How to post a video onto Blip.tv
January 25, 2009
Ok, so I’m going to try to make this as simple as possible.
Steps
1. Record video with web cam.
2. Sign up for a Blip Account at Blip.tv . (it’s easy)
3. I saved the movie to Windows movie maker then transfered the movie onto Blip.
Blip has some pretty easy step by step instructions.
Oh, and when you’re finished uploading it, don’t forget to e-mail Thomas the link to the video!
If you need any more help, just e-mail me or, if you want to, you can Google it. 
I hope it helps!
-Ben Chambers
Tournament Thoughts
January 25, 2009
Hey guys! I’ll try to make this as brief as possible!
First off, congrats to everyone who participated in the CFC masters conference! I don’t know about you all, but I learned SO much during the past week. God truly blessed us by allowing CFC to conduct their masters conference right here in Austin!! 
OK, so I really feel like God has laid something on my heart I need to share with you all. It happened today when I was thinking about the upcoming January Warm-Up. Here’s the verse that God brought to my mind.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,” – Hebrews 12:1
Now, I want to point out something. God could have said, “let us run quickly the race…” or he could have said “let us run impressively…” But he didn’t. He said WITH PATIENCE Sometimes you can really get a lot of insight out of the Bible by looking at what God didn’t say, but could have.
Every one’s “race” is unique. For some, it is slower moving, rockier… and more dangerous. For others, it’s easier. What I wanted to point out before the qualifying tournaments, is that this is not a race against each other. You are to finish the race for God’s glory. The people who run with patience, and finish the race, get the prize. that’s it. You don’t have to rank higher in apologetics, or debate. You simply must do your best, finish the race, and give God the glory.
The DUTY is ours. the RESULTS are God’s.
This is going to be difficult for a lot of people. Including me. Tournaments are always difficult. But let’s try to find the joy in finishing the race, and giving God the glory. Tournaments are a lot of fun, and (I’ll admit) sometimes a lot more fun when you win. But at the end of the day, we are all just running our race. So I would just encourage y’all to have Faith. Trust that God will use you if you let Him. And give God the glory for everything that happens. And no matter what, don’t give up. Don’t give in.
Lay aside every weight. Run the race with endurance.
I just wanted to end this with a few quotes from some of my favorite songs.
The Voice of Truth tells me a different story. The Voice of Truth says DO NOT BE AFRAID. The Voice of Truth says this is for MY GLORY. I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.
Give me words to speak, don’t let my spirit sleep. I can’t think of ANYTHING WORTH SAYING but I know that I owe you MY LIFE. So Give me words to speak don’t let my spirit sleep.
Do all (your best) for the Glory of Christ,
Ben Chambers
6 Tips for Better Source Citations
January 17, 2009
by Thomas
The only thing more boring than listening to evidence in a speech is listening about who said the boring stuff you are about to hear. No judge likes to be bored.
So, What is the goal of reading a citation?
The only goal as far as I am concerned is to amplify the evidence by establishing its authority. If you cause the judge to zone out, you loose. Short and simple always beats long and boring.
Here are some tips to keep your judge paying attention to your evidence:
- Use no more than ten words on a citation. Period. If your citation is longer than ten words strike unnecessary information. Striking is better than deleting because the info is there if you need it.
- Never state the day. Don’t say “Chris Edwards, March 28, 2007″ Just say “Benjamin Powel, 2005.”
- Only state the month if the quote is from this year. Even then you can probably leave it out.
- The organization is more important than the name. It is better to say “Cato Institute 2007.” than “Chris Edwards 2007.” The exception to this is if the person is a known public figure like President Obama.
- Someone’s title is more important than their name. This is particularly true if the person has a non English name. Better to say the Prime Minister of India 2009 than “Manmohan Singh 2009.”
- Abbreviate the citations ahead of time. Shortening on the fly will give you a less than an optimal citation. Strike what you won’t read so it is still handy if the opposing side asks for it. If you forgot to do that when you made the brief, have your partner strike citations in prep time.
What do you think. Are there any tips missing? Leave a comment and let us know.