Secret Origins of the Hamburger

A majority of people when asked about the origins of the hamburger will claim that it came from Hamburg, Germany. It is true that German immigrants, in the nineteenth century, brought a style of cooking beef steak to America that is very similar to the way we cook hamburgers today. According to Yale University, the hamburger was invented at “Louis’ Lunch”, when a customer with little time to spare asked for a quick lunch. Louis Lassen, the owner, quickly placed a broiled meat patty between two slices of toasted bread. Individuals in St. Louis, Missouri believe that on April 30, 1904, a beef patty vendor at the World’s Fair ran out of plates and had to serve his patties between two slices of bread. Residents of Seymour, Wisconsin hold an annual “Home of the Hamburger” celebration in honor of “Hamburger Charlie”. Charlie Nagreen apparently began selling hamburger patties fried in butter as a 15-year-old on August 5, 1885. Finally, on July 4, 1891 Oscar Weber Bilby of Bowden Oklahoma has been thought to invent the hamburger when he grilled ground Angus patties, served on his wife’s home made buns.
I often enjoy discovering the origins of popular inventions. It is difficult for me to look at an object and not wonder how it came to be and who first thought of it. I have watched documentaries on everything from robots to Tupperware. When I think highly of an individual, either for his or her accomplishments or for admirable traits, I tend to ponder the foundations of this person. Occasionally, I am surprised by an individual’s humble beginnings and other times I am shocked to find the types of sin committed. In Jesus, we find someone with an infallible life and a humble origin. When we find the true, historical Jesus by weeding out the lies and false writings, we discover the single greatest example of what God’s wants us to be. Though our beginnings might not mirror those of Christ, our lives must reflect the way in which he lived.

All Things Are Possible

John the Baptist, like the one who’s coming he was to foretell, had a miraculous birth. John’s parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, were stated to follow God’s “commandments and regulations blamelessly” (Luke 1:6). Zechariah, a priest, had prayed for a son but his wife remained barren. When approached by an angel and told he would finally have a child, Zechariah doubted the possibility and was stricken with muteness as a result. Gripped with fear in the face of Gabriel, Zechariah looked the proverbial gift horse in the mouth. Though Zechariah’s obedience and dedication to God were great, he couldn’t get past his human logic and lack of hope.
This type of inconsistency seems to show its face in the lives of every follower of Christ. We follow God’s commands and regulations. We might attend church services, perform acts of service, and avoid sinful acts on a regular basis. But, when push comes to shove, we are overcome with our own humanity. We live in a world that doesn’t depend on God. It depends on the efforts of weak, limited human beings. And with human beings, not all things are possible. Humans alone constantly fall short of their goals.
In my own life, the seemingly impossible has happened when I let go of my doubt and let God work. Not all of the flowers, poems, and charming words delivered a wonderful wife to me. Not all of the resumes, interviews, and recommendations allowed me to have an incredible job. We have all suffered from fear and doubt at one point in our lives. Maybe you thought a loved one would never recover from an illness. Maybe you never thought you could be forgiven for your sins. Well, as stated in Matt. 19:26, “with God all things are possible”. It is time for us to believe this and live as though we do.