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The Biblical Remix – Groove Me

January 20, 2012

The Biblical Remix – Groove Me

2 Samuel 11:1-5 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixgrooveme

Because of the itis, King David took a nap during the hot noontime.  When he finally woke up he went to the roof to chill.

While he was walking he peeped a fine brown skinned honey taking a bath.  He got so lost scoping her bootie he immediately asked one of his boys about her. Bathsheeba was her name.  The peoples knew about Bathsheeba cuz she looked so fine.  Yeah, you know what I mean. However David was now noticing all the packaging underneath the wrapping paper.

With boldness David had someone go to her place and invite her to the king’s palace.  When David got her to his room this Guy song was playing in the background:

“Groove Me baby tonight, Tonight right now baby, That’s what I want you to do, Don’t say no, Don’t say maybe, Groove Me baby now…”

Reflection:

As the story goes on in the rest of the chapter Bathsheeba actually finds out she is pregnant and sends word to King David.

“I’m pregnant”.  Those are heavy words to hear from a woman who is married to another dude.  As the new baby-daddy to be, David had  some real drama.

I could take this time to write about adultery and creeping, and the foul things we do to cover up our messes.  That would be easy.  What is harder is the condition of our hearts, my heart, when hearing those words “I’m pregnant”.

Women have their own anxiety when they miss their period and find themselves having to take a pregnancy test.  Some are delighted with the results.  Some are not.

I have had to stare that conversation down two different times.  One of them was direct.  Having been the one who bought the pregnancy test from the store I had to wait for the results standing outside the bathroom door.  Truth be told I was at a more selfish time in my life and I was not happy with the results.  I didn’t want her to have the baby.  Within a month or two it proved to be a false alarm as she was not pregnant.  However the situation clearly exposed the condition of my heart.  I was willing to do the dance but not embrace the consequences of my action.  I voted for murder.

The second time I experienced that “I’m pregnant” moment was indirectly.  The more accurate phrase would be “I was pregnant”.  Yeah, I am going there.

In 2004 I received a letter from an ex-girlfriend who shared with me a story that haunted her for eight long years.  About six weeks after our breakup she learned she was pregnant.  She did not know what to do since we were no longer together.  By the third month she terminated the pregnancy.   I found out while I was reading the letter some eight years later.

For about two hours I was numb. My whole world would have been different.

When I was able to function I called her up and apologized for not being there.  Now I understood why she told me she was going to send me a letter in the mail. When we spoke God’s grace was there.  She thought I would hate her.  I didn’t. We were able to have healthy conversations about it. She needed that healing because the truth was a huge burden. I needed it too.

I am not sure why I am sharing this with you.  Perhaps you needed to hear this today.  Please know that God makes ALL things new.  If your heart was broken…if you made this choice…if you were never told…if your life was altered…remember, God is here.  His love is amazing and I pray that He may comfort you even now.  You don’t have to be haunted by your past decisions.  You can be restored.  That is exactly what happened with David and Bathsheeba.

Embrace the love of God today.  His arms are wide open…for you.

The Biblical Remix – On The Floor

January 13, 2012

The Biblical Remix – On The Floor

2 Samuel 6:11-22 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixonfloor

Although everywhere in spirit, God literally put His very presence up in this golden box called “The Ark of the Covenant”.  God showed His peeps He wanted to be up in the midst of them, even if they didn’t know how to act sometimes.

For like 20 years though this Ark was in the northwest part of town about 9 miles away.  The new king, David, was so amped he built a new house so he could have the Ark in the center of town.

After some time David, his army and thousands of peeps went with him to the northwest side of town.  From there, they walked, sang, danced, and made animal sacrifices for the 9 mile stretch in order to bring back the Ark to Zion, aka the City of David (Side note: That is so “G” when a city is named after you).

Of course King David was up in the front dancing his butt off. He had no shame in getting his groove on for God.

As King David was showing off his breakdancing skills, this J.Lo song played:

“If you go hard you gotta get on the floor, If you’re a party freak then step on the floor, If you’re an animal then tear up the floor…”

Reflection:

King David knew how to worship God.  Without fear he sang/danced/honored God for the great things God had done in his life.  And he did that also in public.

Am I that vulnerable?  Am I that free?  Sometimes.

Certain songs take me to a place where I can find that freedom in singing and honoring God. Actually is a great joy when I’m in that place.

