Pastor Bob DuPar
April 19, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14.

Observation

Cities of refuge! What a great idea! Why haven’t we implemented this concept? Let’s share the annoying people of our town with a neighboring rival town! Let’s take the people who say, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to accidentally kill you!” And, let them keep our neighbors up all night while we enjoy a good night’s rest knowing that they are out of harm’s way. And, what a deal because they have to stay in that town until the high priest (mayor? Local pastor?) dies. Unless of course that priest “accidentally” dies!

Maybe we should modify this principle and send unfavorable church members who complain too much to other churches. It was just an idea! I know. I know. I’m way ahead of my time.

I find Luke 19:47-48 tragically ironic:

“And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.”

Jesus is doing what the Jewish priests and leaders should have been doing: teaching and growing the people (with great success!) And yet, they want to kill Him. They are failing miserably in their leadership and admittedly they can’t find any fault with Jesus. But, they want to kill Him, do away with Him, because He is infringing upon their turf. He is stealing their fans (unintentionally). Their egos have no room or tolerance for Him.

Application

As a leader I want to make every effort to build-up, nurture and provide opportunities for others to use their gifts. I want to create a leadership culture in which every one has a role and in which every one can shine and excel without it being a threat to others (or me for that matter).

Prayer

“God, thank You for the diversity of gifts that You have blessed each one of us with. May we use these gifts with joy and wisdom, serving others and glorifying You. May we work as a team and a body, in which each member complements the other and makes-up what is lacking.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 18, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 16:1-18:28; Luke 19:1-27; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 13:11.

Observation

I have never thought about the uninhibited passion that must have motivated Zacchaeus to climb a tree to see Jesus. Zacchaeus was a wealthy, distinguished person –probably hated too, but none the less an important public figure. And, he doesn’t care how he looks. He is too wrapped up in curiosity over Jesus.

What a pledge in verse 8: “I will give half of my possessions to the poor and pay back 4x anyone I have cheated.” This either reflects a strong conviction of innocence or an extremely remorseful spirit.

Application

I need to get swept up in my love and passion for Jesus more – with the result that I lose inhibitions that would otherwise keep me from truly worshipping and serving the Lord.

Prayer

“God, draw me outside of myself in devotion to You. May I not allow fears and perceptions of what others think to keep me from following You, serving You and loving You.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 17, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10.

Observation

At the end of today’s OT reading (in Joshua 15:63) I was left wondering whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that the Israelites left the Jebusites in Jerusalem and that they are there to this day. It would be interesting to trace whether this ended up being a blessing or a curse.

When Jesus speaks to His disciples in Luke 18:31-33 (and other passages like this) I have always wondered why He speaks in the third person. It kind of reminds me of the old Seinfeld episode: “Jimmy likes this; Jimmy doesn’t like that…” I wonder if Jesus had just said outright, “These things are going to happen to Me” whether His disciples would have got it. Or, if they didn’t get it because as verse 34 goes on to say it was hidden from them: “The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about.” And finally, if it was hidden from them then why did Jesus bother telling them at all?

I love the blind man’s response to his healing in Luke 18:43: “Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.” He followed and he praised the One who changed his life.

Finally, Proverbs 13:10 was especially good: “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”

Application

The only application/reason I can draw from why Jesus told the disciples things that they not only did not understand but also which they were in fact kept from knowing is for their remembrance later. Time after time in Scripture we read things like “later the disciples remembered Jesus’ words…” God uses everything, it’s just a matter of His timing.

Prayer

“God, may my response to all You have done in my life be one of praise and devotion.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 16, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8.

Observation

Sunday there will be a quiz on which tribes got which pieces of land! For any of you that could keep all that detail straight and come away from your reading today with even 10% comprehension – you are a better scholar than the average person!

I like the introduction to the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable…” (Luke 18:9) An attitude before God of “have mercy on me, a sinner” is what leads to justification rather than self-declared righteousness which sees no need for Christ’s sacrifice.

Application

I’m striving for a balance in my life between spiritual extremes: over confidence in my spiritual condition and a defeated spirit which is never able to notice God’s transforming power and rejoice in it.

