I normally don’t post on a Sunday, but since the technology exists to schedule my blog posts ahead of time through the magic of technology, I will this week and for one very important reason.  It’s Ronald Reagan’s birthday and he would have been 100 years old today!

Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6th 1911-June 5th 2004) was the 40th President of the United States.  No matter what anyone thought of his politics, they couldn’t help but love The Great Communicator who spoke with disarming humor and a positive outlook.  Those who spoke with him always remarked at how he had the knack of making them feel as if they were the only person in the world who mattered at that moment!

Ronald Reagan was a man of faith who felt strongly about America’s ties to her Creator.  He had a way of using humor and God’s Word to speak gently and respectfully of his vision and his beliefs. I thought you might enjoy reading a little of The Great Communicator’s wit and wisdom.  Here are some of his famous quotes:

“Government is like a baby. An alimentary canal with a big appetite at one end and no sense of responsibility at the other.”

“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”

“Our Nation’s motto – ‘In God We Trust’ – was not chosen lightly. It reflects a basic recognition that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this nation owes homage.”

“Heroes may not be braver than anyone else. They’re just braver five minutes longer.”

“America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.”

“Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong.”

“One way to make sure crime doesn’t pay would be to let the government run it.”

“Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement.”

“I have wondered many times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if Moses had run them through the U.S. Congress.”

“Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.”

Art of Eloquence has patterned our speech communication studies and events after The Great Communicator by using humor as well as God’s Word to teach a generation of Christians to speak up as eloquently for their beliefs and accomplish the work the Lord has for them!  During the last five years, each  Say What You Mean Convention strove to help Christian families do just that.  This annual, three-day event featured live seminars and workshops by some of the most beloved speakers including:

Micheal Farris of Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)

Carol Barnier, author “How to Get Your Child off the Refrigerator and Onto Learning”

Lorrie Flem, Teach Magazine Editor

Dr. Jay Wile, Founder of Apologia Science

Gena Suarez, Editor of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine

Michael Jr, Christian Comedian

Cindy Rushton, Time for Tea and Mom to Mom Radio Show

Many thanks and blessings to you all for taking the time to come share with my guests!

While I had a blast putting this on each year, it was an incredible amount of work.  In fact, it took me all year  to plan the events, make arrangements for the keynote speakers, record the hundreds of hours of audios and that was just a small slice of the planning pie.  During those years, I was unable to do much writing or many other speaking engagements.  After the conclusion of the Fifth Annual Say What You Mean Convention last year, I heard the Lord clearly tell me to hang up my convention hat.  The convention site will be up until the end of February so feel free to go on over and listen to the audios and download the free gifts!

I’d like to take this time to send a big hug and a thank you to several people.  There were some who worked beside me, year after year, in various capacities for this five year cause.  My unsung heroes, if you will.  I’d like to thank them for making the event a rousing success each of those five years. I never could have done something this big without them!

Kim Kautzer of WriteShop for all her help with the planning and execution each year as well as for speaking and helping me to run the events!

Joan Rudder Ward, of Girl Nurture and now Visual Psalms for her help in planning, speaking and especially for all her hard work on the website!

Carla Ives of Reluctant WAHM fame and now venturing forth into her new business, GhostWriteHer.com for all her ideas and support and prayers as well as for helping with all the little things behind the scenes.

And a special thank you to Marie Ynami for all her help in setting up the format and initial website and for encouraging me when the Lord first gave me this seemingly nutty idea of a techno ding dong hosting an convention entirely on the web!  If it wasn’t for Marie, I’d have never begun this great adventure!

While I’ll no longer be hosting this huge event, I have been running monthly seminars and workshops that are proving fun and informative for many.  Come join me and a panel of fabulous guests on February 24th as we discuss (WITH HUMOR) how important communication skills are in our everyday lives!

As you can see, Ronald Reagan has been a big inspiration to me as I worked through several projects in the past eight years with Art of Eloquence.  Happy 100th Birthday Ronald Reagan and thank you, one and all!

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