|
Standing in a buffet line at a recent private event, my wife and I were overwhelmed with joy as a former student recognized and approached us. During the rest of the evening, we reminded each other how our paths had crossed many years ago. Now married for 14 years to another former student, there were many ways my wife and I had been a part of her life. I taught her Bible and Math in High School, my wife and I provided the 2 of them with marital counseling, and I even helped officiate their wedding.
Though life’s changes had separated us for well over a decade, we enjoyed reflecting on shared memories that seemed to be a lifetime ago. As we drove home from the event, my wife and I thanked God for the joyful surprise. I found myself personally encouraged by the seemingly random details this young lady remembered from our season together. More specifically, she remembered individual classes, lessons, and even conversations that she confessed had “changed her life.” Now, as a mother of 5, she was eager to pass on many of those same lessons to her own children. God has called all of us to be a light to those around us, whether it be our own children, their friends, longtime church relationships, or developing acquaintances in the workplace. Though Jesus' disciples likely “studied” hard under His' tutelage, I’m sure they felt unprepared when He sent them out to a lost world. As Paul planted churches and discipled those new to the faith, I doubt He understood the thousands of stories of the impact his obedience was having on others. Being a disciple who makes disciples flows from joyful obedience. The fruit is always in God's hands. As we embark on another school year, each day will bring opportunities for multitudes of “life-changing” moments through modeling, teaching, and transformation. Some of these opportunities will be planned in Chapel or a Bible class, and other opportunities may happen at the breakfast table or a car ride. Needed in each situation is intentionality for the purpose of training disciples. May we all continue to engage in a lifestyle of living out God’s design in each of our lives. I often joke that my name is fully recycled. My first name was previously given to my older brother as his middle name. And my middle name is identical to the middle name my parents both oddly share. And then of course my last name has been in our family for generations. So as a child, I enjoyed just about any nickname that my dad or mom warmly gave me.
For the most part, I have outgrown all of those nicknames. But there is one moniker that still applies: "son." Ironically, it is even more "recycled" than the individual parts of my full name. Yet above every other name, the label "son" carries the most meaning. While nicknames can be individualized and even carry a unique meaning, the position of "son" possesses far more significance than any playful term. In 1 John 3:1, we read, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are!" As followers of Jesus Christ, our position with God is much more meaningful than a temporary nickname. God addresses us as His own children. And not only does He label us as His own sons and daughters, but I love how John proclaims, "And so we are!" We are His image-bearers, saved by grace through faith, created for good works God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in. Those in this world living without Christ are considered lost for many reasons. One area of lostness is surrounding identity. Without a relationship with God, the world seeks to define its existence and purpose through the temporary brokenness of a fallen world. But with Christ, everything falls into place. We can stand on a firm foundation as children of God! So this summer as you spend time with your own children, take time to speak truth into their position as sons and daughters of the Most High God! And if they have a "recycled" name like I do, consider throwing a loving nickname their way for good measure! I am often reminded of the humble beginnings of Crosshill Christian School. At times the path was undefined and even seemed insurmountable. From starting with 33 students in 1992, the guiding strength has always been the clear call from God for His campus. I am reminded of Jonathan's belief in God's promise for His chosen nation.
"Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (I Samuel 14:6) For over 30 years the leaders of Crosshill Christian School have been diligent to allow God to do His work on our behalf. Over the past decade, Crosshilll Christian School has experienced an average of 12% growth annually. We anticipate close to 600 students in the fall of '24 (about 7% annual growth). With over 2/3 of our classrooms at capacity, we are as committed as ever to remaining obedient to God's vision for His school. Growth in numbers should also run parallel with growth in other areas. Over this same season, we have established a clear leadership team of Principals and Administrative staff to share the daily governance and long-term planning of the school. We continue to establish intentional training for our staff on our mission of discipleship training within a school setting. Student activities, student resources, and student academic interventions continue to grow. Our March missions week engages hundreds of students, staff, and parents in practicing the Great Commission. Graduates continue to walk in authentic faith, living a surrendered life to His leading. Still, there is much work to do. According to His design, we are an imperfect community within a broken world, attracted to the redemption found in Christ Jesus. May we consistently allow the redeeming power of the gospel to invade every decision, every meeting, every mistake, and every victory. The success that Jonathan experienced was not an individual victory, for he was not alone. “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” (I Samuel 14:7) A day does not go by that we do not prayerfully rejoice with the families committed to the mission of Crosshill Christian School. The journey of training our children to be disciples of Jesus Christ in this culture is not an easy one. It often comes at great cost and sacrifice. While it is easy to trust God, it is not always easy to trust others, especially with their children. Thank you for your trust. Through our shared belief in the goodness and sovereignty of God, we believe the ground will shake just as it did in Israel with the awareness that God is alive and on the throne. "What are you doing this summer?" This question is often asked as the school year winds down. For some, the question awakens eager excitement for new adventures. For others, the question might induce anxiety over added responsibilities. Regardless, the summer season is full of opportunity and fun traditions.
This past weekend a quick trip to Central Oregon with my son ended in Sisters with a burger and fries and a shake at the famous Sno Cap Drive-In. We were getting a head start on checking the box of one of our annual summer traditions. The result was a father-son weekend with another valuable memory as we both grow closer to God and each other. While the trip was short and simple, the experience still required intentional planning. We budgeted for gas money, suspect nutrition, along with other needed supplies. We plotted our itinerary, making sure we used our limited time to its full. I imagine most families have similar stories that celebrate family time in the summer. In the same way, making plans to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ requires intentional planning as well. Meaningful growth and valuable memories rarely happen by accident. And while a blackberry milkshake may provide a spontaneous pleasure and perhaps conversation for a mild memory, growing as a family of believers has an even greater return. There are many resources available to make this a summer with no regrets. Here are a few that come to mind: The Action Bible Answers in Genesis Kids Focus on the Family Summer Adventure Kits Stand to Reason Apologetics Resources Bible in 90 Days Top Ten Books for Christian Teenagers Equally important as the content of the resource is the creation and commitment to a plan. As we enter the month of June, consider sitting down with your family and map out your summer. Consider both destinations outside of Salem and the destination of growing closer to God. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you!" (James 4:8a) A popular and healthy trend is moving among families of pre-teens teens called "Wait Until 8th." According to their website, the "Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. Let’s protect the elementary and middle school years from the distractions and the dangers of a smartphone. Banding together helps decrease the pressure to have a phone at an early age. Ten years old is the average age children get their first smartphone. You can change this!"
The founders describe how "parents feel powerless in this uphill battle and need community support to help delay the ever-evolving presence of the smartphone in the classroom, social arena and family dinner table. Link arms with other parents to wait until at least the end of eighth grade for a smartphone!" An effective starting strategy is for parents to begin having intentional discussions about their family media plan while their children are still young. Our kids grow up fast! Without a plan, often unintended unhealthy influences can be introduced into our homes. Presenting a thoughtful consistent plan to children early on can help temper future disagreements regarding the timing of smartphone ownership. Expanding these conversations with other families your children spend time with can also be immensely fruitful. So often we as parents feel like we are parenting on an island, combatting the secular culture on our own. Developing a community built upon similar values and principles is so helpful for encouragement and accountability. While our children may disagree with our strategies at times, their experience of receiving care, structure, and safety certainly transcends any selfish or hurt feelings. Still, it isn't easy. I value my personal "me" time and devices in our home allow others to be largely distracted and stay out of my way (I'm only human). But to combat this unhealthy reality, we have strict time usage and a restricted schedule on the smartphone I have entrusted to my 16-year-old son. Regularly he and I are forced to re-engage with one another in meaningful ways when his smartphone access has come to an end. Whether it is "Wait Until 8th" or some other strategy, failure to plan is planning to fail. Today's children require time reserved for play, inquiry, discussion, exploration, and dare I say, "boredom." As our friends from "Wait Until 8th" understand, "Childhood is too short to waste on a smartphone!" This morning my 16-year-old son dropped my wife and I off at the school to start our day. When did this happen? It seems like it was just yesterday that he was bouncing on my knee and spilling milk on the table (sometimes he still does). Now he has become our occasional chauffeur when circumstances require it. The transition from child to young adult is something we often eagerly wish for. But when it arrives, the sudden transition is often filled with mixed emotions.
At recent Crosshill Board and staff meetings we have saturated ourselves in the passage of 1 Corinthians 3:5-11. Paul is speaking from the perspective of spiritual leadership while addressing a body of growing disciples. He writes, "For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field. God's building." What an apt description of the dynamics in the home, church, and our school! An exciting transition happens both subtly and suddenly in the lives of our children. As we plant and water the field of their hearts, God provides growth, constructing a temple for His presence. Our salvation through faith by the grace of God is intended to release maturity for His predesigned good works. How exciting to see fruit in the field of our children's lives! How grateful we are as a solid foundation is built upon the rock of salvation! And how remarkable when they enter into the service of their King as fellow workers alongside us. A teenager occasionally driving their parents around may appear to have little eternal consequence (as long as they arrive safely)! But our discipleship through parenting and schooling in all areas of their lives actually has immeasurable significance. Once the foundation of Jesus Christ is laid, every aspect of their lives can reflect God's glory. Though Paul never rode in an automobile, he would probably agree that the journey is as important as the destination! This week in chapel I walked students through the origin and journey of the Christian band DC Talk. Toby McKeehan (Toby Mac), Michael Tait (Newsboys), and Kevin Max first became friends in the 1980’s attending Liberty University together. Releasing their first album in 1989, their fourth album “Jesus Freak” released in 1995 truly made them a household name among Christians. Believe it or not, many of these songs are readily available on YouTube for you nostalgic DC Talk lovers. I have long since discarded my pile of DC Talk cassette tapes.
On that same 1995 album was a track titled “In the Light.” The catchy chorus goes like this: I wanna be in the Light as you are in the light I wanna shine like the stars in the heavens Oh, Lord, be my light and be my salvation 'Cause all I want is to be in the light All I want is to be in the light This song was certainly inspired by 1 John 1:5-10. The apostle John outlines how God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. Even more impressive is the truth that God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! But the fine print of this passage provides an even deeper meaning. We are called to walk in the light rather than the darkness. In fact, our salvation is dependent on the path we choose to take. Fortunately, walking in the light is not about being perfect. Only God is perfect. His perfect holiness is a light to our path, providing the best plan on this broken planet. Walking in the light is not only believing in Jesus as our Savior, but also surrendering our lives to him as our Lord. To walk in the light is to demote ourselves from being the ruler of our life and place our full trust in the sovereignty of God. This type of surrender can be scary at times, but the alternative is much more bleak. Jesus came to bring life, and letting Him be in charge brings us abundant life! To borrow from DC Talk’s “In the Light,” the powerful lyrics explain: I keep trying to find a life On my own, apart from you I am the king of excuses I've got one for every selfish thing I do What's going on inside of me? I despise my own behavior This only serves to confirm my suspicions That I'm still a man in need of a savior There's no other place I want to be Oh, You are in the light That's where I need to be Oh, that's right where I need to be. I’m sure this never happens in your house. Dinner is over. The dishes are done. And you’re finally relaxing with a good book and enjoying some needed down time, until….
“Mom! Dad! I need help with this math problem!” With a groan, you fold yourself off the couch and shuffle over to the kitchen table. Your eyes glaze over as you stare at the chicken-scratch work on your child’s math paper. Where to begin? You look around. Nobody else is in sight to save you. You settle down in a rigid chair for a long night of (re)learning. Even as a trained and experienced math teacher, I can relate to this experience. I have helped students solve thousands of math problems, and have spent hundreds of hours identifying where a good attempt went wrong. What’s the best strategy? Scan the problem and hope to find the error quickly? Perhaps work backward in hopes the error occurred near the end? Or start from scratch, even though that requires the most work? Solving math problems is a lot like discipleship. Sometimes the child’s mistake is clearly obvious and is best addressed directly. Other times the misbehavior gives insight into what they were feeling, and thus what they were thinking, and then by working backward, the heart of the matter can be addressed. Other times it requires a longer route, starting from the beginning, considering God’s original design for us or the situation, and then rebuilding what He expects of us. Discipling our children wisely and patiently draws us into God's presence. His divine answers are found in His glorious gospel and perfect original design. Answers to math problems are often varied and complicated. Answers for the fallen condition of mankind though can be simple and straightforward, once we are properly trained by the Master teacher. So the next time an impromptu math help session occurs at your kitchen table, remember to integrate God's amazing and creative truths into the conversation. If anything, it may allow you to stall long enough for reinforcements to arrive! A treasured tradition at our school is our annual Elementary Christmas Carol Sing. With students in pajamas sprawled across our sanctuary floor, we recite Scripture, listen to a Christmas story, and most importantly, sing the 12 Days of Christmas. Each of our classes is assigned one of the days, with students popping off the floor each time it is their turn.
In our packed all-school chapel this week we learned about the 7 C's of History. With students from different grades assisting me, we covered God's narrative of human existence. Or some might say, His Story. Creation - Corruption - Catastrophe - Confusion - Christ - Cross - Consummation It is important that students understand and perceive the history of our existence from the correction viewpoint. God's viewpoint. Scripture, science, and our spirit-led wisdom provide us with this accurate window, often called a Christian worldview. These truths help us know that we are made in God's image. They explain how sin and brokenness invaded God's original perfect design. They provide a glimpse into the origins of our present geography and people groups. They supply us the joy of full redemption and communion with our Holy Creator. And they promise us a future that cannot be shaken or taken from us. It may be quite a while until you hear the 12 Days of Christmas ringing in your ears. But when you do, think about the "7 C's of History" as well. Leaping Lords, Gold Rings, and Pear Trees are just a shadow of the cumulative story God is writing in front of our eyes! |
Adam Kronberger
|
RSS Feed
SUPPORT |
NETWORK |
QUICK LINKS |
|
