joseph

The Biblical Remix – Dreams

March 22, 2012

The Biblical Remix – Dreams

Genesis 37:1-11 – http://bit.ly/biblicalremixdreams

Having big families was the way it was back in the biblical day.  When I say big family I am not talking about like a basketball squad.  I am talking like a football squad.

My man Jacob had twelve sons.  That’s right, Jacob was going in with his wives and concubines. With all them kids you know there had to be a favorite. (Sidenote: How do you remember the names of all them kids if you are the daddy…I’m just saying).

Anyway, Joseph (the second youngest) happened to be the favorite.  His pops showed him mad love.  He even bought him a colorful Louis Vuitton Lambskin Jacket with a matching pair of Wolf Grey Air Yeezy 2 sneakers.

Of course Joseph’s brothers were hating on him big time.  It also didn’t help Joseph was OD happy to share about the two dreams he had where everyone in the family was bowing down to him in honor.

While Joseph was sharing his dreams and his brothers were looking at him with mad rage, this chorus of Bruno Mars was playing in the background:

“This one’s for you and me, living out our dreams, we’re all right where we should be…”

Reflection:

Some of us have seen our dreams played out right before our eyes in our imagination.  Others have never dared to dream beyond their circumstances.   And yet still there are those embracing and living out their dreams right here and right now.

What is a dream?  What is this future reality/fantasy that stirs up this great longing inside of us?

For Joseph it was prophetic.  God was literally showing him a portion of what would happen in his future.  And God gave him the same message in two dreams.

What about you? What has God been saying to you?  What dreams and longings has He been encouraging you to pursue?

Whatever they are I am encouraging you not to give up on your dreams.  Though this world and/or your family may not embrace it, that is no cause to kill off the dream.  You were made for more than the ordinary.  Dare to live in the extraordinary.  You know you are worth it.

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 – 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 – Super Freak

March 17, 2011

The Biblical Remix – Super Freak

Genesis 39:1-12 – http://bit.ly/ieMVIk

Sold into slavery, Joseph quickly became the head person in charge of his master’s house. Time and time again his master’s wife would try to get freaky with Joseph but Joseph would not sin against God and his master.

One day while no one was around, his master’s wife grabbed Joseph by his clothes so she could get her freak on but Joseph bounced and left her with his jacket.

As he ran out the room this Rick James song was playing in the background:

“She’s a super freak, super freak, She’s super-freaky, yow”

The Biblical Remix – Joseph the Ruler

December 23, 2010

The Biblical Remix – Joseph the Ruler

Having suffered many trials over the years, Joseph is taken out of jail to interpret a dream before the king. After the interpretation Joseph gives a solution to save the land. As the king makes him second in command of the land, this Nas song was playing in Joseph’s head:

“If I ruled the world, Imagine that, I free all my sons, I love em love em baby”

Genesis 41:37-40 – http://bit.ly/fcwfVp

The Biblical Remix – Jesus’ Parents

October 28, 2010

The Biblical Remix – Jesus’ Parents

Jose was not the baby daddy so he was ready to bounce on the pregnant Maria. Before God intervened by speaking to Jose through a dream, Jose was singing this Chris Brown song:

“I’m chuckin my deuces up to her, I’m movin’ on to something better, better, better, No more tryin’ to make it work, You made me wanna say bye-bye, say bye-bye…”

Matt 1:18-21 – http://bit.ly/by2y8G