McAlder Campus Blog
Called to Walk in Unity
January 07, 2026
Happy New Year!
It is so exciting to begin January together as we hit the ground running after a refreshing Christmas and New Year’s break. This month, we turn the page in Ephesians to chapter 4, a chapter that marks the beginning of our story. If you’re someone who enjoys setting New Year’s resolutions, my hope is that this chapter inspires you.
From September through December, we walked through Ephesians chapters 1–3, where we learned God’s story: the gospel story. We discovered who we are in Christ because of who He is, what He has done for us, and how we are called to be rooted and established in His love. Now, in chapter 4, we begin learning how to live that truth out as followers of Christ.
Paul opens Ephesians 4 by saying, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” From behind prison bars, Paul urges believers to live in a way that reflects God’s calling and purpose. That calling begins with unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. In a world where differences often divide us, God invites us to see our differences as gifts meant to unite us.
One image I love is that of a puzzle. Each of us is a unique piece in God’s masterpiece: different cultures, ethnicities, experiences, passions, strengths, and backgrounds. It can be challenging to engage with people who are very different from us, but I’m always humbled when I remember that I am simply one piece of the puzzle, just as others are. Together, we form God’s complete design, unified in Him and working for His greater purpose.
Jesus secured unity through His death on the cross, bringing Jew and Gentile together into one family. Today, that family includes people from every background, and through Christ, we are united as one. From this foundation of unity, Paul gives us practical guidance for Christian living in Ephesians 4. He challenges us to move:
- From anger to peace (Ephesians 4:25–27)
- From stealing to generosity (Ephesians 4:28)
- From unwholesome talk to encouragement (Ephesians 4:29)
- From bitterness and revenge to forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31–32)
As we turn away from anger, selfishness, gossip, and resentment, we draw closer to Jesus. When we draw closer to Jesus, we draw closer to one another.
I’m encouraged that we can see this unity at work across our district. Each day we begin in prayer, encourage one another as followers of Christ, gather for chapel, and watch students continue to grow in their faith. These rhythms remind us that unity in Christ is not just something we talk about; it’s something we live out together.
Here are more beautiful examples of the unity I’ve witnessed at CCS recently:
- In choir performances, students sing different parts and harmonies, contributing their unique talents to create one beautiful song.
- In basketball games, players have different positions and must use their individual strengths to work together as a team.
- In the high school multicultural club, students gather to celebrate the diversity of God’s creation, learning from different cultures and perspectives as they grow together as the body of Christ.
Unity is a beautiful gift from God, and the best part is we don’t have to create it ourselves. God has already established unity through His Spirit. Our calling is to recognize it, cultivate it, and protect it.
My prayer for you this month, as you set goals and seek God, is that you would be aware of the unity Jesus has already given us and that you would actively pursue it as you lean into the calling God has placed on your life.
RightNow Media Recommendations:
Ephesians 4 – The Book of Ephesians, session 5:
https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/195647?session=202598&position=0
Ephesians 4 – Intro for Kids: https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/player/video/257963?session=266483&position=0
Called to Live at Peace
December 17, 2025
Greetings, Cascade Christian Community,
Our spiritual theme focus for the month of December (Called to be Rooted and Established) interfaces well with the four elements of Advent, which are peace, hope, joy, and love. While my hope is that we all experience an extra measure of all four elements of Advent this Christmas season, I want to focus in this moment on the element of peace.
Isaiah 54:10 (NIV) says, “‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” In this passage, God promises that He will not remove His covenant of peace. The key phrase is “God promises.” In other words, we know God’s peace is something we can count on.
Flipping over to Romans 12:18, we read that as much as it depends on us, we are called to “live at peace with everyone.” The key phrase in this passage is “as much as it depends on us.” In every situation that involves human interaction, we have the ability to extend peace to those we interact with. It is something we have a choice in.
My prayer for all of us this Christmas season is that we would respond to the promise of God’s peace by being intentional about living at peace with those around us, including the people we know well and the people we encounter randomly along the way. Maybe that means being the first to say, “I’m sorry,” or letting someone go in front of us in a line that is already very long, or one of many other opportunities we have daily to live at peace with others.
Praying God’s best for you in this Christmas season,
Ken
Rooted in Love at Christmas: A December Reflection on Ephesians 3
December 10, 2025
As we step into the Christmas season, I’m reminded of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:17–19, where he asks that we would be “rooted and established in love” and come to grasp the vastness of Christ’s love for us. Christmas brings that truth into sharp focus. God’s love is not distant or abstract; it is embodied in Jesus, given to us so we might know Him deeply and personally.
