On Thursday of this week I had the opportunity to tour a new Comcast call center that is opening here in Fort Collins. I met the Senior Vice President of Customer Service and the new director of the call center here in Fort Collins. This will bring 600 jobs to our city in the next year.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 ESV

With the betrayal of Judas and all that the religious leaders had “on Jesus” they were having trouble verifying any charges worthy of death. One of the gospels reveals how the testimony of various people was inconsistent and even contradicted each other.

If seems out desperation the high priest places Jesus in a position to incriminate himself. Mark’s gospel records Jesus response with a more emphatic “I am.” During Jesus ministry when He spoke the power of “I am” out of the nature of His divinity it caused people to fall down, as in the garden when the soldiers came to arrest Him.

In this situation Jesus not only responds to the question, affirming who He was, but what His future destiny would be. He as the eternal Son of God would no longer be seen in human flesh; but would in the future be seen at the Father’s right hand and would come in the clouds of heaven.

As Jesus began the most agonizing time, torture and death that could be imagined, He was able to see beyond present circumstances and the hours that He would face, and know that His destiny was set and His future was secure.

That is what is needed in our lives when we face challenge, times of uncertainty and what is unbearable. When we place our faith in the resurrected Christ, we know that our destiny is set and our future is secure. There are no situations in this life when we can be confident of the outcome. Life is filled with uncertainty, but history reveals those who trusted in the Lord, prevailed and were victorious.

When the colonies of the newly declared “united states” challenged the might of Great Britain, it look more life a suicide mission than an opportunity with an expected positive outcome. But there was prayer and trust in God.

When the United States was torn by civil war, no one could have predicted the outcome and survival of a nation. But God’s will prevailed.

When the United States entered World War II, its military power was weak and unprepared. But people joined together, sacrificed and prayed and God’s will prevailed over anarchy and tyranny.

In all that Job faced, not knowing what the final outcome would be, he confidently asserted, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” (Job 19:25 NIV)

The Lord who goes before us in all that we face, is able to help us to keep our faith and focus, seeing even in the midst of the test, the triumph of the final outcome.

Prayer for today…. Lord thank You, that You not only knew what You were called to endure, but what Your destiny was. Allow us to hold fast to our confidence and destiny that is in You, when we face the greatest challenges in this life, knowing there is more to life, than “this” life.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray him….Judas, who would betray him, answered, “Is it I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said so.”….See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.” Matthew 26:16,25,45-46 ESV

How does it feel to be betrayed? What is it like to have a friendship that ends with that individuals turning on you and treating you like an enemy? What is it like when that individual is someone close to you and chosen to be part of a special group with whom you would share your life?

The psalmist wrote, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” (Psalm 41:9 NLT) Isaiah declared of the Messiah, “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” (Isaiah 53:3 NIV)

Judas was one of the 12 that was chosen to be in the group that would be close to Jesus. He would hear Jesus teach what others did not. He would be among those who were sent out to preach the gospel and perform miracles in Jesus name. He would see what others did not. He would hear what others did not. He was trusted with “the purse.” What money the disciples had, it was entrusted to Judas, not Matthew the tax collector.

Every one who is in leadership has faced some degree of “betrayal” at one time or another. It may be more subtle. It may be more calculated and direct. There can be just a questioning of your decisions or criticism of your leadership to outright falsehoods and those who openly plan and plot against you.

Jesus experienced betrayal from Judas, whose name has become synonymous with the term. Even though he regretted his actions and took his own life in remorse. Even though, for all but a few weeks or moments, he had been faithful; his final actions were those that marked his life.

That is an important lesson for all to heed. We see it in many arenas, where an otherwise successful career in public or private life is defined by a behavioral, moral or ethical failure of some kind.

Did Jesus know from the beginning that Judas would betray Him? Did He sense the change in Judas by virtue of his attitude or actions. Was Judas never really “on board” with Jesus’ and His mission and priorities? Did Judas view Jesus as just an end of accomplishing his own political or personal agenda?

We don’t know the answer to these questions. However, those types of questions challenge us in our own attitudes and actions. Do we view Jesus was One we follow and to whom we submit our lives and our motives and our actions? Or do we follow Jesus as long as it is acceptable to our personal views?

