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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! This past Wednesday 45 Sophomore students descended upon our Elementary classrooms. Replacing the weekly chapel time, small groups of high school students had prepared to “teach” individual elementary classes. Walking through the hallway was an encouraging experience, watching and listening to unique lessons and activities presented in each classroom.
Our campus mission of discipleship training exists not only in our handbook, and not just in content taught by a teacher, but also practiced by each student. These sophomores have been learning that Scriptural discipleship includes a mentor leading us, a peer partnered beside us, and a follower learning from us. What a gift to have a PK-12 campus where this discipleship vision can be accomplished. However, releasing students to this strategic responsibility is not always an easy decision. What if the students weren’t prepared? What if they failed? What if their ideas weren’t the best? Obeying God’s plan often requires a special amount of faith, trust, and prayer. As expected, giving room for God to work produced better results than any of our micromanagement could have ever accomplished. Students were bold and at times goofy as they testified about God’s faithfulness. Students who may have been timid in their high school classroom appeared confident, sharing clear explanations of what it means to be a Christ follower. Certain giftings perhaps not always visible in the traditional high school classroom were suddenly exposed and celebrated for the first time. This Wednesday was only a taste of what the sophomores will all experience this spring on their annual missions trip. Of even greater importance is developing a discipleship lifestyle. Yes, one that supports and often participates in both long-term and short-term missions. But also an intentional philosophy of boldly living out our faith with others, both within our Christian community and to the world. And just as Jesus’ disciples appeared mostly unprepared when he sent them out two-by-two, we often feel unprepared or that our children are not ready. But with a prayerful mix of wisdom, faith, and boldness, God is quick to show up in our midst! With a snow shovel in hand, I enjoyed the sun on my face despite the frigid temperatures. Recruiting my teenage son, we were spending a few hours on our MLK Jr holiday to prep the school campus sidewalks. Despite our progress, a curious tension remained. Were our efforts doing any good? Would more snow and ice arrive, erasing any progress made? When we would have school? Would we even have school?
Weather forecasting in the Willamette Valley is a fitting metaphor for our walk with God. Many of us have detailed calendars to order our days, preparing us for what is to come. But there is also an invisible heavenly calendar that God positions over our personal calendar, often reshaping our well-laid plans. Just as we cannot control the changing weather, there is little we can do to take command over the daily circumstances that come our way. While God is not the author of the "hard stuff" this broken world throws our way, He is active in using them for our good. It is a troublesome dead end to attempt to control and manage our days on our own. Jesus invites us to lay these burdens at His feet, and partner with Him, inviting Him to work His redemptive power in every situation to His glory. While my son and I at times wanted to throw our snow shovels aside and call it a day, we remained committed to the task at hand. Unsure of what weather was to come, we were resolved to finish the surprise assignment provided by the recent cold front. In the same way, there are tasks, circumstances, and responses, both on our calendar and on God's hidden calendar, that will pop up today. These inevitable opportunities are known by God. Rather than being overly frustrated and surprised by them, our growing relationship with Him can build trust in His promised presence. He is more than capable and eager to walk with us through them...even lead us through them. I'm not sure if our hands will wrap around another snow shovel this year. But I am grateful to know that God has his hands wrapped around us whatever the forecast holds. For years I have adopted the philosophy that every day is my favorite day of the week. That said, Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. Directly at the center of our weekly schedule are our chapel services. We plan and invest strategically in these services. We desire students to also love their Wednesdays, developing a rhythm of weekly worship and growth in a healthy Christian community.
This week our elementary chapel services included new faces on the stage helping to lead students in worship. Then our 6th-grade students gathered their 1st-5th grade "families" to mentor them in God's Word. What a great picture of God's design for His people! Corporate worship and small-group growth under the guiding hands of Christian leaders. Our secondary chapel gave our student-led worship team a week off for Finals Week. Our guest adult worship team rocked the house! How special and exceptional for a group of young people to engage together in praise and worship right in the middle of Finals Week! Woven throughout chapel was Scriptural teaching on worship the guest parent worship leader/speaker provided 4 simple truths about worship.
