by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

The longer I live this one life God has given me, the more the pile of mistakes I make seems to pile up. I hope the rate the pile grows is decreasing, but there are days I wonder. I know I have been bought with the price of the blood of Christ and I am a new creation. I also know only Jesus was perfect, and through His grace and forgiveness what He asks of me is to simply follow Him. And yet the mistakes at times seem to continue.  I am reminded of the apostle Paul who lamented in Romans 7:21, “so I find this law at work: although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” Yet he also declares in 1 Corinthians 5:57, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So often I try to fix my mistakes of my own effort. This will always be a losing effort as the complete holy law cannot be fulfilled. Yet there are short seasons where I feel I have improved myself due to my disciplined efforts apart from God. In those moments, only my selfishness and stubbornness are honored. I sometimes wonder what does that victory from God look like? Paul paints a beautiful picture in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7:

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

These verses help me realize that I am simply a jar of clay. I am brittle and easily broken. This jar of clay is full of cracks through the mistakes my flesh stumbles into. I cannot fix these cracks. Yet God has put his light in my heart, and in this cracked pot of clay. Without the cracks, the light would only brighten this small container. But the ironic benefit of the cracks is that they allow the light inside to shine out to others. And because of the cracks, it is clear that the light does not come from me, but from a more eternal and powerful source.

It is miraculous that God can use the cracks in our life to shine His light to us and through us to others. Paul remarks in Romans 6 how we should respond to how God uses our mistakes to shine His light. Our attention should shift from the mistakes and focus on His light. This is true victory. The cracks may remain in this life, but His light will continue to shine forever. Let your light shine today... his perfection in your imperfection.​

– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

Early one morning before the sun came up, I was attempting to complete my morning devotions while my 8-year old son was attempting to complete his own reading. Out of the blue he asked me, “Dad, did Samuel really only see his parents once a year after being dropped off at the temple when he was six?” He must have been somewhere between the judges and the kings in his “Jesus Calling” Bible Storybook. After I answered his question, we continued our dialogue. I eventually asked him a question, “How would you like it if I dropped you off at church so you could live there permanently?” My son cocked his head slightly, paused, and then replied, “Sure, as long as I could have all the the food in the church kitchen!”

I am often reminded that my children’s thinking process somehow always seems to run through their stomach. Their physical comfort and wants drives many of their spontaneous decisions. As I reflected on this developmental phenomenon, God quickly brought to my mind my own tendency to be led by temporal desires. Perhaps my favorite time of the day is when I wake early in the morning and place myself in a familiar chair with a familiar cup of coffee, and I spend time with my good, good Father. My best friend and wife Chauntel joins me as well (after I have provided her with a sweet cup of coffee).  

Recently, my children have interrupted our special time in the morning. It’s like they can somehow sense the light is on in the living room, and they soon magically appear. Most kids don’t want to go to bed early, but our children don’t want to get out of bed late. Regardless, my special “quiet time” with the Lord has been interrupted by the pitter patter of feet, the chomping of dry cereal, and constant questions from my children reading their Bibles. Here’s how my subsequent conversation has gone with God:

“Lord God, please give me the patience to endure the hardship of my children ruining my quiet time each morning.”

“Really, Adam. That’s what you want to pray about. You are angry that your own children are choosing to imitate the very disciplined behavior you hold so dear?”

“But God, how can I survive without completing my morning quiet time.”

“Well Adam, the very fact that you are choosing to have this conversation with me indicates we know each other well. Including them in your mornings will only draw you and I closer. I will give you the grace to do both.”

Boy do I have a lot to learn! I am so thankful how God chooses to live with us through intimate relationship as we seek him out every day. May our children hear and see the value we put on spending time with God, as we disciple a generation of Samuels!​

– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

When I was a child, I struggled at times with obeying my parents. I know this puts me in the minority as most of you were probably perfect children and are currently parenting perfect children.  But perhaps for some this article might be helpful. Obedience continues to be a challenge for me at times. There are just so many instructions and commands that I am asked to follow that I disagree with. And then there is this instruction manual called the Bible, of which my flesh can constantly be in conflict with.  As the apostle Paul writes, “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24)

There are two main truths that helped to not only transform my behavior, but helped me develop a deeper relationship with God. First, I needed to be reminded that all authority is put in place by God (Romans 13:1). Second, I needed to surrender to the fact that obedience to authority is about the who, not the what. Pastor Andy Stanley says it best, “Most of us believe a big lie when it comes to our clashes with authority. We mistakenly think that the issue is right and wrong. When authorities ask us to do something we don’t want to do, we argue as if what they are asking us to do is wrong. Somewhere along the way we get the notion that what we want is right. The truth is, what we really want is our way. It is a mature student who can distinguish the difference between arguing for what is right versus arguing for their way.”

