...It is right before elections and we see the world around us continuing to turn away from God.  What a great time to reflect, pray and sing with Mr. Williams...

GUIDE ME O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH

Words by William Williams, 1717-1719

Music by John Hughes, 1873-1932

PSALM 31:3

"For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore,

For your name's sake, lead me and guide me."

Throughout the centuries the Welsh people have been recognized as one of the most enthusiastic groups of singers in the world. From the days of the Druids, Wales has been a land of song.  This hymn is a product of that fine and robust musical heritage.

During the early part of the eighteenth century a young Welsh preacher, Howell Harris, was stirring Wales with his evangelistic preaching and congregational singing. In England the Wesleys and George Whitefield were conducting similar revivals and outdoor campaigns. One of the lives touched by Harris's preaching was William Williams. Prior to this time Williams had been preparing for the medical profession, but upon hearing a sermon by Harris, young Williams gave his heart and life to God and decided to enter the ministry. Like Harris, he decided to take all of Wales as his parish and for the next forty-three years traveled nearly 100,000 miles on horseback, preaching and singing the gospel in his native tongue. Though he suffered many hardships, he was affectionately known as the "sweet singer of Wales." Throughout Wales he was respected as a persuasive preacher, yet it is said that the chief source of his influence was his hymns. He wrote approximately 800 of them, all in Welsh. One hymnologist has said, "What Isaac Watts has been to England, that and more has William Williams been to Wales." Unfortunately, most of Williams's hymns are untranslated, and this is the only hymn for which he is widely known today.   It has been translated into over 75 languages.

The imagery of the hymn is drawn wholly from the Bible. The hymn compares the forty-year journey of the Israelites to the promised land with the living of a Christian life as a "pilgrim[age] through this barren land." Note the symbolic phrases used throughout: "bread of heaven" (manna), "crystal fountain" (I Corinthians 10:3, 4), "fire and cloudy pillar," "verge of Jordan," "Canaan's Side."

The tune for this text was written in 1907 by John Hughes, a noted Welsh composer and was written especially for the annual Baptist Cymnfa Ganu (singing festival) at Capel Rhondda, Pontypridd, Wales.

The hymn is associated with the Welsh miners, especially those of the Rhondda valley. It was featured in the 1941 film “How Green Was My Valley” centered around life in a Welsh mining town. Mining was big industry in the early 1900’s, but it was dangerous work.  On the average, one miner died every six hours.  It became a custom for the miners to sing this hymn as they descended into the mines, entering with the very real knowledge they may not return to their loved ones.  The name of the tune is "Cwm Rhondda," in reference to the coal-mining Rhondda valley in Wales. 

Sadly it is the last remnant of the Welsh revival that began in 1904. At the time, the people of Wales worked at their trades and labored in the coal mines as usual—but spontaneous outbreaks of worship became the norm. They couldn't even complete a rugby match without breaking out in worship to God. 

The music lives on, but the passion for God that inspired it did not cross the generational line. This outward marker of the God-ward passion of a previous generation has become an empty tradition at present day rugby games. What might have happened had the previous generation successfully passed spiritual vigor and passionate love for God to their children?"

 [background summary compiled from internet and from "101 Hymn Stories" by Kenneth Osbeck]

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but Thou art mighty,
Hold me with Thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,
Feed me till I want no more;
Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain,
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through.
Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer,
Be Thou still my strength and shield;
Be Thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Bear me thro' the swelling current,
Land me safe on Canaan's side.
Songs and praises, songs and praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

AMEN

Wow, this is long overdue…

Please do not interpret my lack of posts recently as “Oh, she’s moved on” or “she doesn’t have any more thoughts”. It’s simply a reflection of time demands.  Given that I’m now at college (PHC), and have little opportunity to see or communicate with those friends who are not here on campus with me, I’ve started a new site for college happenings of a more personal nature.  http://xanga.com/OnToRound13   Veritex will remain primarily of a spiritual nature as originally intended.      

