Welcome to our SCC blogs page, where we share relatable, value-added content to encourage and empower you.
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A Family Filled With Faith
Where is your happy place? Maybe it’s a favorite destination or a cozy spot where your heart feels full and at peace. Often, our happy places aren’t just locations— they’re people. There are those special individuals we can spend hours talking with, where conversations flow endlessly because there’s always something more to share. Those moments…
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What’s in Your Hand?
There’s a long list of phobias—common and uncommon fears—and it can feel like there’s an endless list of things to be afraid of. From my personal experience, if we allow that fear to take root in our lives, it can cripple us. It can keep us from taking a step forward or doing something we…
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Flourishing Faith
The Southern California Conference (SCC) vision statement declares: “We envision spiritually thriving churches and schools with flourishing faith, caring for their communities and inspiring individuals to grow in and share Christ’s love.” When I think about the words “flourishing faith,” two things come to mind. “Faith” can be both a noun and a verb. As…
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Do You Want to Be Made Well?
John 5 tells a very familiar story. After Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days, He went to the pool of Bethesda. Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. We don’t know how old he was…
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The Disrupted Disciple
In the book of Acts, the early church received a stunning outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Fire, wind, and supernatural language flooded the upper room and resulted in a miraculous equipping for ministry. Ordinary believers were suddenly preaching with power—and thousands responded. It went viral. The church was growing. God was clearly blessing this initiative—so…
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Unpacking Our Gift
God does not gather His church together just to be inspired. Christianity is not a spectator sport. Christians have not been called to be merely pew sitters and sermon tasters. We were put on earth to contribute, not just to consume. Not only to get the most out of life, but to “add” to life,…
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What It Means to Serve Like Jesus
In this brief letter, I’d like to share with you two things about what it means to serve. First, and most important, of these is that Jesus embodied what it means to serve. By word and deed, Jesus poured out His very life to serve and save, always for the benefit of the one served…
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In His Steps
Following Jesus has never been an easy journey; it requires a sense of detachment of oneself. When Jesus called each one of His disciples, they had to leave their plans and follow Him. Jesus was a leader who was able to cast a vision that impressed their minds in a way no other ministry had…
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My Journey in Adventist Education
I was raised in a Seventh-day Adventist home, attended church each week, and was involved in Pathfinders. During my elementary school years, I attended public schools where I had great friends and good teachers. There was no church school in our area. However, when it became time to prepare for high school, my parents suggested…
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The Power of Encouragement
Have you ever wondered about the stories behind nicknames? When we think about nicknames, we think about famous people or historical figures. Some of my favorite examples include Vinnie “The Microwave” Johnson, who received his nickname for his ability to heat up on the offense and defense in basketball games. Then there’s “Shoeless” Joe Jackson,…
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Cultivating a Healthy Future
We are living in a time of constant change and uncertainty, where many are leaving or disengaging from the church—especially since the pandemic. Ironically, at a time when people need purpose and community most, they are stepping away from the very institution God created to help us thrive. But perhaps the issue isn’t just declining…
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All Things Are Possible: The Reality
Overwhelm. Anxiety. Stress. Worry. Fear. Trauma. These terms are more than familiar to many of us—they’re our inescapable experience. We don’t want to live this way, but finding a way to break free of these emotions when trials befall us is easier said than done. This perspective of struggle can become the lens over our…
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From Heaven’s Gift to Our Gratitude: A Legacy of Adventist Christmas
On December 24, 1856, at 29 years old, Ellen G. White preached her first Christmas sermon. From that point on, for the next 57 years, until two years before her death, she continued preaching and writing extensively about Christmas. In at least 76 instances, we find references to this topic in her letters, articles, magazines,…
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God’s Response to Fear
Fear has the tendency to dominate: our attention, our minds and our confidence. Especially these days. We face so many situations that invite fear: loss of a job, the sickness of a loved one, natural disasters, neighborhood crime, a dangerous pandemic and more. Paul Coneff, director of the Straight 2 the Heart discipleship ministry, uses the…
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The Power of Entering In
When I was a child, I used to love to get phone calls from my grandmother. We lived far away from her, so those rare phone calls were precious to us. We loved hearing advice, encouragement, and many suggestions—from how to get along with siblings to how to cook our favorite meal. Our Nana’s influence…
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If Not for COVID-19
What a year. As we look back at this month last year, so much has changed. While I’m sure there’s much we would change if we could, there are also overflowing blessings if we look hard enough. Even in our scariest circumstances and deepest doubt, Jesus is ever present. Matthew 14 includes a story that parallels…
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Sharing Your Story
What has God done for you? Who has He been to you in moments of crisis, happiness or loss? How has He led in your life? The answers to these questions are worth sharing with others! Maybe you’ve heard others share their life testimonies, only to think that your own stories pale in comparison. Or…
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3 Goals for 2021
After a year of uncertainty, many of us have mixed feelings about 2021. It’s easy to be wary after everything we went through in 2020. Yet, I still see 2021 as full of potential. Sure, things may not be “back to normal” yet—and it’s hard not knowing when they will be—but there’s still so much…
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All Things Through Christ
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). What an interesting verse. Many have claimed this verse during difficult times. In fact, one could probably conclude that the author of this text, the apostle Paul, faced nothing but difficult times. The very location from which he penned these words was a…
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Oh What a Gift
One of my favorite Bible verses that is rarely recognized in light of Christmas is “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). This verse that arrests our attention was written by Saul of Tarsus: a well-respected, brilliant man who trained under the renowned rabbi Gamaliel. He was a keen thinker with…