gentleness?

Measuring spiritual fruitfulness allows us to celebrate maturity and identify areas that are underdeveloped. It also reveals the quality and depth of our relationship with Jesus. As we look to sound biblical measures to guide our children along their journey into spiritual health, we will be incredibly blessed by the harvest. Our children have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16), and although the fruits of the spirit aren’t on this year’s school supply list, they are essential to a purposeful and abundant life. 

– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Some of the most amazing things only happen once in a lifetime. The birth of a child, a solar eclipse, the final attainment of a dream. There are other events we only wish would happen more often in our lifetime. The perfect stock pick, a lucky raffle ticket, the long anticipated championship season.  Still, other events happen that we are grateful only can happen once in a lifetime. Chicken Pox, a baby’s first painful teeth, adolescence.  

There are other responsibilities that sometimes I wish would only need to happen once in a lifetime. For example, I have already proven I can do the dishes successfully. Why do I need to continue to prove myself? And another thing. Everyone knows I can be patient if I really try. Haven’t I already passed that test? And finally, nobody even knows when I am being humble. When is it my turn to brag a little? What do you want from me!

The human qualities of service, character, and humility are not once-in-a-lifetime events that can be checked off your life to-do-list. Rather they are qualities of integrity which carry the most weight demonstrated consistently in the present. If I struggle with these qualities in my home, why should I be surprised that my own children struggle with doing family chores, waiting their turn, and showing honor to others first. An 11-year old once wrote in a letter: “Dear God, my dad thinks he is you. Please straighten him out.” OUCH!

Each student at Crosshill Christian possesses an eternal value that we try to remind them of every day. At the same time, we also combat current culture which claims they are the center of the universe.Adam and Eve attempted to replace God and we all know how that ended. Ironically, we want students to become more like God in the spirit of Jesus Christ. Even though He is God, He came in an attitude of service, character, and humility. That’s a challenging yet valuable expectation to have of our students. As teachers and parents, may we be quick to model service in our classrooms and homes, striving for consistent character, with the humility to admit our shortcomings. In all things, this will point to the most important event in anybody’s lifetime, the gospel of Jesus Christ. 


– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Over the summer, my son and I found ourselves lying flat on our backs in the rear of our van. As we settled into our sleeping bags, I was cautiously excited we had embarked on a spontaneous hiking trip. Right before I could comment on how hot and uncomfortable I was,  my son declared how content and comfortable HE was. If I couldn’t have the flexible resilient body of a 10-year old, I at least was going to try to have his pleasant mindset. As we stared at the dark starlit sky through the windows, He reminded me about doing our nightly summer devotions. I had of course left our father-son devotion book at home.  Just as well, as I had finally found a tolerable sleeping position after 30 minutes of adjustment. But of course my son reminded me that I had the Bible on my phone, which was conveniently located way at the front of the van. After getting my phone, we read my favorite Psalm (19), and I adjusted my suffering body and my joyful mindset hopefully one last time.  Before I could doze off to sleep, the cramped confines of the vehicle were filled with the smells of, how should I say, the digestive relief of a 10-year old boy after 3 helpings of raspberry cobbler. Ain’t parenting grand!

But truly, parenting is the second most important and rewarding relationship on this planet. First-time parents are often overwhelmed and proud of the privilege and responsibility of caring for their child.  Without parents, children would not survive.  But as the children grow and transform, the parents own transformation becomes apparent. Parents soon realize that they might have it backwards. How can parents survive without their children?

Sometimes we also have it backwards with our relationship with God. We might feel that God created us because He was lonely, and that we need to give Him some of our attention out of obligation. We might even feel glad that our good deeds or our worthy praise bring Him some temporary happiness. But of course we would be wrong. God didn’t need to create us. He wasn’t lonely. He was 100% complete in Himself.  As Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, He already had perfect fellowship and life in Himself. He lacked nothing.

God doesn’t come to us so we can fill some emptiness in Him. He comes to us to fill up the huge emptiness in us. When He created us, we rejected Him. And yet He never rejects us. God’s love is different than all other human love. It is completely unselfish.Even though God is holy and sinless, He has come near to us, and has provided a way for us to be saved from our sin and brought into his presence forever. And unlike my hiking trip, I can certainly sleep peacefully on that.​ 

– Adam Kronberger / Head of School