"Listen"

As I sat beside the sparkling stream which flowed slowly
   (To where I do not know)
I heard the voice of God calling ever so softly
   SAYING
"My son why are you here?
We could have met early today
    But you were in a hurry
    And ran away.
I wanted to tell you of my love for you.
But, your thoughts turned away from me."

When you turned away from me I wanted to shout
   LOUDLY
"Why do you love the world more than me?"
But, I had to give you time to be alone and realize that you
   needed me more than the little things you have
   gained in life."

       God is here and He really does
       Love You.  His whisper of the
       Rustling leaves shouts "I love you."

       THEN THE STORM WAS OVER

       Into the my soul came a gentle whisper
     
"The thunder, the storm of life will
Become a gentle calm when you
Draw near and listen to me."

"The trials of life that you have been
Having were designed by my Loving Hand to
Help you see beyond yourself.
Listen to the thundering of life for they
Were designed by my loving hand to help
You see that I am here to give strength."

When the storm was over
There came a gentle silence and a wondering --
   "Did God really speak to me?"

Ah, longing soul -- when will you learn that
God really does love you!  When will you stop
Your struggling for the things of this world?

Then a gentle whisper that opened up and
    Released a flood from my eyes
    "Child of Mine -- I am Here."

Now the sun is shining!
Here is a gentle breeze and the voice of God that says,
         "I will not walk too fast
         As we climb this steep mountain
         And you and I can walk together ...
         Walk with Me!"

Earl Dingus

The Poke Plant

My grandmother used to make Poke Salad from the Poke plant.  It was found in wild areas near the mountains.  She knew what to do with that plant because if it wasn't prepared just right, it could be poisonous. The young leaves were good for the salad. 

During the depression, my grandfather used to make 25 cents a day.  They worked hard for it and there wasn't much you could do to make that go very far.  My grandmother knew just which plants were healthy to eat.   She also knew how to make Pokeberry Wine.  She would give that to my dad and my grandfather and it would help with their rheumatism.  She'd pour once ounce every morning before they left and it would definitely help with the rheumatism.  My grandmother had native Indian blood.  They knew a lot about the medicinal value of the plants.  ~  from Earl, April 29, 2012

From Garden Web:  Here's the truth about poke salat - phytolacca americana.

Poke salat, when it matures, develops purple colorations on its stalk, flower stem, and berries and seeds. It is the MATURE leaves, and purple stem and seeds that contain the poisonous substances. Young plants are safe, as is the juice.

Young poke without any hint of purple makes an excellent dish of greens similar to spinach. It must be parboiled, then should drained well and added to a skillet and fried in butter or bacon drippings. It's a meal fit for a king.

Mountain folk often make a wine from the berries, claiming that a small glass each day helps relieve their arthritis symptoms. They also make a jelly, discarding the seeds. Many southern cities have festivals in honor of poke, and many websites contain lots of information.

Poke plants are spread far and wide by birds who gobble up the berries, then deposit the seeds for miles around. In fact, the seeds are difficult to germinate artifically because they prefer going through the acid in a digestive tract and then get frozen before they will sprout.

Poke root is a herbal remedy that has been used for millenia with excellent results, but can be poisonous when used incorrectly, as sometimes happens with someone who doesn't know what they are doing.  By Molly McBee

Ordination

Pastor Earl Dingus was ordained on June 13, 1954 at the Sinking Creek Baptist Church in Johnson City, Tennessee.  It is on the registry of churches in Nashville, TN as having been established in 1773, prior to the Declaration of Independence, and is one of  the oldest churches in the state.  Earl fondly remembers his ordination and lovingly embraces those memories of dear Southern folks who encouraged him to follow His Lord and Savior in the ministry.


----


Earl J. Dingus was a pastor to the Chillicothe Baptist Church for 12 years and is noted
in their history of the church.  On occasion he has gone back to the church to visit or to
assist with funerals for the church members.

1970-1980: The Move to Clinton Road
On March 11, 1970, a 10–acre lot of land on Clinton Road was purchased and was paid in its entirety February, 1973.  Dr. Earl J. Dingus served as pastor from 1970 to 1982.  Ground breaking on the Clinton Road property began 6 years later on April 1, 1979.

http://209.213.109.87/pages/page.asp?page_id=303368

God' Blessing - Reflecting upon three little ones. Children with sweet faces and quiet conversations.

God's Blessing

If you listen intently, you may hear

   The angels sing

But as you listen, amidst the jumbles

   Through the year

Comes the voice of God saying:

   "Open your Heart up to me

   For the Blessing of heaven."

Nothing that even the angels of heaven

   Or anything else can give,

Will equal the smallest

   Blessing from God.

But does God really bless?

If you will look into the eye of a little child

Or hear the childish laugh --

Listen - Listen -

That is God speaking

Love to Olivia, Addison and Amelia

Written in December 2011 by Grandpa Earl

The Reality of Life

The Reality of Life

God knew You before

The world was Born

God knew that you would be

A rebellious soul!

So, before He laid down the

Foundation of the World

He said to His Son

"There is no Hope

Unless You Die

For Him."

Then on that Christmas Morn

Salvation was Born

The Christ of the Cradle

Though Laid in a Manger

Had Come to Die

On a Cross.

Now that you are His

Despair is

A Radiant Hope!

Each day we lift our Head

Because God

Took away all Dread

And filled our Life

With Him.

By Earl Dingus  ~  January 2012