THE FAITHFUL GENERATION

Address to Graduates at the NCFCA Homeschool Graduation 

Saturday, June 10th, 2006

When I was first asked to give this speech, I felt very honored and excited… until I actually sat down to consider the task before me… at which point I wanted to pick up the phone and politely decline.  Because -- well, think with me a second, here I am expected to give a graduation speech, which in itself is no easy task, but to give it to a group of nationally ranked debaters and speech competitors?!… to be quite honest, the only saving grace is that you aren’t all sitting there with ballots, pencils, and a timepiece!  And if you are, put them…away… please...?   

I thought about coming up, quietly saying that you’re all amazing people with great potential, and then introduce your next speaker, Dr. Farris, but that probably wouldn’t work. 

I seriously considered coming up, giving you an enthusiastic “ROCK ON!!!” and then continuing with a Howard-Dean style speech complete with a “We’re going to take over the country!” and a fist-pump buuuut I wasn’t so sure that would work either.  And so I was left with the problem of deciding what to share with you …

I know the type of speeches that are being delivered all across the nation in other high-schools.  They’re all celebrating this step and encouraging the graduates to make the most of themselves.  Famous phrases include: “You’re all winners…” “Seize the moment.”  “The fireworks begin today. Each diploma is a lighted match, each one of you is a fuse.”  … [hmm, so does that make Mr. Clark the smoke detector?] …and of course the famous declaration: “There is no need to reach high for the stars. They are already within you - just reach deep into yourself!”  And while it is pleasant to dwell on those thoughts… who wouldn’t be excited to “sail the open ocean of life,” I realize that that would seem rather cliché. 

But then again, I guess I have a confession to make… I have never had an original thought in my entire life. ... [I mean, even that phrase was borrowed from the wonderful Dr. George Grant…]  So inasmuch as you may appreciate anything that I may say, the credit goes elsewhere....  And inasmuch as you may take issue with it... you can also go... to somebody else!

On a more serious note, to the families, friends, and my fellow graduates, what a pleasure it is to stand here and know that I’m not just speaking to good friends, but fellow believers that serve a Lord, who owns this world.  And as such, although today yes, is about “us”, I’d like to step out of the “us” focus and start at the beginning. 

Every graduate is told to go out into the world and be a leader.  We’re told that our success will depend on intelligence, creativity, and self-confidence.  The focus is completely on Self and the Self’s ability to draw on its own resources.  The goal is to have your name in the newspaper, your face on a billboard, and your signature on some important Congressional bill. 

Are these impressive feats?  Of course they are, and I’m willing to bet that some of you will accomplish them.  But is that what we really want?   Why are we here after all?  What is our purpose in life?  Our fellow graduates have been told to be leaders and leave their mark on the world.  Whose mark to do you want to leave?  See that’s where the typical graduate falls off the right track.  Their desire is to accomplish great things for themselves and their focus is internal. 

We’ve been put here for one reason: to glorify our Father in heaven.  And inasmuch as we pursue truth and seek to reflect Him, we are Biblical leaders.   

Christian leadership is about day-to-day living; sometimes it’s standing up and seizing the reins, but often it’s quietly living by example.  If what I do when I’m not in the public eye contradicts what I do and say when I’m not upfront, I can’t be a true leader.  Leadership is a lifestyle that is all about service in our Father’s name. 

Actually, if I can digress for a minute; the perverse side of me – as I wrestled with what to bring to us today – wanted to do a graduation speech without that ubiquitous “v” word: Vision.  But then what’s a graduation speech without “Vision”?  Well so that we all feel better, I’m going to use it.  What is my vision?  And what do I hope is your vision?  It’s actually very simple. 

