This Ain't Yo House

THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE

1 CORINTHIANS 6:19-20

WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE OF GOD AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?

FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE, THEREFORE, GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD’S.

FOR THE NEXT LITTLE WHILE WE SOLICIT YOUR PRAYERS AND YOUR ATTENTION AS WE ATTEMPT TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THE SUBJECT, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.

AND SINCE WE ARE A MULICULTURAL CHURCH, THIS IS NOT YOUR HOUSE

MI CASA NO ES SU CASA

THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE

I THOUGHT I WOULD TAKE THIS SUBJECT STRAIGHT FROM THE HOOD AND SPEAK TO YOU LIKE YOUR MAMA USED TO. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT SOMETIMES IN ORDER TO GET FOLK TO UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU’RE SAYING YOU HAVE TO TAKE THEM BACK TO WHERE IT ALL BEGAN. BACK TO THEIR ROOTS

I KNOW THAT SOME OF YOU HAVE GROWN UP AND MOVED AWAY AND YOU’RE A BIT CONFUSED NOW AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD.

YOU DON’T KNOW IF YOU’RE FROM THE PROJECTS, OR NOT. WELL, DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT; I’M HERE TO ENLIGHTEN YOU:

IF YOU EVER REFERRED TO DIABETES AS SUGAR, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD

IF YOU EVER HAD A CAR WITH A COAT HANGER FOR AN ANTENNA, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD

IF YOUR MAMA HAD THAT PLASTIC COVERING, ALL OVER HER SOFA AND CHAIRS, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD

IF YOU EVER LEFT YOUR HOUSE AND WENT DOWN TO MAMA AND NEM’S, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD

IF YOU EVER REFERRED TO RED AS A KOOL-AID FLAVOR, YOU’RE FROM THE HOOD.

I HOPE THAT IN SOME WAY I CLEARED THAT UP FOR YOU.

AND WHILE YOU WERE IN THE HOOD, YOU HAD SOME FRIENDS AND SOME OF YOU MAY STILL HAVE THEM, WHO ASSUMED THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU ALLOWED THEM TO USE SOMETHING OF YOURS THEY COULD TREAT IT ANY WAY THEY WANTED TO.

YOU EVER HAD HOUSE GUEST THAT CAME TO YOUR HOUSE AND PUT THEIR DIRTY FEET ALL UP ON YOUR FURNITURE?

WALK THEIR MUDDY SHOES ACROSS YOUR WHITE CARPET

PUT THEIR GREASY GERRY CURL JUICE ON YOUR COUCH AND LAY THEIR HEADS AGAINST YOUR WALLS

AND THEN HAVE THE NERVE TO GO IN YOUR KITCHEN AND RUMMAGE THROUGH YOUR REFRIGERATOR LIKE THEY LIVE THERE

YOU EVER HAD PEOPLE WHO PUT THEIR CUPS AND GLASSES; ALL OVER YOUR FRESHLY WAXED COFFEE TABLE AND WHEN YOU OFFERED THEM A COASTER THEY GAVE YOU THAT LOOK.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD YOUR IN-LAWS TO COME OVER TO YOUR HOUSE AND I’M PLACING THE EMPHASIS ON YOUR HOUSE ESPECIALLY A WOMAN WHO’S DEALING WITH HER HUSBANDS MAMA

SHE STROLLS IN YOUR HOUSE WALKING LIKE SHE’S THE CAT’S MEOW, AND SHE BEGINS TO REARRANGE YOUR LAMPS

SHE BEGINS TO CHECK FOR DUST

SHE FEELS LIKE THE END TABLE THAT YOU CAREFULLY PLACED LOOKS BETTER OVER THERE THAN IT DOES OVER HERE

THEN SHE BEGINS TO TELL YOU WHAT HER BABY AIN’T USE TOO

WHY IS HE SITTING THERE? HE AIN’T USE TO HAVING TO SIT IN THE KITCHEN, HE’S, HE’S

HE’S USED TO SITTING IN THE DINING ROOM, AND WHERE’S YOUR GLASSES AT, MY BABY DON’T DRINK OUT OF NO CUPS…HE AIN’T USE TO THAT

I DIDN’T RAISE HIM LIKE THAT WHEN HE WAS LIVING AT MY HOUSE

YOU EVER WANT TO TELL THAT IN-LAW, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE!

CUZZIN PUKEY NEM COME OVER AND THEY START REARRANGING STUFF. YOU’RE SITTING DOWN WATCHING YOUR FAVORITE T.V. SHOW AND SOMEBODY PICKS UP THE REMOTE AND STARTS CHANNEL SURFING LIKE THEY WAS AT HOME. YOU EVER WANT TO TELL PUKEY NEM, YOU NEED TO GO HOME CAUSE THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.

EVEN YOUR KIDS…START ACTING CRAZY. ANYBODY IN HERE UNDER 18 OR WELL NOW-A-DAYS YOU MIGHT BE 25 OR 40, BUT YOU’RE STILL LIVING AT HOME WITH YOUR PARENTS.

EVERY NOW AND THEN WE WANT TO LOOK AT YOU AND TELL YOU, THIS AIN’T YO HOUSE.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT; THIS IS FOR YOU KIDS WHO FEEL ENTITLED BECAUSE YOU LIVE THERE AND BECAUSE YOU’VE LIVED THERE AS LONG AS YOUR PARENTS IN SOME INSTANCES

YOU KNOW THE ONES I’M TALKING ABOUT, AND SOME OF YOU HAVE SOME CHILDREN WHO ARE JUST LIKE THEM.

THEY MAKE THE MISTAKE OF BELIEVING IT’S THEIR HOUSE, AND SO THEY SAY CRAZY STUFF LIKE, STAY OUT OF MY ROOM…I NEED MY PRIVACY

WHY ARE YOU ALWAYS GOING THROUGH MY DRAWERS AND MY CLOSET, YOU NEED TO KNOCK BEFORE YOU COME IN MY ROOM.

NOW TO BE TOTALLY HONEST WITH YOU, THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ONLY ONCE IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE, AND I THINK I TOLD YOU BEFORE THAT HE DIDN’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH CHILD ABUSE. HE HAD AWAY ABOUT HIM AND HE’D SAY…