Welcome to the Misfit Kingdom/When Strangers are Welcomed Home
(Exp/ Deductive with Inductive twist)
The Greek poet, Hosaye wrote, “ If you tell me who you love, I can tell you who you are
Max Lucado a dynamic Christian author said it this way, ‘ The sign of the saved is their love for the least”
Bill Hybels, Pastor of one of the largest churches in America echoed the thought , When he said,’
We have never locked eyes with someone hat did not matter to God”
And my personal favorite from the radio preacher, Dr.Charles Swindoll, “ You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat those who can do nothing for them.”
This lesson almost came to late to John Blanchard:
John Blanchard stood up from the bench, straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn’t, the girl with the rose.
His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner’s name, Miss Hollis Maynell.
With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding.
Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn’t matter what she looked like.
When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting-7:00 p.m. at the Grand Central Station in New York. “You’ll recognize me,” she wrote, “by the red rose I’ll be wearing on my lapel.”
I’ll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened.
A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. “Going my way, sailor?” she murmured.
Almost uncontrollably I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell.
She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own.
And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My finger gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful.
I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. “I’m Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?”
The woman’s face boardened into a tolerant smile. “I don’t know what this is all about, son, “ she answered, “but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should go and tell you that she is waiting for you in a big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of a test!”
The Greek Poet was right,” Tell me who you love and I will tell you who you are!”
Jesus said, all these quotes in Luke 14:12-24 ( read the entire story )
I guess if I could label my idea , It would be “ Welcome to the misfit Kingdom” ( through out the sermon emphasis with a warm tone in the voice the word “Welcome” and “Home” )
In this marvelous story of loving the unlovable Jesus encourages with 3 truths:
1.)IF YOU WELOCOME MISFITS, YOU WILL BE BLESSED ( 12-14 )
A) blessed by their faith—
I will never forget how much the faith of misfits can bless us. I learned t one day when my best friend Karl Schad invited me to a late breakfast, a lunch if you will be. We were traveling west on 7th street in Joplin MO, Karl was driving his old 1987 VW quantum ( may it rest in peace ) I was eagerly awaiting the trip to McDonald’s
A few blocks form the Golden arches out the passenger window we saw Miss Posey
Dispose. Do you know her? Miss Posey is a familiar figure around Joplin
If you did not know Miss Posey was homeless one look t her would tell you so. I guess you could call her a misfit, an out cast, Society throw away kid, at least she once was a child with hope, but that was years ago, now the un shelter summer and winter nights have taken their toll on miss Posey’s 65 year old body.
She had miss matches salvation army clothes on yellow plaid pants, lime green jacket and her life’s belongs; in the bag next to her. A lot people don’t know this but Miss Posy has a PHD ( Pentecostal hair doo)
She was waving, to all the cars obvious to the fact hat no one knew her.
Karl and I traveled on,. We drove thru the drive thru and I ordered the American Value meal
The two cheeseburgers, med. Fry and med coke, jus enough to appease my empty stomach,
Ass we drove out of McDonald Karl got this wild idea that I should give Miss Posey on of my cheeseburgers. I know.. Karl did not understand I had not eaten all morning,. There as no was , absolutely no how I was going to give my breakfast away to Miss Posey
(Long pause………………)
So there we sat next to Miss Posey,, watching hr chow down my cheeseburgers and sucking down my coke.
And that’s when t happened.. We asked Miss Posey the most important question than anybody can ask?
We said, “ Mss Posey do you know Jesus Christ?”
Without hesitating, but with tears well up in her eyes, “ She said < O yeah h hold me every night.”
Did you hear that? He hold me very night……… that my friends is when Misfits are welcomed home.
I guess I not only tell you that story to show you how they van bless you with their faith. Bu also , You need to know that sometimes this misfits that need to be welcomed home are not in the same social class we are….
Not one will you be blessed way their faith. But Jesus said
b.) You will be blessed with eternal rewards
Glance back a veers 14, “ You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.
Matthew 25:34-36, don’t unto the least of these”
SO the first promise was If you welcome Misfits, you will be blessed Jesus said the second promise
2. ) IF YOU WELCOME MISFITS, THE KINGDOM WILL EXPAND ( 15-22)
OF COURSE JESUS WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT A TEMPORARY dinner.
But the Story this is eluding to the great supper of the lamb will celebrate in heaven
But the size of the party up there will be determined on the amount of Misfits we welcome down here.
I will never forget the time I learned that welcomed the misfits will cause heaven to grow larger.
I was just dropping off my wife and kids off in Salina, KS at my mother-n laws.
What a great day. Going to the in-law Ana den not having to stay ( laugh )
Was heading North out of Salina when I saw him.
His name was Charlie.
Charles was sitting in the ditch with large army bags.
The cold misty rain way s drenching him and his bags.
He wore his Vietnam jacket proudly. It laid over is 400 llb body like a tarp.
I pulled over and asked If I could help…. He said if I would load his bags ( and man did he mean bags ) on the car and drive them to the gas station that was a hundred yards away. He would appreciate it.
I did. He limped along following the behind my car.
For a few fruitless hours of trying to talk him going into a rescue mission. I prayed with him and left
I continued to travel North on HW 81 to my home That’s when Jesus started in
I said jess I can take him home…. He could kill me. But Jesus he really stinks…
Jesus there is no way I am letting him stay the night…
Now Lord I prayed with him I helped him.
I fell the words him say, echoed from Matthew 25; He says I said when you welcomed me in ( not if you prayed with me.
SO I made a u-turn on HW 81
I pulled up next to Charlie at the gas station. I said, “Charlie get in!”
Charlie said, “Getty up!”
For the next hour and a half. I rode with this 400 lb. man in my small car. I had to crack the window to be able to breath throuh the stench. I heard the story of how once veteran became a misfits.. It was the common dilemma of needing medicine to get a job and a job to get the medicine.
We got to my place. I laid a sheet on the couch, I washed his clothes and belongings.
The next morning I took him to the police station as a par of the ministerial alliance agreement to get him a free motel room and a hot meal.
Later that day I received a cal l from the Hospital’s Social worker.
She said that Charles was admitted and he would not speak to anyone but me.
I walked into room 104, I said, “Charlie what I do I have done everything
He said, “ I don’t want anything. I just wanted you to know. That they told me that My heart is bad and I am dying..They want to ship me to Wichita.. But I can never hitch a ride out of Wichita So I want to stay here to die….
Last night was the first home I have stayed in over 20 years. Because of that if felt welcomed. And I know Jesus is asking me to get my real heart right. I just want you to know preacher I want you to help me accept the lord”
When we Welocme misfits The Kingdom will Expand.
Luke at Luke 15:1-7 “ Jesus ate with sinners,, he welcomed them home…. The angels rejoice overtime a misfit child of God is welcomed
I guess the reason I tell you that story is because sometime the misfits Jesus calls us to love and welcome home. Don’t smell like us….they don’t always choose to be misfits
The third promise is more of an imperative rather than a conditional if…
Jesus says
3.) YOU MUST WELOCME MISFITS , BECAUSE GOD WELOOMED YOU! ( 22-23 )
The parable of the banquet is alluding to the original guest, The Jews God’s chosen people.
But now since they reject the invitation with all sorts of excuses.
God says to go to in to the by ways and highways and invite the spiritually crippled, the lame and the blind.
That’s you….That’s me..
Legend has it than in May 20, 1974 a permiscuous , even possible minor prostitute gave birth to son,
This was in the days when abortion was legal. But by the grace of God this woman chose life.
She gave the young boy up for adoption and five days later he was welcomed into a new family.
At age 10 the news that he was adopted was abruptly spilt to him.
It was Easter time. He was on his knees on the kitchen chair dipping Easter eggs with his brother and sister. This young boy knew that his oldest brother John was adopted but he assumed he was a real kid.. a wanted kid……
His mother was testing the waters as she said,,”Well what if you were adopted.”
The truth suck in----- a crack zigzagged across his tender heart. His heart>>>>>>>>>.
O, it did not stay tender..
Feelings of rejection and bitterness filled the heart… regamortis began to set in..
And for the next 7 years, he tried to fight his feeling of rejection with sex, drugs& trouble,
And one night the accumulation of all the hurt as a outcast, as a misfit got the best go him..