To be a learner for life, to nurture humility and a servant’s spirit, to live out an example of Godliness on a day-to-day basis, and to impact this nation in whatever role God calls us to fulfill, for that is the life of a true Biblical leader.  Some of us may be politicians, others teachers, some doctors, others artists, and some will be fathers and mothers, but no matter what the future holds for us, we should all tackle it with the same goal. 

If one short tremendous effort could make a great leader, there would be many of them.  If emotion alone sufficed – their numbers would be legion.  It is because greatness comes from daily diligent perseverance in following after God and His ways, that there are so few.  My hope is that we can expand that number.  This is a wonderful day that does mark an important progression.  And as we move on onto the next path, let us remember to always seek God first.

And we’ll face opposition, but shouldn’t be discouraged by it.  Churchill once said, “You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” 

When faced up with opposition, as we inevitably will be, I would that we stand up as David did… with a slingshot, 5 little stones, and the might of the Lord behind us.  And we can say as he did “You may come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and a shield: but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts… and the battle belongs to the Lord.” 

My desire is that we would reflect with a sense of thanksgiving and appreciation for the blessings we have received, that as we look forward it would be with a sober and joyous anticipation of further growth, and that we would have a complete reliance on God, and that at the end of the day inasmuch as we have accomplished anything worthy of acclamation, we will say “It was of the Lord”, and that in that strength, we would go forward. 

It was in that strength that on October 16, 1555, two men made history.  Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley did not approach their trials with fear.  As they were led to the stake to be burned, Latimer encouraged Ridley, saying, "Be of good cheer, Master Ridley, and play the man! We shall this day light such a candle in England, as by God’s grace I trust never shall be put out."

The candle was lit, and has never been forgotten, all because two men had the courage and the vision to serve the Lord, and we now look back at them as an example and challenge to us.  I don’t know all that we can accomplish, but I do know that God uses small things for significant purposes.  He uses salt, He uses yeast; neither of which are showy, ostentatious, loud, or always in the front, but they are important nonetheless.  He uses hearts, minds, and talents.  He can use two people to light a raging fire in a continent.

There are a whole host of people who have significantly contributed to who we are today, but a very special thanks goes to our parents.  And while we give the honor and glory to the Lord, we recognize that He has blessed us greatly through our parents.  They’ve been an amazing generation that has sacrificed and done so much for us to bring us to this point.    

There’s a well-known book, The Greatest Generation, by Tom Brokaw. In it he applauds the WWII generation for their determination, courage, and vision as a priceless legacy that was left to us.  At a 911 memorial service though, a young NY fireman met up with Mr. Brokaw, shook his hand and said, “Mr. Brokaw, Watch my generation now.  Just watch.” 

If the Lord tarries and future generations reflect on us, what will they say?  How will we be remembered?  Are they going to look back and call us “the 2^nd Greatest Generation”?  The “revolution generation”?  The “generation with a vision”? 

If we’re going to think in terms of the spark, burning ember, and lighting a fire… may we light our candles in the name and strength of the Lord as did Ridley and Latimer.  And rather than reach for the stars with our inner strength and knowledge, may we reach like David did, for five little stones… because we know the battle belongs to the Lord.

That is why my earnest hope is that if future generations remember us, they will not remember us as the Greatest Generation, but rather they will say of us “Oh, That Generation…  In their homes and in their businesses; in the halls of government and in their church pews; in their homeland and in their world… they served the Lord… They were.. a Faithful Generation.”    

... May God bless you all.

This post is specially dedicated to an awesome partner and a dear friend:

….

“I guess in the end you start thinking about the beginning.”  - Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Funny, thinking about “the beginning” takes me all the way back to 2001-2002 with a wince and a laugh.  It was my first year in NCFCA, and I took my first couple steps as a competitor with just 2 tournaments in Colorado before eagerly dragging my one precious IE to Nationals.  It was a shock … to put it gently. 

