​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Just about everyone has a favorite season of the year. For those who prefer autumn above all others, there was much concern that we might miss out with that season altogether this year. But finally it has arrived. As the days become shorter, the leaves turn colors, and the thermometer begins to drop, I am reminded of  Ecclesiastes 3:

“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die...
a time to plant and a time to uproot...
a time to weep and a time to laugh...
a time to mourn and a time to dance...”

The majority of the seasons in our lives are intended to experience in community. The glorious act of creation described in the book of Genesis was completed in community by the triune God (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). He created us to not only commune with Him, but to have community with one another. We are often drawn to one another for the benefit of a common purpose, or especially for a reason to celebrate.

It is equally if not more important to support one another in times of sadness. This past week at a varsity soccer match in the Portland area, a member of our community suddenly passed away. The father of CCS Board Member Brian Spaulding transitioned from celebrating a goal scored by his grandson to an eternal celebration with the King of Kings. We are comforted by Larry’s presence in the heavenly places, but mourn the absence of his human presence among those loved by him.

In God’s perfect providence, Larry’s passing only accentuated his legacy of humble support for community. Players from both teams quickly transitioned from opponents to united brothers in Christ. Parents from both schools selflessly provided support where needed. From the field to the parking lot to the playground, sons and daughters of our Glorious King expressed and experienced His love as a piece of our reality briefly intersected with the eternal.  

Throughout the week, CCS students and teachers have often gathered to pray for the Spaulding family and their 3 high school children. As we each consider the sorrow connected to losing a loved one, we also reconsider the love we have for those we are blessed to see each and every day. The perfect life, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ overcame spiritual death providing eternal life with HIm. Until we join Larry once again in everlasting joy, may we each embrace each season God brings our way. A few months ago I was given a generous gift card to one of my favorite restaurants where I always order a “Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Bowl.” I quickly scheduled a couple of long overdue lunch appointments at a nearby location (my treat!) As I walked up to pay after my first lunch meeting, I was made aware that my gift card was not valid at that particular chain location. My hospitality of paying for the entire check just got REAL. I was required to exercise true unselfishness as I handed over cold hard cash in an unexpected way. My half-hearted sacrifice continued a 2 days later at  my next lunch meeting already scheduled at that same location (my treat).

A few weeks later, I strategically planned some family errands to Keizer Station around a rare family dinner eating out (my treat!). As I proudly approached the cash register to experience the blessing of that same gift card, I was informed that my gift card was not valid at that location either. The expression on my face was a mixture of surprise, denial, and disgust. A moment of true humility came a second later as my wife gently directed my attention to the clear address on the gift card of the one location it was valid for. I was clearly to blame for not properly exercising the gift card, as the instructions had always been in plain sight. 

Over a billion dollars worth of gift cards go unused each year. While that makes me feel a little better, I doubt that statistic makes the giver of those gift cards feel any better.  In James 1:17, we read, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Everything that is good in our lives comes directly from God, the source of all good gifts. How many of those gifts have we failed to exercise rightly because we don’t read the instructions? God’s word is full of guidance in how to daily enjoy and serve others with the many gifts He has given us.

Recently, with great pomp and circumstance, I enjoyed a “Spicy Teriyaki Chicken Bowl” with my wife making full use of the gift card that had generously been given to me. This lesson has helped me to consider other gifts that I might find in my wallet, daily schedule, or constant decisions that need a little more attention to detail. May each of us not contribute to leaving “billions” of God’s gifts unused properly.
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– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

For those of us who are bent toward research, analysis, and comparison, the current information age was designed for us. Here is my “prime" example:  Amazon. From the comfort of your own home, or even utilizing a spare moment on your mobile device, you can investigate just about any purchase to your heart’s content. At your disposal are user reviews, comparison charts, and customer photos to guide any potential decision. Within minutes you can accomplish ten times more product exploration than an afternoon shopping around town. While online research might seem endless, a point of saturation still occurs where any further investigation has diminishing returns.  

In contrast, our investigation into the nature of God is infinite. In a recent chapel, I described how as a child my knowledge of God was limited to the interior of a small finite circle. The infinite space outside the circle represented everything yet to learn about God. As I have slowly matured as a disciple of Jesus Christ, the allegorical circle has grown in size in proportion to my understanding of God. Yet what I don’t know about God continues to fill the limitless space outside the circle. One notable and measurable difference is that the circumference (distance around the circle) has increased. The edge of the circle is the intersection of my humanness and God’s eternal nature.  It represents my awareness of how big God is. In ironic fashion, the more I know about God, the greater I understand how much more I don’t know about God!

