McAlder Campus Blog
Be Still — He Is Our Source Of Peace
April 30, 2025
When you think of Jesus, what kind of words would you use to describe Him? Confident, compassionate, and peaceful are a few that come to my mind. I recently read the book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer, and was convicted in acknowledging all the hurry and distractions that can inhibit me from being more like Jesus.
As Christians, we are called to be more like Jesus daily: to love, to serve, to be prayerful, to forgive, to be obedient to God’s commands, and to work for justice and peace.
It’s interesting how the enemy tries to distract us from these by simply making us feel busy and rushed. In our fast-paced culture, it’s common to see people searching for solutions to find balance and peace in the chaos of life. You will find many self-help books, meditation apps, and yoga studios that are promoted left and right, fighting for attention as the solution to your stress. Although some of the resources out there offer great tips and exercises, our true source of peace needs to come from Christ. Christ’s peace transcends worldly peace.
We so often find ourselves in a whirlwind of distractions where peace can become a distant word or feeling we hope to experience after all our tasks are accomplished. Maybe it’s work, homework, sports, or taking care of the house or the kids, but we can easily fall into the busy and forget to welcome the peaceful presence of Jesus into those spaces.
Imagine if we prioritized experiencing the peace of Jesus while we work through our to-do lists. I’m sure we’d feel less hurried. John 14:27 (NIV) says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The peace we get from Christ is not something we need to earn or go searching for online. It is a gift given to us that is eternal. We are offered a bottomless well of peace that is available to us at all times. In moments of hurry, fear, or distraction, my prayer is that we can be still and invite Jesus to bring us His peace. I’m convinced that welcoming the peace of Jesus into these moments is how we find His strength, His love, and His power to work through us and make us more like Him.
Thank you, God, for being our source of eternal peace—peace that we can only experience through you.
Right Now Media Resource: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry Mini Video Series
Spiritual Formation Events and Opportunities:
If you’re in a place of searching for Christ’s peace, I invite you to join us Tuesday mornings at 7:30 a.m. or 8:30 a.m. (two time slots) for a Journey to Freedom. This time will include prayer, worship, and walking through the book Set Free to Lead by Scott Rodin.
National Day of Prayer, May 1
Worship Night, May 2 (At Pioneer Campus, High School Building, PAC at 6:00 p.m.)
He Is Risen!
April 23, 2025
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:6, ESV)
What a privilege and joy it is to share the message of Easter with our McAlder family! Last Friday we remembered the sacrifice that Jesus made when he died on the cross to pay the ultimate price for us. We can celebrate that Friday is GOOD, because Jesus did not stay dead and buried, but he rose again from the grave on Sunday morning. Jesus is our savior and redeemer, and it is through his sacrifice that we get to spend eternity in heaven with him. We have such a hope!
Throughout the past week, our teachers engaged our students with the truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection through various lessons and activities. What an honor for our teachers to point our young ones to the Lord! I pray that you found time this last weekend to pause and remember all that God has done for you, and to celebrate that Christ is risen, just as he said!
This week we get the chance to celebrate all of our amazing administrative professionals and Cougar Club staff who serve McAlder Campus so well.
We are grateful for our front office staff, Heidi Grosso, Emily De La Torre, and Kylee Mine! These ladies lead with love and compassion, and they keep us on track with their organizational skills. At any moment of the day, you will find them answering phones, handing out ice packs, chatting with students and parents, filling in calendars, planning for events, arranging subs, supporting teachers and staff, and welcoming everyone to the office with warm smiles. We are so blessed by them!
We are also grateful for our incredible campus enrollment manager, Alex Kesler. Alex does an excellent job of connecting with prospective families, and she makes them feel welcome from the moment they step in the door. She has a heart for others, is very detail-oriented, and makes a positive impact on everyone she meets. We are so thankful for her!
We also appreciate Jane Lance, our awesome recreation site coordinator. Jane is warm and engaging with our students, creates positive connections with families and staff, and loves planning fun activities to keep our Cougar Club kiddos happy and loved. Jane and her team make a positive impact on our students each and every day. We couldn’t do it without them!
McAlder would not be the same without these amazing staff members. They make our team great!
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Character, Community, and Excellence Beyond the Classroom
April 16, 2025
As Board Chair and a parent at Cascade Christian Schools, I've witnessed firsthand the remarkable impact of our programs beyond the classroom this year.
Coaching our fifth grade elite basketball program has been a personal highlight of mine. Watching these young athletes develop skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship reminds me why our elementary athletics program is so vital. Our community shows up in force for sporting events—from regular season games to state championships at the elementary through high school level—creating an environment where our student athletes feel supported in their pursuit of excellence.
Our performing arts programs have likewise shone brilliantly. The concerts and plays have drawn impressive crowds and showcased exceptional talent. Visitors often remark they forget they're watching school productions rather than professional performances—a testament to our students' abilities and the dedication of those who guide them.
What truly sets Cascade Christian apart is our community spirit. Whether cheering at a volleyball match or attending the spring musical, our families don't just show up—they engage wholeheartedly, creating an atmosphere where students feel known and valued as they explore their God-given talents.
None of this would be possible without our exceptional coaches, teachers, staff, and administrators who go above and beyond their job descriptions. They don't just teach skills; they build character, nurture creativity, and create environments where students flourish.
These extracurricular activities aren't peripheral to our mission—they're central to developing students who are prepared to impact the world for Christ through their faith, service, and leadership.
I'm grateful for everyone who contributes to making Cascade Christian more than just a school. Thank you for being a community dedicated to nurturing excellence in every aspect of our students' development.
Be Still — He Is Our Source Of Help
April 09, 2025
One of the best assurances we can have in life is knowing where to go when we need help. When the help we need is just basic information, we are fortunate to have unlimited resources at our disposal because we live in the age of instant information. All we have to do is hold our phones up and say, “Hey, Siri,” or “Hey, Google,” and we can get help with just about any question that is information-based.
While having that kind of resource at our disposal is pretty amazing in a lot of ways, it pales in comparison to the help God provides for us; help that is guidance-based, discernment-based, protection-based, provision-based, healing-based, and so much more; help that gives us an incredible sense of peace and enables us to be still while we pray, wait, and trust; help that enables us to navigate the circumstances of life with the assurance that God is sovereign.
I love the strong statements of God being our source of help that we find in Psalm 121 (NIV), and I have listed below some of the phrases contained within the passage:
“Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
“He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber.”
“The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life.”
“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
These are powerful promises of the ways God helps us, which go beyond “getting” information to profoundly “experiencing” God’s wisdom, discernment, protection, provision, healing, or, in other words, God’s unfailing help!
May we all be able to be still, knowing that He is God and that He is our source of help!
