Courage Journal #15

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

Mr. Winn Challenged the teachers with this today...will I have courage to change the things I can? I hope so! This is the last journal I will write for this year's courage journals. Peace be with you!

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #14

Do you thirst after God? I mean, do you really feel parched, empty, dehydrated without Him in your life? Can you live without Him or do you have to be filled to get through your day? Are you just playing make believe, or is your relationship real?


It's time for a wake up call. If you say it, live it. If you need it, then take it. If you thirst, then drink deeply from the Word of God. If you don't, quit pretending. Life is too short to play games forever. I thirst.

Mark 8:36

Courage Journal #13

June 5th, 1989. A man in China demonstrates his willingness to die for democracy after a pro-democracy protest was broken up in Tienanmen Square. He showed incredible courage by standing up for what he believed in and did so in a non-violent manner.

The "tank man," as he has become known, disappeared after this and was never been heard from again. Most believe the secret police dragged him off and executed him. To this day, his name is a mystery...and yet, he was named as one of the most influential men of the 20th Century.

What is incredible about this story to me is that this man did not stand up for attention. He did not care if he became famous, and we have no idea who he was. In spite of this, he did the right thing and is still remembered today. What a powerful story!

When I turn this story upon my own life, I wonder if I would be willing to stand in front of a tank and do nothing but speak truth for my faith. If Christianity became illegal and CSCS destroyed, would I still proclaim the Gospel without fear? If the churches were destroyed and Christians arrested or killed, would I still share the love of Christ with my neighbors? I believe so...in fact, I know so!

What really hits me in the face is this question: Would I be willing to do it knowing that no one would ever hear my story or care that I died? Or would I die for my faith because I believed it would make a profound impact on the world? I hope I learn to trust God even more and that my courage would be based in Him and not myself!

-Tharp-

Journal #12

This picture is: A. Awesome. B. Totally weird. And C. Fits with my courage journal. So enjoy!

This weekend I had the courage to admit I was going about something in the wrong way. I would love to share the details, but am unable to at the moment. Suffice it to say that sometimes God has to smack you upside the head for you to realize you need a heart change. It takes courage to admit you are wrong and move on, in the right direction. I made some heart changes at the retreat this weekend, so praise the Lord!

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #11

Tonight I drove up to Victor, Colorado for the Village X retreat I will be speaking at. Between Cripple Creek and Victor, there were some pretty intense roads to drive on. I have driven some pretty intense four-wheeling roads before and have also driven from Alaska to Colorado (through Canada) and was never nervous about the driving. For some reason, trying to get to Victor on time and in the dark made the mountain driving feel treacherous. It also did not know exactly which road we would need to turn on so it made the atmosphere in the car tense.

I was also feeling stressed about the retreat, homework I would have to get done, and had some school issues on my mind. Needless to say, I was feeling restless. Do you know what I'm talking about? When you feel like your stomach is in knots and there is no specific reason; you just feel nervous!

I did not show good courage in the midst of this situation. I should have had the "spiritual guts" to give it over to God and trust that all the details would work out (which they did). Instead, I just stayed nervous and acted tense. Prayer is one of the most calming things a Christian can do, especially if he means it! But instead of doing what God has called me to do when stressed, which is talk to Him, I just tried to deal with it on my own! I pray that next time I would make the right choice and let go of my anxiety!

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #10

First off, this is an incredible picture. Can you imagine being in the crow's nest of the first ship right as you realize "oh no, this is not good!" Actually, the picture kind of freaks me out!

The reason I chose this picture is because it fits with my theme for tonight: Trusting God, even when it hurts. I think sometimes, when we are in the tough situations of life, we feel like the ships in the picture. We know in our heads that trusting God is the right idea, but when we look at the cliff we have a hard time trusting in our hearts.

There is a major problem with this outlook. When we are in a difficult situation in life feeling like we are heading for a cliff, we are heading towards a cliff. And the scary thing is we might be headed off the edge. That is the reality of life. In a fallen world, we should expect these things to happen.

So what is the issue? Instead of worrying about the situation of life, we need to be more concerned with our outlook or perspective on the situation. If I am going towards a cliff and I know there is nothing I can do to stop it, will I freak out, cry uncontrollably, get angry, or have a peace that surpasses all understanding? This is where our faith comes into play in an incredible way. When the rubber hits the road, do we truly trust God, even if what happens might be painful?

I hope and pray that I would continue to trust God. That He would be my strength and my shield. That regardless of what comes my way, I would seek after Him and know that He is sovereign and has a perfect plan for all things!

-Tharp-
Romans 8:28

Courage Journal #9

Sometimes courage is all about having the confidence to go out on a limb and do something no one else will do. I believe a lot of people have great ideas...in fact, I have one friend who has hundred of incredible, world-changing ideas. His big problem, however, is that he never does anything with them.

