The other day, I passed by a bakery shop called “Nothing Bundt Cakes” - a bakery that makes nothing but various types of bundt-style cakes. You are probably familiar with it, as it is a national chain. Their name and slogan got me thinking. They only do one thing - make bundt cakes.
Thinking about that led me to also think about the iconic scene from the 1991 movie "City Slickers.” In the scene, the old cowboy guide Curly, played by Jack Palance, and the movie’s main character Mitch, played by Billy Crystal, are on horseback. Curly turns to Mitch and says, “You know what the secret to life is?” To which Mitch responds, “ No, what?” You probably have seen the movie and know Curly’s answer, but if you want, you can watch the exchange in the video clip below. (Clicking on the video in the email will take you to my christformed.net website or the Substack app)
Curly’s answer is holding up one finger. He then tells Mitch that the secret to life is just "one thing." When Mitch asks what that one thing is, Curly replies, "That's what you've got to figure out."
As followers of Christ, we know what that one thing is. We‘ve got it figured out. The secret to life is a relationship with Jesus. In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul wrote,
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ. — Philippians 3:7-8 CSB
We are like Pual. We’ve discovered the secret to life is "one thing" — a relationship with Jesus which surpasses everything else in importance.
But let’s return to the story of Nothing Bundt Cakes. They only do one thing - bake bundt cakes! But looking at the picture below from their website, it’s obvious that all bundt cakes are not alike.
So, where am I going with this? The one thing that is the secret to life and gives our life meaning is Jesus. That is an undeniable truth! However, how each of us lives out our relationship with Him will vary according to how He has wired us. In the spiritual formation seminar that I teach to seminary students, we examine various spiritual practices or disciplines. As a final post-seminar project, they are to choose two or three disciplines that they have seldom or never done and then practice those for one month. It is a seminary class, so they are required to write a paper about their experience. It is refreshing to read how many of them write that the experience has opened up new avenues for them to relate to God—many plan on continuing with practicing the new disciplines they have sampled.
Unfortunately, the evangelical tribe to which I belong has focused so much on the Word of God that we have often overlooked other expressions of interacting with him. Now, don’t get me wrong. I have a high view of the Bible. It is the “supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried,” and is the primary way in which God communicates wirh us. However, God relates to us and works in our lives through ways other than His Written Word. What are some of these ways? Below is a short list of spiritual disciplines. Some of these you may be familiar with, while others you may not.
Reading God’s word devotionally (Not for information, but for transformation. Read “small chuncks” of the Word, then reread, and re read, letting it sink into your life and transform you).
Solitude (take a half-day retreat with just you and god — go out into nature or use a nearbybretreat center )
Silence (spending an extended time alone with God just listening to him - no speaking)
Fasting (abstain from food, media, etc. In order to focus on God)
Frugality (living well below your means to give more to God)
Simplicity (simplifying your life in order to serve God better)
Secrecy (doing ministry without letting anyone else know)
Sacrifice (sacrificing time, money, possessions for God)
Meditation (meditating on God’s Word)
Journaling (recording how God is working in your life)
Confession (sharing your sins and failures with another)
Accountability (allowing another Christian to hold you accountable)
Celebration (more than praise - celebrating God’s goodness)
Creative Worship
Most Christians worship in their local churches most every Sunday. However, I have noticed that the majority of congregations are not very creative in their worship. Their worship usually only varies slightly from Sunday to Sunday. God is a God of variety. Just look at nature. We should be worshiping God in a variety of creative ways, both individually and corporately. Most people reading this will not have the opportunity to shape corporate worship, but here are few ideas for adding creativity to your individual worship
Use candles to set a “worshipful” mood
Sing praise songs aloud
Read a written prayer aloud
Write your own prayer
Use art (visio divina) to focus on Jesus
Use the names of God as worship prompts
Use the characteristics of God as worship prompts
Take a “creation walk” in nature, praising God for specific flora and fauna you see
Use the universal church calendar to celebrate specific days and seasons
Create your own symbol or icon that expresses your worship of God
Worship at a church which worship style is different from what you are used to
In addition to practicing various spiritual disciplines, God desires that we serve Him. He has given each of us a S.H.A.P.E. — an acronym that helps to understand how God has equipped us us to serve Him. This includes Spiritual gifts, given to us by Holy Spirit that enable us to serve God in a given way. He has also given us a Heart or a passion for a particular area of ministry. He has given us Abilities or talents to utilize in His Kingdom. We each have a unique Personality and Experiences that only we have had, that can enhance where and how we minister. Together, these create a uniqueness that is us. Trevor Hudson, a South African pastor, whom I enjoy reading and listening to said,
“There has only been one you, and there will never be another you!”
We are not “cookie-cutter” people. Each of us is unique. From our DNA to our giftedness and personalities, God has created us as individuals. As such, he interacts with and uses us according to our uniqueness.
Nothing Bundt Cakes offers ten standard flavors available year-round. To these, they add seasonal specials. There are seven additional autumn flavors for 2025. That is a total of seventeen flavors of cakes. BUT they are all bundt cakes! They do one thing - bake bundt cakes! But expressed in seventeen different ways.
We are to make Christ our one thing! BUT how we do that is as unique as we are. Jesus is our one thing - but expressed in as many ways as there are Christ Followers!