7/29/2019 TJL Maranatha Class of 1985 Valedictory Speech

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Members of the Class of 85, Faculty and Administration, Parents, Relatives, and

Friends Welcome!

There is an oft-used expression associated with success and failure, known as the

Moment of Truth. It is a pinpoint of time, during which a decision must be made,

an action must be taken, and no decision or action is the same as failure. Considerthe following example:

It is the bottom of the ninth inning, there are two outs, the score is tied, bases are

loaded, and Randy Tippitt comes up to bat for Maranatha. As he steps into the

batters box, he faces the moment of truth. Most likely, he will either get a hit,

scoring Mike Herrera from third base to win the game for the Minutemen, or he

will be out and Maranatha will lose.

Very often the moment of truth is connected with the idea of knowing your

potential, of proving yourself. It is difficult to describe the elation and excitement

when you face the moment of truth and succeed.

As the 1985 Graduating Class of Maranatha High School, we have realized our

potential, faced many moments of truth, and have proven ourselves with the success

of our education thus far. As the result of the past thirteen years, tonight we bask in

a moment of glory, and briefly pause to reflect and catch our breath before moving

on.

The future holds many new challenges for us. After tonight, our lives will change.

New schools, friends, jobs, experiences, and the world in general will surround us,

all at the same time. We will face another moment of truth, known at large colleges

and universities as the Sink or Swim syndrome. However, whether you go to alarge or a small college, you will also have to sink or swim in Life, you will have to

succeed or fail. Almost every athletic coach I have had has stressed the importance

of being successful in Life, and the relationship between success in Sports and

success in Life. During high school, whether you played Sports, played and

instrument in the band, or belonged to some kind of club all of these activities aredesigned to prepare us for leadership and success in Life.

The theme of the 20thAnniversary Maranatha Patriot Yearbook is A Brighter

Future. We, as Christians, going to a Christian School, have several advantages overthe rest of the world. First, we can pray, worship, and fellowship freely at our school

with no restraints. Secondly, we have a Christian Faculty and Administration whosupport and care for us. Thirdly, and most important, is that God has already

guaranteed a brighter future for us. Two thousand years ago, He bought our future

with His only Sons blood. We do not have to worry whether or not we will sink orswim in Life. As long as our lives are focused on Jesus, we will walk on the water

through Life, just as the Apostle Peter did.

7/29/2019 TJL Maranatha Class of 1985 Valedictory Speech

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We know that we will have a brighter future, but what about the rest of the world?

In this age of advancing Science and Technology, many Christians feel that we are

nearing the end times prophesied about throughout the Bible. As Christians, and as

young adults, we hold the future of the world in our hands, because God has blessed

us with the Truth of His Word. We represent the leaders of tomorrow; therefore, it

is up to us to use and spread Gods Truth. Twenty years from now, will the 40th

Anniversary Edition of the Maranatha Patriot Yearbook have the theme, Still A

Brighter Future? We can no longer think only of our own lives, but we must expandour thoughts to include all those to follow.

In closing, I would like to read an excerpt from a devotional book by Billy Graham,

entitled, Day by Day with Billy Graham:

what are you placing your hope in for the future? Your countrys government,

educational system, some plan or organization? My hope is in a Person, the Lord

Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of God. I have hope and know that Im

going to Heaven. And, right here and now in this present life, I have Godspresence to help me.

Mr. Graham continues saying:

Suppose we had no Bible. Suppose there was no Cross, no Salvation, no EmptyTomb. Suppose we had nothing to hang on to, except, Do your best, try to patch

it up, do what you can. Oh, but we do have a hope. There is a plan of

Redemption, a plan for the future. The New Testament is an exciting book to

read, it is so full of hope and expectancy. And God is interested in you!

Thank you.