Tonight I got together with a bunch of guys from my church who are in the young married's group I lead. We were just hanging out when someone brought up this great idea for developing better leadership in church circles. The problem is that if no one is willing to do anything with the idea it will die and the conversation was wasted.

I am going to do something about this. I am going to have the courage to take it to the pastoral staff and suggest it. I believe it is a good idea and is important enough that it needs to be heard. This particular idea is not all that revolutionary or scary to share, but I hope thinking about this inspires me to act in other situations as well.

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #8

This is the Victor Hotel in Victor Colorado. It is a historic hotel, built during the Colorado gold rush era. It was one of the top hotels in the area, but lost a lot of business when the gold dried up. The hotel has been used for lots of things, from a bank to keeping the dead bodies over the winter b/c the ground was too hard to dig into until the spring time (creep factor).

This weekend, my wife and I will be going to Victor to speak at a retreat for the 30's singles group at my church. Nicole will be leading worship and I will be leading three sessions as the main teacher. I love teaching, but I feel overwhelmed by everything else I have going on so I do not feel prepared enough for this weekend. I have enough information and I am ready to do my presentations, but I could be more prepared and there is still a lot to do before I leave.

I know I need to have courage to trust God and just do the work without complaining. But, as we all know, it is hard sometimes to buckle down and get the job done. I pray I will have the courage to stay strong, not stress, and trust God as this week continues! I hope you all avoid being overwhelmed as you stay busy!

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #7

Why this picture? Two reasons. First, this picture is amazing. It has gnomes and a dog...it can't get much better than this. The second reason is this picture relates to what I have been thinking about lately when it comes to the idea of courage.

One of the cool things about being a teacher, friend, and pastoral intern is that I get opportunities to speak into the lives of other people when I know they are dealing with difficult times. When I see situations where something is out of place in a person's life (like there is a dog instead of a gnome) and I am called to point it out. Sometimes they ask me to and sometimes I feel the call of God on my heart saying, "You need to speak the Gospel to this person."

Here is where the problem lies. Sometimes I will do what I am being called to do; other times, I will hesitate and, out of fear, hold back. There are always good excuses for not doing the right thing. "I might offend them. I don't have time. What if I'm not really called. It's hard to do."

I pray that whenever God calls me to speak into the lives of others I would do so without fear. That I would find my confidence in Him. At the same time, I pray when people speak truth into my life, that I would listen and learn.

-Tharp-
Gen. 3:15

Courage Journal #6

Every year at Village 7 Presbyterian Church, we have a church service called "The Kirkin' O' the Tartan." It is an awesome service where we celebrate Presbyterian heritage in full Scottish style. The Presbyterian denomination originated in Scotland, where it was the main church for around 200 years. For a while, when it was illegal to wear your clan tartans (or the clothes that show which clan you belonged to), there would be a moment in the church service where the Pastor would give a blessing and the men would secrelty touch their tartans to symbolize their freedom and remembrance of their past.

From the time of the Reformation until the 1800s, Presbyterians and many other Christian gorups were persecuted for their faith. When we listened to Alistair Begg's sermon in class, we heard one of these stories that took place in Scotland. The men and women who stood up and proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ were willing to die for what they believed in. They knew the truth and proclaimed in, regardless of the consquences.

These men and women had incredible courage. God has put me in a place where I do not have to worry about these things. I can worship freely, teach at a Chrstian school, and have freedoms that people have not always had. I wonder, though, if I will have the courage to stand up for Christ if things began to change. Will I have the courage to proclaim my faith if persecution, even the killing of Christians, came to Colorado Springs?

I think so...but I believe a lot of us would say we would be willing to die and then deny Christ when the time came. I hope and pray I would continue to grow strong and courageous in my relationship with Christ so I can withstand anything that is thrown my way. What about you?

-Tharp-
Romans 8:28

Courage Journal #5

I spent my Saturday morning at New Geneva Seminary, where I am studying and training to become a full time pastor (God willing!). Today was a day where we met to talk about our licensure and ordination exams, which are two of the biggest steps (and most difficult) towards becoming a pastor in my denomination.

We have a heavy emphasis on making certain pastors know the Bible well, because if they are going to preach authoritatively from the Word of God, they better know what they are talking about. As a result, these two examinations are incredibly difficult. Today we reviewed about 25 pages of single-spaced questions we might be asked, and some of them are pretty detailed. Thinking about all of the things I have to know and articulate scares me.

I get nervous and worry that I will graduate from seminary and then fail these tests. I know that I need to trust God, and here is where courage comes in. I need to have faith that God wants me to be where I am and that I am doing what I need to be. I feel called to take these tests, so I must trust God's plan. At the same time, I should then step out courageously and make sure I study and learn what I need to. If God has called me to something, then I MUST pursue it!