Betrayal doesn’t happen in a moment of time, it usually happens over time and is finally revealed in a moment with actions and attitudes. Judas was missing from the disciples when Jesus went to the garden to pray, but he distanced himself from Jesus long before the final meal in the upper room. Judas seemed to try to hide what was in his heart when he asked with the others, “Is it I?” to Jesus’ announcement that one of the disciples would betray Him.

Judas betrayed Jesus with his actions, Peter betrayed Jesus with his words, the adoring crowds on Palm Sunday, betrayed Jesus with shouts of “crucify Him!” by the end of the week. The challenge of being a faithful follower, not reluctant, half-hearted, or insincere remains for all of Jesus disciples today.

Prayer for today…. Lord, help us to be those who with sincere hearts remain faithful and loyal to You. When You challenge our actions and attitudes, may we be quick to yield to You and Your ways. Give us strength to stand for You, to speak for You in the midst of a challenging world that calls us to deny You.

Last night I was sworn in to the Fort Collins City Council. It will be the shortest meeting in the next four years. Today, I spent time making some connections and doing a radio interview related to the National Day of Prayer coming in May.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.” Matthew 26:1,2 ESV

After the “Triumphal Entry” into Jerusalem Jesus spends a considerable amount of time speaking prophetic messages and about His coming Kingdom and the end of the age. He begins with foretelling of the destruction of the Temple. He shares parables and gives warnings about the “coming of the Son of Man.” He ends with the “Parable of the 10 Virgins.” “The Parable of the Talents” and “The Final Judgment.” (Matthew 25)

In His teaching Jesus not only tells of coming days, but how His followers are to live. They are live watchful, they are to be “about the Master’s business” they are to serve the least and the overlooked as if they were serving Jesus.

All of these teachings are “these sayings,” Matthew is referring to before Jesus, one last time, tells His disciples that he “will be delivered up to be crucified.” I am sure that it was difficult for the disciples to comprehend all that Jesus was telling them. It just seemed too hard to comprehend. Jesus had used parables and images of speech in His teaching, so perhaps they didn’t take Him literally.

Perhaps their minds were processing Jesus’ words like they did when the news of Lazarus’ illness and death was reported. Scripture records that just before, Lazarus was raised from the dead, Jesus told His disciples that “Lazarus was a sleep.” That news didn’t sink in until Jesus said directly, “Lazarus is dead.”

What is of interest is that Jesus knew exactly the fate the was before Him. Since He knew, how much of that weighed on his mind and heart even for this entire week? Did his tone change in these final times of instruction? Jesus even knew what those who plotted His death did not.

As Jesus gave the disciples the final warning, the religious leaders were beginning their plot to destroy Jesus.

“Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.” (Matthew 26:3-5 ESV)

We don’t know of any specific plans brewing in the minds of the chief priests and elders. At this point they were still concerned about Jesus’ popularity with the crowds and the potential for “an uproar” from the people. They were looking for a “big break.” That would take place in an unexpected moment when one of Jesus’ own disciples came to them and offered to help turn Jesus over to them. I am sure that opportunity was beyond their expectations. For the price of a slave they would have the opportunity to silence the man who had been their biggest “thorn in the flesh” for the last three years.

Prayer to today…. Lord we are reminded that none of what took place caught You by surprise. But it was still agonizing and difficult as walked through these events in human flesh. Help us to understand and appreciate all that you have experienced so that when we experience anxiety and times of uncertainty, that we will look to You for strength and comfort and peace.

This day was like the “lull before the storm.” It was the first Monday since the end of December I have not been thinking about or involved in a political campaign. I did have a couple of meetings but for the most part a good day to even get out and ride my bike for an hour. Tomorrow night, I am sworn in as a new Council member.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” Matthew 21:12-13 ESV

Have you ever visited a city for the first time and have planned ahead and thought, “the first place I want to go is_______”

Jesus was not on a vacation, He was a man with a purpose who knew His destiny and what He did and where He went was important. So, after entering Jerusalem, He first goes to “His Father’s House.” Jesus is visiting in human flesh the Temple that was built in honor of the Lord God of Israel. As the Eternal Son of God He was mindful of all the Temples of the past. Solomon’s Temple, the rebuilt Temple under the leadership of Ezra and now “Herod’s” Temple.

