Pastor Rus Says

Welcome to the sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio, with Pastor Rus Yoak.  What if "Not my problem" is in fact "your problem"?  What does the Bible have to say about being responsible for your neighbor and how do you even begin to do that?  Listen on... Ezekiel 33:7-11 33:7 So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 33:8 If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. 33:9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life. 33:10 Now you, mortal, say to the house of Israel, Thus you have said: "Our transgressions and our sins weigh upon us, and we waste away because of them; how then can we live?" 33:11 Say to them, As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?

Welcome to the sermon podcast for First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio, with Pastor Rus Yoak.   It is more sacred to be barefoot...so would say my ancient (ahem) Appalachian ancestors.  Or at least, it is more fun...and maybe healthier.  But is it holy?  Listen on:   Exodus 3:1-5 3:1 Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. 3:3 Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." 3:5 Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

Welcome to the sermon podcast for First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak What's in a name?  Well, ask Robert Balboa what is in a name...Don't know him?  How about Rocky Balboa...Him you know. So you know Rocky, or do you? Matthew 16:13-20 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" 16:14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 16:17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 16:20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Hello and welcome to the sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   This week:  When the unimportant become important and vice versa.    Luke 9: 46An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.”

Pastor Rus Says:    Welcome to this week's sermon podcast from First Lutheran Church, in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak. When driving the most important thing you can do is keep your eyes on the road.  If you are driving up the side of a mountain, even more so...especially if there are no guard rails.     Matthew 14:22-33 14:22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 14:24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 14:25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 14:26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid." 14:28 Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 14:29 He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 14:30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 14:31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 14:32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 14:33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

Pastor Rus Says: Welcome to the sermon podcast from 1st Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio for 07/30/17 with Pastor Rus Yoak. I came across the word "Hygge" the other day as I was watching a news program.  I won't give a lot away but let me just say I am in favor of "Hygge"...in certain contexts... Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 13:24 He put before them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 13:25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 13:26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 13:27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, 'Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?' 13:28 He answered, 'An enemy has done this.' The slaves said to him, 'Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 13:29 But he replied, 'No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 13:30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.'" 13:36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field." 13:37 He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 13:38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 13:39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 13:40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 13:42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

Pastor Rus Says: Welcome to the sermon podcast for 1st Lutheran on July the 16th 2017, from Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.  The Bible is full of odd passages that beg the question:  "Why do they do it that way?" and this week is no exception.  Today we look at odd farming conventions in the Bible, and even odder behavior from God almighty.    Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 13:2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 13:3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 13:4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 13:5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 13:6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 13:7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 13:8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 13:9 Let anyone with ears listen!" 13:18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. 13:20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 13:21 yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. 13:22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. 13:23 But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Pastor Rus Says: Welcome to the sermon podcast for July 9th, 2017 from 1st Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus.  What sort of burden are you carrying?  Is it heavy? In all likelihood you answered yes as it seems like we all are weighed down under this sort of trouble, but Jesus offers us an entirely different sort of thing when he promises that his yoke is easy.   Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 11:16 "But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another, 11:17 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.' 11:18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; 11:19 the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds." 11:25 At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; 11:26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 11:27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 11:28 "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 28th, 2017 from 1st Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   This week we ask the age old question: "Why didn't the Amish show up for work last Thursday?"  or better yet, "Are we there yet?"  Oddly the answers to both may be the same thing.  Listen on:   Luke 24:44-53 24:44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled." 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 24:46 and he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 24:47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. 24:49 And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." 24:50 Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 24:51 While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 24:52 And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 24:53 and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

Pastor Rus Says,    Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 21st, 2017 from 1st Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.    Who is Tenzing Norgay?  Only the second person to ever summit Mt. Everest.  Why is that important?  Listen on...   John 14:15-21 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you. 14:18 "I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 14:19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 14:20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 14:21 They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

