A few years ago, I took a trip to Pennsylvania with my Uncle Donald and Cousin Traci. We went back to my old stomping grounds as a kid…the hills of Pittsburgh. I spent six gracious years there as a kid and still remember my best friend, Sean Walsh (his phone number 486-0663 has since been disconnected; I tried). We moved to Houston, Texas just after my fifth grade year (my first fifth grade year for those keeping score at home). It was devastating!

To this day, I still have dreams of those days! 

Donald, Traci and I went back to “the house that built me” just two months BEFORE Miranda Lambert released that song. The house, neighborhood, and woods were all like they were in my memory and dreams. The only sad part was the huge tree in the front we laid under for shade or swayed on its top branches was now a stump. Even the remains of the ship-fort in the woods where we played “pirates” could be found. 

Needless to say, when Miranda released her song, “The House that Built Me”, it brought tears to my eyes and still takes me back to that place when my life was innocent, simple, and functional. Good timing Miranda! Obviously, I was glad to “hear” that she won her award. I didn’t see it since I watching sports. But that’s not the point!

Before there was radio, TV, and award shows, sport’s programs, Hoarders, and Swamp People – there were things called, “Stories” and “Books”. These stories and books were strong in values and morals. They taught people how to get along, how to play fair. They taught words like honor, loyalty, sacrifice, selflessness, and integrity. These “Stories” and “Books” were told nearly as much as our TV sets are on. Most of the “Stories” where either from Scripture or inspired by Scripture. Folks who grew up on “Stories” and “Books” have similar memories when those Scriptures are shared in worship as I had walking through my old neighborhood. For many of those who grew up this way, their heart sings a similar song to the “Scripture that built me”!

Our element of faith of focus this month is SCRIPTURE. I can’t think of a more important time in history for us to learn, tell, and understand the significance Scripture has to the building of our faith; our values; our morals. If we don’t commit to learning Scripture, then the “Stories” and “Books” of memory for our children and grandchildren will be that of Khloe and Kim Kardashian and Snooky….Oh my….