Using examples from God's design of our mind, body, and spirit, the idea and act of worship were affirmed in our community. Further discussion among small groups continued afterward, along with a "healthy" dose of donuts and life-giving special treats. While Fridays can't be beat, and Saturdays and Sundays have a joy of their own, (also my favorites by the way), I can't help but declare that Wednesday is my favorite day of the week! This was a question I asked a group of students sitting before me. Each Wednesday I lead a small group of 12 Junior High boys called a Flight Team. After we have had our share of soda and sugar and salt, we gather around to practice living as disciples in Christian community. The question I asked had been prompted by our chapel guest speaker.
I was impressed as one of the boys articulated a testimony of God's faithfulness. He shared how God had orchestrated events for him to initially attend Crosshill Christian School and to remain year after year. There was a clear attitude of gratefulness in his response, as well as a genuine understanding that this good thing he had in his life was directed by God. We discussed briefly how God's faithfulness to us is not just in the things we tend to agree with or enjoy. But He remains faithful on the mountaintops and through the valley. His presence and eternal blessings are consistent evidence of this truth. God's faithfulness is impossible to measure and difficult to fully comprehend. It was a blessing to hear this young man's testimony and to share in the blessing of God's faithfulness present in the Crosshill community. In our weakness His power is made perfect. As long as we are faithful to show up each day, with all of the baggage that comes with us, God is faithful to show up as well and work his redemptive plan in our lives. Over Christmas Break my family visited the Newport Aquarium and enjoyed their evening light display. We also viewed the seals, sharks, halibut, and octopus in their nocturnal habitat. But I especially marveled at the colorful clownfish and blue tang, the real live versions of Nemo and Dory from the animated movies.
Not unlike many of us, Dory's character has some clear attention issues. Imperfections in God's marvelous creation constantly remind us of the brokenness of sin. Despite being made in God's image, each one of us in various ways experience this tension. The tension of finding our identity as part of God's design, while also realizing our real need for redemption from brokenness. And this redemption comes with a beneficial bonus. Paul writes to Timothy, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Fear is not the only ungodly spirit that this world's brokenness attempts to entrench in our hearts. But as chosen children of God, we are provided access to replace hurtful and painful emotions with God's more perfect design. Dory's parents taught her the simple song "Just Keep Swimming" to guide her decision-making to overcome the obstacles in her way. In a much more magnified way, God's Holy Spirit inside of us can guide our thinking and thus our emotions. "Do not be anxious in anything" is an often-quoted Scripture encouragement. But how? Through the power and love and self-control found in the Holy Spirit. As humans of flesh, partnering with Christ to substitute our fleshly nature with His presence is simply what disciples do. Daily worship, surrender, humility, forgiveness, and connection with the Father, orders our world rightly. We are quick to forget, so we should be quick to access God's presence. If the song "Just Keep Swimming" suddenly gets stuck in your head (my apologies), just be thankful that your memory is better than hers. When I taught Bible classes at the Junior High and High School levels, one of my favorite classroom assignments was called the "Media Fast Challenge." Students were required to document all of the media they consumed for a week. They were encouraged to reduce all digital media activity to Christian music only.
For many students the assignment was a difficult one. Through intentional or unintentional choices, strong unhealthy habits had been formed. Especially in today's climate, this "challenge" is likely even more difficult. I remember my first "Media Fast Challenge" in 2000. The first week was tough. I changed all my radio presets to various Christian music stations. I had to identify other leisure activities in the evening other than watching TV. Who knew reading and conversation could be so much fun? As that first week came to an end, I decided to push it another week. And then another week. Soon the TV was put away in the closet. Weeks became months. I experienced firsthand the adage "Garbage in, Garbage out." With my heart and mind starved of worldly pop culture, my attitudes and words reflected my other daily pursuits. My time with God...with my family...with enjoying and studying God's creation. I eventually broke my record media fast around mid-March. The college basketball March Madness tournament had just begun, and I was desperate to enjoy the crazy competitions and update my bracket. I dusted off the TV, pulled up the antennas, twisted some aluminum foil on the tips for better reception, and we were in business! More and more I reflect on that experience and attempt to maintain balance in my life with regard to overall media consumption. Screen time limits, listening and viewing guidance, and other healthy activities are all helpful strategies. If anyone wants to determine if unhealthy habits have crept into their life, simply try a week-long "Media Fast Challenge." The difficulty and distaste of the experience can be a great barometer of where the things of this world rank in the priorities of our lives. But start early, because March Madness will be here before you know it! |
Adam Kronberger
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