Only recently have I learned I could also worship God not just through song and dance, but by being/doing the very thing God designed me for.  With drama/photography/videography/counseling/consulting I can flow in worship.  Yeah.  As Pastor Eli says a bird can’t tell you how it flys.  It just flys.  Because that is what is was born to do.

So what were you born to do? Whatever that is, do that.  Worship God in doing that/those things.

Like King David make sure you go hard and leave it on the floor.

The Biblical Remix – Thankful

January 5, 2012

The Biblical Remix – Thankful

2 Samuel 9 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixthankful

My dude Mephibosheth, aka Meph, had a hard life.  Even though his granddad was the king, by the age of five the whole kingdom fell apart.  His granddad and his pops were murdered.  In fear, Meph’s babysitter started running away and dropped the five year old Meph.  From the fall both his legs became crippled.  And he would stay that way the rest of his life.

Fast forward years later a new king named David ruled.  David and Meph’s father, Jonathan, were boys from back in the day.  David and Jonathan made a pact that if anything happened to one of them, the other would take care of his family.

When King David learns of Meph’s existence, he sends for him to come to the king’s house.  Then David hooks up Meph with all the property and workers that used to belong to his granddad.  Meph is also given an apartment at the king’s house and is commanded to always eat at the king’s table like one of the king’s own sons.  Meph done hit the lottery.

In the background this Alicia Myers song played:

“I want to thank you Heavenly Father, for shining your light on me…”

Reflection:

I was intentional about using this song to start off this new year.  I have been sharing these Biblical Remixes for a year and a half now and am deeply moved at your encouraging comments, poignant responses, and interesting conversations both online and in the real world.  Indeed I am very, very thankful.

The story of Mephibosheth is quite amazing.  When we meet Meph in the above passage, he is a grown man being brought to the table of the king.  King David wants to honor him because of the oath he and Meph’s father made many years ago.  I am amazed at Meph’s response in verse eight: “Who am I that you pay attention to a dead dog like me?”

A couple of weeks ago this response came alive for me.  I am Mephibosheth. Time and time again God brings me to the table of a “king”.  In my various roles, I am regularly invited to the table of lawyers, the table of photographers, the table of pastors, the table of social workers, and the table of leaders.  And yet I feel and believe in my mind “Who am I that I deserve to be at this table?  I am a dead dog.  I am not qualified or worthy to be at the table.”  Amazingly enough God continues to put me at the table and shows Himself off through my lack of credentials.

I share this with you because this is a process I am walking through with God’s assistance.  Perhaps you can relate.  Or perhaps you know someone who is walking a similar journey through the halls of shame.  At the end of the day our worth comes from the One who created us and the One who gave His life for us.

The next time you get invited to the table, don’t back off because you are not qualified or don’t “feel” worthy.  Embrace the love of the all consuming God who wants to show you your worth and also show the world He can accomplish anything through a willing vessel.  You belong at the table because the King decreed it.  Holla!

The end result for Meph was the exact meaning of his name.  Mephibosheth means “dispeller of shame”.  God drove away the shame in various directions by restoring the mind of the dead dog to the eternal seat at the kings table.  Meph was now just like one of the king’s own sons.

Be encouraged.

The Biblical Remix – Without You

December 27, 2011

The Biblical Remix – Without U

John 6:35-69 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixwithoutu

Jesus had just fed 5000 peeps with fish and bread the day before.  You know how people are.  They came back the next day looking for Him.  He blew up their spot by telling them about themselves.  How they didn’t care about who He was, they were just hungry and wanted more food.  Dag!

Jesus then threw on his professor hat and started schooling everyone on life, on who God was, and also about who Jesus Himself was.

The peoples couldn’t take it all in.  Most of them actually bounced.

Then Jesus looked at his main crew of 12 and asked them if they wanted to bounce too.  The hoodrat of the crew, Peter, was like ” Yo, you got the words of real life.   This is ride or die for us.  We know you the one God sent to us.”

In the background this David Guetta/Usher song played:

“I am lost, I am vain, I will never be the same without you, Without you, I won’t run, I won’t fly, I will never make it by without you, Without you…”

Reflection:

A friend of mine shared how this song describes her relationship with God.  The connection didn’t dawn on me until she said it.

The truth is I know without God my life would be in shambles. The past fourteen years has been a wonderful adventure of getting to know who God is and also getting to know who I am. Trust me, I have not arrived on either of these two. I am still walking the journey.

However I can say my life is way healthier, more enjoyable and definitely blessed. Like Peter, I have traveled this journey so far that I have come to understand no one or nothing else has the words of life like Jesus.

This Christmas is the reminder God gave mankind the gift of His Son. That Jesus, being all God, also became all man by taking on our human form and by dwelling amongst us. Eventually He would sacrifice His own life by being crucified to save us from our sin.

Do you know Jesus has a daily concern for you?  Could you live without that sacrificial love being a part of your daily reality.  I can only tell you his love, from my personal experience, surpasses anything the mind can try to understand.  Do you really want to live without Him?

The Biblical Remix – Lovin’ U

December 19, 2011

The Biblical Remix – Lovin’ U

Genesis 38:6-18 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixlovinu

There was a man named Judah who had mad family issues.  His first son Er had died because Er was living foul and God killed him.  Er had a wife named Tamar who was now a widow.

Because of the culture, Judah’s second son Onan got together with Tamar.  Then Onan died too…lol.

Judah had one son left, Shelah, and Judah was shook thinking Shelah would die if he got with Tamar.  So Judah told Tamar to go back home to her pop’s crib until Shelah was older.  Judah was gonna wait it out and avoid Tamar.

Then Judah’s wife died.  So Judah was mad tight.

After some time he traveled to the town of Timnah to do some work.  Along the way he peeped this prostitute on the roadside (FYI – the prostitute was his daughter-in-law Tamar dressed up on the low.  She went to Timnah to trick Judah into getting her prego).

So Judah rolls up on the prostitute (Timanh in disguise).  The words he said were from this Enrique Iglesias song:

“Please excuse I don’t mean to be rude, But tonight I’m loving you, Oh you know, That tonight I’m loving you…”

Reflection:

If you know the original version of this song Enrique is a little more explicit/crass in his assertion.  Some of us men can be like that.

However I want to reflect on Tamar.  Here is a broken woman.  She lost her husband, who was her livelihood.  After becoming a widow her husband’s brother did evilness and he was killed.  Then Tamar’s father-in-law sends her away and ignores her.

Rejected, abandoned, and ashamed, Tamar decides to get her life back on track by…prostituting. I want to focus in on this choice.  Tamar does this only once but I find this very interesting.

Recently I visited some young juvenille offenders in New York City.  A good amount of the 15 to 17 year old girls who were there were arrested for…prostitution.

What gets a teenage girl to a place where she chooses to prostitute?  How much rejection has she gone through?  How much abandonment has she experienced?  How heavy is the shame weighing on her?  How has she been violated growing up?  How broken is she on the inside?

There are many Tamars in the system and in our communities that are looked upon by Judahs as a thing to be conquered or a piece of bootie to be tapped.  When and how do we choose to restore our current day Tamars?

The narratives we sing or rap about in the urban culture actually glorify the accomplishment of violating Tamars emotionally and mentally. We use and abuse them.  Otherwise why would we dance and sing catchy hooks like “Excuse me I don’t mean to be rude but tonight I’m f***ing u”

The Biblical Remix – Wanna Sex U

December 12, 2011

The Biblical Remix – Wanna Sex U

Genesis 19:1-13 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixwannasexu

My man Lot was chilling in the middle of the town of Sodom one evening when two dudes (who were actually angels in disguise) showed up.  Lot had some manners so he invited the dudes to stay at his place for the night.  This was a custom of the people and the times.

For whatever reason the two dudes wanted to sleep on the ground in the square.  Lot, knowing the neighborhood, was able to convince them that was not a cool thing and eventually they went to his crib.

Yo, he hooked them up with some chicken, rice and beans, and some biscuits.  After they finished eating, they were feeling really good.

Then somebody started banging on the door loudly like they got stuck in the elevator in the projects.

Suddenly all these voices were heard.  All the men from the neighborhood were outside Lot’s crib. They heard about the two new guests in the town and they wanted to take turns having sex with them.

In the background this Color Me Badd song was playing:

“I wanna sex you up, All night, You make me feel good, I wanna rub you down, I wanna sex you up…”

Reflection:

I am sure the title really had you interested in reading this remix.  The 21st Century American culture is so “sexualized” there is rarely a day where we are not bombarded through the media with various messages regarding sex.

So what is the message we have here in this event in Sodom?

Both the male leaders of the town and the other men from the neighborhood wanted to tap the booties of  the two guests (the angels).  It wasn’t like some down low brothers.  These dudes bumrushed Lot’s home demanding to have a homosexual orgy. Imagine people banging on your door talking about bring out your guests cause we want to get freaky with them.

Historically this was common behavior for the people of that land.  But when Lot speaks to the men he refers to it as a wicked thing. Yes, he calls it a wicked thing.

So what do you think?  Is men having sex with other men a “wicked” thing?

Was Lot wrong in his assertion?

If Lot was on CNN today and made this comment, he most certainly would be labeled as homophobic by some people, amongst other things. But was he homophobic?

Interestingly enough if you go through the whole Bible you will find a consistency to Lot’s statement in the books of Leviticus, Judges, Romans, 1 Corinthians and Jude.

So what does this mean?  Does God see gay sex as wickedness?

God sees sin as wickedness.  That includes adultery, having sex before marriage, lying, gossiping, and also gay sex.

So as we look at the wickedness of these men in Sodom, let us also look at the wickedness in our own hearts.

The truth is we need a savior to help us save us from ourselves.  This is the beauty of Jesus, the son of God who became the son of man to redeem us from the wickedness of sin which betrays us because it lives within our very own hearts.  Is Jesus your savior?

The Biblical Remix – Make It Happen

December 1, 2011

 

The Biblical Remix – Make It Happen

Genesis 37, 39, 40, 41 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixmakeithappen

Of all the dudes in the Bible who had it tough I def have to look at Joseph, the son of Jacob.

While still young his moms died.  His pops showed him mad love but that actually made his life worse cause his ten brothers hated on him big time.  The hateration got so bad his brothers actually sold him into slavery.  Joseph was only a teenager.

As a foreigner in a strange land he had to work wherever he was sold.  At one spot he was wrongfully accused of raping his master’s wife.  They threw him in prison for that one.  He did a bid for a couple of years.

However whatever situation Joseph was in, the favor of God was with him.  It was mad evident.

By the time Joseph hit thirty years of age, he was a boss.  He became the Second in Command to Pharaoh in Egypt.

During the ceremony, the Pharoah had a fine linen robe and a fat gold chain placed on Joseph.  In the background this Mariah Carey song was playing:

“If you believe in yourself enough, And know what you want, You’re gonna make it happen, Make it happen, And if you get down on your knees at night, And pray to the Lord, He’s gonna make it happen…”

Reflection:

Many of us have gone through hardships.  Some of us have been incarcerated and have found work after prison really difficult to find.

Some of us have been wrongly accused in marriages, relationships, and work ordeals.

Some of us have been abandoned, abused, and disregarded by our families.

And yet we stand.  We stand by the grace of God.

Joseph knew in the midst of all his problems there was a God who was watching and intervening in his life.  A span of 12 to 13 years existed from when he was sold as a slave until he became Second in Command of Egypt.  Yet in every circumstance there is no record of him giving up.

During his trials he knew no one.  He had no family.  And he lived in a foreign country where he had to learn new customs and a new language.  Yet Joseph did not give up hope.

And today I say that to you.  Life may have sucked for you up to this point.  Hardships may keep piling and piling up.  Trust in the Lord.  Trust in your Heavenly Father.  Your earthly father may have bounced but God has never left you nor has He given up on you.

For some people what I am saying is very hard to accept.  Your history and reasoning tell you to think something different.  However in your heart you know what I am saying is true.  He loves you.  God really loves you.

Don’t you ever think He can’t love you because of the life you have led.  God is love.  He doesn’t love us because we deserve it.  He loves us because He IS love.

Don’t give up.  Get down on your knees and pray.  God CAN make it happen.

The Biblical Remix – Don’t Believe

November 25, 2011

The Biblical Remix – Don’t Believe

Acts 16:16-18 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixdontbelieve

While on a missionary trip in Macedonia, Paul and his peoples were walking to the spot for prayer. Along the way a slave girl who was a psychic crossed their path.  This chick started yelling and screaming how these men were godly men and how what they were preaching was a good thing.

For a few days she followed them around and kept yelling these things to the surrounding crowds.

Finally Paul got so tight he looked at her and with God’s authority he commanded the demon spirit that was possessing her to bounce.  And just like that the demon spirit left her.

In the background this Public Enemy song was playing:

“Don’t Believe The Hype, Don’t…Don’t…Don’t…Don’t Believe The Hype…Hoooyeah”

Reflection:

The slave girl was rolling with them for a minute.  She was giving them props and acting like a hype-person for the good things they were doing.  However she was not of the right spirit.

There are people who at times roll with us who seem down for the cause but they are not really down with us.  They have a separate agenda.  Some even have a negative or perverse spirit.  Many times that is hard for us to notice.

Even some of the people who originally started out with us on a project can be down for the wrong reason.

Discernment is the key.  You…we…must discern what spirit we are allowing to join with us.  Not everybody has that love and pure motive to take a project through to the end.  This is applicable in work, ministry, and even relationships.

Be careful who you join yourself too.  And remember, don’t believe the hype.

The Biblical Remix – U Down Wit’

November 17, 2011 — 1 Comment

The Biblical Remix – U Down Wit’

Genesis 39:1-10 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixudownwit

As a slave bought with money, the Hebrew man Joseph lived in the house of his Egyptian master Potiphar. Within a short time everything Joseph touched and did for his master worked out well.  Potiphar even made Joseph his right hand man.

Joseph was living ghetto fab in Potiphar’s home.  Life was so good even Potiphar’s wife started checking him out. Every day she tried to get Joseph to sleep with her.  She wasn’t even low key about it.  She was hard core desperate for some Hebrew booty.  And every day Joseph would say “No”.

One day while all alone with Joseph, Potiphar’s wife walked in with a skin-tight gown on.  She turned on her iPod and this Naughty By Nature song began to play:

“You down with OPP, Yeah you know me, You down with OPP, Yeah you know me, Who’s down with OPP…”

Reflection:

As the song continues Treach says, “There’s no room for relationship, there’s just room to hit it.”  That’s exactly what Potiphar’s wife was thinking.  Basically she wanted to use Joseph for her sexual gratification and then have him move on.  She did not value Joseph and actually reduced him to a jump-off.

How many of us have been there?  Honestly.  You didn’t care about him or her or them.  You/we did not have any one in mind but ourselves.  We wanted to feel good.  In our self-centeredness we  dehumanized the other person.  We wanted Other People’s Property so we could have Our Personal Plaything.

No investment.  Just someone to use like a toy. No emotional attachment just pure physical pleasure.  A vibrator with skin and a heart beat.

You may see nothing odd about this.  However, as humans we are wired for connection and community which is why a jump-off doesn’t satisfy us holistically. We are spirit, soul & body. Our spirits are actually neglected and soiled each time.  Some times even our souls and bodies are soiled.

Perhaps if there were less jump offs, there might be less children born out of wedlock without baby daddys absent.

Perhaps if there were less jump offs, there might be more women seeing themselves as more than just a physical encounter for a man.

Perhaps if there were less jump offs, there might be more men honoring women as a human being and not a sexual play thing.

So, who u down wit?

The Biblical Remix – Now That We Found

November 11, 2011

The Biblical Remix – Now That We Found

Song of Solomon 8:1-7 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixnowthatwefound

The slow jam of all slow jams is the Song of Solomon.  In this song Solomon and his Bride share their heart and even their little freakiness.

The Bride is desperate to see her boo and can’t wait to give him “the nectar of my pomegranates”.  Freaky indeed.

While speaking to her girlfriends, The Bride advises them not to wake up love until the time is right.  The passion can be overwhelming.

As the Bride waits to satisfy the soon coming Solomon, this Heavy D song is playing in the background:

“Now that we found love what are we gonna do, with it, Now that we found love…”

Reflection:

If u love hip hop, u know I chose this song because of the recent death of Mr Big Stuff, Heavy D.

At the young age of 44 he was able to accomplish so much creatively and touch so many lives.

Jesus, at the age of 33, touched so many lives too. Nearly 2,000 years later and people are still adoring Him and loving Him.

Why? Because He showed us how God’s love was as strong as death. Jesus had nuttin’ but love for us & died on a cross so we would have access to God.  Now that you have found the Love of Jesus at the Cross, what are you gonna do with it?