By Brother Gary Wheeler It’s Holy Week. Including the bookend Sundays, these are the most sacred eight days of the year for Christians. Also called Passion Week, it is Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem. It has great heights, devastating lows, and then a history-changing climax. We find here the crux of the Christian faith between […]
By Brother Brian Shimer If the verses in Romans 5:10-11 were part of the conclusion of a magnificent symphony, the music would reach a crescendo like the greatest John Williams’ soundtracks with drumbeats and blaring horns! Paul, ecstatic with how much God has accomplished through Jesus, emphasizes we had nothing to offer. The small, orphaned […]
By Brother Brian Shimer I watched in shock as the cup of hot water poured over my laptop’s keyboard. Computers don’t like water any more than the Wicked Witch of the West. Like her, they melt. (I have it on good authority, they react the same to sweet tea and coffee!) I shut the computer […]
By Brother Brian Shimer When Olympian, Ilia Malinin, fell four times during his free skate, the champion came in eighth place. Although understandably devastated, Ilia did not retreat into self-pity, but genuinely celebrated gold medalist Mikhail Shaidorov’s victory. For this, Ilia is a finalist for the 2026 Fair Play Award which “recognizes acts of sportsmanship, […]
By Brother Brian Shimer “Are you available? I’m having an attack,” the text read from the 31-year-old male client. He called. He was home alone with his two young children and was panicking, hyperventilating, and crying. Speaking slowly, I told him, “I want you to just breathe, focus on what it feels like to breathe, […]
By Brother Brian Shimer Once we reached this core abuse memory, I asked the woman sitting before me, “You have told me, you are not a follower of Jesus, but He can make a difference. Is it alright with you, if I invite him to show up in your memory of the abuse? He will […]
By Brother Gary Wheeler We are now entering the liturgical season of Lent, as we discipline ourselves to prepare for the cross. During this time, our weekly UCAI devotions will focus on Romans 5, with each author taking part of or an entire verse from the chapter. Today, we look at the first half of […]
By Sister Cheryl Jacobs “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and […]
By Brother Matt Henson The Christmas celebration occurred a little over one month ago. The memories of families gathered, late-night services to celebrate Jesus’ birth, and the beautiful music of Christmas are still fresh in our minds. Yet, in just over two weeks, we will transition into a season of preparation called Lent, the 40-days leading […]
By Brother Brian Shimer My word for 2025 was hope, and how much I needed it. From house remodel to soul renovation, 2025 was a year of holding onto hope and seeing God move in magnificent ways. For 2026, Jesus’ visit to Nain in Luke 7:11-17 to raise the widow’s only son stands out prominently. […]