He sat one Saturday night with a Remington 12. gauge shot gun in his mouth.. fixing a temporary problem with a permanent solution.
It was then when he suddenly remembered that he had made a promise to his best friend Karl Schad. The promise was to go church the next day.
And the next day after a church service in the office of Karl’s preacher… I was welcomed home… And I surrender my life to Jesus Christ… And this outcast kid was welcomed home. That was me.
My rejected heart for once felt accepted.. felt wanted.. felt needed….. felt home!
Don’t give me that pro-choice crap.. I am no less of a person because the way I was conceived… what the world throws out God throws in!
I guess the reason I tell you this sorry is because some of the misfits don’t look like they need welcomed home.. some maybe in your own own home.. but can I tell you something? They need to be welcomed!
That was not the only time I felt welcomed home.
During Bible College my wife Tina and I with our new baby Talitha went to the AMEC church.
African. Methodist Episcopalian Church
Talk about sticking out like a pimple on prom night….. w e were he only white people there
And then the Big black preacher asked that annoying question.. out of the 20 people in attendance plus us,
“ DO we have an guest today?”
And we with all 40 eyes fixed on us raised our hands.”
He said these two powerful words “ WELCOME HOME!”
I guess the reason I tell you this story is because Some of the misfits we need to welcome home don’t have the same color of skin we do….
That preacher must have read our text today!
He knew that because of the new invitation that have been prepared by God that all are invited to come. to come.. to come home!
( build some momentum and pace here )
And like a copper wire stretched between he batteries of heaven and hell JESUS was hung on the criminals cross to spark a flame that would burn down the walls that separate us from different social, racial and historical class.
God has a new needle of grace. And thru that needle he his threading different colors of string.
String like Miss Posey’s Charles, Ryan’s, black, white, yellow. And he is sowing a New mat at his door
And it says WELCOME HOME KIDS!
( PAUSE )…
CONCLUSION:
How do we get home? How do you welcome other home?
Mark Scott the professor pf preaching at my old college, talk in a sermon one time about the two doors of the church..
Two doors are invisible , but never the less real..
One door is very wide.. it is an inclusive door….. all can come… come on in. Miss Posey…… come on in.. Charlie.. come on him preacher brother…. Even you Ryan come on opts OK you will never be kicked out oaf here..
Above the wide door is the sign with GRACE in big letter.. thru these door anyone can come..
But there I another door. It is a very narrow door.. very exclusive door. is the door of truth.
You can all come but you got to fit thru here.. Jesus said, IAM the way the truth the life.. no come s to the father except thru me…….
I am The door of truth….
Two doors……….. one home.. the Misfit kingdom
I want to end this message with a story own of my favorite preachers Fred Cradock ended with.
I want you all to take out the notepad of your heart..
And I want you to write some names down on it…
Names of people that have welcomed you home.. that love you.. or maybe some names of people you have welcomed home.\\And when you die I ant you to take this list of names to heaven with you…
Now I know St. Per is going toady you did not bringing nothing not the world and you cannot take nothing out.. But you just tell him Ryan said you could.
And as he meets you at the gate.. he is going to ask what is in your back pocket.. your will say..
O its nothing just a list of names..
As you hand the lest to Peter he will look at them .. his eyebrows will raise and he will says
Oh year I now this people.. Miss Posey, Charlie, Ryan, they were standing out back this morning when I cm to work..
They have been waiting for you……. They were holding Signs that said,
WELCOME HOME!
Friend s let Jesus Welcome you Home,, and he will put you in the heavenly fathers arms and the father will walk us across this chilly river Jordan that we call death.
And on that other side of the river Jordan will be your loved ones. We be those misfits.. with signs that say ‘WELCOME HOME!”
Tell me who you love and I will tell you who you are….
If John Blanchard would not of loved the unlovely he would of lost the love of his life
You will miss even more
Why don’t you come home today ????
TO THE READER: SO I CAN BETTER HELP YOU, IF THIS SERMON WAS NOT HELPFUL AND YOU CLICK "NO" BELOW, LET ME KNOW WHAT IT LACKED OR WHY IT DID NOT HELP. CONTACT ME AT NEWLIFE@NCKCN.COM ( I CAN TAKE CRITICISM :0 )
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