Nationals was an eye-opener for this little 13-year-old who was still trying to understand the differences between Original Oratory and Original Advocacy, translate the strange series of mumbo-jumbo communication from so-called “Policy Debaters”, and finally guessed that “Lincoln-Douglas” debates were on the pre-Civil war issues.  :-X  … yep!  That was me!  Thankfully there was wonderful support, encouragement, and leadership provided by fellow CO competitors Courtney, Chloe, and Lauren. 

I gamely fought through my first three prelims at National with a beloved Oratory on Resurrecting True Patriotism through studies and indoctrination of history.  With the Can-Do attitude of a 13-year-old I had arrived at the Murfreesboro highschool with the hope of breaking (something no one in CO had done yet), but when I looked around and saw all the bigger, smarter people who were wearing … SUITS?!? … yeah, it hit me.   I was wearing a nice, khaki skirt my Grandmother had kindly sewed for me, my first ever black jacket, my Mom’s cream silk shirt, and a little patriotic heart necklace.  WELCOME TO NATIONALS, LITTLE ONE!!!  

It was at that 2002 Nationals that I saw my first Team Policy debate: Will Dunham and Kathleen Luster debating Joel Day and Brett Lane’s case on legalizing hemp.  To say I fell in love would be an understatement.   I had no idea what they were talking about … but hey, I was hooked!  Kathleen in particular became my idol, and when I showed up the next year in Colorado in my first suit with my first partner and a rather skimpy box of evidence, I thought I was ready. 

At the state tournament, however, I found myself suddenly stranded without a partner.  My partner, Grace, was stuck on the other side of the Rockies when a snowstorm hit the day before the tournament.  The next morning, 30 minutes before the first debate, Mrs. Edmonds ran up and said that she had found the solution! 

“Partner with Ben!”

“WHAT?!?”

Yep, I partnered with my little 12-year-old brother who had not only never debated before, but hadn’t even really sat in on our debate classes.  Our first round we went Affirmative (we made Ben the 1A) and in the first CX he was asked, “Do you think the Status Quo is solving the harms in your case?”  He paused, mulled over the issue for a moment in his mind, and then gave an enthusiastic “Yes! It is!” before sending me a proud grin. … ok… maybe this’ll be a little more painful than I thought…  But my little brother gave it his all and completely astounded me by taking me far enough to give me a debate in the final round … and a qualification slot to Nationals.

Now picture this: a little brother-sister team with two tournaments for me and one for him under our belts debating at Nationals.  Wincing yet?  Yeah, I am too, but back then I had no idea what we were in for, which is probably a good thing!

The first four debates went pretty well.  Then came Round 5…  Ben had gone in the room before me to set up the evidence and he came out with a grin to announce that “Guess what?  We’re debating twins!” 

Twin debaters?  More like twin tornadoes of destruction.  My first meeting with Cody and Travis was like a trip to the butcher’s shop, and I remember feeling rather like a helpless victim as Cody passionately delivered a 2AR advocating the removal of the African ivory trade ban.  Man, I hated that case.

Round 5 went down in Ben’s and my sibling partnership history as our worst creaming round ever; and Cody and Travis went down as “the twin team.”  As speaker awards often are, that year they went off their rocker and catapulted me up to a 17^th speaker (hey look at this year!  Nice to know I’m right back where I started! ) award right next to … Cody in 16^th.  Take a look…

The next year goes down as one of the most fun ever with lots of new growth, new lessons, new states, and new friends.  Ben and I made it to our first out-of-state tournament!  APU!  We were a little older, a little stronger, and a little wiser … riiight… OH!  And we had more suits! …

The first four debates went pretty well.  Then came Round 5… (is this sounding at all familiar?)  However, I am happy to report that this creaming was not nearly as bad as the first!!!   In fact, except for the fact that Cody ran a Resolution-inclusive Counterplan *cough*, it was a nice enough debate … though we lost... again…

2003-2004 was the year I really got to know some of the non-Colorado NCFCAers and make friends.  In fact, it makes me smile when I realize that I met so many of my fellow Nationals competitors this year way back then…

Curtis, remember that first APU?  We hit you in Round 4 … right before Cody and Travis.   Taryn, met you there too before you solved my Apologetics problems at Puget Sound.  Renee, remember the switch-around in DI?  Scott, still have to laugh at that debate Round 6 against you and Stephen at Puget Sound.  Looking back I’m so thankful that I got to meet all of you back then and that we could continue to grow and learn together through the years.  

