Archives by: Gary Hoag

The company of the prophets said to Elisha, “Look, the place where we meet with you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, where each of us can get a pole; and let us build a place there for us to meet.” And he said, “Go.” Then one of them said, “Won’t you please come with your servants?” “I will,” Elisha replied. And he went with them.

They went to the Jordan and began to cut down trees. As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float. “Lift it out,” he said. Then the man reached out his hand and took it. 2 Kings 6:1-7

“In 1834, Feodorit took the schema and was renamed Feofil. At this time, he took upon himself the difficult podvig of being a fool for Christ. Dead to the world and its passions, Feofil would spend his days and nights in prayer and deep devotion, not even allowing himself to become too close to any individual for, as St. Nikolai Velimirović would later put it, friends can bind one to earth, whereas Feofil sought to demolish all his aspirations in the world.

Just as he had done since childhood, Feofil never missed a service at church, though he typically would remain at the church doors or just inside rather than taking a place further within the sanctuary. He always carried with him some type of container – whether a basket, bowl, or bucket – in which he kept various provisions that he would distribute to the poor. Beyond that, his only other possessions were a small Psalter that he read continually and a coffin he had placed in his cell which was filled with food and other items to give to people in need.

One of his daily routines was to go to the river each morning to get water. Sometimes he would get in one of the boats tied nearby and row across to the other side of the Dniper River where he would go into the woods and spend time in prayer. He then would bring the boat back when he returned to his cell. He always would take whatever vessel he found, and the owners never complained but felt rather blessed.

One morning when he went to get water, he encountered a young postulant from the nearby Florovsky Monastery. Sisters from the monastery sometimes would come to draw water from the Dniper because it was high in iron and considered healthier than their normal water. But before anyone from the Florovsky Monastery would come to the Dniper, they were to seek permission from their superior. In her haste, this young postulant left before doing so. When she attempted to get water into her bucket she lost her balance, and while rescuing herself form a plunge into the river she dropped the key to her cell, which she had been holding in her hand.

As Feofil approached he saw her weeping despondently. When he asked why she was weeping, she explained that she had lost the key to her cell in the river and did not know how she would explain that to her superior. Feofil said, “It serves you right, silly. The next time you won’t go without a blessing.” Then he asked for the bucket and stooped and filled it with water, and handed it back to the postulant, saying, “Here. Take this and go home. You have your water and your key.” And when the postulant looked into the bucket, she saw her lost key. She turned to thank Feofil for this miracle but he was nowhere to be seen.”

Feofil of the Kyiv Caves (1788-1853) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 31-39.

The account of Feofil in this book includes many stories like this. I love them because they remind me of stories like today’s Scripture which features prophets like Elisha.

But the word container stands out most to me in his story. From his container he shared provision. From his coffin (which we would normally think would hold a dead body) he offered life giving food. And from the bucket, he returns both water and a key to the postulant.

Notice his lifestyle. Daily prayer. Attentiveness to the needy by day. Prayerful at night. Disconnected from the world and people who might bind him to earth. But living in a monastery also implies living in community with people who saw heaven as their home.

These represent the lessons we must take with us. Which aspect speaks to you? I love the container motif. It implies a readiness to share we don’t often see. It’s the opposite of a readiness to keep for self. I will make you read his story to see his connection to the Kyiv caves.

The work is going great in Colombia. We have reached the fourth of four cities. With Medellín, Cali, and Cartagena behind us, we arrived late last night to Bogotá. We have events there on Wednesday and Thursday. Thanks for your prayers. We surrender ourselves in service to Jesus and continue to watch him do miracles.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:34-36

“Domna (Karpovna) was born to a wealthy and noble family in Ukraine sometime in the early 1800s. She was orphaned at an early age and was brought up by her aunt. The aunt provided Domna with an excellent education so that she learned to read and write very well and spoke several different languages.

She was reportedly a beautiful young woman who had many suitors, but she desired to devote herself wholy to Christ and preserve her virginity for His sake. Her relatives planned nonetheless to force her into marriage, and when she learned of their intention she secretly stole aaway form the house with nothing more than the clothes on her back and began a pilgrimage to various holy places.

While traveling to one of the holy sites, she was arrested by the police because she had no papers on her to validate who she was. Considered a vagrant, she was exiled to Siberia under the name Maria Shepchenko. When she arrived in Siberia, she settled in the city of Tomsk. It was there that she took up the struggle of becoming a fool for Christ…

The local citizens came to revere her for her piety, humility, and kindness toward others and would give her warmer clothing during the bitter cold winters. These she would accept with great gratitude, but within a few hours she would be found shivering again, having given her warmer outerwear to others suffering from the cold.

When she learned of the sad state of most prisoners in the local jail, she began to frequent the jail in order to pray for and encourage those within. She would walk among them singing hymns and praying. As the police were suspicious of such behavior, they eventually arrested her as well.

But when the local citizens learned of it, they brought all manner of food and tea to the jail in her support. These gifts Domna never kept by herself, but retaining the same giving attitude she had exhibited in the streets of Tomsk, she doled them out amongst the prisoners instead.

When finally released again, Domna continued to wander the streets as before, befriending not only the poor and needy but also the stray animals within the city. She would care for and even feed them, especially the dogs, who no doubt expressed their gratitude to her by keeping her warm on cold Siberian winter nights.

Even when in the presence of animals, Domna could be heard continuing in her unceasing prayer. Because of her great love and care for all of God’s creatures she often is pictures with dogs in icons.”

Domna of Tomsk (d. 1872) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 27-29.

When we read the story of Domna, we might call her crazy, but a closer look reveals the precise kind of behavior that Jesus expects of His followers.

She cared for prisoners, she clothed the shivering homeless on Siberian nights, and even had dogs keep her warm and care for her. This reminded me of Elijah in 1 Kings 17:2-6.

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. You will drink from the brook, and I have directed the ravens to supply you with food there.” So he did what the Lord had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

Here God instructs Elijah, another fool following the same pattern, to rely on ravens to sustain him while doing God’s work. Think about that. And think about how animals like dogs have carried you?

For us, our dog, Joy St. Clare, served as the heart of our family, not to mention being an excellent pheasant hunter. Now Grace St. Catherine is a faithful companion to Jenni and me in our empty nester season.

Regardless of what you are doing, God wants you to focus on doing His work and trust Him to sustain you. And he just might have dogs be your companion. So far so good in Colombia. One week down and one week to go.

He carried our team through Medellín and Cali. We trust Him to sustain and grant us favor in Cartegena and Bogotá. What crazy work might He have for you and how is He calling you to trust Him to sustain you?

We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! 1 Corinthians 4:10

“Basil was born to a poor family of serfs in the village of Yelokhovo, which is now the suburb of Moscow. His parents were childless and of advanced age when he was born, and they had prayed for some time for a child, whom they vowed to dedicate to God. Tradition has it that Basil’s mother gave birth to him on the portico of the church in Yelokhovo…

Basil left home for Moscow proper when he was sixteen and began the difficult path of being a fool for Christ… This he did in all purity of heart, having conquered the passions long before, and also because he had become truly dead to the world and possessed nothing of this sphere that would tie him to earth…

Basil’s reputation among the populace grew, and people began seeing him as a holy fool and a man of God. People started coming to him for prayers and sometimes for advice… He became so well known as a saint that he came to the attention of the tsar himself (Tsar Ivan IV, “the Terrible”) who held him in great esteem.

The tsar himself went so far as to decree that no one was ever to harm Basil, and he both admired and feared him as an emissary of God… Basil was among the very few who could courageously chastise the tsar for his actions, encouraging him, as he did everyone of any station, to repentance and godliness…

To those who were in need of repentance yet had weaknesses difficult for them to control, Basil was most patient and compassionate. He frequented taverns, searching for a spark of goodness in the souls of those who languished there, encouraging all to find salvation…

Because he was beloved by rich and poor alike, people would often give Basil gifts. He would never keep anything for himself, but immediately would give everything to the poor. Once though, this did not appear to have happened. When Tsar Ivan gave him a gift of gold, instead of distributing it to the poor and homeless, he gave it to a well-dressed merchant.

Many people were appalled at this and did not understand why he did it. But Basil explained that the merchant had lost everything and had not eaten in three days, and because of his fine clothing (all that he had left), he was not able to beg… So revered was Basil that the Tsar Ivan IV himself served as one of his pallbearers…

The Protection Church later was renamed in honor of Basil and is now one of the most recognized structures on Red Square in Moscow.”

Basil of Moscow (1468-1552) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 19-24.

Some have inquired of the origin of the “Fools for Christ” term. Notice the apostle Paul as the source in his letter to the church in Corinth. Consider the context. Corinth represented a worldly church. They were guilty of many of the sins of the world. Paul fearlessly called them out. He said to live differently and biblically. That’s what a fool for Christ does.

That was Basil of Moscow. His generosity came forth through his patience and compassion. Like our Lord does not desire any to perish but all to come to repentance, that was Basil. And I would argue, his boldness to confront even the tsar himself should mark a lesson for us. His courage won him great respect.

What about you? Do you need to frequent the taverns to find the languishing? Do you need to share gold with someone who has lost everything? Might God lead you to do something else that the world would say is “foolish” but God would see and smile? The trip is going well in Colombia. We got much needed rest on the weekend.

The church I preached at yesterday was called Transformation Church. It basically had 50 or so people who had come to Christ from the gutters. Someone asked me why I serve God in so many places and why I would spend my Sunday with them instead of at a large church. I could not help but answer. I am a fool for Christ.

I pray people see you as a fool too. If people don’t think you are crazy for Christ, that’s when you might have something to worry about.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Proverbs 3:27

“Andrew was born into a devout but illiterate peasant family in Ust-Titma, Transvolga. He became educated by going to church and, after both his parents died, becoming a novice in the Galich Monastery. The abbot at the monastery was known for possessing great insight, and he encouraged Andrew to pursue the difficult podvig of becoming a fool for Christ…

Andrew therefore left the permanence of the monastery to become a wayfarer, wandering from village to village, but frequently returning to the Galich Monastery to meet with his spiritual father…

Whenever anyone would give him anything, whether food or clothing, he would immediately give it away to the poor, keeping nothing for himself. Like many other fools for Christ, Andrew would spend all night in prayer after playing the fool throughout the day.”

Andrew of Totma (1638-1673) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 15-16.

The rest of the story of Andrew recounts him as a wonder worker, but I felt like this was the best part of his story. Notice the sources of his power. We can draw strength from these same places.

He got educated at church, found a spiritual mentor at the monastery, prayed all night to gain strength to play the fool by day, and whenever good things came to him, he shared them generously.

Oh, and the word “podvig” in Russian points to a lifestyle of heroic good deeds. By choosing this path, everyone knew that the good things that flowed from Andrew came from God’s strength and capacity, not his own.

I preach today in Cartagena, Colombia. I do so as a fool for Christ. I am not a pastor of a congregation but I have preached 12 times this year. I can identify with Andrew. Any blessing that comes to me, I want to share.

And I find power from God in prayer in the silence of my hotel room. Writing daily posts for almost 16 years in a row has been a podvig that has blessed me beyond calculation. What podvig does God want you to pursue?

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

“Born a Scythian, Andrew was brought to Constantinople as a slave of Theognostus while still a small child. Theognostus was a protospatharios (an aristocrat title) of Emperor Leo VI and was quite well to do. He had Andrew baptized and taught him to read and write.

Andrew excelled in his studies and was a skilled reader of Greek at a young age, particularly enjoying reading the lives of the saints whom he wished to emulate. Strongly dedicated to the Church, he became the spiritual child of one Nicephorus, a priest at Hagia Sophia.

Andrew desired to dedicate himself solely to God, and in his lifetime he received several visions that encouraged him in his path. His first recorded vision occurred while he was a young man. After standing in prayer intently for an extended period, he became weary and lay down to rest.

In the vision, he then received , he saw two armies facing each other, one an army of saints and the other an army of demons. A giant emerged from among the demons, and an angel descended from on high holding glorious crowns in his hand, which he told Andrew were for the one who could conquer the giant.

Calling on the Lord for help, Andrew proceeded to do battle with the demon and after a great struggle was victorious. The Lord then said to Andrew, “Proceed with this good deed. Be a fool for My sake.” Andrew interpreted this to mean that he was being called to the great struggle of being a fool for Christ.”

Andrew of Constantinople (870-936) in Holy Fools: The Lives of Twenty Fools for Christ by Oswin Craton (Chesterton: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2024) 9-10.

I am reading a new book. I bought it recently and, in the coming days, I am so excited to introduce you to 20 not widely known “fools for Christ” aimed at good deeds regardless of what everyone else was doing in their day.

Going against the flow of the culture makes us fools for Christ. We might understand the culture not to adapt or assimilate to it but to serve as an agent of transformation calling people to move beyond culture to Christ.

I am in Colombia and the trip is going indescribably good. It’s the first GTP trip to combine four very complex factors on the same trip.

We invited an influential giving catalyst and activated a palmful vision (Palmful of Coffee), while also launching a peer accountability group (Orden) and facilitating Stations of Generosity…in four major cities.

We have arrived in city #3 of four. We started in Medellín, ministered in Cali, and now find ourselves in hot, humid, and tropical Cartagena. We have started the work here but will rest and I will preach on the weekend.

Back to Andrew. Before you think about his struggle, consider his story. He was a slave. God provided education. That knowledge of Greek, led him to radical obedience. That’s where I want us to focus.

He went from underprivileged to privileged and used that not for himself but for others. The apostle Paul reminds us that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

When a proverbial “Goliath” stood against the forces of good, he stepped up like “David” and that’s what I want us to focus on. All over the world, I hear of “Goliaths” taunting God’s people.

The work of GTP, in large part, is to visit the battle lines like David (see 1 Samuel 17), to bring cheese and bread (basic supplies), and to remind them fearlessly that the battle belongs to the Lord, we must call on Him for help.

I don’t know where you are today. I don’t know your situation. But I know this. The battle you face belongs to the Lord. Like Andrew, the most generous thing you can do is move toward the struggle and call on the Lord for help.

Reply “with you” if you are “all in” to being a fool for Christ. I want to see who is awake out there.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

“We got a problem. I know that’s not correct grammar, but it sounds better. We got a problem!

Worldwide, we’ve developed twisted perspectives on generosity. Notice how I said worldwide. This isn’t an us problem or a them problem. It’s an our problem. I’ve witnessed this problem first-hand in more than 40 countries, with each culture carrying its own version of twisted.

First, please allow me to illustrate how I see it. Each of us can be placed into one of four camps: Givers, Receivers, Neithers, and Eithers.

Givers recognize they have achieved some level of financial success (with varying definitions) and feel some combination of opportunity or responsibility to give. When this perspective is combined with action, they become givers. However, Givers often struggle to receive because, well, they are givers. They are blessed. They are “successful.” Therefore, they perpetually live on the giving side of the ledger.

Receivers recognize they fall on the lower end of the economic scale. They see how people all around them are better off, leading them (whether voluntarily or begrudgingly) to categorize themselves as receivers of generosity. This generosity might be formal (governmental or private programs) or more casual (gifts or favors from people in their circles and community). Notice how I didn’t call them takers. Sure, there are takers in this camp, but takers are the minority. Most receivers have humility (and sometimes shame) with their status as receivers.

Neithers, the most common group in America, believe in personal responsibility, independence, and autonomy. They believe people ought to help themselves, but if they don’t (or can’t), there’s someone else responsible for stepping in. Neithers closely associate their hard work with their money, and have a desire to use said money to progress their family’s interests (security, wealth, comfort, lifestyle, or status). Neithers are proud to make it on their own. They’d rather suffer harsh consequences than take a handout from someone. “I don’t need help” is a common phrase Neithers would think or say.

Finally, we have Eithers. Eithers are a rare breed, both in America and abroad. Eithers are hard to pin down. They might be upper-class, middle-class, or lower-class. On one hand, they recognize they are blessed in some way. Perhaps not as much as their friend, neighbor, or family member, but blessed nonetheless. This mindset compels them to act with generosity. On the other hand, they live with a posture of humility and understand they need to be willing recipients of generosity from others. It might be during a hard season of life, in a particular area of life, or simply to allow others the gift of being a blessing.

Eithers are weird! One minute, they are trying to make ends meet, and the next, they are openly giving to someone else. This could even happen on the same day. Talk about giving/receiving whiplash! It’s like the widowed single mom from yesterday’s post. She struggles at times, and finances can feel tight, but at the same time, she lives with joyful, open-handed generosity.

Eithers are awesome!!! While they are a rare breed today, I dream of a day when Eithers comprise the majority of society; an army of Eithers! Love, generosity, humility, community, joy, contentment, and meaning. I think Eithers have it figured out!”

Travis Shelton in his The Daily Meaning blogpost entitled “Givers, Receivers, Neithers, and Eithers” posted on 22 May 2025.

I just spent four fantastic days with Travis Shelton. He’s catalyzing a movement of generosity. He’s an Either with a rare blend of wit and wisdom.

Where do you fit? Read the post again if necessary and place yourself as a Giver, Receiver, Neither, or Either. How might God want you to grow? With brilliance and balance, Travis helps us see the difference between these four groups and why we should aspire to creating a world of Eithers.

Travis does not know it but one of the ten GTP values is sustained interdependence. Our founding board member, describes it in this way. It’s the “communion of givers and receivers as equals at the foot of the cross” practicing giving and receiving with perpetual dependence on God. Or, as Travis would put it, GTP exists to create a world of Eithers.

We are doing it! The other day I had a mentoring moment with a new GTP staff member in Pakistan along these lines. I said, “Emmna, I want you to spend much of your first year learning and growing. You need to learn to be a good receiver to grow as a giver.” She thanked me. It clicked in her thinking.

God wants us to acknowledge that everything good comes from Him for our enjoyment and sharing. Hat tip to Travis. Subscribe to his blog. I am a daily reader. “Givers, Receivers, Neithers, and Eithers” was an epic post. I thank God for the mutually edifying four days we just got to spend together in time as Eithers in Colombia.

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

“What Is Meant By Winning

You win your minute if, during that minute you either:
1. Pray.
2. Recall God.
3. Sing or hum a devotional hymn.
4. Talk or write about God.
5. Seek to relieve suffering of any kind in a prayerful sprit.
6. Work with the consciousness of God’s presence.
7. Whisper to God.
8. Feel yourself encompassed by God.
9. Look at a picture or a symbol of Christ.
10. Read a Scripture verse or poem about God.
11. Give somebody a helping hand for the Lord’s sake.
12. Breathe a prayer for the people you meet.
13. Follow the leading of the Inner Voice,
14. Plan or work for the Kingdom of God.
15. Testify to others about God, the church, or this game.
16. Share suffering or sorrow with another.
17. Hear God and see Him in flowers, trees, water, hills, sky.

We never attempt to keep a minute-by-minute record (excepting perhaps occasionally for an hour), since such a record would interfere with normal life. We are practicing a new freedom, not a new bondage. We must not get so tied down to score keeping that we lose the glory of it, and its spontaneity. We fix our eyes upon Jesus, not upon a clock.

Frank C. Laubach (1884-1970) in Letters By A Modern Mystic (Feedbooks: 2009) letter entitled, “What Is Meant By Winning.”

I hope this exploration of the Game of Minutes has blessed you like it has me. Today marks the last post.

Notice the list of activities Laubach sketches. Are you overdue for any of them? I am not trying to rob you but help you. I am finding that I get more out of this than I put into it.

It’s because when we fix our eyes on Jesus, not upon a clock, we make the best use of time.

Simultaneously, by giving Him that time, Jesus does unspeakable, indescribable, and amazing things in return, that no person could every predict or imagine.

Remember that if you want to grow in generosity, you must learn to receive first. I know no better way to live the receiving and giving life than to play the Game of Minutes.

The more we play the more we win. And the more we win, the more everyone around us wins.

Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Acts 16:1-5

“This game is not a grim duty. Nobody need play it unless he seeks richer life. It is a delightful privilege. If you forget to play it for minutes or hours or days, do not groan or repent, but begin anew with a smile. It is a thrilling joy—don’t turn it into a sour faced penance. With God, every minute can be a fresh beginning.”

Frank C. Laubach (1884-1970) in Letters By A Modern Mystic (Feedbooks: 2009) letter entitled, “Radiant Religion.”