Pastor Rus Says: Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 15, 2017 from 1st Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.     When I was a kid (10,000 years ago) Google Maps, was just "maps".  They were made out of paper and were the devil to re-fold after you opened them all the way up.  Now days navigation is easier with GPS but you still need to know how to find your way around on life's journey, because life does not come with GPS...or does it?   John 14:1-14 14:1 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. 14:4 And you know the way to the place where I am going." 14:5 Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Pastor Rus Says: Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 7, 2017 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.  This week we begin a four week sermon series about the journey that our faith really is.  And not only is a a huge trip...it's a family vacation...listen on.    John 10:1-10 10:1 Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. 10:2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 10:5 They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." 10:6 Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 10:7 So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 10:8 All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. 10:9 I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the sermon podcast for the week of March 26th, 2017 from 1st Lutheran with Pastor Rus Yoak.  This last Sunday we welcomed our Day Care Center from 1st Lutheran, ABC Learning center, to come and worship with us.  For this Sunday we looked at the blessings...and danger of youth ministry.     Matthew 19:13-15 The Little Children and Jesus 13Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.   As always if you enjoyed the podcast please subscribe, share, and comment. Thanks lots. Pastor Rus

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the weekly sermon podcast for Apr 2, 2017 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak. This week we look at Jesus' relationship with one of his best friends, Lazarus, and why (unlike Miracle Max) mostly dead and entirely dead are no problem for Jesus' miracles.    John 11:1-45 11:1 Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 11:2 Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 11:3 So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, "Lord, he whom you love is ill." 11:4 But when Jesus heard it, he said, "This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God's glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it." 11:5 Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 11:6 after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 11:7 Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again." 11:8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?" 11:9 Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 11:10 But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them." 11:11 After saying this, he told them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him." 11:12 The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right." 11:13 Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 11:14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead. 11:15 For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him." 11:16 Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." 11:17 When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 11:18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 11:19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 11:20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 11:21 Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 11:22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him." 11:23 Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." 11:24 Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 11:26 and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" 11:27 She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world." 11:28 When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." 11:29 And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 11:30 Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 11:31 The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 11:32 When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." 11:33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 11:34 He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." 11:35 Jesus began to weep. 11:36 So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" 11:37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?" 11:38 Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 11:39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" 11:41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. 11:42 I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." 11:43 When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 11:44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go." 11:45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for 03/26/2017 from 1st Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak. This week we look at what it means when you can see but your blind, and when you are blind and can see fine.   John 9:1-41 9:1 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. 9:2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 9:3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 9:6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, 9:7 saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. 9:8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" 9:9 Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." 9:10 But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" 9:11 He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." 9:12 They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know." 9:13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 9:14 Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 9:15 Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." 9:16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. 9:17 So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet." 9:18 The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 9:19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 9:20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 9:21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 9:22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 9:23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him." 9:24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." 9:25 He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." 9:26 They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" 9:27 He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" 9:28 Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 9:29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." 9:30 The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 9:31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. 9:32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. 9:33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." 9:34 They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out. 9:35 Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" 9:36 He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." 9:37 Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." 9:38 He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. 9:39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." 9:40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" 9:41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

Pastor Rus Says Welcome to the weekly sermon podcast for 03/18/2017 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.  This week we continue our way through the Lenten sermon series "Transformed: John 4:5-42 4:5 So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 4:6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon. 4:7 A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink." 4:8 (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) 4:9 The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." 4:11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 4:12 Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?" 4:13 Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 4:14 but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life." 4:15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water." 4:16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back." 4:17 The woman answered him, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You are right in saying, 'I have no husband'; 4:18 for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!" 4:19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 4:20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem." 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 4:22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 4:23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." 4:25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us." 4:26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who is speaking to you." 4:27 Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What do you want?" or, "Why are you speaking with her?" 4:28 Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, 4:29 "Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?" 4:30 They left the city and were on their way to him. 4:31 Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, "Rabbi, eat something." 4:32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." 4:33 So the disciples said to one another, "Surely no one has brought him something to eat?" 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. 4:35 Do you not say, 'Four months more, then comes the harvest'? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. 4:36 The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 4:37 For here the saying holds true, 'One sows and another reaps.' 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor." 4:39 Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I have ever done." 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 4:41 And many more believed because of his word. 4:42 They said to the woman, "It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world."

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the weekly podcast for March 12, 2017 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.    Over and over again in fiction, movies, literature, etc... the theme of how your parents affect your life gets played out again and again.  This week we look at how God wants to re-write that script.    John 3:1-17 3:1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 3:2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 3:5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 3:6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 3:7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' 3:8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 3:9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 3:11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 3:12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 3:15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 3:17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Matthew 17:1-9 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 17:3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 17:4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 17:5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 17:8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the sermon podcast for March 13 2017 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.   This week we begin our Lenten sermon series: Transformed.  We will spend the season of Lent looking at how God takes our broke lives and transforms them into something amazing.    Matthew 4:1-11 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 4:2 He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. 4:3 The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread." 4:4 But he answered, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 4:5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, 4:6 saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'" 4:7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; 4:9 and he said to him, "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me." 4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! for it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" 4:11 Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the sermon podcast for Feb 26, 2017 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.  Have you ever wished that there was some course that all people had to take and pass on being a decent human being before they could interact with the rest of polite society?   If they did then I bet the first lesson would be on empathy.  Listen today as we look at how Jesus takes this lesson as far as it can go. Matthew 17:1-9 17:1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 17:2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 17:3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 17:4 Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 17:5 While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" 17:6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 17:7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." 17:8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."

Pastor Rus Says: Welcome to the sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.    Ever wonder who comes up with the sill questions you get asked on government forms?  I found myself answering a bunch of "standard questions" when I transfered my license over from Florida to Ohio and wondered if anyone ever gave a flip, funny answer to any of the security questions and if they did, how much trouble did they get in.  But, sometimes you just have to ask the obvious questions because you need to be absolutely sure.  In today's Gospel John the Baptist has an obvious question to ask and Jesus gives a pretty obvious, but important answer...as well as some pretty unexpected bonus answers.    Matthew 11:2-11 11:2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 11:3 and said to him, "Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?" 11:4 Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: 11:5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 11:6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me." 11:7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 11:8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 11:9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.' 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to this week's sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.  As we look over the events of the last week, Veterans Day and Election Day included, the world looks like a slightly different place.  Here in the Kingdom of God we have a rather important job to do in this ever shifting world.  Do you feel like God has a purpose for you in His Kingdom, well get ready, because this job can be a scary one, but if we do it right, we change the world.   Luke 21:5-19 21:5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 21:6 "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." 21:7 They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" 21:8 And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. 21:9 "When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." 21:10 Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 21:11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. 21:12 "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 21:13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 21:14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 21:15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 21:16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 21:17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 21:18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 21:19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the Sermon Podcast for First Lutheran Church in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.  This All Saints Sunday we pause for a moment to think about what it is that really is at the heart of not only All Saint's Sunday, but all Sundays.    Luke 6:20-31 6:20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 6:21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 6:22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 6:23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 6:24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 6:25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 6:26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets. 6:27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 6:28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 6:29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 6:30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to our weekly sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.    This week we commemorate Reformation Sunday with some history, as well as some history in the making for the upcoming year.  Listen on... John 8:31-36 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the sermon podcast for First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   As parents we all develop these little tricks and techniques for entertaining/distracting toddlers.  These are essential skills if you want to survive the terrible twos, but awful skills when you try to apply them to adult life.  Listen in today as we see why it is a bad idea to try to distract God.  Luke 18:9-14 18:9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: 18:10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 18:12 I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.' 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted."

Pastor Rus Says:   Welcome to the Podcast for October 21st 2016 from First Lutheran Church in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   If you grew up in the eighties you can probably sing all the words to "Livin' On A Payer" with me...the problem is most of us aren't...either praying, or even living all that well. Why not? The answer to that question may be of the utmost importance. Luke 18:1-8 18:1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 18:2 He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 18:3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' 18:4 For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 18:5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" 18:6 And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 18:7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 18:8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"

Welcome to Pastor Rus Says:   This week we look at the things that bring us together, and how, ultimately, sometimes we get split apart.  It can be something silly like whether or not Adam had a bellybutton or something almost as silly like which mountain to worship on. How does God feel about those who are split apart from him as a result of the effects of sin?  Listen this week to hear....   Luke 17:11-19 17:11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 17:12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 17:13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 17:14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 17:15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 17:16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17:17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 17:18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 17:19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for October 7 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak. When Jesus talks to his disciples he tells them the secret to having an amazing faith life is simple and small.  Have some mustard.  Actually he says have a mustard seed worth of faith and the rest will sort itself out....enough to throw a mulberry fig tree right out of the ground and into the ocean, but exactly how does that work?  The answer comes with mustard....  One more thing: A big thanks to my friend/colleague/Brother-In-Law/college-roomate Todd Zielinski for collaborating with me on writing this one.  Your mustard seed metaphor preached like a champ.   Luke 17:5-10 17:5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 17:6 The Lord replied, "If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you. 17:7 "Who among you would say to your slave who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field, 'Come here at once and take your place at the table'? 17:8 Would you not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, put on your apron and serve me while I eat and drink; later you may eat and drink'? 17:9 Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? 17:10 So you also, when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, 'We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!'"

Pastor Rus Says Welcome to the sermon podcast for Sep. 25, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus.    You can't take it with you, but a better question is would you really want to?  What is so valuable in this world after all compared to the treasures that really matter? Cash?  Nice motorcycles?  You can't take it with you, and maybe you really shouldn't want to.  Not if there is something so much better that you can...   1 Timothy 6:6-10 6:6 Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; 6:7 for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 6:8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 6:9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for September 18th, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Oho with Pastor Rus.   What is love?  Well Jesus seems to think it is a whole lot more than warm fuzzies or butterflies in your stomach.  Love may be the most important thing on earth, but it sure is confusing.    Matthew 10:4-42 40“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for 9/16/16 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus. When is a boulder not a boulder?  When it's a sheep.  Confused?  Don't worry it will all make sense as we take a look at what happens to sheep in the Australian outback when they go without a shepherd.  Luke 15:1-10 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 15:3 So he told them this parable: 15:4 "Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 15:5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 15:6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 15:7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 15:8 "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 15:9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

Pastor Rus Says.   Welcome to the sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio for Sep 7th 2016 with Pastor Rus Yoak.   I have seen lost of strange things in my travels and how people build their homes has fascinated me.  Sometimes I discover that there is logic to the madness of how things get done when it all looks like chaos, but sometimes the chaos is simply the unintentional side effect.  Join me as we look at what goes into an unfinished plan...   Luke 14:25-33 14:25 Now large crowds were traveling with him; and he turned and said to them, 14:26 "Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. 14:27 Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. 14:28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? 14:29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 14:30 saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.' 14:31 Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? 14:32 If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. 14:33 So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Pastor Rus Says Welcome to the sermon podcast for First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio for August 28th, 2016 with Pastor Rus Yoak.    Attending a wedding can be a strange experience of odd social graces.  Some are more odd than others.  What do you do when you get stuck at the kiddie table? Or stuck sitting next to your least favorite cousin?  How do you get to the good table and what makes it good?  Jesus takes all of this and neatly explains life with it today.    Luke 14:1, 7-14 14:1 On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely. 14:7 When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. 14:8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; 14:9 and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. 14:10 But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. 14:11 For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." 14:12 He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 14:13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14:14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

The sermon podcast from August 21st 2016 at First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   We all know that rules are important, and following them can be essential....but sometimes the rules are less important than the one who makes the rules....   Luke 13:10-17 13:10 Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 13:11 And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. 13:12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." 13:13 When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. 13:14 But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." 13:15 But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? 13:16 And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" 13:17 When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the Sermon Podcast for August 14th 2016 from 1st Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak   We all know that yelling fire in a crowded theater,  when there is not fire, is both a bad thing and an illegal thing.  What do we do then when the normally peaceful Jesus decided to do the theological equivalent?   " Luke 12:49-56 12:49 "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 12:50 I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! 12:51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! 12:52 From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; 12:53 they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." 12:54 He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'It is going to rain'; and so it happens. 12:55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, 'There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. 12:56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?"

Pastor Rus Says Welcome to the sermon podcast for July 23, 2016 From First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus. Everyone knows that cats are immune to scorpion stings, that's why if you live in Arizona you get a cat.  They hunt and kill off all your scorpions without any harm coming to them.  At least that is what my friends from Arizona say.  Now the American Veterinary Association says otherwise....Sometimes obvious isn't so obvious... Luke 11:1-13 11:1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." 11:2 He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. 11:3 Give us each day our daily bread. 11:4 And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial." 11:5 And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 11:6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' 11:7 And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' 11:8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 11:9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 11:10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11:11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 11:12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 11:13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   Why is it always the lawyer in these stories that somehow manages to try to worm his way either into or out of heaven?  Join us today as we see how Jesus turns the tables on one of these wordsmiths.    Luke 10:25-37 10:25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 10:26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 10:27 He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." 10:28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 10:29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 10:30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 10:31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 10:32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 10:33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 10:34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 10:35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 10:36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 10:37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."    

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to Pastor Rus Says, the weekly sermon Podcast from 1st Lutheran in Shelby Ohio for July 3, 2016.     This week:  We look at the age old problem of how much is enough when packing for a trip and exactly What-Would-Jesus-Pack...or WWJP?     Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 10:1 After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. 10:2 He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. 10:3 Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. 10:4 Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. 10:5 Whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house!' 10:6 And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. 10:7 Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. 10:8 Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; 10:9 cure the sick who are there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' 10:10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, 10:11 'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the weekly podcast from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio, with Pastor Rus Yoak.   We called my elementary school principal "The Skull" and we all quaked in fear of him.  Imagine my shock when I discovered that his grandkids really liked him. Seems there is more to life than sometimes meets the eye, especially when it comes to prophets (and school principals).   Luke 7:11-17 7:11 Soon afterwards he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 7:12 As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother's only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. 7:13 When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, "Do not weep." 7:14 Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, rise!" 7:15 The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 7:16 Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has looked favorably on his people!" 7:17 This word about him spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

Pastor Rus Says   Happy post-memorial day.  Today we look at what it takes to have the faith of a soldier and how Jesus found faith in the strangest place.    Luke 7:1-10 7:1 After Jesus had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 7:2 A centurion there had a slave whom he valued highly, and who was ill and close to death. 7:3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave. 7:4 When they came to Jesus, they appealed to him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy of having you do this for him, 7:5 for he loves our people, and it is he who built our synagogue for us." 7:6 And Jesus went with them, but when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; 7:7 therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed. 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this,' and the slave does it." 7:9 When Jesus heard this he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, he said, "I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." 7:10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the Podcast for First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio from Pastor Rus Yoak.     Each year we spend a week in the church on Holy Trinity Sunday discussing and meditating on the nature of the Trinity.  This usually involves a lot of head scratching, and poorly thought out metaphors and similies...and usually a handy helping of vastly incorrect, heretical musings.  So lets dive right into the fundamentally inconceivable nature of God.   John 16:12-15 16:12 "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 16:14 He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 16:15 All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 15, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus.    Somehow things tend to explode when I am on a camping trip.  I have never personally blown anything up while camping but I have been along on numerous trips where something caught fire in a bad way. Fire and Pentecost are like chocolate and peanut butter, they just go together.  So lets blow some things up!   Acts 2:1-21 2:1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2:2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 2:3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. 2:5 Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. 2:6 And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. 2:7 Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 2:8 And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? 2:9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 2:11 Cretans and Arabs--in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." 2:12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" 2:13 But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine." 2:14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. 2:15 Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 2:16 No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 2:17 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. 2:18 Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. 2:19 And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. 2:20 The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. 2:21 Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 8, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.   This last week of our "Go" series we tackle both the last element of what it takes to Go, as well as Mother's Day.  The two kind of go together actually.     John 17:20-26 17:20 "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 17:21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 17:22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 17:23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 17:24 Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 17:25 "Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. 17:26 I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."

Pastor Rus Say Welcome to the sermon podcast for May 1, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.   This is the third part of our Easter sermon series: "Go".  The world isn't a very peaceful place so when Jesus tells us to "Go in peace" how can we do that?  Easy, live in a different world.  Sort of...    John 14:23-29 14:23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me. 14:25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 14:26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 14:28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 14:29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe.

