Shhhh....be vewy vewy quiet.....

Sooooooo...... we live in Illinois. We grew up in California. (Me and Beth - our older two remember California and our younger two - well, let's just say they don't realize how culturally enriched their live have become yet.)

This afternoon, we visited with some friends from church. Our friends live on some farmland about 15 miles outside of town. Just a little place in the middle of about 20 acres of timber with a "pond" (1.5 acres of surface water - I probably couldn't hit a baseball across it.)

We did something very "Midwest" today. We "Hunted" mushrooms. For my West coast friends - yes you read that correctly - we "hunted" mushrooms. Before you laugh - we had a blast! (Yes, of course there were bugs, and poison ivy and afterwards we checked ourselves for ticks.)

Apparently this mushroom hunting is quite a thing out here. In my nearly four years of living out here I've heard people talk about it but never had anyone show me how. When I heard that my friend Cameron was into it, and could just open his door, walk a few feet and start "hunting" for them, I said - let's go!

We were actually looking for Morels (someone suggested they weren't technically "mushrooms" - I don't know the difference, it's all just edible fungus to me.) However, this distinction is probably important to someone out there. They are said to be exceptional table-fare if properly prepared. (Soaked in saltwater overnight, breaded and deep fried - served hot). I have never had the opportunity to try any - and probably won't - we didn't find many, and I didn't bring any home with me. Not to worry - there's plenty more popping up all the time and now I know where to "hunt" for the skwewy things.

BTW - this is what a morel is s'posed to look like. We didn't have that kind of luck.

Inevitable Irony...

Today was absolutely gorgeous! The sun was shining, the birdies were singing - and I actually had a day off!!!!!


I took my son Cameron out for a drive in our van, (he's not ready for a clutch yet - and my Jeep isn't quite ready for him yet either.) We had a little excitement trying to execute a quick 3-point turn. It would have been a legal turn but...then it got ugly. I believe one guy who waited for us was very religious - he gave us some kind of one-way sign as he passed us. (Story for another day.) In spite of that, Cameron is doing quite well and is becoming a very safe and conscientious driver.





Then, I took my son Bryce out for a bit. With the weather being so nice I thought it would be fun to take the top down on my Jeep but, it needed washing first (don't want to stow a dirty top). So off we went to the do-it-yerself car-washing place. We got her all sparkly clean, vacuumed and what not. I then pulled in front of my house, brought a few things inside and when I got back out to make my Jeep a convertible - SPLAT! - on the canvas top. Some dumb bird bombed my nice newly-cleaned Jeep.



Now that's cruel irony!

Y'know what I like....CEREAL!

Breakfast cereal is just one of those rare guilty pleasures that make life complete. I mean c'mon, what could be better than sitting in front of your computer eating a bowl of "Peach Honey Bunches of Oats" at, uh,...let me look - oh yeah it's... 11:18pm. Am I right? What could be better?!?



But seriously, breakfast cereal is strange stuff. Beth and the boys recently caught a show on discovery which chronicled (?) the history of breakfast cereals. This was serious corporate all-out warfare that took place during the early 20th century. C.W. Post was the first I believe to market some kind of "Branola" in addition to his (disgusting) "Postum" coffee-like fiber drink thingy which you can still buy for some reason. Just the idea of "flakes" was a totally HUGE novelty and raised the bar (competition-wise) forcing everybody else to invent newer and better ways to package what was an otherwise unnecessary and unhealthy product.


We've come a long way baby! Somebody please pass the Cap'n Crunch with Crunch-berries!

What is your word?

Our church has been going through a re-evaluation process this past few months. It is truly exciting - I am hopeful of the outcome. We are on the path to good health! Part of this process has been to examine our core values as a church body. One question that we have asked ourselves is: What one word would describe our church? What do people say about your church in one word.

This got me thinking: Hmmmmmm.

Let's get personal with that. If I were to ask that question about myself what would it be? If I were to ask another person what comes to mind when you think about "Steve Oberg" what would that one word be? Quite candidly - I've got a few:

Chubby, Opinionated, "Consitently Inconsistant", Apathetic, Irreverent, procrastinating, cynical, self-serving, lazy, under-achiever...blah,blah,blah...

You get the idea. No, I'm not picking on myself - this is healthy self-examination. (sort of)

Truthfully, what would your list of possible one-word descriptors look like? Does your day-to-day behavior match up with your stated beliefs? Are there areas in your life where you need pruning so that you can grow more healthy? Do you ever think about it? Yes, it can be painful to be so honest, but many people just go through life day to day without ever thinking about who they really are or what they would like to become. Soooo, take some time and think about it for just one minute. What is your word? Really.

