Pastor Bob DuPar
April 5, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 28:1-68; Luke 11:14-36; Psalm 77:1-20; Proverbs 12:18.

Observation

Proverbs 12:18 grabs me the most today:

“There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”

Careless, hurtful words are like the thrusts of a sword. Wow! That’s pretty graphic and straightforward. We underestimate the power of our words – for good and for bad. Critical words leave wounds and wounds take a long time to heal. But, the words of the wise bring healing. Words are never neutral. Words have consequences. Sometimes words can slip out of my mouth so quickly, so effortlessly, so thoughtlessly. It’s hard to trust words when they are not consistent or supported by a history of reliability.


Application

I need to choose my words carefully and wisely. I want my words to bring healing and encouragement.

Prayer

“God, help me to weigh my words – to realize the power of words. May I speak Your words and not the careless impulses of my emotions or selfish desires. Thank You for Your Word which guides my words.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 4, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26; Luke 10:38-11:13; Psalm 76:1-12; Proverbs 12:15-17.

Observation

I liked the last verse in our OT reading today the best:

“Cursed is he who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them…”

I liked this verse simply because the message is that we confirm God’s Word by doing it – by putting it into practice. This may not sound very earth-shaking, but how practical!

I found Proverbs 12:15 very helpful and insightful as well:

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.”

This verse reminds me of Proverbs 24:6, “…in the abundance of counselors there is victory.”

I never understood the parable about persistence in Luke 11 until someone explained to me that this story is not teaching that we have to nag God to death to get Him to respond. The point of this parable and others like it is “how much more” will your heavenly Father respond to your needs – not because He feels obligated or pestered, but because He wants to.

Application

Well, the application from Deuteronomy 27:26 is clear: confirm your belief by acting upon it. Proverbs: it’s smart to seek counsel vs. acting solo. And, in Luke, God wants to give good things to those who ask Him. So, I need to ask more.

Prayer

“God, thank You that You love me more than I can comprehend. Help me to trust You more and to anticipate the good that You desire for me.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 3, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19; Luke 10:13-37; Psalm 75:1-10; Proverbs 12:12-14.

Observation

O.K. there was more gross stuff recorded in today’s OT reading than I even want to mention. How do I even begin to comment on things that I am too embarrassed to repeat?

I love the excitement of the 70 disciples when they return to report to the Lord the success of their God-appointed powers. I wonder if the image of Satan falling from heaven like lightning is figurative of the blow which the enemy is dealt every time Christians boldly use their gifts for God’s glory.

Luke 10:22 is a great proof text for the deity of Jesus, though often overlooked. No one truly knows the Father except the Son, and vice versa. When you consider the intimacy conveyed in the Bible’s use of the word “know” it becomes clear that an inseparable communion of deity is implied.

Application

I often wonder if Christians today (myself included) have miraculous powers which go unnoticed and unused from lack of faith and fear of embarrassment. I would love to tell a lame person to stand to their feet, or a blind person to throw away their walking stick – if I knew for sure that God was going to heal them; otherwise, the victims might potentially feel more condemnation and I might feel the embarrassment of empty claims and needlessly adding to someone’s pain. But, have I tried and failed? No. So, I guess my prayer is for boldness.

Prayer

“God, give me the courage to follow the leading of Your Spirit to work miracles and change things which You wish to be changed. May I not shrink back in fear or doubt when I sense Your prompting.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 2, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30; Luke 9:51-10:12; Psalm 74:1-23; Proverbs 12:11.

Observation

Today’s OT reading was rough. You don’t expect stuff like this to be in the Bible. So many of the laws and provisions seem antiquated, humanistic and down-right degrading. I trust that God was giving His people laws to help them in the situation and culture in which they found themselves and not a standard for future generations. For example, when God/Moses says,

“If a man has two wives…” (Deut. 21:15)

Is God condoning polygamy? Of course not.

Or, the man who meets a virgin not pledged to be married and rapes her. He is fined and then told that he can never divorce her as long as he lives (Deut. 22:28-29). This sounds more punishing to the poor girl who is raped. First, she is violated. Then second, she is forced to spend the rest of her life with this monster. And, the hardest part for me is that the man who rapes a woman is stoned to death if she is pledged to be married, but only fined if she is not pledged to be married. How is the violation and offense to the woman any less damaging or scarring? Tuff stuff. I don’t pretend to understand it.

