Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

To: VeniVidiVici

How highly appropos that the UMC chose the image of a dandelion - a weed, aka a tare (Matthew 13:25-40) - to represent this message.

4 posted on 06/11/2006 9:12:20 PM PDT by Alex Murphy (Colossians 4:6)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: Alex Murphy
Very good, Alex. I had to look it up but think others will get your insight from the passage:

The Parable of the Weeds

24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [3] among the wheat and went away.

26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants [4] of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

5 posted on 06/11/2006 9:29:19 PM PDT by VeniVidiVici (My head hurts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies ]

To: Alex Murphy
How highly appropos that the UMC chose the image of a dandelion - a weed, aka a tare

Dandelions are not weeds. They are pretty little yellow flowers that God gave us in great abundance to enjoy.

You think I spend hours trying fruitlessly to gouge them out of my yard?

:-).

13 posted on 06/12/2006 5:33:48 AM PDT by Lee N. Field
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies ]

To: Alex Murphy

A dandelion is an herb.

It's leaves make a tasty salad. See other uses below.

DANDELION
(Taraxacum officinale)
Image

CONTAINS: High in potassium (vital for a high potency diuretic), and is a source of calcium. High in vitamin and mineral content, (i.e. its use in anemia). Contains balance of iron and calcium, plus choline for cholesterol, plus Vitamins A, B1, C, G and D-2, magnesium salts, sodium salts, silica, the hormone gastrin, tarazacin (a hepatic stimulant), inulin; lacvulin (a sugar), choline (one of the Vitamin B complex), photosterols (prevent the body from accumulating cholesterol), potash (a diuretic), and 15% starch.
IDENTIFICATION: Deep tap root; bright yellow, multi-petaled, chrysanthemum-like head approximately 1" in diameter rising on a hollow stem from rosette type leaves. Reproduction is by means of fluffy balls of parachute borne seeds.

One of nature's most useful plants. Safe enough to be taken as a daily beverage. An ingredient of the digestive aid called 'Bitters'. There is a red-seeded variety of European-Asian origin (T. erythospermum).
Called 'Dens Leonis' by the Romans and 'Dent De Lion' by the French.

No less than 85 different insects banquet on its pollen and the bees use its nectar in their honey. Seeds are also very appealing to song birds.

In the North country of England the folk have used the root in combination with burdock to make a beer which acts as a tonic and blood purifier.

PROPAGATION: By seed. A common lawn and wayside wildflower.
HARVEST: Use the whole plant before it flowers; leaves during flowering; root in fall; flowers fresh.
FLOWER: Yellow. Appear in spring.
RELATED SPECIES:
ASIAN DANDELION (Taraxacum mongolicum) aka Mongolian Dandelion, pu-kung-yin, huang-hua ti-ling, ju-chi ts'ao: Drug Interaction: Check with your doctor about possible interaction with ciprofloxacin.


USES

MEDICINAL:
Blood cleanser, diuretic, lowers cholesterol and blood pressure (root), tonic, aids in eliminating poisons from body, supports liver function.
Although a diuretic, it is a useful one as it contains large quantities of potassium to offset any loss from the body, which normally happens when using a diuretic.
High mineral content and has been used for anemia.
It increases flow of urine and has been used in kidney, spleen and pancreas ailments.
Leaves are bitter and stimulate function of gall bladder and liver. Have been used for liver troubles, especially during hepatitis. Also used for jaundice and cirrhosis (as an adjunct).
Has been used for acne during hormonal change.
Has been used for food allergy sufferers.
Has been used for urinary infections, prostrate enlargement, stones in bile duct and urinary system, rheumatism, gout, arthritis (eliminates toxins), diabetes (fresh leaves), and hypoglycemia.
Root 'coffee' has been used for chronic liver and gall bladder problems.
Leaves have been added to salads for fluid accumulations or urinary conditions.
Has been used for gallstones and gall bladder infection.
Improves appetite and digestion.
Has been used as a backup for all degenerative diseases.
Also: the juice of the plant applied to warts is said to remove them over a period of time. Must be done daily.
CULINARY:
ALSO SEE: Dandelion - Cooking with Herbs and Wild Foods.
Flowers used for wine; fresh young leaves for salads (boiled 5 to 10 minutes); root is cut in small pieces, then slow roasted in oven at 225 degrees F. until color of coffee, then ground up for coffee substitute.
Also: Root tea. The blanched part of the leaf, just below the soil surface is considered the best part by some.
Young flower buds can be boiled for several minutes like a vegetable and served with butter or pickled.
Flowers are good dipped in batter and fried.
Extracts are used to flavor ice cream, candy, baked goods and soft drinks.
Chop the young raw leaves and sprinkle over the sour cream on a baked potato.

COSMETIC:
Use infusion or decoction as tonic for skin and in bath water for inflamed skin.

DYE:
Red or magenta-pink by using all parts of plant with no mordant.
Magenta with alum mordant.
Yellow to brown with iron mordant.


33 posted on 06/15/2006 4:55:40 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It. Supporting our Troops Means Praying for them to Win!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson