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JOSEPH HOLBROOK JOURNAL
artist joseph holbrook, joseph holbrook journal,
If we pray for a miracle and one appears to come, we believe that we are worthy and our
prayer has been heard
If we pray for a miracle and one doesn't come, we believe our prayer hasn't been
heard or perhaps refused.
If we pray for a miracle and one appears to happen and then somehow seems to be taken
away or no longer seems to be working, we believe.. . . .well. . .we believe in all sorts of
things.
The point is, what we "believe" is just our interpretation of whether miracles happen. And if
they do, then it’s our “interpretation” of why they happen, or how long they'll last. .
The truth is, we don't have a clue. A "Belief" is but an individual conviction. A sincere hope
that what you think is true. . . .is Truth. And if you place your complete faith only in things
you "believe" to be true, you will inevitably be disappointed and confused. How each of us
interprets God's universe will always be different than IT really is, and always fall far short of
how it really works.
To have faith in God is to have unconditional and unquestioning faith in all that God is. And
that is so much more than you can possibly “believe”. Your only request, your only prayer
should be for Clarity and Peace of mind about this.
If you are confused or dissatisfied with the answers you have, it has to do with what you
believe. So let go of what you believe. No matter what the request or the outcome,complete
faith in God is always the answer. (Joseph Holbrook)
To an important lady who is confused about her Personal miracle at Lourdes, that has recently waned.
All of Joseph Holbrook's images and commentary, "quotesmefiles"© etc., within this web site, are copyrighted. Written permission is required for any use.
Good Lord man. It's not the Warming!!. It's what they intend to do to us in the name of
THEIR interpretation of the cause. Which, by the way, they say is US !!!. Pouring
over global warming graphs is just where they want us looking. Because what they
intend to do certainly isn't on any graph that’s out there!
Anybody can record data. Anyone can interpret and make projections. And who knows,
some projections may contain some truth. IF there is warming, CO2 could certainly play a
part. It probably has before. Probably will for millions of years more. Earth does that.
It’s what they Believe they can do about it.!! (Or what they say they believe anyway).
Neither observant enough nor intelligent enough to get along or manage their own
societies. . . they're gonna handle THIS??? Give me a break. One thing that will
happen though ( in the name of science and the good of mankind) is a more severe economic
nightmare than we can be prepared for. And because corruption and the hunger for
power is what it is, WE and the following generations will be the ones to pay for it all.
Realistically, it’s all for naught. As a 5 billion year habit, when the Earth's climate is going to
change, you can count on it. My god man, they say they want to control the very gas that is
exhaled from every living animal on earth. (2.2 billion tons/year just from the humans). It
might make fodder for a book and I suppose people will continue to buy into whatever they
want. But to me, it's ridiculous.
What it is, is the creation of a new global fiduciary tool. Backed by one thing that a lot of
people seem to thrive on these days.. . .Bullshit. (Joseph Holbrook)
Global warming: Replying to a concerned friend’s email full of graphs and links
I'm getting tired of people complaining about systems being "broken". Every area where
human corruption and neglect has denigrated some system, the complaint has
become. . ."the system is broken".
Certainly there are some systems that might need change or reform. A brand new
system that requires shake-downs and adjustments; or, IF system variables or goals have
changed. All of our societal systems depend on humans doing what they're supposed to do
and most of the time People are the problem. Not the systems.
Capitalism? Of course the system works. Immigration policy? Both existing laws AND the
Constitution have been ignored. Purposely. The system didn't fail. (What the
“reformers” now have in mind is a system with different goals. It's all about money and
political clout.
Just because the people we've put in power have screwed things up, it doesn't mean the
systems are to blame. Though that's what they'd like you to believe. It means there is no
reverence for our Constitution. It means that ethics and morals are optional. It means these
people don't have the same goals, or they're too stupid to be holding the job in the first
place.
There isn't a system in the world that will function as it should with these kinds of people in
charge. And there's no system change that will keep corruption away from those who believe
in it.
We've got a lot of Priests that are molesting alter boys. Gee, that means God must be
broken. Give me a break. (Joseph Holbrook)
Broken systems
A Fatwa is a directive issued by a recognized religious authority in Islam. Since there is no
hierarchical priesthood or anything of the sort in Islam, a fatwa is not necessarily "binding" on
the faithful. It’s sort of like Billy Graham proclaiming Christians shouldn't drink too much.
There has been a Fatwa issued by the Fiqh Council of North America – a body of Islamic
scholars - regarding body scanning at airports. Their point is that this is a violation of
religious rules concerning modesty.
Since body scanning Muslim extremists is pretty much the reason we came up with the idea in
the first place, the word ironic doesn't fit. Muslims who decide to adhere to the fatwa should
probably take a bus.
Maybe I should start issuing opinions based on Common Sense. I’d call each a “Skinnywa".
My first Skinnywa is: If you're going to take a bus, don't sit near the incensed Muslim who
vehemently insisted on flying, but refuses to get scanned . . . .for any reason.
Fatwa
My friend, It's not that we all don't see the same problems. It's the conclusions and
solutions where we differ. Based on your record, I see that your solutions do not coincide
with more conservative attitudes about our country's Premise, Promise and Intent. And if
there is anything that we All should be conservative about, it's those.
The constituents of Change, the philosophy and the leader that you favored with your vote
doesn't fulfill any of them. We're not getting solutions fashioned from our Constitutional
character. The substance of what's going on now is derived from different ideals. And our
Ideals do not need Change. Or even reform. They're being ignored by the people running
our country. The politicians.
When Iraq was having problems trying to write their new constitution, the late comedian
George Carlin said: "Why don't we just give them ours. We're not using it anymore".
Conservative attitudes include a reverence for how and why the Constitution was created.
The government establishing itself as a health-care provider, for example, is certainly not
included in that document. Nor is even the "intent" for our government to be involved in
such venues included in that document. People have always gotten sick. The intent is
not included in that document on purpose. There’s nothing wrong with our system. It's
being ignored.
I will not argue what has or Hasn't been done by the Republicans. I don't care. I'm not a
Republican. In recent years they certainly can't be seen as an entity under which decent
conservative attitudes were practiced. To be honest, Republicans aren't even part of the
conversation to me. Blame isn't part of any solution. Our country is in the process of
being lost to the Politicians' game and it's up to us to converse about how to maintain and
reclaim the original Premise, Promise and Intent. Other Ideals do not interest me at all.
If that's not where your interest lies, I don't know what there is to talk about.
We need to learn how to pull a leader and a Congress from somewhere other than the
toxic Political pool. They need to be found, not volunteer. (b.t.w. you brought up Reagan
and Eisenhower; what's interesting about them is that they were both people of proven
individual substance and contribution before they dove in to the arena. The very attributes
missing from the present occupant of our highest office.)
I’m afraid your present complaints won't be addressed, let alone solved, by anyone in this
administration. And holding on to this ride is going to be very difficult for all of us.
(Joseph Holbrook)
An email response regarding the present White House administration.
It really doesn't seem very spiritual does it? One group of people "believes" differently than
the group down the block, and by each group's reckoning, They are the ones that
"believe correctly". Most of the time they also believe that their way is. . . "The Only Way"
(to believe in and be in contact with God). Sometimes it seems as though they believe their
religion IS God.
Each group may work diligently and even admirably at being tolerant about sharing the block
with each other. They may even occasionally find and share similarities within their belief
systems . . . but that's about as far as "inclusions" generally go.
It's not unusual to find that within the confines of either group, members are considered
"unfaithful" if they even consider thinking that a different approach might be "another
way". After all, that would mean that their group is no longer special. It would mean theirs
isn't the Only Way. It would mean that. . . God doesn't like them best.
Ultimately, religions must fall away in favor of "The Truth". The Truth that they all attempt to
understand. All the rituals and names, all the cultures and history that we cling to are only
flavors of the human voyage. Finally, it should be obvious. The answer, The Truth, is the
same for everyone.
With that admission, if you measure our success in advancing toward that understanding,
we’re. . ..well, you can fill in a word, or two. (Joseph Holbrook)
An email response to a friend who is frustrated by the inherent nature of most of the world's religions to exclude rather than include.
I occasionally read and pass along interesting or outlandish tidbits. There seems to be a
lot of those these days. Sometimes I make comments about a foolish direction or
decision some politician or party has made. Writing an occasional diatribe can even be
cathartic. But when it comes to listening to divinations and interpretations of some grand
prophecy of global demise. . . .no thanks. I'm not interested.
I‘ve investigated from whom and from where conspiratorial futures and misinterpreted
histories come from. Most of them are as clever and convoluted as they need to be in
order to stimulate interest and create followers. Mystical secrets and prognostications. A
lost This and a found That. Facts and myths, interpretation and imagination all get mixed
into a wide variety of blueprints and belief systems. There’s a secret to search for, some
hidden place to find it, and a new leader who, it is said, has the special wisdom to get
there.
Of course not all all blueprints and belief systems are devious and there are certainly
sincere and well meaning followers. What's interesting though is the number of people
that seem to get great satisfaction from the tribulations going on in this world. They
seem to glean some perverted joy in world chaos, interpreting each global catastrophe
and societal pitfall as signs giving further credibility to the beliefs that they've decided to
believe. And they seem happiest when things are going as badly as expected.
Anyone can believe anything they want for any reason they want. But so many seem like
people falling off a cliff who feel safe because they’re clinging to a rock on the way down.
I've discovered extremely rewarding and spiritually fulfilling avenues to investigate and
enjoy in my life. I have no need to search for redundant proof of God, nor evangelistic
interpretations of “The End.” I’ve learned to dispense with lore that might waste time
while I’m here, no matter how long that might be. I have faith in the reverence for
and celebration of Life. . . Now. Because Now is where God resides. (Joseph Holbrook)
In response to a few people I know who seem dedicated to evangelizing and celebrating their belief that "The end of the world is near !":
It’s both mature and erudite to realize that any agenda can be adorned with morsels of truth. An ability to flawlessly outline a problem, for example, doesn't mean the conclusions and solutions presented are what they should be. Some actually don't see this. They become enamored and blinded by those that see the problem. And they presume that someone with such observational skills necessarily must see the solutions clearly as well.
Politics is perfectly built for liars and thieves. The Bad can appear as the Good (particularly to the gullible) and the only way to determine who are actually best qualified is to see beyond what is said. Because they'll say anything. All we're really left with is what they do and have done, our powers of discernment . . . .and our gut.
A large portion of the people in this nation are immature. Another portion are dumb. I suppose it was only a matter of time before the combination would fall lock-step behind a politician who promised a garden, but could only lead us down a garden path.
The rest of us request only that you please grow up, read the constitution and ask questions, because we really can’t afford to do this again.
Another political plea.
Afghanistan: The Afghanistan War will never be won in the normal sense of the word. They Are their History and their Muslim differences and extremes. They Are their Tribes and their wars. They'd rather die than change.
There's no "victory' possible, unless you count the differences it might make 20, 30, 40 years in the future. Alliances. Cultural influences. Location-location. I don't think it will calm, so to speak, until there are signs that we’ll reap important somethings for the effort. (No matter what those somethings are). I have no idea how they'll justify it all. And it’s in the mountains of Justification where all the lies and bodies are buried. So, good luck if you're going to try and figure all that stuff out.
As far as Afghanistan "being crucial to the security of (our) country" is concerned, I think it is. "Why" is a much longer conversation. But very important to remember is that. . . Pakistan has nukes.
