Well, here I am; talking about dreams again. In my last post, I outed myself as a professional dreamer. Well, maybe practice makes perfect because the dreams just keep getting better. It is said that a genius can hit targets that average people cannot reach: while dreamers hit targets that average people cannot even see. I don’t know if I qualify on that level, but I do know that no one—not any Hollywood Studio, nor even any Christian production company is pursuing this story on the level that I am.
The trouble with being a dreamer is that until the dream comes true, all your friends and family think you’re crazy. But, when the dreamer finally hits his target the people call him a visionary, a Leonardo DaVinci, an Einstein. Well, call me crazy if you want, but here’s my Joseph dream that is growing larger by the day and barring the unforeseen; given time, I will reach my goal.
To do the story of Joseph as a dramatized audio novel has been my self assigned task for well over a decade. I began working on the script about 14 years ago in my spare time here a little, there a little—until now I have a 900+ page monstrosity that has begun to swallow up my life. But more about that presently. First let me talk about Joseph himself.
Why Joseph? Because besides Jesus and Daniel there is not one bad thing written about the character of Joseph. Because of all Biblical heroes his story most closely resembles the story of Jesus Himself. It is a story of honor and divine that needs to be told in God’s way. Ah! But you’re asking, “Hasn’t he already been covered by Broadway musicals and several movies?” Oh, He’s been covered alright… but mostly by layers of greasy Hollywood imaginarians chained to earth by the need to excite human passion and turn a profit. Who has spoken even one word about the kind of parents God used to produce a man of Joseph’s caliber? Who has addressed his life of devotion to principle, his purity, his diligence, his honesty or his life of prayer?
These are the very topics being emphasized in the present production. Every one of them. But there are so many qualities to cover, you may object. How can you reach your goal? I plan to do it through the eyes of those who knew him best. His fellow slaves, his master, the Ishmaelite prince who bought him from his brothers, the regret of his brothers, the ire of the priests of Ra who seek to censure his teaching and cancel his influence, even the testimonial of his mistress as she plots with her maid about how to seduce him.
Another, way is by taking time in everyday conversations to reveal who Joseph is. Here I want to emphasize the word time. This production bids fair to reach 16 -18 hours in length and I try to leave no stones unturned in the revelation of Joseph’s beautiful character.
So where are we now? Good question. Glad you asked. I have been in actual production of the audio dramatization for over 2 years. Bear in mind that this is a self-funded labor of love so it’s not like I’m able to sit down and edit 8 hours/day. All my actors are, like myself, sharing their time and talent as a labor of love.
So far I’ve recorded something like 25 actors in nearly all the major parts. I’d estimate that we’re at least 60% recorded. The final dream?—When Joseph: Prince of Pain is completed I plan to release it free of charge on all major platforms. This is in keeping with the business model that Jesus Himself taught and followed – that it is more blessed to give than to receive. And the future? As to how to fund future dreams; Jesus also said, “Give and it shall be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto your bosom.” I believe that there is no limit to the usefulness of one who, by laying self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his life and lives a life wholly dedicated to God. Jesus was, and still is the Prince of Dreamers. It is in His footsteps that I follow and I have found His yoke to be easy and His burden light.
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