I was sitting with Travis Shelton on his last day in Colombia (yesterday). He drew a chart that had a gradual incline and then a sharp rise. He proceeded to say, that sharp rise, marked the day we met.

Using the language of Laubach, Travis basically testified that he has enjoyed a “richer life” since the day we met. The best part was, that basically, my interpreter. Carlita Archila, echoed the same thing.

What’s the point here? It’s not about me, for sure. It’s not about Travis or Carlita either. It’s about you. Do you want a richer life? Think about what I am asking you.

I am really asking you if you want to grow in generosity or if you want to stay on your current trajectory. The choice is yours.

One more story. Today’s Scripture shows Paul and Silas meeting Timothy and inviting him to join the team. One meeting, shaped the future of his life.

When departing for this trip, Paula Mendoza and I prayed for God to bring a person that was bilingual who could champion the Palmful of Coffee vision. He did.

Eliana Ramírez walked in the room on the first day. She said, “I am not sure why I am here. I was the third choice from my ministry. It sounded interesting so I said, Yes.”

Eliana is 29, recently married, bilingual, and represented a ministry in a key city in the central part of the Coffee Triangle. Oh, and she expressed, that she had told her boss she felt led to look for a new job.

By the third day she testified, “The last three days have been life-changing for me. I have experience mindset change (from dependency to discipleship) and want to advance the Palmful of Coffee vision coupled with Orden, the peer accountability group (like ECFA in ECFA) established in Colombia with help from GTP.

Further discussion has revealed that she represents the answer to our prayers to the dollar. She prayed for a new job at the exact salary we put in the budget.

She wants a richer life and she found it with the way GTP encourages people to connect with and serve God. I praise God we exhibited radiant religion, and she wants more than grim duty. What about you?

He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

“Humble folk often believe that walking with God is above their heads, or that they may “lose a good time” if they share all their joys with God. What tragic misunderstanding, to regard Him as a killer of happiness! A growing chorus of joyous voices round the world fairly sing that spending their hours with God is the most thrilling joy ever known, and that beside it a baseball game or a horse race is stupid.”

Frank C. Laubach (1884-1970) in Letters By A Modern Mystic (Feedbooks: 2009) letter entitled, “It is for Anybody.”

The biggest thing I learned yesterday from the indigenous people, humble folk, with whom we will do Palmful of Coffee is this. They work like ants. Remember Proverbs 6:6-11?

They don’t work loudly or draw attention to themselves. They have much to teach us because their work in picking coffee and turning it into amazing beverages for us is not easy.

I am also learning that I often care more about things like baseball games than the things of God or what humble folk can teach me. God is stretching me in Colombia.

We will roll out something big by learning from each other and focusing on the things God cares about. In so doing, we will unleash rich generosity. This is what I am learning in real time.

And humble folks who are unashamed to say they work like ants are teaching this to me.

Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

“The notion that religion is dull, stupid and sleepy is abhorrent to God, for He has created infinite variety and He loves to surprise us. If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are. Shake out of it, and approach Him in one of the countless fresh directions. When our minds lose the edge of their zest, let us shift to another form of fellowship as we turn the dial of the radio. Every tree, every cloud, every bird, every orchestra, every child, every city, every soap bubble is alive with God to those who know his language.”

Frank C. Laubach (1884-1970) in Letters By A Modern Mystic (Feedbooks: 2009) letter entitled, “Infinite Variety.”

God is doing something new in Colombia. It’s official. 14 people made a bold step yesterday to activate Palmful of Coffee Colombia. To learn more about the coffee community of Colombia we toured a coffee farm.

I shot the header photo of the Andes mountains from the top of the hill after learning the challenging task of picking coffee cherries. I will appreciate each sip of coffee more the rest of my life.

It’s work. They pick every bean by hand here. Some 2.5 million people work in the coffee farms of some 50 million people in Colombia. That’s our target audience. It’s the fresh work a team will pursue to engage in mission.

To learn more of the visions that have inspired us, click to watch the Handful of Rice and Palmful of Maize videos. Through the COMIBAM network we will activate this starting in 2025. Praise the LORD.

Is God calling you to something fresh? Is it time to get out of your comfort zone, turn the dial, and see what God might have for you? Shake off the sleepy form of devotion. Do it today.