Bam! Take It Up a Notch!

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. (Psalm 148:1-6 ESV).

“Bam! Take it up a notch!” was the now familiar exclamation from Emeril Lagasse as he added some special seasoning to his recipe. He actually began using the phrase early in his television career. He explains that while they filmed seven or eight shows a day without a studio audience, he and the few crew members would take a break for lunch in the middle of a day’s filming. They would eat whatever he had cooked earlier in the day and always be sleepy in the afternoon. He simply decided that the food need to be “taken up a notch” to keep them awake. The phrase caught on and has been a part of his reputation ever since. Thinking through our reading today I am taken back to some of Emeril’s cooking shows. I love his enthusiasm for his culinary creations; however, they are nothing compared to the creation of God. Our reading today relates some of the wonder he felt when he thought of God’s accomplishment. I love telling the creation story to children. You know, none of them ever ask me if I’m an old or new earther; they don’t ask if I really think God created the world in six 24-hour days; not one of them asks how God came into existence; and, there’s never a question about evolution. Typically they just sit with mouth agape in a time of wonder and amazement. Sometimes I’m really glad to be an adult who is able to think abstractly. However, no matter how much I try, I can’t possibly fathom how God could have done it all. It is well beyond my imagination how he could have hidden so many secrets in his universe and how he pays attention to everything that happens at the same time. All I can understand is that I’m deeply grateful that he placed me in it and that he watches over it the way it does. Perhaps that how I manage to smile my way through this life. Think of it. God has created everything up to man. On that sixth day, he surveys all he has done thus far. Remember, he’s only had to speak and creation happened. He might have looked at everything, lions, tigers, bears (oh my) and said, “I think it’s time to finish. Bam! Take it up a notch!” And, then man existed. Now, that’s a God I can trust to always do good on my behalf. Even if that were not enough, he has sent Jesus to do everything necessary to win forever life for me. Now, that’s cooking!