For the month of October, the school will focus on carrying out the directions of those who have authority over me. Students will be encouraged to obey quickly, cheerfully, and to go the extra mile. While exceptions are occasionally necessary so that wrong commands are not obeyed, the greater growth need is in the area of surrender. When children learn to surrender to parents, they will be more successful to obey the authority within their own culture and society. Their standing in their community will directly affect their ability to fulfill the Great Commission. Learning to submit to earthly authority is vital practice to carry out the directions of God Almighty who has authority over all things. 

I have already been using the teachings on obedience on a regular basis in my home.  The most effective training we provide our children does not come in a single family meeting, but in the daily commitment to identify disobedience and teach and require proper submission to authority. Still, we and our children may sometimes feel “wretched” about our inability to be perfect. Paul concludes in Romans 7, “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (verse 25).

– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

I absolutely love it when a passage of scripture that I have read several times over the years stands out in a special way that lets me know God is about to reveal something to me. It’s exciting, and happened recently as I read John 14:23 where Jesus said, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching”. As I spent time praying and thinking about that scripture, I was encouraged regarding my love for Jesus and of the many teaching I live by, yet couldn’t help but acknowledge the fact that there are several teachings I couldn’t quite remember.

God was shedding light on the spiritual discipline I struggle with most, scripture memorization. I can fully and confidently recite the McDonald’s jingle from my childhood (You know the one, “Two all beef patties…”), yet cannot accurately recall the passage of scripture I tried to learn recently! Thankfully, when we work to place God’s Word in our heart, it is never lost to us. If we are faithful to learn scripture, God is faithful to bring it back to our memory at just the right time. 

As parents, the depth of our scripture knowledge provides us with either limited or limitless resources to help our children grow in godly character and understanding. Many of us grew up continually hearing, “because I said so”, and parents have been saying, “Just Do It!” long before Nike. Both are dead-end phrases of obedience, leaving no room for discipleship. Our children need to hear how, and why we obey and love God above all others. They need to hear God’s Word come out of our mouths in prayer and praise, every single day. Our discipleship in all situations must be instant, impactful, and because it confronts difficult truths, should be seasoned with godly encouragement. All of this is possible if we have placed God’s Word in our heart.  
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As difficult as it can seem at times to memorize scripture, the process is a benefit greater than knowledge. When we meditate on God’s Word it brings us into a closer and more meaningful relationship with Him. Only then can He reveal to us His will, and transform our lives. God is waiting to spend time with us and inspire us with His amazing truths, promises, and encouragement. I challenge us all to make it a priority to memorize scripture and spend time in the Word. “Just do it!”, because He is our heavenly Father who loves us, and well… in His words, God said so :) 

May the Word of Christ Dwell in us Richly,

– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

About a month ago I began to prepare myself for an upcoming dentist appointment. I decided that I should start flossing every night, but my motivation was not actually to maintain clean teeth. Rather, I was hoping to prevent the sudden flow of blood from my gums the moment the dental hygienist touched them with floss after another 6-month hiatus. Perhaps it's a guy thing, but I don’t like the idea of someone else being able to make me bleed so easily.

The first week of flossing was painful and annoying. But by the second week I found my rhythm and was even enjoying the process, looking forward to my nightly appointment with my floss. But by the third week, my flossing had uncovered a pain in the back of my mouth that I could only presume was a cavity. Throwing my hands up in the air, I  instantly became depressed and stopped flossing altogether, feeling there was nothing I could do.  

When our appointment arrived, my two children and then my wife both completed their cleanings with rave reviews from the dentist. It was now my turn to face the music. I sheepishly approached the chair and quickly confessed my concern about a giant cavity in my mouth. New x-rays were taken, and the dentist was prematurely summoned to examine my mouth. I was soon asked about my personal hygiene and described my recent introduction of flossing into my regimen. Fortunately, it was determined that there was no cavity in my mouth, but simply a cut gum from my new flossing habit.

I think that sometimes I view my quiet time with God like flossing. I know how important it is to my walk with Him, but oftentimes I need external motivation to get me going. Once I begin to spend time with God on a regular basis, I often find my stride and enjoy the habit. But as I begin to seek after His own heart, it oftentimes reveals things in me I may not be proud of. Guilt and shame can quickly overwhelm me, and I can easily throw my hands up in the air in discouragement and give up.

It is helpful to be reminded that Jesus didn’t come to save the healthy, but to save the sick. God expects us to attend church not when we become good enough, but because we never will be good enough without His grace. We raise our hands in worship not because we are spiritual, but because we are unspiritual and the action oftentimes jumpstarts our hearts. God’s healing and direction is readily available as we allow Him access to our lives through daily time with HIm.  

I asked my dentist if I was now exempt from flossing due to my gum “injury”. Unfortunately, a couple of days off and I am ordered back into my flossing program. I am grateful for his instructions, just as I am grateful for those people in my life who model and motivate me to spend time with God daily. There is no injury that can keep me from my morning cleansing in His presence.

– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent