by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

The majority of Crosshill teachers will participate in a 2-day professional development event this week alongside others from Christian schools in the Northwest that will grow them as educators. Last year during one of the general sessions, the speaker challenged every person in the room to share their school’s mission statement with the person next to them. As it appeared many in the room struggled with this exercise, I was pleased to see Crosshill teachers easily describe the school’s clear mission of discipleship to others. Through the pillars of relationships and God’s Word, the daily medium of learning is built upon the foundation of guiding students to follow Jesus with their entire lives. I must confess that in that moment, a degree of pride swelled up in me about the solid leadership the teachers had received.
 
I supposed I should have read my Proverb for the day as we know that “pride goes before a fall.”  As I sat there with my chest puffed out just a bit more than before, the speaker then gave the room a new challenge. He told all of us to turn to our neighbor and clearly describe our school’s vision. Almost in unison, about 25 pairs of Crosshill eyes turned to me with confused looks on their faces. Apparently the school’s leadership was not as strong in this area. I could not slink down far enough in my chair. Apparently the conference would not only provide growth for teachers, but also for administrators.

As followers in Jesus, we should always be in a place of growth. At salvation, we are set apart to God by the justification of our sins through Jesus’ perfect life and death and resurrection. We are made right before God at the cross, and as believers He wants us to experience that rightness each day. While sin will still exist in our lives at times, the practical experience of living in obedience with God results in growth that bears much fruit. As I often tell our students, we don’t want to be the same person we are today a week from now, much less a year from now. This type of growth takes initiative in spending time with God each day, and pursuing additional means of growth. I have much to learn as a husband, a father, and apparently as a school administrator. Through reading books  and meeting with other Godly husbands, fathers, and school administrators, the process of growth has been a valuable, though inconsistent component of my life.

The school’s mission of discipleship describes what takes place operationally each day of the school year. After much growth, I am excited to describe the school’s vision in terms of our dream of how the world could be changed as a result of that mission. The vision of Crosshill is a world of graduates eager and passionate to fulfill both the First Commission (Genesis 1:26-28) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). A world of graduates engaging in cultures for the redemption of souls and the redemption of entire societies to the glory of God.  

The interesting thing about growth is that the more your grow, the more you realize you don’t know. I am going to take that to heart at this week’s conference! 
 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

I was given tickets to the Beaver football game this past weekend. My 13-year old daughter was eager to be my companion which made the trip even more enjoyable.  Despite the windy and rainy conditions, we found our seats just fine decked out in full rain gear. As halftime approached, we were anxious for our planned visit to one of the Dutch Bros stands located in the stadium. Apparently the stormy weather was great for business, as the line stretched FOREVER! There must have been over 100 people waiting in line.  What were we going to do...this hot treat was practically as important as the game itself!

Fortunately, I remembered a Dutch Bros near the OSU bookstore just outside the stadium. I thought that the line certainly  must be shorter there, and we needed to stretch our legs anyway. Indeed I had been correct, and within ten minutes we were sipping on our large sweet and caffeinated beverages. When we returned to the stadium as halftime neared its end, the security personnel gave us an apologetic look. “You can’t bring that in here. Sorry.” I had forgotten about their stadium beverage policy – NO outside beverages. I looked at my daughter and we almost cried...literally. Ten seconds ago, life had almost been perfect – we were at a NCAA football game as best friends in crazy weather with an awesome drink! Now we just stared at each other shell-shocked. Our ears were drawn to the sound of the band, cheering fans, and football players just inside the stadium. Our hands and our mouths were drawn to the warm drinks we had just spent $10 on. What were we going to do?

Each day brings its own excitement and variety. In my morning quiet time, I have gotten in the habit of specifically asking God to help me be prepared for the day’s surprises, because I know they are coming. When I know they are coming, they no longer are surprises, and I am more able to meet the challenge with joy and wisdom. A verse I often review in the morning is “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad” (Proverbs 12:25). There is much to be anxious about in our daily lives. I am so appreciative of people who always seem ready with a ‘good word’ in the midst of trials. I want to be one of those types of people, and part of the plan is my morning time with God getting ready for the day.