Fall of 2004 my family decided to move to California, so we joined Envoy.  I was now in the club of the Terrible Twosome that for some blasted reason I couldn’t beat!  (What’s that they say?  If you can’t beat’em, join’em?)  Well I wasn’t quite ready to “join” them, especially Cody who had given us the worst thrashings in his 2A/NRs.  In fact, one of the reasons I was excited about being in their club was that it would give me some more chances to debate and quite possibly BEAT them!   See at this point, I was quite used to seeing Cody do this to people…

… and … to be brutally honest, I don’t tend to be the kind of person to sit back and “take it”.  

So here was a chance to possibly debate and beat these guys… but just like clockwork, they switch to LD!  Nice … 

If there was one thing Cody and I knew about each other at that point, it was that we were both competitive… very competitive… in any and every arena. 

That fall my Inbox got quite used to seeing the dialogue of us untiringly argue over some current legal problem, news development, or court decision.  Before that year’s debate season started, Cody asked me to partner with him the following year in TP.  I repeat: before he competed a year in LD and I started my last year with Ben in debate, we agreed to partner.  Yeah, we were probably out of our minds. 

One of the funniest things about this past year is that everyone kept telling us that they thought we were going to fight to death and argue over everything between ourselves.  Basically we would never debate as a team because we could never agree with each other.  Well, so that everyone isn’t disappointed… yes, you were partially right.  We argued.  A lot.   We’d agree on some issues, disagree on the rest, and everything would be pounded between the Devil’s advocacy of a logical Sophist and the passion of a “but this is the real world, let's look at the presuppositions!” Thinker. 

But that state of constant arguing didn’t happen during this past year of partnership; it happened the year before, the year when we agreed we’d partner but were still off doing our own stuff.  The whole pre-partnership year of 2004-2005 could probably be summarized with this … 

It’s said that “you never know someone until you fight them.”  I guess that was true of our partnership.   Neither Cody nor I truly knew the other person, understood how they thought, or recognized where they came from, until we had debated, argued, and discussed almost every imaginable subject.  Cody, remember the times we tackled moral relativism, absolutism, human rights, and whether there was a Biblical mandate for national sovereignty?

Disagreement would slowly morph into discussion creating mutual respect and eventually a friendship.  With friendship came the ability to yield, admit that “ok… I was wrong there”, and speak freely about issues.  The result was that by the time the Medical Malpractice resolution rolled around, we could join as teammates. 

With the “fighting” behind us, there was nothing left but to unite and strive for the end together.  I could never have predicted that we’d have the kind of team we did.  Forget how many trophies or certificates came home (we already know those don’t matter because most are sitting on the closet floor.)  By the time we showed up at our first tournament, most people who came to watch seemed to focus more eagerly on our prep table than on our podium. As one person said “The prep table is where the REAL debate’s going to be!” 

What was it Mrs. Moon said?  That our “enemies” right now may end up becoming our greatest allies?  How accurate. 

One of my greatest debate “enemies” became my greatest ally and an amazing friend.  

And No, everything wasn’t all “hunky-dory” every single minute behind the prep table. But we worked through it!  That’s what true friends/partners do; you give and go and sacrifice as necessary in order to promote the wellbeing of your friendship/team.  I think in the beginning of the year most people saw two head-strong, stiff-necked competitors “partnering” and had no idea how it was going to go.  I’m very proud to say that it couldn’t have gone any better than it did. 

…and now to a collage of pictures, "quotes from us", and lines from our theme songs!

