The following speech was given by a dear friend at our graduation ceremony for Jackson Hole Bible College, class of 2010!
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The events you are about to hear are true stories. Only the events, names, places, and circumstances you are about to hear have been altered to protect the identity and sanity of the individuals involved.
Hey Israel!!!...I mean classmates.
I am not the JimJaz prophet nor do I want to talk to you. (sorry that was a joke)
JHBC 2009, 2010
Whether weird beards or bald heads, it was a great year
Whether Volleyball rain or shine or Broomball cold and sore, it was a great year
Whether boarding, skiing, sledding, hiking, biking, or just liking the pass, it was a great year
Whether learning, sleeping, or teepeeing the wildlife during class, it was a great year
Yes…much randomness ensued.
The Godly examples include: Food fights on work day, frosting attacks, pitchers of water and baptisms, throwing objects in general, cow-tipping, sumo wrestling, pumpkin carving, Jean stories, sending Jean love letters, the many alter-egos of Jean, Faces rendered from rugburn or wipeouts, extorting cookies, puppy chow or fudge from your classmates, getting logged, Hikes to Ski Lake or around Jackson, Josh’s perfect woman, Our favorite and most intriguing and troubling question, Everybody now: “What about Mars?”, Crazy shirts, writing poems for the loved ones of your roommates, Andy’s tight pants, going to the ER, Oh my Parents are here, my Mom is a Sweet Lady, Random art nights, euchre, catan, apples to apples, catch phrase, Dancing with Dance-Master Caleb, Fancy Dinners, Come as you’re not, Psychological warfare, Modeling lessons from Kelly, It’s Party Time!!! Burnmaster Josh, Hebrew Poems, updating your status even when not on facebook, continually trying to answer the philosophical question “Where’s Sean?,” Doo-doo Doo-doo, The adventures of Curtis and Tiger Moo, Petey the Chubby Chipmunk, Tradition!, Wha’choo talkin’ bout?! The Backpacking trip- the hiking line, the rests, repelling, stories from Jim Pellerin… “I about died…” Saul, David, Solomon, Split 931 BC, Mt St. Helens- roadtrip randomness, dropping items on people ahead of you on the bus, Rocks that look like schist, Hebrew Poems, Gen 1-11, Creation, Crazy Prophecies and Revelation, and the Grand Canyon Trip- Where do I begin and where do I end.
If you did not understand that I am sorry, maybe we are just too Godly for you…in a humble way!
In all honesty, I would like to encourage all of you from my own experience. In hiking the Grand Canyon, you really came to understand how large it truly is. Pacing is key as Jim Pellerin would say. It is a slow process, but it is simply one step after another. Sometimes you can only see a few steps ahead of you and that’s the way life is. If we stay focused on the next step or two, eventually you will make it to the top! Another thing about the hike, as we neared the top of the canyon, it was dark, and the headlights were necessary to keep going, just like the light of Jesus that will guide us.
This has been a great year, and it is just one stage in our lives. It’s sad that it has come to an end, but we can take much hope in the promises that God gives us in his word for the next stages in our lives.
Romans 8:28-28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
Matthew 7:9-11 9"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10"Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Isaiah 40:31- 31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
I Love You All, I Thank You All and God Bless You All!