As the caffeine began to kick in from the first sips of my Dutch Bros Kicker drink, and I allowed the fruit of the Holy Spirit to overcome my flesh, an idea popped into my head. “Brooklyn, why don’t we walk back to that now-empty Dutch Bros and watch some of the 3rd quarter on their big TV’s warm and dry?” Our downcast faces turned into elated awareness that we might have just stumbled upon a new Kronberger ritual. We enjoyed our warm and dry intermission, eventually returning to our seats, with nothing but smiles to the security personnel.  
 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

On a beautiful morning this past July, I stood with my best friend at the summit of Table Rock and realized one of the reasons God chooses to “reign on high”. At 4,881 feet, delighting in the magnificent view of His creation our hearts collectively resonated with Genesis 1:31 “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”. As we stood mesmerized by the panoramic display of the cascades the noise, cares and turmoil of the world faded. Set before us were Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Jefferson, Three Fingered Jack, Mt. Washington, and all three of the Sisters, providing a much needed change of scenery. Unexpectedly, they inspired a much needed change of perspective as well.       

Our character trait for the month of October is Creativity: Approaching a need, a task, or an idea from a new perspective. Our “new” perspective should always build on an “old” and perfect one: God’s perspective. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 55:8 NIV). I don’t know about yours, but my perspective is consistently inadequate and self-serving. God’s perspective knows all of the details, see’s the potential, and keeps the issue at just the right size. 

A humble and teachable spirit searches for two key factors in comprehending God’s perspective: wisdom and understanding. The Apostle James kept it simple, “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5 NLT). He encourages us to seek wisdom from above that is “pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:13-17). As we invest time into our spiritual growth through studying the scripture, the Holy Spirit will adjust and align our perspective to God’s. Only then will we be able to take a step back from whatever situation we are facing, and “see the forest for the trees”.
 
Thankfully my friend and I were the only ones on the trail for most of our adventure, or we surely would have disturbed even the most patient traveler. We are two very loud blondes who laughed, cried, prayed, and passionately shared about what God was doing in our lives the entire journey to the summit. Once there basking in contemplative silence, our “mountainous concerns” shrank in the light of God’s creative awesomeness. Prayer, scripture and time with a godly friend will always bring us into a right perspective. We don’t ever need to traverse life’s mountains on our own! 

May we turn our ears to wisdom and apply our hearts to understanding (Proverbs 2:2).
 
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– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

by Adam Kronberger / Superintendent

My older brother is a successful hunting and fishing guide in Alaska. I have had multiple opportunities to experience memorable trips with him. This past summer my son Justus and I spent a week on a backcountry fishing trip. Every aspect of the trip was paid for by my brother as a gift. My only responsibility was to make my way up to Anchorage on the correct date. As we are practically twins when it comes to body type, he also shares with me all of the necessary gear and apparel necessary to make such a trip successful. 

Naturally, when I arrive in Alaska, I want to do as much as I can to pay him back. As we run the final errands in preparation, I constantly badger him to allow me to pick up the tab. His response is always, “Adam, it’s easier if I just take care of it.” Whether it be the floatplane costs, tackle for fishing, or a simple Gatorade for the flight, my brother insisted on just adding it to his tab. I think he probably got annoyed by my constant insistence to help out. But the combination of his generosity and pre-programmed way of paying for things was a gift in so many ways.

Our relationship with God often functions in a very similar way. First, we accept the payment for our sins by Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, and choose to surrender our lives to him. Then the adventure begins, and the cost has already been paid for. Still at times we feel compelled to somehow contribute to our salvation. We might feel that we need to perform especially well or follow certain rules to somehow feel we earned it. But those actions are all in vain, as the work at the cross is complete and confirmed.

Still, what should our response be to the amazing gift of grace through salvation? When I was on my fishing trip, each evening we would pull over from our river float and set up camp. Both paying clients and freeloader brothers like me worked together to set up camp. We put together tents and assembled cots while the guides prepared our evening meal. Even though the trip was paid in full, the success of the trip was held together by the gracious efforts of each team member.

In the same way, God has called each of us to contribute to the redemption of all of creation. Timothy Keller writes, “the ultimate purpose of redemption is not to escape the material world, but to renew it.” The most impossible work has already been taken care of by Jesus. And as those around us arrive at the dead ends the world ultimately provides, Jesus’ redemptive work should be noticeable in our lives and readily available. This month’s character trait is creativity. May God give each of us new perspectives as we respond to His work on the cross and participate with God in transforming the world to reflect his righteousness. 
 
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– Adam Kronberger / Superintendent