Obama: War decisions are certainly beyond his experience and expertise. For all we know, they may be beyond his comprehension. There is absolutely no information which might help us draw opinions, let alone conclusions as to what he might do. The only thing I've picked up so far is that he doesn't like to be insulted.
Obama is The Commander and Chief of the greatest Military power the world has ever seen. Think about that for a moment. I think and hope he's afraid of it. I think any intelligent lawyer should be and would be. And I think that it's healthy for us that he is. For as long as we can get away with such fakery. And as long as Mr. Obama doesn't find reason to spread his ideals more forcefully. (Joseph Holbrook)
A comment to a friend about Afghanistan
"The documents we hold so dear will mean absolutely nothing if we permit the critical words within them to be redefined, or eliminated." (Joseph Holbrook)
I'm amazed at how easily some people relinquish the meanings of words. Words that literally define tradition, both religious and secular. Words that delineate the very essence of what a civilization holds dearest.
Marriage is and has always been the joining of a man and a woman in matrimony. For life. Primarily, though certainly not solely, for procreation and parenting.
The word marriage does not apply to the union of a man and a man. Nor a woman and a woman. And it desecrates the word's definition to even suggest that it does.
I do not deny the depth of homosexual relationships, nor do I believe homosexual couples should be deprived of the legal rights that married couples are afforded. However, their unions should be called something other than "Marriage".
Their demands are so that they, as life-long couples, might finally be accepted. To be counted as normal. Homosexuality, whether genetically or psychologically manifested is not normal. Though a phenomena may appear within a percentage of society on a regular basis, that doesn't define the phenomena itself as normal.
For less than 4% of any society to demand new meanings for words that historically represent the moral and religious tenets of the other 96% is hardly progressive. . . .it's selfish and narrow minded.
Demand equal treatment and equal rights. Everyone respects that and should agree. But pick another word. Marriage already has a 5000 year old meaning. (Joseph Holbrook)
THE TERM: “MARRIAGE”
PUBLIC PRAYER
It can be argued that our heritage includes relatively modern additions that we now interpret as "intentions" of the founding fathers. But for at least the first 170 or more years of existence, the United States never included God in its motto, on its currency, or in any document creating our Republic. No matter how individuals practiced their personal lives, we organized our Nation without government as a religious cohort and it remained that way for nearly two centuries.
Though public meetings may have started with a prayer, it was that the people in attendance represented a Christian prominence. Common respect and reverence for Christian ideals, Biblical interpretations, and prayers that we "do right in God's eyes" were common sense from both personal and civic standpoints. We sought blessings for our endeavors as individuals, as a populace and as a country.
More than ever, we now seem to be sharing the American stage with a wider variety of religions, philosophies and temporal ideals. When we gather, no One procedure or belief is allowed to seem favored. So no matter how many Christians there are in America, they are facing what will certainly feel like persecution.
The comfort that was once derived from public prayer, or even sharing the sanctity of a moment for the sake of those who found it holy, is gone. A piece of how we appeared and functioned as a collective is gone. And though I see how it happened, I believe the loss leaves us much worse off as a society.
Over time, what other parts of our heritage will be "gone with the wind"? I suspect all of them. I see more and more people living in America, but fewer who are "Americans" in the way that We know that word. (Joseph Holbrook)
If it can be agreed upon that the concept of God includes all people of all religions, then our acrid separation from each other, in God's name, surely should be seen as an admission that the message has literally been missed by everyone, to varying degrees.
Personally, adhering to specific religious doctrines and dogma is not very important for me. I only desire to glean clues and answers that help me appreciate and be responsible for my life, as a conscious aspect of God. Jesus and others continue to contribute guidance toward grace along that road.
For me, it's simply about a successful journey, and showing gratitude every day that there even is such a thing. I have faith that the rest takes care of itself. (Joseph Holbrook)
For Me