God’s House is a “House of Prayer.” As Jesus comes to the Temple, He finds misplaced priorities and abused power. The practice of “money exchange” for those who traveled a long distance, that was intended to facilitate worship began to replace worship. So, often that is the case. We can observe it in and outside of the “Church.” A practice that was intended for good, becomes the “end”, instead of the means to an end.

This is not “Jesus meek and mild.” This is the God who sets things right as He overturns tables and drives people out that should not be in the Temple so that those who should be could have free access. “My House shall be called a ‘house of prayer’.” Prayer over profit was the order of the day.

Then we see the Lord’s House is a “house of healing.”  “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.” (Matthew 21:14 ESV) In Jesus’ ministry we see people healed in towns and villages. They were healed as they came to Jesus as He walked the road. Now here in the Temple the lame and the blind come to find healing.

God’s House as a “house of prayer” should be a place where people find “restoration and wholeness.” People in need were in the Temple. This was not just a place for the “trim and fit” and “well off.” God’s House is a place where people in need of help and healing find hope.

God’s House is a “house of praise.” “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” (Matthew 21:15-16 ESV)

People being healed, praise to the Lord from children. It is obvious that the children didn’t realize the “parade” that brought Jesus into the city was over. They were still offering up their “Hosanna’s.” The excitement of earlier had not left them. They didn’t just get back to “business as usual.” They may have followed, Jesus, stayed close to Him and continued their shouts of praise.

This became an irritant to the religious leaders whose traditions was being upset along with the tables of the money changers. What Jesus heard was natural and anticipated, to the religious it was “out of order” and “inappropriate.” Simple praise, sincere praise should characterize the lives of all God’s “children.”

Prayer, healing and praise. They were priorities for God’s house to Jesus and they should be for us in “God’s House” today.

Prayer for today…. Lord allow the priorities that we see reflected in Your actions and in this visit to the Temple, be those that we seek in our day when we gather in “Your House.”

Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of “Holy Week” that culminates on Easter Sunday. I conducted the chapel service at Mackenzie Place and then had my final meeting with my campaign team to wrap up and reflect on the past 12 weeks. I take the oath of office on Tuesday night to begin my City Council service.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY….  “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”  Matthew 21:2-3 ESV

As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, it was not by accident. This was “the” entrance, “the” time of His arrival in the Capital city of God’s people. Jesus did not make His “headquarters” in Jerusalem. He ministered in remote places, much like his predecessor John the Baptist.

On one occasion Jesus told His disciples,  ^“And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.” (Luke 18:31 ESV)

The first fulfillment of the prophet is how the Messiah would arrive. The prophet Zachariah is quoted by Matthew.

“Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” (Matthew 21:5 ESV)

God in His sovereign plan even prepared the particular donkey that Jesus would ride. We don’t know who the owner was, but when he would be told the “master needed” his animals that he would willingly send them. Jesus began the week with a borrowed donkey and would end the week in a borrowed tomb.

Then we see the crowds prepare. They cut down palm branches, they take off their coats and spread them on the ground in honor of Jesus. The excitement is high and there is excitement in the air.

“Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting,“Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:8-9 ESV)

This is the ancient “ticker tape” parade. The crowd is declaring praise and expressing their hope in what Jesus had done and who He was. It is difficult to comprehend the turn of events that would transpire by the end of week.

But in this moment, at this time, Jesus “the Son of David” is entering the City of David and the people are welcoming and worshiping the King who is coming.

When I reflect on the Triumphal entry, I often think of these words in Psalm 24:

“Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.” (Psalm 24:9-10 ESV)

Jesus is worthy of praise, He is the King of glory! He is the Savior, He is our hope.

Prayer for today…. Lord, we praise You for who You are. We can see now that those in times past were not able to comprehend. You are the Lord, who is our Savior and You did come to Jerusalem to save Your people; not from political tyranny, but from slavery to sin, and granting eternal life. 

Today ended up as a busy Saturday. I got up early for a men’s breakfast. I left that event to travel to Denver for a board meeting with Abundant Word Ministries. I then connected with my friend Spencer Swalm for coffee. I got by to visit my mother, who turned 92 yesterday. I then headed by to Fort Collins just in time to leave for our Saturday evening church service.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!  Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!  For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5 ESV

Today I began my orientation to my new role as a Fort Collins City Councilman. This will be a challenging and I trust rewarding arena of service. I covet your prayers. Here is my official “City Council picture.”