On a lighter note, I like Proverbs 12:11, “He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.” This verse seems to speak to a lot of the get rich quick schemes we are bombarded with today.

Application

I don’t understand all of Scripture, but I trust the God who wrote it. Many times the Bible doesn’t make sense to me, but then I don’t expect a multidimensional, infinite, God to always make sense to my one dimensional, finite, mind and reasoning. I guess at the end of the day, I’m more concerned and fearful of a god who always makes sense to me and does things just like I would do them.

Prayer

“God, thank You that Your ways are higher than my ways and Your thoughts than my thoughts. Help me to continue to trust You for the things that I don’t understand. And, please give me wisdom and insight as I try to explain difficult things to those who have questions.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 1, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20; Luke 9:28-50; Psalm 73:1-28; Proverbs 12:10.

Observation

What an amazing experience for the disciples to witness Jesus transforming before their own eyes. “His face changed and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning!” And then, to think that as 2Corinthians 3:18 says, “We are being transformed moment to moment, glory to glory into His image!”

Finally, I love Psalm 73 – especially verse 26:

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Two of my former college students from the Bay area put this verse and other portions of Psalm 73 to music and I hear it every time I read this passage.

Application

God is my strength when my strength fails – He is always enough! I need to focus more on the transformation that’s taking place in my life and the things I do which hinder this process or encourage it.

Prayer

“God, thank You that You’ve promised that You won’t stop working on me, perfecting me, until the day that Christ returns and I am transformed into Your perfect image in the twinkling of an eye.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 31, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 16:1-17:20; Luke 9:7-27; Psalm 72:1-20; Proverbs 12:8-9.

Observation

I don’t remember reading a verse like Deuteronomy 16:17 before:

“No man should appear before the Lord empty-handed; each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you.”

This related to three times a year at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles respectively.

Deuteronomy 17:6 gives deeper insight into the Matthew 18 passage about 2 or 3 witnesses:

“On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.”

“Two or Three witnesses” is not a formula for “name-it-and-claim-it” theology or even a magic number for ensuring God’s presence like some divine quorum. It is and was a safeguard against subjectivity and personal agendas.

I was struck by the repetition in the OT reading of the phrase: “You must purge yourself of the evil among you.”

Application

Important decisions should not be arrived at in a vacuum or in isolation but after seeking the counsel and wisdom of a number of people who are all seeking God’s heart and mind.
We don’t treat evil like the cancer that it is. We entertain and tolerate evil too much. We as leaders need to deal with evil swiftly, boldly, biblically and unapologetically.

Prayer

“God, help me to begin by not tolerating evil in my own life. May I prune evil from my life before it has time to take root and form into habit or lifestyle.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
March 30, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23; Luke 8:40-9:6; Psalm 71:1-24; Proverbs 12:5-7.

Observation

Wow, what a list of things that can be eaten and should not be eaten! I have to say that I struggle with the opening part of our OT passage today. I don’t believe that God sends people to us to try and deceive us and lead us away as a test. I think this is one of those times in Scripture that the human perspective shows through more than the divine. I am not for a minute saying that all Scripture is anything less than God-breathed, inspired, and inerrant. But, the Bible clearly says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” (James 1:13)

God tests us sometimes for our good, desiring a constructive outcome. Satan tempts us to harm us, desiring a destructive outcome.

Once again, in the NT passage I am struck by the fact that Jairus’ daughter was 12 years old and the woman had been bleeding for 12 years. Jesus heals both of them, demonstrating his amazing power over death and things considered unclean.

Application

When Luke 9:1 says that “Jesus gave them (the 12) power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases…” I wish that I could see this miraculous power displayed more often when I go and do visitation. I know God is able to heal anyone. It’s just an uncertain experience knowing when he is going to use me to accomplish this healing. I always tell people that I believe in faith that God will use my prayers to heal them until I see otherwise. If someone is not healed, then I know that God had other plans. But, I also know at that point that it was not due to my lack of faith.

Prayer

“God, I’m constantly amazed at Your power over all things. Would You please bless my life and my ministry with this power? I desire to see and do great things in Your name, for Your glory.”