Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."  When I read this scripture I am reminded of the "Buck Knife" story.  It begins in 1902 in Kansas where a 13-year old Hoyt Heath Buck learns to shoe horses and repair farm tools as a blacksmith apprentice.  After some experimentation he was able to develop a tempering process that allowed the farmers tools to hold an edge much longer.  This saved the farmers down time and money.  Years later, Hoyt Buck was pastoring an Assembly of God church in Mountain Home, Idaho.  After Pearl Harbor, the American government asked that Americans help the war effort by donating their fixed-blade knives to the U.S. servicemen.  So Hoyt went a step further.  He set up a blacksmith shop in the basement of his church and begin making knives for the soldiers. Due to his special tempering process, his knives soon became legendary among the soldiers for their quality.  After the war he had a ready made customer base and a waiting list of soldiers wanting to buy his knives.  The demand was so great that Hoyt moved to San Diego to meet up with his oldest son, Al.  Together they started the Buck Knife manufacturing plant.  Today their headquarters is located on a  4.5 acre facility under one roof in Post Falls, Idaho.  They manufacture upward of 5,000 knife units daily.  

Back to our verse in Proverbs 27:17. Our words and conversations can influence people in a positive or negative way.  So be careful how you "use your words."  Ephesians 4:15, says "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head-Christ."  Ephesians 4:29 says, "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

God bless you all and Happy Father's Day to all the dads and grandfathers.    - Pastor TJ Kroll