Vernon G Smith

The Power of the Tongue Vernon G Smith

During the years of my mom's life she kept indicating that she

wanted to write a book about her life. As a child I loved the

stories she told about her childhood, my grandparents whom

I never knew, and about her early days in Gary, Indiana.

While I encouraged her to do so and even provided her a tape

recorder to record her story, I failed to take a more active role

helping her to tell the interesting story of her life. On July 21,

1991 it became too late to write the book she wanted titled Angels

Watching Over Me. I am dedicating this book, The Power of

the Tongue: Rise Up and Walk, to her memory.


For more than 35 years I have been asked to serve as speaker

for numerous events. This book captures excerpts from years

and years of speeches. Every time I have spoken I have done

so, not with a desire for accolades, but with a desire to motivate

and empower people. This desire gives genesis to the title

of this book, The Power of the Tongue: Rise up and Walk. Words

can tear down and words can build. It is my humble but sincere

desire that the words, scripted herein, will motivate and

empower people long after my bones are laid to rest.


The Bible tells of a time when Peter and John were at the point

of entering the temple. A man, who had been lame from his

birth, asked for charity. Peter fixed his eyes on him, and so did

John, and said, "Look at us" (Acts 3:4). So he watched them

closely. Then Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none; but such

as I have give I thee. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth

rise up and walk." And he took him by the right hand, and

lifted him up; and immediately his feet and anklebones received

strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and

entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping and

praising God (Acts 3:6-8). It is my prayer that those who read

this book would not only rise up and walk, but also run faster

than the wind. I only ask that if one is motivated that he/she

will give God Almighty the praise.