Sharp IronSharp IronMy hope is that Sharp Iron can be a friendly enough place that you would feel comfortable sharing your thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics. I am very interested in spirituality and how that affects every aspect of our lives. Articles
Now We?ve Got Fourteen Deadly Sins?!
2008-03-12 20:48:00 Just when you think that maybe people are starting to get the point they go out and do THIS: THE seven deadly sins have grown to at least 14 after the Vatican updated its 1400-year-old list of the worst moral failures to reflect the modern world. The new deadly sins that may lead to eternal ... More About: Religion , Christianity , Jesus , God , Spirituality
The Weak and Ugly Jesus
2008-03-09 23:09:00 The most popular post I have ever written is “The Black Jesus ”“. On a daily basis I get over 10 times as many hits for that piece than any other. I have no illusions as to why - it has nothing to do with my writing or my thoughts, it’s just the title ... More About: Ugly
Ask Dr. Leviticus
2008-03-08 19:24:00 This letter is old news. But, since I’m always a day late and a dollar short, I just now discovered it. (Gary Wills reprints this letter in his book “What Jesus Meant”. ) Google suggests that it first appeared as a response to something that Dr. Laura Schlessinger said about homosexuality on ... More About: Leviticus
The Wild and Rebellious Christ
2008-03-04 20:54:00 I?m kind of fond of that pop-religious expression, ?What would Jesus do?? ? WWJD. I can?t remember all the times when, confronted with a moral dilemma, I asked myself that very question. And I can?t ever remember getting a wrong answer. Simplistic? Naive? You betcha, that?s me. But in ... More About: Wild , Christ
Christianity is Not a Religion
2008-03-01 10:52:00 I ran across this remark the other day and it hits the nail squarely on the head. Capon is an episcopal priest and cook. “Christianity is not a religion. Christianity is the proclamation of the end of religion, not of a new religion, or even of the best of all religions… If the cross is the ... More About: Religion , Jesus , God , Faith
The Wedding Scandal: Jesus Insults the Religious
2008-02-28 18:24:00 It?s always a treat when someone points out something new (at least for me) in scriptures. Bruxy Cavey, in his excellent book ?The End of Religion? talks about the scandal contained within the story of Jesus ? first miracle. This is something that had never occurred to me before. See if you can pick it ... More About: Christianity , Church , God , Spirituality
William F. Buckley Jr., R.I.P.
2008-02-27 21:49:00 It’s a sad, sad day. I don’t think any one person, aside from my father, has done more to help shape my political world view than William F. Buckley. I have been a subscriber to National Review for over 30 years, since I was a teenager, and still read every issue from cover ... More About: Spirituality , Biography , Current Events , Conservatism
American Vision
2008-02-26 22:42:00 “The most important thing a president needs to do is to make it clear that we’re not going to continue to see jobs shipped overseas, jobs that are lost by American workers, many in their 50s who, for 20 and 30 years, have worked to make a company rich, and then watch as a CEO ... More About: Vision
Indivisible
2008-02-26 01:55:00 In talking with some folks about the relevancy of the Pledge of Allegience, someone suggested that it is because our country is under God ’s protection that it is, in fact, indivisible. Apparently when this is not the case, when we have in some way offended God, then there is the likelihood of national dissolution. Which got me to thinking ... More About: Christianity , United States , History , Ethics
The Best Damn Food Store In America
2008-02-25 22:47:00 For some time now the trend has been for large national corporations to use their buying power to price their smaller competitors out business. Nothing particularly wrong about that, it is the result of a almost free market (these big fellas usually get sweet tax and zoning deals) and no one is crazy about paying more ... More About: America , Food , Store , Cuisine , Culinary Arts
The Possible Dream
2008-02-22 22:46:00 Many of you may have already seen this little video. I’m not a big fan of “American Idol” so I had never heard of Paul Potts . Boy, was everyone blown away when this was shown at my church last Sunday. It was in support of a series of talks entitled “Who Am I”. Turn ... More About: Faith , Dream
Quiet Testimony
2008-02-21 22:10:00 There is always some lively discussion going on over at God ’s Gal’s blog and recently she posted something about the Pledge of Allegience This got me to thinking about pledges, oaths and vows and how important they are, if at all. Hypothetically let’s say that: There are two men; One is openly patriotic, flies the flag, stands with ... More About: Religion , Christianity , Church , Culture
Christ?s Casting Call:Bit Players Wanted
2008-02-20 21:26:00 One of my favorite recordings is of Johnny Cash covering the Depeche Mode song “Personal Jesus ” (not real crazy about Marilyn Manson’s version). I’m not exactly sure what this song is about, but it reminds me of the often asked question; “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior?”. Although firmly believing that a ... More About: Christianity , God , Players , Faith
Cuba Libre? Not Yet, But Getting Closer
2008-02-19 21:49:00 Hurrah! Fidel is stepping down. Bloody big of him, since he has been mostly out of the picture for nearly two years. But before we break out the party hats, his ‘little’ brother, septuagenarian Raul, is no Thomas Jefferson. It’s still all in the family where Cuba n dictators are concerned. I’m ... More About: Culture , Current Events , Cuba Libre , Castro
Amateur Night
2008-02-16 00:43:00 Last night was a big, big restaurant night. Across the nation (maybe even around the world?) restaurateurs looked forward to pulling in big receipts, as millions of couples celebrated amore in one of the most romantic of ways. But most of the restaurant people that I know couldn’t wait to get through this evening. ... More About: Night , Amateur
The Chauvinistic Church
2008-02-10 16:12:00 Look at how Jesus ’ female disciples were portrayed in the Gospels: One tenderly washes his feet with her tears and then dries them with her hair, an act of loving service that, according to Jesus, demonstrates her unique understanding of his message. Another breaks open an expensive jar of perfume and anoints him with it. ... More About: Religion , Christianity , Church , God
Full Metal Scripture
2008-02-07 22:46:00 There was a soft knocking at my front door. I opened it and there stood a man, leaning against the jam. His right hand clutched his left side. It was very late at night. ?You gotta help me, doc.? His voice was a raspy whisper. ?What is it? What?s the matter?? I asked. ?I?ve been hit. I think ... More About: Religion , Christianity , Humor , God , Metal
The Best of Times or the Worst of Times?