Prayer

“God, thank You for grace. Thank You for forgiveness. Thank You for Your patience with those of us who sometimes get swollen heads, over-valuing our importance; and, your patience with those of us who never lifts our heads above the miry clay to see the beauty of transforming grace.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 15, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 11:1-12:24; Luke 17:11-37; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 13:5-6.

Observation

Israel’s enemies combine forces and mount up against her – “a large number of horses and chariots – a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.” (Joshua 11:4) And yet, God encourages Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them over to Israel, slain.” That’s a lot of people to conquer in 24 hours! “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

It’s sad that our New Age culture today would agree with Jesus’ words that the “Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), they just would not attribute that to the work of Christ and the Holy Spirit – nor would/do they see Him as the sole/exclusive means of access to God and this Kingdom.

This fact reminds me that Satan’s greatest lie is to take the truth and blur it just a bit – so it sounds good, it sounds right, it seems familiar. The devil knows that a blatant lie is too easy to reject, too easy to detect. I’m reminded of a sermon by John Ortberg in which he talks about something called “shadow mission” which he describes as a mission or course which is only 10-15 degrees off, but that 10-15 degrees leads straight to Hell! Wow! How true. And, how insidious!

I love Psalm 84 and I love the Matt Redmond song based on this Psalm:

“How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns and even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God. …Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

Application

I easily forget God’s ability and power to do the impossible. As I thought about applying what I read today, I asked myself a question, “Does the Kingdom of God within me (my life) look like the Kingdom of God described in the Bible?” Answer: many times not. I think it’s a “not my will but Thine be done” issue – surrendering my priorities in exchange for priorities in line with God’s will.

Prayer

“God, thank You for the privilege of being in the ministry. Thank You for the blessing of spending my life working in Your house with Your people.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 14, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4.

Observation

You know something is going to turn out bad in the Bible when it is preceded by the phrase “but they did not inquire of the Lord,” as in the treaty that Israel made with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:14.

God is certainly not lacking in creative ways to help us win battles and achieve victories as demonstrated in the conflict against the Amorite kings in which more people were killed by giant hailstones from heaven than by the swords of the Israelites! (Joshua 10:11) And, I am amazed that these were selective hailstones. How did they kill only the enemy and not Israelites? This must have been an unnerving experience for Israel as these things were falling all around them and killing everyone else.

I’m puzzled by the story of Lazarus and the rich man every time I read it. What theology do we draw from Jesus’ story? Are we just to read it on a simple level and not derive doctrines on heaven and hell from it? I’m not sure. And, commentators dance around the real issues!

Application

I certainly can grow in my practice of inquiring of the Lord before I do things. I also need to trust God more to win victories in my life through methods and means unknown to me. Too often I limit God to things visible, things understandable and things obvious to me. And, in so doing, I eliminate the supernatural.

Prayer

“God, You never cease to amaze me! Thank You for Your Word which continually raises the roof of my perceptions as to who You are and how You act. Thank You that You are not limited to my finite comprehension and understanding.”

Pastor Bob DuPar
April 13, 2008

Journal Entry


Scripture

Joshua 7:16-9:2; Luke 16:1-18; Psalm 82:1-8; Proverbs 13:2-3.

Observation

The story of Achan and his family is a sad one to say the least. The consequences for his sin seem extreme. How many times have we disobeyed and sinned and not had to pay the kind of consequence? His sin is compounded by the fact that people lost their lives because of him. But, what a tragedy that his whole family had to share in paying the price for his sin. And, if Achan had only waited. The very next battle against Ai God told the Israelites that they could keep the plunder for themselves. (Joshua 8:2)

Luke 16:8 is humorous but true:

“The people of the world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than the people of the light.”

Being a Christian does not mean that we abandon common sense or even smart business principles, it just means that we do these things with integrity.

So often I am like the Pharisees in Luke 16:14 trying to justify myself in the eyes of men when God knows my heart. This becomes an issue and a problem as Luke points out when we value what men value rather than what God values.


Application

I know we are living in the NT era and age, but I am convicted in today’s reading that I am altogether too casual and complacent with the sin in my life. Paul says that we should not sin that grace might abound (Romans 6:1). I forget that sin has consequences.

I also need to take another look at my priorities and see if they match-up with what God values or what the world values.

Prayer

“God, thank You for your grace. May I not abuse it or treat it lightly.”