Elixir for Life: I Am a Poem…… Vintage Collection H. Benjamin Poke

By H. Benjamin Poke

“In times past, the Great I AM spoke in simple parable form. Behold in this new day the Great I AM speaks to you in prophetic inspirational poems.”
(H. Benjamin Poke)

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781532095467

H. Benjamin Poke

H. Benjamin Poke, a native of Petersburg, Virginia. is President, Poet and Founder of I Am A Poem, and “Elixir for Life” is a public servant, United States Air Force Vietnam Veteran and Ordained Minister. He is also a member of the International Society of Poets and has authored more than 300 prophetic inspirational poems.

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Copyright © 2020 Benjamin & Jacqueline Poke.

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ISBN: 978-1-5320-9200-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9547-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5320-9546-7 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 04/29/2020

H. BENJAMIN POKE AKA DR. LOVE

I AM A POEM

In times past, the Great I Am spoke in simple parable form. Behold in this new day the Great I Am speaks to you in prophetic inspirational poems.

(H. Benjamin Poke)

WORDS OF APPRECIATION

Greetings, Prophet and Poet, H. Benjamin Poke;

It was an immeasurable blessing talking to you the other day…

I will never forget how we first met. I was a naive Country Boy from the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. I was attending Law School at Regent University on a private scholarship paid for by Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and Host of the 700 Club. Although, I was a chaplain at the school, my world was small, bland, and beige.

One day while wondering though the Founders Inn on the main campus of CBN, the doors opened to the conference rooms and a flood of anointing came rolling out like a tidal wave and captured me. Even though I was on a scholarship and carrying 30 credits a semester, trying to complete three degrees in three years, I knew it was time to skip class.

When I walked in that room, so many years ago, I was so culturally out of my comfort zone that the man I am today must laugh. There were several hundred sweat soaked black-urban-youth in that room crying out from the depths of their souls in the heat of an intercessory prayer revolution for which you, and a few other leaders now nationally recognized, where fanning the flames. I must have looked like a lost Saltine. I was alone, white, and dry, but at least I had some salt. Most of all, I was picked up by the waves of anointing and swept through those doors and into the meetings. When I entered that room, it was like communion time. I was broken by love, dunked in new wine, and crushed by the power of God.

When I walked out of those meetings, I was a changed man. That’s when I met you. God’s choice for a perfect and prophetic first encounter after soaking in that anointing was a poet.

I heard a voice say, Go talk to that man. Immediately, down deep, knew you were a prophet. I did not want to. Honestly, I was scared. I started toward the table where you were sitting with some other men and turned around. Then I waited, walked to the corner, and started talking to God. Finally, I gave in and came on over to your table with all those beautiful little books of poems. Your poetry spoke divine reconciliation to my heart.

When I got there, everyone started to laugh. I said, in my country way, Why y’all laughin’? One of the men said, Prophet Poke said you were coming to this table the moment you walked out of that room. Then you laughed a laugh that still stirs my spirit to this day and said, One of the brothers wanted to come get you and bring you over here, but I said, ‘let’s wait and see how long it takes him to obey God and come on over here on his own’. I’m so glad I finally did!

I don’t remember everything you said to me that day, but I know a fire started in my belly that still burns today. Sometimes the anointing is better caught than taught. There is a tangible anointing on you and your poems, and my spirit still leaps every time I pick up one of those little books of spiritual dynamite in poetic form, that I have treasured for almost 30 years.

Today, I pastor a church in one of the poorest regions of the Appalachian Coalfields. I have a Jewish-Italian wife, an African American daughter, and am the head of a Christian Civil Rights and Community Development organization founded after graduating Law School. With God leading the way, I have seen campus revivals, whole urban gang groups turn to the Lord, been the COO and Vice President of a Bible College, raised up home and foreign missions programs, trained pastors in Asia, given peace lectures in the Middle East, planted churches, seen blind eyes open, the sick healed, and the dead raised. YOU have a hand in that!

I know till now; you have flown under the radar, but your book is right on time. The Body of Christ and a Lost World needs to see love centered, non-materialistic, sure word conveying ministry that is time tested and God approved. In this season, my prophetic poetic friend, it’s you! God is exalting your voice. Arise and shine, for your light has come and the Glory of the Lord has risen upon you. God helped me find you in this season, so that I can affirm what he has put in you. It’s time for a new holy generation and a revolutionary man of war to AWAKE!

As you are aware, possibly awakened through the laying on of your hands and hearing the prophetic flow through your poems, I now flow in prophetic poetry as well. I believe a seed was deposited into my spirit back in the early 1990’s when we first met. Thank you for sowing your poems, prayers, and passion into my heart. It has been such a miracle reconnecting.

The winds of time have blown since our first meeting, but I can see they have only fanned the flames. Here we are, almost 30 years later, and you are still on fire and about to become a recognized movement in the Body of Christ! I know your progression to the Lord, it has not been from one house of religion to another, you have what you got because it was breathed into you by the muse of Heaven, the Holy Spirit, the true Wind of Witness of God.