Thus, the investment of time into learning about God not only increases our knowledge of Him, but increase our awe of His bigness! God’s ways are certainly higher than our ways and even a glimpse into that truth drives us to our knees in worship. So the next time you review your Amazon wishlist or cart, consider how no website, library, or “universe-wide web” could ever come close to describing our awesome God!

– Adam Kronberger / Head of School

​by Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

Recently the joyful sound of laughter filled the house as my teenagers shared a YouTube video featuring two cats ringing a bell for treats. That adorable, comical performance inspired our latest family “cat project”. We reminisced about our previous attempts at cat cuteness. Our festive Christmas photo with family and cat in matching jammies did not end well (wearing pajamas seems to elicit erratic behavior in cats). There was also our short-lived adventure in toilet training the cat. He was fascinated, yet focused more on emptying the cat litter into the toilet than doing his business.  The kids and I found it hysterical; however, my husband, who is also in charge of maintenance, was not amused, and educated us on the science of cat litter and plumbing.   

Undeterred by past failure, a bell was ordered and the process began. A few weeks into it, the cat’s unforeseen fear of the bell decreased, yet his stubbornness increased. Enough time and treats had passed for him to have fully grasped this simple concept.  We rang the bell and dutifully doled out a tasty treat, encouraged him to ring the bell, and repeated the drill. After another week, I entered into some intentional trust-building (he knows I’m not his biggest fan). I took his paw, rang the bell, and gave him a treat (over, and over, and over).  Now it was his turn to do it by himself; we both sat on the kitchen floor staring at each other, the bag of treats, and the bell, in awkward silence. This behavior modification plan needed some serious work.

Changing behavior is never easy, nor is recognizing its power to serve as a “red flag” or symptom of a need for heart and mind transformation.  As believers, our goal is to address our sinful behavior and become Christlike, yet we cannot achieve it by human will or determination. The Bible instructs us to “Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:23 (NLT). The more we engage in practices that draw us near to God as our source for truth, encouragement, and transformation, our hearts and minds will begin to align with His, and our behavior will follow. 

I have come to the realization that our cat may never ring that bell, but I don’t plan on giving up anytime soon. Thankfully, God never gives up on the hearts and minds of His beloved people “being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Col. 3:10).

– Molly Dillon / Keizer Campus Principal

​by Adam Kronberger / Head of School

Most jobs have small daily perks that can become the favorite part of an employee’s day. Standing outside the front of Crosshill Christian School each morning personally greeting students and parents is certainly one of the favorite parts of my day. Each high five given is a quick symbolic connection and prayer over each individual that enters the fold. Another enjoyable perk of my job is performing daily announcements over the intercom system. News, birthdays, lunch menu, and sports updates are intertwined with music and sound effects. By the time learning begins in the classroom, it feels like the day has already been won.

One portable classroom of 7th grade students did not yet have a phone installed at the beginning of the year, so I had the added benefit of giving “live” announcements to the class for a second time. As the class was generally already engaged with the morning lessons, I found much joy in silently sneaking into the back of the classroom and suddenly bursting out “Goooooooood Morning Crosshill Christian!” Inevitably, half the class would jump in their seats, with large grins on their faces equal to my own. 

A phone was recently installed in their classroom and I performed my last bittersweet “live” announcement in their classroom. Unbeknownst to me, the class and their teacher, Mr. Scheler, had been scheming for some time about a plan to get me back and “surprise” me in some sudden way. The other day I was in the safe comfort of my office preparing to begin my morning ritual of announcements over the phone system with music blaring from my speakers. I began to sense a vibration in the floor like a herd of elephants was approaching. And right in the middle of my “live” announcements over the phone system, twenty 7th grade students charged into my office with a “surprise” greeting. With little time to adjust, we collectively completed the school-wide announcements with impromptu chorus at times, with grins stretching across our faces.  

Luke 6:40 states that “everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.” The principle of “actions speak louder than words” certainly applied to this scenario as my actions modeled behavior that students applied to put a smile on my face! As parents, we are responsible each day to provide instruction to our children covering a wide variety of learning. But more importantly, it is our actions that either confirm or contradict those instructions which carry the most weight. So whether it is a high five, a loving embrace, an example of integrity, or a practical joke, allow the volume of your actions to confirm the people God wants us to be. 

– Adam Kronberger / Head of School