Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have been really busy.  I just finished my first semester of school and started a new job in the process as well. 

Just recently, I was asked by former students to come and speak at their High School Graduation.  Needless to say, it was an honor to do that. 

I figured what I had to share with them might be useful to all and so here is what I shared with those students on May 24th.

"Hello and Good Evening. Lake Pointe Faculty, Staff, Parents, Grandparents, Distinguished Guests, undistinguished guests (you know who you are), and especially, my friends, the Lake Pointe Academy graduating class of 2012!

Congratulations! You did it! 

It is a great honor and privilege to stand before you tonight and celebrate with you on this great occasion.  A month ago, when I came down to visit, I was approached by one of you and told that I needed to speak at your graduation.  I thought it was a nice gesture, and I even joked that I couldn't make the scene if I didn't have the green.  Realistically I wasn’t sure how it would happen.

Then I was approached by Mr. Lemmon (the school principle).  I immediately said that I would. 

And for good reason.  Like I’m sure it is for you, Lake Pointe Academy holds a special place in my heart.  Although I live exactly 2000 miles from my old classroom, I still feel like I’m a part of this school and this culture.  In fact, I live in the shadow of this great school.  I hate to say it, but ya’ll were the guinea pigs that I was unleashed upon, and I am forever grateful to [ Lake Pointe HR] for hiring this untested weirdo who loved youth and history.  I hope it isn’t conceited of me to say that I must have done alright since you invited me back.  I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

It is a huge responsibility to speak to a graduating class.  When Mr. Lemmon told me “officially” that you wanted me to come down, I began researching what I should say, and do.  I quickly learned that many commencement ceremonies are done by people who have accomplished great success. 

I figured I’d share the story of making my first million….no wait...I don't have a first million.

Well, maybe I could tell you about my book deal...no...no book deal. 

Obviously, I feel a little out of my league.

 I bounced around many ideas.  I turned to the best resources I could find: namely youtube.  I watch great communicators like Ronald Reagan and Larry the cable guy for inspiration.  The last one more so for fun.   I decided that the greatest thing I could share with you tonight- was what I had learned over my journey the last year since you too have been on a journey. 

More specifically, I want to share with you things I have learned that I hope will help you. This last year has been a year of growth for me.  I won’t bore you with details, but between heart searching, job searching, cure searching for my wife’s Fibromyalgia; I unknowingly created a list of things that I wish I’d been told when I graduated high school. 

I think the first thing I want to share with you, comes from the history teacher in me. Do not forget who you are, what you have learned, how you have made it to this point tonight, and at what price you have been bought. That is a lot to unpack, and I don’t want to take to much time teaching or preaching to you tonight, but at this time of the year, graduating classes all over the country are hearing things like: “you are the future” and “you can make a difference” or "all of you are at a major milestone in your life."

These are true, if not a little cliché.

Right now you feel like you can conquer the world.  I know I’ve been there.  Granted it was 15 years ago.  With each new generation the younger generation tries to push the older generation and their values out of the way, but I ask you, as you go out tonight into a future that you either have mapped out or don’t, please do not forget the values that you have learned here. 

Hard work-like the kind that won the trophies in the lobby.  Perseverance the kind you need to make it through Mrs. Smith’s Science classes.  Patience, Charity, Love, Brotherhood, and Determination.  These are just some of the values that you learned and employed that got you to this point tonight.

Also, please do not forget the teachers and the parents that made the journey with you. Do not forget the friends that you sit beside tonight, the community and the relationships that you have with each other.  I recently have gone back to school to get Teacher certification. I am a student again after 10 years.  One of the things that we had to do this year was visit schools and observes the different types out there.  Minnesota was the creator of the charter school.  I have seen many styles, but none with the love and family feeling that LPA has.  If I was to design a school, I would model it after LPA- because the boys and girls sitting next to you are an asset. 

Do not forget or disregard the relationships that you have nourished and maintained here.  If you look back at some of the most effective leaders and most successful people, you will see that they had the ability to maintain and develop friendships.  You have friendships, please maintain them.  Show me your friends, I’ll show you’re your future.  Look around you.  You want to be successful-stick with the person next to you.

Please do not forget that you have been bought with a price, Jesus Christ.  I don’t want to preach- let me just say this.  The workplace and the university can be places of great knowledge and experence, but they can also be places of great trials and temptations. Please remember your calling; To be a light to the world.   

The second thing I want to share with you comes as a Christian.  I want to encourage you not to worry about the present.  The headlines are enough to drive people into hopelessness. Inflation, Rumors of War, A second Term, collapse of European finances.  It’s no wonder suicide rates are up.  It can be bad and it can be scary. 

This year, with all this in the news, struggling for a job, and having a sick wife; I gave up.  There was a time this year when I had a hard time seeing; as my dad always says, God still on the throne.  If you were here the day I visited I shared with you in connections what happened to snap me out of my funk.  I remembered my life's verse.  If you’ve had me in class you know my life’s verse.  Proverbs 6:6 "Go to the ant O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.  Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in the harvest".  

There I was felling sorry for myself and I forgot that God is in control.  Even the ant continues to work.  I can do that. I saw God, enthroned.  Please, do not waste anytime worrying about the present.  Be anxious for nothing, but with Prayer and Supplication make your request known to the Lord.  Worry does no good.  In fact, it paralysises.  Instead request and be active.  Whatever you are doing do it.  Lock on and engage.  

Someone that I have rediscovered this year is George Washington.  Someone who understood the power of God enthroned.

When George Washington was at Valley Forge, the revolution was not going well.  One day, he goes out to pray.  Nearby, a Quaker, Isaac Potts was in the woods and heard Washington praying with such power.  Washington knew that God was in control and that America was going to win.  Potts goes home and tells his wife that although they use to be loyalists, they now would support the cause of liberty, because America was going to win. 

That is how we need to see the world.   I better move on, or the seminary student in me will pop out and I’ll deliver a 3 point sermon before you can say John Calvin. 

Lastly, my friends….as your friend... let me end with two things: First: find what you love and do it. Don't let the expectations of others control your life.  Do what you want and what you love.

 Secondly...one last assignment.  One of the things that I know your teachers and parents have tried to do, is teach you how to learn and to pursue the truth.  Continue that tradition.  Whatever you do, wherever you path takes you.  Seek out the truth.  The truth in politics, the truth in education, the truth in religion. Wheter you go to college, or into the workplace-continue to learn.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  Philippians 4:8

Remember how I said I’ve been studying Ronald Reagan and Larry the Cable Guy. 

Well, following their example,

Farewell, God Bless, and Git R Done. 

Thank you.