Minute with Marlin Ep #6 - I Can Hardly Wait

Minute with Marlin Ep #6 - I Can Hardly Wait

In 1929, at the very beginning of the Great Depression, a man named Albert Brumley sat down in the northwest corner of Arkansas and wrote a song called “I’ll Fly Away.” It wasn’t published until 1932, but that simple hymn has since become the most recorded gospel song in history. Brumley went on to write over 800 songs, yet “I’ll Fly Away” remains one of the most beloved of all time. Marlin shares that it is easily one of his top one or two favorite hymns. When his time comes to fly home, he’s asked his wife to make sure one thing happens at his funeral. These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement—perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com [https://plainvalues.com/]

EP #41 - From Refugee Roots to a Regenerative Homestead w/ Sophia Eng | Plain Values

In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast [https://plainvalues.com/podcast/]… Sophia Eng shares her family’s journey from Vietnamese refugee roots to a thriving 40-acre regenerative homestead in East Tennessee.  With a military husband and two daughters, Sophia’s parents (boat people who fled Saigon) lived with them, creating a multi-generational home rich in tradition, work ethic, and faith. When lockdowns hit California in 2020, Sophia’s intuition (shaped by her parents’ stories of curfews and uncertainty) told her it was time to leave. They sold everything, loaded their animals (including three $300 egg-laying hens bought in a moment of urgency), and followed a leading to Tennessee, where green grass and community awaited. Today their homestead includes dairy and beef cattle, sheep, poultry, and gardens. Sophia’s books preserve family recipes and traditional fermentation while teaching soil health, Korean natural farming, and biochar.  Sophia reflects on the pressure of Asian-American success metrics and how she and her husband chose a different path, one of soil, community, and faithfulness. Through every challenge, they return to the truth that God provides and that hard things often produce the sweetest fruit. A beautiful reminder that legacy isn’t built in boardrooms but in backyard gardens, kitchen ferments, and multi-generational tables. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com [https://plainvalues.com/]

Minute with Marlin EP #5 - God Moves in a Mysterious Way

There are seasons when life brings deep, hard things … the loss of a spouse, the burial of a child, a long-term disability, or seasons of uncertainty and anxiety where God feels distant and silent. In this moving episode, Marlin shares the power of an old hymn written by William Cowper in 1779, “God Moves in a Mysterious Way.” The lyrics speak straight to the heart: “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform… Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.” Marlin reminds us that even when we cannot see or understand what God is doing, we can trust His sovereign, never-failing skill.  These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement—perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com [https://plainvalues.com/]

EP #40 - Building a Family and a Legacy of Generosity w/ Derek & Lisa Guyer

In this episode of The Plain Values Podcast … Some people build businesses. Others build lives that point to something greater. In this powerful conversation, Derek and Lisa Guyer share the raw, beautiful story of their journey; from financial brokenness and a tiny two-bedroom home with six kids in one room, to owning and transforming Kentucky Lumber into a place of integrity, character, and genuine care. Derek openly talks about the early failures, the lessons learned from his parents, and the deliberate choice to create a company culture where employees feel safe, customers are treated like family, and tough love meets real respect. At the center of it all is their deep commitment to fostering and adopting children from hard places. Derek describes the chaos, the screaming, the fear… and the unwavering decision to be the safe place these kids desperately need. Through every trial, financial stress, loss, and the daily grind, they return to the same truth: generosity matters most when it’s hardest. If this conversation filled your coffee cup, we would humbly invite you to leave a thoughtful comment below and please, don’t be shy … the Like and Subscribe buttons help more friends find this episode.  We’re always looking for more friends. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com [https://plainvalues.com/]

Minute with Marlin EP #4 - Put Down the Screen and Pick Up a Real Book

Marlin has always loved the simple, sensory pleasure of holding a real book or magazine; the feel of the paper, the weight in his hands.  In this episode, he reflects on how rare and precious books once were in the Middle Ages, when monks painstakingly copied them by hand. Then Gutenberg’s printing press changed everything by giving “wings to truth.” He beautifully connects this to God’s own design: trees become paper, language becomes Scripture, and the written word allows divine truth to spread across generations. These short, heartfelt Minutes with Marlin deliver quick moments of wisdom, faith, humility, and encouragement—perfect for busy homestead days when we need a gentle reminder of what really matters. Learn more about Plain Values at https://plainvalues.com [https://plainvalues.com/]