This month, I’ve seen glimpses of that love reflected all throughout our school community—in laughter, in joy, and in the sweet togetherness that makes this place feel like family. Here are a few highlights:
A Season of Joy, Laughter… and Pie!
Our recent pie fundraiser was a perfect example of joyful community. Students were buzzing with excitement to raise money for our school and for the moment they’d been waiting for: THE PIE THROWING! There’s something wonderfully unifying about watching students belly laugh as a teacher takes a pie to the face. The joy was contagious. Whether students were bravely participating or eagerly watching from the crowd, the shared laughter reminded us of how good it is to celebrate together.
Christmas Stories Come to Life
Walking through the hallway lately feels like stepping into a Christmas storybook. Classroom doors are decorated with scenes inspired by beloved Christmas tales like A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Nutcracker. Each door is a creative expression of the season and a reminder of the joy and anticipation this time of year brings.
Christmas Shoppe Excitement
This week, students are enjoying one of the most cherished traditions of the season—our Christmas Shoppe. It is so sweet to see students carefully choosing gifts for parents, siblings, grandparents, and friends. They shop with such pride, knowing they get to give something special to the people they love.
Upcoming Christmas Performances
The holiday season also brings opportunities for students to shine on stage as they share the message and music of Christmas. Students have been practicing with excitement (and a little bit of nervous energy) and are ready to share songs and stories that help point our hearts back to Jesus. Please mark your calendars for the following performance dates and times:
Monday, December 15
Kindergarten–Grade 1: Dress Rehearsal/Matinee at 10:00 a.m. & Evening
Performance at 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 16
KPrep: Performance at 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 17
Grades 2–3: Dress Rehearsal/Matinee at 9:00 a.m. & Evening Performance at 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 18
Grades 4–5 and selected 6th graders: Dress Rehearsal/Matinee at 9:00 a.m. & Evening Performance at 6:30 p.m.
Partnering With Families—Now and in the Years Ahead
As we approach the time of year when families consider Continuous Enrollment, I want to take a moment to share how deeply grateful I am for you. Partnering with families is one of the greatest joys of this work. It is a privilege to nurture, teach, guide, and encourage your students as they grow academically and spiritually.
Your trust matters. Your commitment to Christian education matters. And your partnership is what makes this school feel like a community grounded in purpose and love. My desire is to continue that partnership for years to come, and to keep cheering on your children, helping them discover their God-given gifts.
As we celebrate this Christmas season and the birth of our Savior, Jesus, may we be, as Paul prayed, rooted deeply in God’s love, strengthened by it, and compelled to share it. I wish you a Christmas season filled with joy, peace, and the love of Christ.
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Called to be Rooted and Established
December 03, 2025
Each December, we all hear the familiar saying, “Jesus is the reason for the season.” If I’m honest, I’ve said it more often as a platitude rather than as a genuine reminder that there is a deeper meaning to the Christmas season. It wasn’t until I had kids of my own that the beauty of the incarnation started to take root. One night, while rocking my infant daughter to sleep in the light of the Christmas tree, I was struck by her tenderness and vulnerability. Picturing our Savior in that same state drove home for me the outrageously sweet gift that is the incarnation of Christ. The Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, the Great I Am—God, through Jesus Christ, took on the weakness and frailty of humanity. His arrival, a startling act of love, was His response to our sin, pain, and suffering.
Our theme for December, coming from Ephesians 3:17–19 (NIV), is Called to be Rooted and Established. Within those verses, Paul writes, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
The love of Christ was demonstrated by His willingness not only to be born into fragile humanity, but also to live a life in perfect obedience. He took on the punishment that we deserved. He conquered the powers of sin and death. This love does, indeed, “surpass knowledge,” and yet we can know and experience it through the gift of grace. How would our homes, workplaces, and communities be transformed if we moved into this month living truly rooted and established in that awesome and powerful love of Christ? Is there anything better for us to be “rooted and established” in?
As His followers, our celebration of Christmas is not the abstract celebration of a birth—it is the celebration of the reality of God’s love. He heard the cries and desperation of His people in need; He responded in an unbelievable act of self-sacrificing love; and, moreover, He will return one day and bring us home to heaven with Him.
May you be in awe of the truth of God’s Word, of His amazing love, and His saving grace. May that love extend into your home, office, school, and community as you share the good news. May you be ever more rooted and established in the broad, high, and deep love of Christ.
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