2008-02-05 01:00:00 I belong to a little book study with some of the members of my church. Right now we are moving (slowly) through Dallas Willard’s “Renovation of the Heart”. A very good book, but unlike most of the folks in my group, I don’t agree with everything Willard says. For example; While talking about spiritual ... More About: Spirituality , Times
Religious Racketeering: The Tithe
2008-02-03 00:34:00 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus ... More About: Christianity , Church , Jesus , Bible , Gospel
Anyone Seen the Joneses Lately?
2008-02-01 21:45:00 OK, maybe that’s an uncharitable remark, but I am not sure that this dreaded economic ‘down turn’ on the horizon is really such a bad thing. Seems like some of the most visible people feeling this crunch right now are some of our more ostentatious neighbors. Obviously energy costs have skyrocketed and of course, everyone is ... More About: Culture , Ethics , Home , Current Events
The Joy of Teaching
2008-01-31 21:55:00 One of my bosses shared this with us today. I wish I knew who came up with it. Then Jesus took his disciples up the mountain and, gathering them around him, he taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven Blessed are the meek Blessed are they that mourn Blessed are the merciful Blessed are they ... More About: Spirituality , Teaching
Do You Believe That All Sins Are Equal? Really?
2008-01-30 00:19:00 Being raised Catholic I grew up believing in a system in which there were two types of sins; mortal and venial. Mortal sins were the ones which, if left unconfessed, would result in eternal damnation. These included the heavy hitters like rape, murder, robbery, adultery and skipping church. The venial sins were the ones ... More About: Religion , Christianity , Jesus , God , Faith
Who Says You Can?t Eat Steak Every Day?
2008-01-27 16:40:00 My family loves beef. Not that we don’t also love chicken, pork or fish (alright, we don’t love fish too much) but we have a special fondness for beef, particularly steak. In the old days this was invariably the classic New York Strip (or on special occasions Filet Mignon). Some time ago I discovered that ... More About: Cooking , Cuisine , Steak , Culinary Arts
I?ll Be Back; Jesus and the Terminator
2008-01-25 14:22:00 This is a pretty funny video, a sketch from Mad TV; what if a robot from the future had gone back in time to ’save’ Jesus ? I think it’s sort of ironic that many of us seem to have a vision of Jesus that is something like the Terminator; he’ll be back and when he comes ... More About: Religion , Humor , Theology , Back
Jim Wallis on the Daily Show
2008-01-25 01:43:00 Jim talks about his new book and his opinion that people of faith are awaiting a spiritual awakening that will transcend politics. from www.thedailyshow.com posted with vodpod More About: Religion , Church , Daily , Show , Daily Show
Not the Same Old Drill
2008-01-23 22:45:00 I have a night job where I work for tips, giving me a pretty decent work out and it’s lot of fun to boot. I’m unique in that I am the oldest guy on the crew - by at least 20 years! Which means that I am surrounded by lots of irreverent, profane, ... More About: Life , Culture , Hope , Purpose , Drill
The Most Sincere Flattery
2008-01-23 04:11:00 He was a successful and prosperous man living in a time when his countrymen suffered at the hands of an oppressive government. He benefited from the education, wealth and prosperity that came from being a member of a semi-elite socio-religious class within the ranks of the oppressed, a class reluctantly in collusion with their political ... More About: Religion , Jesus , Faith , Justice , Biography
Dr.King?s Prophetic Condemnation of the Church
2008-01-21 15:11:00 Americans (some begrudgingly) recognize Dr. Martin Luther King as the leader who was the driving force behind the Civil Rights Movement. Few of them may recognize him as one of the few Biblical prophets of modern times, much less a martyr for the Gospel. What follows is an excerpt from his “Letter from a Birmingham Jail“, in which he responds to ... More About: Religion , Christianity , Church , Jesus , God
Nobody But Us
2008-01-20 21:22:00 We sang this song in church today. The lyrics are based upon a prayer by Saint Theresa of Avila. More About: Spirituality , Gospel
Resounding Gongs, Clanging Cymbals
More articles from this author:2008-01-19 00:04:00 I’ve been thinking, reading through some of the Christian oriented blogs out there and the comments posted. And I will admit to feeling somewhat of a malaise about the blogoshpere lately. Seems like there is a lot of arguing going on about what people are saying about how they relate to God. This ... 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
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