The truth is, this side of heaven there will always be a disconnect between how we would like to see ourselves and day-to-day reality. No, we aren't always at our worst, but for me at least - I am closer to my worst than my best most of the time. I'm a sinner. I'm in process. We all are. God isn't finished with us yet. I'm thankful every day for His grace and forgiveness.

As for my personal disconnect, I know what I would like to hear people say about me:

Faithful, Honest, Hard-working, Loyal, Integrous, Talented, Humorous, Thoughtful, Bold...

How about you? What is your word? (For yourself) What would you like for me to say about you in just one word.

Think about it. Be honest. It's good for you.

Stuff I'd rather not comment on...

Here's a list of news stories I just don't know how to respond to.
(In other words: I'm sick of hearing about them and the spin that goes along with them.)

I will now take a couple of minutes and give my brief, crass (& in most cases uninformed) opinion of them.

Anna Nicole Smith - My final opinion: Who cares?! Tragic? Yes. Feel sorry for the kid.

The Alberto Gonzales hearing - My opinion: Huh?

Here's my opinion based on what little I know about it. All we have is hearsay from the accusers. Most people don't know enough or haven't paid attention enough (myself included) to care. In my opinion, this doesn't look like revenge on political enemies, but if so, so what? Like it didn't happen in other administrations? I know that wouldn't make it right - but to me it seems like they are just trying to play "gotchya" again. (Remember Scooter Libby?)

Imus Get's Canned - As I see it: Dunno, don't care!

Actually, my biggest concern with this one is that he got lumped in with "conservative" talk show hosts who supposedly say racist, bigoted, sexist things all the time and seemingly get away with it. (huh?) I do listen to "conservative" talk radio occasionally and haven't heard anything like what Imus said - even in jest! As for Imus - I don't think he'll be missed.

The Virginia Tech Shooting - This was a nightmare!!!

However, now the way the media is playing it, we're somehow supposed to feel sorry for this clown because of his isolated upbringing. And, of course this tragedy is being used (by the left) as another case for gun control. Leave it alone whydontchya! If a bad guy wants to get a gun - he's going to get a gun! If this clown hadn't gotten his gun legally - he would have gotten it illegally. I could easily walk out my door right now, go about 5 blocks and procure a weapon within a couple of hours, just by asking a few people. I know this for a fact. When I lived in Pasadena, I was offered all kinds of unbelievable stuff at least on a weekly basis. What good will it do to pass more laws? At the end of the day, we'll feel better about ourselves I guess.

That's all I've got to say about that.

He is Risen!

He is Risen, Indeed!

Easter Bunny Stew for Everyone!!!

Lately for some reason I've really had a problem with the Easter Bunny. Let me explain. No, he hasn't been picking on me or anything - I hear he's quite tame actually.

But, it just frosts me that all the attention is on this little (probably German) egg-laying rabbit instead of on the real reason for this celebration - the RESURRECTION of Jesus.



Let me go on record here. I have no real problem with Santa Claus - but I've got a big problem with the Bunny. (Not the chocolate ones however - those I like!)



Here's the thing - in scripture we are never told to remember the birth of Jesus - though were it not for the incarnation, there would be no salvation. So, though Santa Clause can be a distraction, he just doesn't get me the way the Bunny does!

Jesus used a simple object lesson (the bread and the cup / the body and the blood) to illustrate the reality of His death. In the upper room the disciples are told, "...this do in remembrance of me." At Easter we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.

As for the origin of the name Easter and the pagan origin and symbolism of the bunny and the coincidence of our Easter celebration with the Spring Equinox see here.



Soo,... Just to show my outright defiance of all this PAGANISM - I thought I'd include a couple of recipes. (WARNING - some of these recipes may contain wine. If you get offended by such things just substitute cooking sherry. Wink wink!)

As for these recipes - this is becoming a new tradition of mine. I AM INDEED making Easter Bunny Stew (got the little sucker marinading even as I type this.) Try one of these recipes for yourself - you'll be glad you did.

Join with me in a little righteous protest my friends! Bon Apetit!

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Easter Bunny Stew

1 three pound Easter Bunny

6 small onions, chopped

1 bay leaf

½ cup chopped celery

2 tsp. salt2 cups diced carrots

3 raw potatoes, cut up

3 tbs. flour

1 tbs. chopped parsley

Clean Easter Bunny and soak in salted water.