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.” Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” Judges 8:22,23 ESV

The victory that Gideon won over the oppressors of Israel was impressive. With 300 chosen men, a great victory is won. The people asked Gideon and his family to become their leaders. Gideon refuses and reminds them that the “Lord will rule over you.”

But then Gideon asks for gold from the plunder and makes an ephod. Perhaps it was to serve as a reminder of the great victory won with God’s help, but we read, “Gideon made an ephod…and put it in his city…And all Israel whored after it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and to his family.” (Judges 8:27 ESV)

This memorial turned into an idol. That which was to remind them of God’s power and faithfulness was viewed as holding power and deserving of worship. Even though Gideon knew that God was to be the leader of His people that same commitment was not held by his son Abimelech.

He sought the sole power of ruler over God’s people that had been shared by Gideon’s 70 sons after Gideon’s death. He orchestrates a take over, killing his brothers and naming himself, “King” as it were.

After three years the tables are turned on Abimelech, “And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.” (Judges 9:23-24 ESV)

Abimelech was ruthless, power-hungry and manipulative. But the power he sought to grab for himself, ended up coming back to be his demise.

What we can observe is…..When people seek to fill their own perceived needs outside of trust in the Lord it opens them to all kinds of temptation and evil. Abimelech took advantage of the people’s desire for human leadership and ascended to power with the help of “ruthless men” and the deaths of his own brothers. But in the end he met his own demise when a woman threw a millstone from the window of a tower of the city he was attacking. The type of death he experienced is what marked him in history. 

Over 100 years later, when David was King and planned the death Uriah, wife of Bathsheba, the anticipated response from David, from the report from battle lines was this, “….‘Why did you go so near the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who killed Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?’ then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’” (2 Samuel 11:20-21 NIV)

We can try to leave “our mark” on history through our own efforts and in our own way. But when it is outside of God’s direction and timing, and trusting in Him, it doesn’t end up the way we plan.

Prayer for today…. Lord, first of all help us not to look to human leadership for the role that You are to fill in our lives. Human leaders come and go and will succeed or fail, but You are the One we can always trust on and in to help us. Then Lord, help us to follow You and allow You to use us when, where and in the way that You have ordained. 

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “Now Deborah, a prophetess….was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment.” Judges 4:4-5 ESV

The Church fellowship that I belong to has been unique in its recognition of the ministry of women since its founding in 1914. I remember our current national leader once saying, “God is an equal opportunity employer and so is the Assemblies of God.” As a result, women have been ordained into ministry well before “women’s rights” became a political issue.

This position was not based on some modern political philosophy but on the belief that the Old Testament Joel declared, “I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (Joel 2:28 NIV)

In the New Testament we read, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 ESV)

Throughout time women have been uniquely used by God in “His-story” as we see the plan of redemption being fulfilled.

Deborah is one of the “judges” or leaders of Israel before the time of the Kings. She was married and she was a prophetess. So, she had spiritual gifts and insight that were recognized by the people and they sought her God-given wisdom and direction.

When the time for battle came the Lord spoke through her to Barak to summon soldiers and go to war. He was willing if she went along. Perhaps the observation here is, it seems he was treating her as a “good luck charm” more than being obedient to the voice of the Lord spoken through her.

She said she would go, but he would forfeit the credit for the victory and it would go to a woman instead. What is of interest is that the story ends with another women, Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, who kills the enemy King when he seeks refuge inside of her tent. As the King is sound a sleep from his fatigue in battle, Jael takes a tent peg and hammer and drives it through his temple into the ground. (Talk about a splitting head ache!)

This victory in battle was immortalized with song recorded in Judges 5.

Two key points –

1-God in His sovereignty uses and empowers whom He chooses to accomplish His purposes

2 – In Christ is found true equality and the removal of the curse on male and female through the “fall.” The guidelines are found in God’s Word, not modern political agendas.

Prayer for today…. Lord, thank You for doing Your work through all those You choose and who trust in You. In You alone are the real barriers and categories of race, culture and status broken down.