SO!  HERE’S TO: BROKEN BAGGAGE CARTS … and bouncy balls

… Had a bad day, takin’ one down… work on a smile and you go for a ride…

… JAVA FREEZE TOWERS… “My tower’s bigger than yours!”

… I’ve paid my dues, time after time… and bad mistakes, I’ve made a few…

… and STRANGE AIRPLANE MANUALS! “Don’t you dare put that on me!”

… Right into the Danger Zone!...

HERE’S TO: PUMPED-UP MOMENTS!  “Look at postings.”

Risin’ up, Back on the street, did my time, took my chances

Went the distance now I’m back on my feet, just a man and his will to survive…

… THE LAUGHTER… “So let’s accept that harm and please PASS ME THE LIPITOR!”

so many times it happens too fast, you change your passion for glory

don’t lose a grip on the dreams of the past, you must fight just to keep them alive….

…  THE TOUGH TIMES… “I just can’t believe I didn’t see this coming.” 

I will take it to the wire now until every race is run

I’ll go straight into the fire now until every day is done

Voices say – Break away…

…THE YELLOW NOTES WAITING FOR ME AFTER SPEECHES…

"are you ok?"  "I'm fine."  "No, you're not... DRINK!" 

… and THE GOOD ROUNDS WITH GOOD FRIENDS!  “no more twin  CX… please?”

Face-to-face, out in the heat, hangin’ tough, stayin’ hungry…

HERE’S TO OUR TEAM… “Last word spoken in NCFCA: Thank You.”

It’s the Eye of the Tiger…

… AND AN AWESOME FRIENDSHIP… “We may have just won Nationals. Who could have imagined… Wow… We have Someone to thank. :)”

…Went the distance…

When we started out the year, partner, we discussed what our goals were, remember?  At first we laughed about my never having broken before and you making it to quarters, but when the year began, the Lord removed those goals from us and taught us to focus on the important things: glorifying Him and  modeling quality debate. 

Now thank we all our God with heart and hands and voices

Who wondrous things hath done, in whom this world rejoices;

Who from our mothers’ arms, has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us

With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us

And keep us in his grace, and guide us when perplexed

And free us from all ills in this world and the next

All praise and thanks to God, the Father, now be given,

The Son, and Him who reigns with them in highest heaven,

The One Eternal God whom earth and heav’n adore

For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore. 

            - Martin Rinkart, 1636

There’s Someone we owe a lot to… So most importantly, here’s to growing in the Lord, spiritual encouragement, and a commitment to walking in truth.  Here’s to you, Cody! And the blessings that God gave us both.  It was quite a year.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

“The greatest temptation is to keep the company of those who only admire us and never dare stand up to us.” – Maurice Roberts

Thank you to all my friends – those who led the way…who stood at my side and helped…and who were never afraid to give me a shove from behind to push me in the right direction.  I owe you all so much. 

“True friendship is infinite and immortal.” – Plato

I can’t express all the appreciation to everyone in my life through the years: my family (and incidentally my coaches) and my friends.  The lessons have been so important, the times memorable, and the friendships truly immortal.  Thank you Lord for the past few years… and now onto the future! 

P.S. HERE’S TO BREAKING THE TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS “CURSE”!

As many of  you know, we just discovered that my brother, Ben, has a bone tumor in his right hand.  See here for details:  http://www.xanga.com/HeffyCA

Tomorrow at 9:30 he will have surgery to remove the tumor and, if it is benign (not cancer), he will undergo a bone graft to replace the diseased bone.

Please pray for the following:

1.  Wisdom and skill as the physicians take care of Ben.

2.  That the tumor will be benign.

3.  For a quick restoration to full health for Ben.

We serve a faithful God who does all things well.

Psalm 81: 10 I am the Lord thy God who brought thee out of the land of Egypt:  open thy mouth wide and I will fill it.

Lord, I am praying.