Drain, disjoint it in pieces for serving and place in a large kettle

with onions, bay leaf, celery and salt.

Cover with cold water and cook slowly until tender, about two hours.

Add chopped carrots and potatoes and continue cooking until these vegetables are done.

Smooth flour with a little cold water and add slowly.

When thickened, add chopped parsley and serve.

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Easter Bunny On a Stick

marinade4lb deboned Easter Bunny backs and legs cut into small cubes

4tbl spoons olive oil

5cloves garlic minced

2tbl spoons rosemary

3tbl spoons parmesan cheesesalt and pepper

Place Easter Bunny {Peter Cottontail} cubes in combined marinade

and let marinade over night
Place Easter Bunny on skewers {small portions} roll skewers in flour then in egg then in seasoned bread crumbs.
Heat a cast iron frying pan with oil and brown skewers in oil place browned skewers in roasting pan standing vertical and roast at 400 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with a nice Niagara merlot

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Hasenpfeffer - German Easter Bunny

2 1/2 pounds Easter Bunny (up to 3 lb) -- cut up

2 cups dry red wine

2 tablespoons wine vinegar

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1/8 teaspoon pepper

2 bay leaves

Place cut-up Easter Bunny in flat refrigerator container. In bowl, combine remaining ingredients; Pour over Easter Bunny. Marinate overnight in refrigerator. Place marinated Easter Bunny in Crock-Pot. Add 1 1/2 cups marinade. cover and cook on Low for 8 to 10 hours. Remove meat to warm platter. Thicken gravy, if desired. Serves 4

Thoughts on athiests and other unimportant stuff...

When I was a kid (in body and in mind) I enjoyed the occasional indulgence in Mad Magazine - in particular the comic genius of Dave Berg's "The lighter side of.... We even owned a little paperback with a collection of his comics as they appeared from the 60's & early 70's. One of my favorites was of a very dour looking pale thin guy wearing a sandwich sign that read:

"I Swear To God, I'm An Athiest"

We can laugh about this now, especially in the post-modern world in which we live. Today that sign might read:

"I Think I May Be An Agnostic, But I Don't Really Know For Sure"

One of our favorite commedians put it this way - it's no longer in vogue to call yourself an athiest - instead you say, "I'm an agnostic, and you're stupid."

However unpopular, athiests still don't seem to be in such short supply .

In a recent article in Newsweek, Rabbi Marc Gelman (here) comments on a recent debate between Rick Warren (Pastor of Saddleback Community Church) and "Devout Athiest" (my term) Sam Harris on whether we can know that God is real. Dr. Gelman (in addition to being a trained Rabbi he holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy) says that the two are missing the point - that the existance or reality of God is a "Mystery" and is born out in how we live our lives. For him (if I understand the article correctly) not only is this the wrong question, but it is also unanswerable and completely subjective. He goes so far as to wish that Rick Warren could be less exclusive in his belief.

This (to me) is disturbing for at least a couple of reasons.

God's existance is not dependent upon my thoughts or feelings about him. To say that God may be real to one person in such and such a way, and not to another person and that's O.K., is to render God subject to OUR will and whim. If He is God - by nature He stands outside of creation - all of creation must be subject to Him. We seem to have this backwards. He is God whether or not I acknowledge Him.

As well, it would seem for Rabbi Gelman that, since he is so willing to let everyone have their cake and eat it too (just read the article) he may not be among those who would acknowledge the existance of a "real" God. I cannot in fairness speak for him - but his language (and inclusiveness) are strong clues. True, God's essence may be beyond our grasp. However, the question still stands: Does He or does He not exist? This may be a continuation of the previous point - but it bears repeating: He would exist - or not exist apart from my belief, if He is indeed God.

Thirdly - and this is a very common argument (read: worn-out and over-simplified). Can the true athiest even exist? An athiest by definition is one who believes that God does not exist. However, can he "prove" that God does not. He can appeal to nature (natural disasters, etc...). He can appeal to man's nature (his cruelty and such). He can appeal to logic - ("Is there impirical evidence that God does exist?"). These are all examples which would question the existence of a "just" God. True, they are good questions, but can the athiest "Prove" that God does not exist? Can he claim to know everything? He would have to know everything about the entire universe to know that there isn't a God hiding somewhere in some far off corner. Logically then, the athiest cannot honestly claim to know everything - and so, the athiest vanishes forever in a small simple puff of logic.