I pray that I would pursue everything God has called me to with courage and faith. I pray that I would be an example to others, and that God's work would be evident in my life. Happy weekend!

-Tharp-
Gen. 50:20

Courage Journal #4

This is the second year I have shown Cameron Duncan's story to my Bible classes. It is a hard movie for me to watch, even though I've seen it about 15 times now. It touches me to see someone so incredibly brave and courageous in the face of certain death. It reminds me that these young students I teach can change lives...can do great things. It also shows me that I can be the change.

This is also the second year I have had students in my classes who have recently lost or are currently losing parents to cancer. Not only was Cameron strong and courageous, but these students are incredible examples of strength and hope. God has really moved and changed my heart through the students I share in this pain with.

I pray that I would take every day God has given me and use it to glorify Him through the gifts I a have been given. I do not know if Cameron had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I hope so! But I do know that I do have a relationship...He loved me enough to die on my behalf so that I might live. I pray that I would live my life as a response to His grace.

-Tharp-

Courage Journal #3

I found this cool quote today and it made me think of courage: "The only way the future can harm us is by causing worry." This strikes me to the core, as I tend to worry about what the future will hold. Being a home owner, supporting a family, taking seminary classes, and getting paid a teacher's salary can be pretty nerve-wracking when the news is all doom and gloom about the future. Sometimes it makes me worry. What if I can't take care of my family? What if I lose my job? What if I can't finish getting my masters?

I think it takes courage to face the future trusting God. A coward worries all the time because he is so afraid nothing is going to work out. As a result, he wastes his life away in hiding. Instead of being like this, I need to realize that worrying is allowing the future to harm me! I must instead focus on the many blessings God has given me and always remember that He knows what is best and has promised that He is in control.

Matthew 6 reminds me that to worry does nothing useful. We cannot add even a single bit of time onto our lives. God has every detail planned out. He knows how many hairs are on every head and keeps every sparrow aloft in flight. Nothing escapes His notice. This should bring great comfort and joy to me! I pray that I would not worry about what tomorrow will bring, but instead courageously trust in Him and seek to do His will instead.

-Tharp-
Mark 8:36

Courage Journal #2

Today, the team of CSCS students that went on a mission trip to Haiti did an incredible presentation in Chapel. I was inspired by the work they did over there and was heart-broken over the poverty, occult, number of orphans, starvation and death in such a small place. I wanted to go right then and there to serve in Haiti. As I thought about this, God struck me upside the head and here is what He taught me.

Many Christians go on mission trips. Some say mission trips take a lot of courage, which is true. But what takes even more courage is recognizing there is a mission field is everywhere we go. In fact, CSCS is a mission field. If I have to wait to raise money and go somewhere special on a mission field, then am I really spreading the love of God like I should be?

If I have to go to another country to get a spiritual high, then is my walk with God really as good as I think? If I am worried about all the third world coutnries of the world without seeing the incredible spiritual and emotional poverty even in the halls of my school and walking through the doors of my church, do I understand true evangelism?

I think the answer has to be no. We can be excited about evangelism every momen and everyday of our lives. The truth is that only about 10% of Christians will be invovled with evangelism throughout their lives; and only 10% of these will dedicate their lives to full time missions in the states or abroad.

In spite of this, God has called me to love Him and love others everywhere I go. Every class I teach is a chance to witness. Every moment of hurt I glimpse in someone else's life is an opportunity to stamp out some sort of poverty. I pray that I would see CSCS, the Springs, Colorado, the United States and the entire World as a mission field.

-Tharp-
Jonah 2:2

Another Year, Another Round of Courage Journals!

This weekend, I started re-watching the Band of Brothers miniseries produced by Tom Hanks and put out by HBO. The incredible story chronicles the journey of Easy Company of the 501st as they endure World War II from beginning to end. It is an incredible true story, full of beautiful cinematography and gripping scenes of the horror's of war.

As I was thinking about the movie today, I could not help but think about my own life. Would I be able to show the courage these men did in the face of incredible fear and danger? Would I be willing to lay down my life for the man next to me, even if it meant leaving a widow back home? Would I die for my country? Could I show that kind of courage?

I believe that I can, and would, if that was what God called me to. The better question I should ask myself is "How can I be courage even now?" I may not be in the foxholes of Bastogne in WWII, but I am in a war. I am fighting spiritually, emotionally and morally for the truth of God all the time. In fact, my very life is a constant war between the spirit and the flesh. Will I do what is right to honor God, love my wife, serve others and seek truth no matter the consequences? Or will I take the easy road?

I hope these next three weeks provide me with a challenge. That I would truly seek God and make courageous decisions every day. While I may not have to fight a physical battle, I hope that I will pray continually in all things, for Scritpure teaches me that my battle is not against flesh and blood, but against darker things. I am glad I serve a great Creator who fights on my behalf.

-Tharp-
Jonah 2:2