A gift of spikenard

by **Tony Bennett** 31.01.13 19:44

I received a gift of spikenard through the post this morning from a well-wisher who is an active member of this forum .

I would like to acknowledge this very thoughtful gift publicly.

In her enclosed letter, the sender referred me to an extended passgae of the Bible, from John's Gospel Chap 11 v 1 to Chap 12 v 11. The specific reference to spikenard is in Chap 12 v 3, where "Mary took a pound of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment".

There was, however, an objector present who opposed this being done, Judas Iscariot, who doesn't come out of this story very well. The spikenard should have been sold, he complained, for '300 pence', and 'given to the poor'.

The account in Chapter 11 would have had a great deal of interest for Martin Grime's Eddie, had he been alive at the time, for in verse 39 we read how Lazarus had been dead for 4 whole days and how 'his body stinketh', no doubt with a great deal of 'cadaver scent contaminant'. But (vv 40-45), Christ then raised him from the dead.

Those that saw it fell into two camps. Some believed. Others sneaked off to report this event to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day, who then plotted - successfully, and with Judas's help -to kill Christ.

The kind sender of this gift, in her letter, said the spikenard was to relieve stress and tension, and to try to induce a state of calm.

It seems from what we read in the passage that Mary had a strong sense that Christ was hortly going to suffer, which indeed he did, just 6 days later. Which is why she used the costly, but very useful, spikenard.

Along the way in the past five years, some people have done all kinds of things to help and support me.

This was one of the nicest.

And unfortunately very necessary at the present time

by olipet 31.01.13 21:55

thats lovely. one can rally around all day and night over the internet which is very supportive, but when someone takes their own time out to do something like that - well, thats real friendship and im so glad you have that. never met you tony but really rooting for you and so admire your huge strength.

by margaret 31.01.13 22:15

Tony, you are a very courageous man to risk your freedom for the pursuit of truth, l wish you the very best of luck.

Regardless of how next week pans out at least you have TRUTH and HONESTY on your side.

I will be praying for the right result for both you and Madeleine. Xxx

by womandotcom 31.01.13 22:17

Tony, I really wish I could come and support you in person but unfortunately its impossible for me to do. All I can do is to add my good wishes and prayers to those that have already been given, and hope that when push comes to shove, good sense will prevail. My thoughts are with you, and if I was to send you a gift, it would be a large box of courage to help you face these bullies.
A gift of spikenard 636506

by davidslewgoliath 31.01.13 22:57

Tony - Having been a viewer for many years - today I am compelled to join in here to wish you all the very best for your upcoming court ordeal. You are a man of outstanding integrity and courage and my thoughts and prayers will be with you in your fight for justice for a lost child. Please get some rest and stay strong.

by Guest 31.01.13 23:03

Welcome davidslewgoliath, great username. Thank you joining and registering your support for Tony A gift of spikenard 636506

by davidslewgoliath 31.01.13 23:21

Thank you for the welcome Candyfloss and glad you like my username! I felt it was an appropriate choice under the circumstances of what we are now witnessing.

by **PeterMac** 31.01.13 23:42

davidslewgoliath wrote:Thank you for the welcome Candyfloss and glad you like my username! I felt it was an appropriate choice under the circumstances of what we are now witnessing.

But do you know how David slew Goliath ?

by Guest 31.01.13 23:44

PeterMac wrote:
davidslewgoliath wrote:Thank you for the welcome Candyfloss and glad you like my username! I felt it was an appropriate choice under the circumstances of what we are now witnessing.
But do you know how David slew Goliath ?

Wasn't it with that 'unturned stone'? A gift of spikenard 110921

by russiandoll 31.01.13 23:46

stone, catapult, chink in the armour? as far as I can remember.....

by davidslewgoliath 01.02.13 0:30

Indeed Candyfloss yes

by **Tony Bennett** 01.02.13 0:31

PeterMac wrote:
davidslewgoliath wrote:Thank you for the welcome Candyfloss and glad you like my username! I felt it was an appropriate choice under the circumstances of what we are now witnessing.
But do you know how David slew Goliath ?

With one well-aimed blow. To the forehead. He was up against a 9-foot-plus, well-armed giant. I think IIRC that Goliath had a total of 24 fingers and toes - an occasional mutation that afflicts a few folk - it might have been helpful on a keyboard

by Guest 01.02.13 11:26

Dear mr. Bennett,
I wish you all the best of luck in the upcoming days, my thoughts will be with you. I am afraid I am not as religious as I used to be, but I might even try a heartfelt prayer as well.
This probably sounds stupid or patronising but I mean it well: Bring water (dehydration is the quickest energy and concentration drainer) and brainfood (nuts and raisins)....
Glad to see you retained your sense of humour... (The tongue in cheek answer to the whistler's case in Australia. )

by **Tony Bennett** 01.02.13 11:29

Juulcy wrote:Glad to see you retained your sense of humour...

Believe me, I've been crying as well as laughing. The sense of humour is like a release from a pressure cooker situation

by Guest 01.02.13 12:09

I don't think I'd have survived bad times in my life without a sense of humour.

http://www.quotegarden.com/humor.html

by bobbin 01.02.13 12:19

Jean wrote:I don't think I'd have survived bad times in my life without a sense of humour.

http://www.quotegarden.com/humor.html

I particularly like this one Jean. I think Victor Borge had the most amazing insight and delivery.
'There is more logic in humor than in anything else. Because, you see, humor is truth. ~Victor Borge, London Times, 3 January 1984'

by sallypelt 01.02.13 12:42

Tony, I too want to wish you all the best for the forthcoming trial. Just remember, that truth has nothing to fear, even if it always takes the long way home. The World needs more people like you, who will put their well-being on the line to prove an injustice.

I hope you have the backing of people in high places, and you will come out of this smelling of roses, as I am believe you will.

As for the McCann's, their days in the sun are coming to an end. As many people on here realise, the McCann's have been protected by people from the highest level of the land. The question is, WHY? BILDERBERG?? *cough, cough, DID I say that? For a moment, I lost control of my senses, so please, please ignore what I just typed. I don't know what came over me A gift of spikenard 3934901622

As for a sense of humour, it's been stated on many occasions that the reason Great Britain never had a people's revolution, is because we have the ability to laugh our way out of a serious situation.

by sallypelt 01.02.13 12:54

Tony, I once heard this quote about truth. At this moment in time it's very appropriate for you and the McCanns.

Tony to the McCann's: If you'll stop telling lies about me, I'll stop telling the truth about you

by **Tony Bennett** 01.02.13 12:58

sallypelt wrote:As for a sense of humour, it's been stated on many occasions that the reason Great Britain never had a people's revolution, is because we have the ability to laugh our way out of a serious situation.

In the case of the European Union, I'd prefer us - ASAP, not wait until 2018 - to VOTE our way out of a serious situation