The religious rarely recognize Jesus, whenever he shows up. I hope the Church does not mistake your book as just another collection of poems. It is no more that, than the book of Psalms. David was also a prophet and a poet, and where would we be without him?

He was possessor of the Father’s heart, revealer of the Great Shepherd, and the pathway to the Secret Place. Oh, to sit in green pastures beside refreshing streams of waters with David and be lifted on the wings of the morning! I could not do that with David, but you did that for me, and I love you for it.

To a friend, mentor, and beloved brother, thank you for interrupting my dull and dying life. Because of Jesus, and the gift of God within you, I am anointed and enjoying an overflowing cup. I safely dine in the presence of my enemy, face death, and fear no evil. I am AWAKE!

AWAKE

I was hungry for the Spirit, but I was fast asleep!

I met a Prophet Poet, who woke me up, and took me deep.

He spoke to my generation, my heart, my soul, my mind.

Got me out from under the table, lifted a brother blind.

I set down with the elders, Jesus bid me come and dine.

Forgot the crumbs of religion, ate the meat, and drank the wine.

The Father’s heart was open as he gave me what was His.

Truly, I heard what God had spoken I BE what I Am is.

A poem inspired by the Spirit, after a conversation with Prophetic Poet H. Benjamin Poke.

To God be the Glory, Jesus is Lord!

Dr. Timothy W. Collins

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Life has allowed me to experience many ups and downs. After being injured from an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, I was injured both physically and mentally. I truly hit rock bottom. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) took control of me. Negativity, anger, nightmares, and many other poisons had now consumed my mind and soul.

After seeking the most intense care I could find, by the Grace of God, I was privileged to cross paths with Dr. Love. Between his positive attitude and amazing poetry, he helped me see the light once again and get back on the right track. I will be thankful for what the Doc has done for me, for the rest of my life. I can only hope his poetry has as much of a positive influence on others as it did on me.

Spc. Hagert, Blake

US Army

(Formerly in treatment for PTSD)

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In the depths of mental torture, a messenger of Christ came into my life. When the clinician’s methods failed to work, Dr. Love’s poetry shone in the light instead of unleashing the wrath of aggression, lack of cohesiveness, and instability that consumed my mind. If there is anything I can count on it is the eternal love and peace of God. Thank-you, Dr. Love.

S.Sgt. Vega

US Marines

(Formerly in treatment for PTSD)

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Dear Mr. Poke,

My name is Benjamin Banneker Ford, and I met you at the annual New Generation Campus Ministries National Conference. I would like to thank-you for the poem booklet that you gave me entitled, Man of War. As a man of God, I find it encouraging spiritually, and as an aspiring writer, I find it inspirational because I realize that I need to exercise and develop my talent in poetry to a greater extent than I have been doing. Thank-you again for the booklet and the encouragement.

Your Brother in Christ,

Benjamin B. Ford

Former college student

Hampton, Virginia

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Dear Horace and Jaci,

Some people have a way of blessing others by taking time to lend a helping hand. Thank you for blessing the Christian Care Ministry with your helping hand as we ministered to our nursing home residents and other special guest. Your poetic gift really blesses us. We sincerely appreciate you being a co-laborer with us, and together let us trust God for much fruit. We love you!

Mother Clarice Davis

Christian Care Ministry

Richmond, Va.

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Dearest Horace and Jaci,

Linwood and I were so touched by your precious wedding gift, A New Wedding Song, which was so lovingly composed by you for us. We shall treasure the beautifully framed poem always. A special thank-you from our hearts for making our wedding even more meaningful by your beautiful recitation. of A New Wedding Song. It brought tears to everyone’s eyes, especially mine. We also thank-you for the program inserts, as our family and friends will have a loving keepsake of our special day.

God bless you and yours,

Linda and Linwood

West Point, VA

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Dear Brother and Sister,

I attended the New Generation Conference in March. Thank you so much for your ministry. God has used this time to impact my life and our whole church. You amazed me so much. I count it a blessing that I can call you my brother and sister because of your intense desire for our God. At the conference my friend bought a poem book called Man of War. I borrowed it and used it for our Bible Study at school and it was so great. The problem is that I lost it and it is not mine. If you know where I can get one please send me the address. Thanks and thanks again for your incredible ministry. I hope to come again. May God continue to bless you in awesome and incredible way.

Joshua Bates

Former College Student

Omaha, NE

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Dear Bro Poke,

May the grace of God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the working of the Holy Spirit comfort, encourage, and strengthen you in your special ministry the Lord has given you.

I cannot express with mere words the blessings of the Lord bestowed upon us today in our noonday prayer service. With the reading of your God-given poems, the Lord added to that blessing. When prayer was over, everyone rejoiced in the Spirit. I wished you were there to praise the Lord with us.

I am excited over these two poems (Use the Gift in Your Hands and Special Kind). With your permission, I would like to share this blessing with others and would like to purchase other writings of yours in the future.

My wife and I are a military family, stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. The Lord has given us a new work here. We minister mostly to soldiers and their dependents. Again, your poems have been a tremendous spiritual uplift for us today. We