Pastor Rus Says Welcome to the sermon podcast for April 24, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.   Please forgive the recording quality on this one, Libsyn (my podcast host) is being stingy with the bandwidth at the end of the month.  Next week should be back to normal.  Now we go into week two of our sermon series "Go" and we take a look at the fact that it isn't enough to go into the world, we have to go the right way.  In the Kingdom of God going the right way has to do with going as Christ went and that means doing it lovingly.    John 13:31-35 13:31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 13:32 If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' 13:34 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 13:35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the podcast for April 17, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio.     This week we begin our Easter season sermon series "GO" with an insight into how God sends his people.  Included this week is the promise that we don't have to go it alone.    John 10:22-30 10:22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter,10:23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon.10:24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly."10:25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me;10:26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.10:27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.10:28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.10:29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand.10:30 The Father and I are one."

Pastor Rus Says Welcome to the sermon podcast for April 10th, 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus.   I am a sucker for gear.  I love a gadget and a gadget I can wear is even better. So when I moved to southern Florida I bought into the high-tech fishing clothing thing big-time.  I had fishing shirts, fishing shorts, fishing hats, etc... All made of the latest materials with the latest techniques for warding off sun and bugs while providing the optimal fishing experience.  Small problem:  I don't fish.  I find it boring.  But boy do they have great gear!  Turns out you don't need any of that sort of clothes to catch fish.  Listen to today's sermon to hear how Peter did not need fancy fishing clothes to catch fish...or any clothes at all for that matter.    John 21:1-1921:1 After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.21:2 Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.21:3 Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.21:4 Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.21:5 Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No."21:6 He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.21:7 That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.21:8 But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.21:9 When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.21:10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught."21:11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.21:12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord.21:13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.21:14 This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."21:16 A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep."21:17 He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for 4/8/2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.    Sometimes a name says it all.  Frankly I think Doubting Thomas' name says the wrong thing.  How about, "Thomas Who Shoots His Mouth Off Without Thinking"?  OK, that may be too long.... how about "Thomas Who Says What Everyone Else Is Thinking"?  OK, still too long.  How about "Honest Tom".  I like that one.    John 20:19-31 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.20:21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit.20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."20:24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.20:25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."20:26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."20:28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"20:29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."20:30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.20:31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for March 13th 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus   Ever had a $30,000 pedicure?  Would you get one?  How would you react if someone you knew got one...what if it was Jesus?     John 12:1-812:1   Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.12:2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.12:3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,12:5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"12:6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)12:7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.12:8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."  

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for March 6th from First Lutheran in Shelby Ohio with Pastor Rus.   Sometimes we over complicate life.  Sometimes simple really is better.  In today's text, because we see it so often, there is a temptation to try to "dress it up" with a daring or clever interpretation...but sometimes the simple truth that the scriptures convey is far more powerful, like the simple truth of God's love.    Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 15:1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him.15:2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them."15:3 So he told them this parable:15:11b "There was a man who had two sons.15:12 The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them.15:13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living.15:14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need.15:15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs.15:16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything.15:17 But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger!15:18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you;15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."'15:20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.15:21 Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'15:22 But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.15:23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;15:24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.15:25 "Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.15:26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on.15:27 He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.'15:28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him.15:29 But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends.15:30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!'15:31 Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.15:32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for February 28th 2016 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio.   This week I look at the ups and downs of growing your own food, and why an banana tree is lousy landscaping but my apple trees make great landscaping...although an awful food source.  Likewise we look at the scripture about the fig tree that just does not produce figs.    Luke 13:1-913:1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.13:2 He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?13:3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did.13:4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?13:5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."13:6 Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.13:7 So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?'13:8 He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it.13:9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Pastor Rus Says   Welcome to the sermon podcast for February 14, 206 from First Lutheran in Shelby, Ohio with Pastor Rus Yoak.   Sometimes you never know what sort of ministry you will find yourself doing.  About twenty years ago I got called to a brief stint as a prison chaplain at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, SC.  The things I learned from ministering to those inmates will stick with me for life...especially when it comes to little green Gideon Bibles...   Luke 4:1-13 4:1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,4:2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.4:3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread."4:4 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"4:5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.4:6 And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please.4:7 If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours."4:8 Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"4:9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here,4:10 for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,'4:11 and 'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"4:12 Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"4:13 When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.