Stephen Mansfield serves up a delicious, frothy, and engaging account of the history of the Guinness family, and how they intertwined faith and beer. By this account, the Guinness family took more pride in the faith, and sense of duty to their workers that was passed down from generation to generation than the recipe for their world famous stout porter. Mansfield takes the reader through an in depth history of the Guinness Company, and how they used their social standing, influence, and wealth to better their company, as well as the lives of every one of their employees. Mansfield takes painstakingly careful detail to account for the ways the Guinness family bettered the lives of their workers, from basic hygiene to academic, and homemaking classes for the wives of employees. In a time where so many corporations have failed both in terms of making a profit, and caring for their employees, its nice to read a story of a company that has flourished in both regards for the past 250 years. In honor of Mansfield’s thorough account, I raise my glass, and say cheers! I recommend you pick up a copy of this book and read it for yourself.
October 18, 2009
I am making time
Well, its been a while since any sort of substantive update, and for that I apologize. I’m currently sitting in one of our three morning services doing very little, so i figured now would be a perfect time to update. Things have been going well, its finally starting to feel like fall; but i attribute it to the fact that we’ve finally left Arizona and New Mexico and are now in Northwestern Texas (Abilene).
Here’s the video of the children at the Grand Canyon, not a fine example of my editing, but also I didn’t take much time to do it. Speed production i suppose.
I’m getting excited about our next couple of weeks, but at the same time I’m a little upset that we will have to drive from Glendale, Az to Nashville, Tn in one week. (Glendale Oct 31, Nov 1st Nashville Nov 6). I’m really looking forward to having a week off at Thanksgiving to spend in Ohio with my Girlfriend and my college friends that are still around. So you if you’re in the Columbus/Marion area come out the sunday following Thanksgiving.
I received my first book that I’m going to review for Thomas Nelson Publishing, its a book entitled the Search for God and Guinness, its pretty interesting to see how intertwined our church history is with brewing beer, and how many people oppose the thing that was so important in our history. Anyways, there will be a full review coming soon, so stay tuned for that.
remember, you can always follow the tour via twitter @mikebrandes or you can check my site regularly and you can see my last few tweets.
October 11, 2009
Real Fast
Since I have last updated quite a few things have happen, we’ve had break downs, and turn-arounds. Tires blow, and water pumps crack. Repairs and Rentals, its been a nightmare.
but I just wanted to let you know whats going on with the group REAL FAST
a couple of weeks ago we went to the grand canyon.
needless to say they had a lot of fun.
then we went to vegas.
now we are in the phoenix area.
We have our bus and trailer back, and have gotten rid of the moving truck that had the equipment, as well as the two minivans to move the kids from point a to point b.
That’s whats going on with the kids.
We miss hearing from you, so leave a comment for me or the kids!
follow on twitter @mikebrandes
September 19, 2009
Lazy Saturday Has a Whole New Meaning
Today is Saturday, one of my days off. I’m really excited about it. What should I do with the free time? I’ve decided to update about what is taking place.
As I’m writing this The University of Florida are continuing a rich heritage of beating Tennessee in football; needless to say I’m ecstatic with this, and am loving life. I am in the city of Warrensburg, Missouri. If you haven’t heard of it, don’t worry, I don’t believe many people have. There is a University here: the University of Central Missouri. It has roughly just over 11,000 students combined into their graduate, and undergratue programs. Located just a stones throw away from Kansas City, Warrensburg has some pretty good barbecue that I have tasted and have enjoyed.
I’m currently on two competing quests: I am looking for the best local eateries in each city that I am in, and also attempting to lose 30 lbs over the course of this tour, which will be difficult, since I literally eat every meal out at a restaurant. Expensive, and not always healthy. On the first half of the quest, I discovered Bill Sharp’s Country Barbecue on Highway 50, just east of Warrensburg, great place, I split a barbecue chicken dinner, and still left stuffed (literally, a chicken cut in half.). Excellent, tasty, declicious, adjectives fail me as to providing an adequate description of this place. Another great place here in Warrensburg is Mighty Melts, on Maguire (the main strip), there’s also another location in Sedalia, which is where I’ll be tomorrow night and all day Monday. The second half of the quest is going rather well, as of Thursday (the last night I was in a hotel with a fitness center and scale) I am at a hefty 232 lbs, which is 5 lbs down from where I was when I left training camp, I’m pretty excited. I would love to be down to right around 200lbs by the end of the tour… here’s to hoping.
My parents and cousin are coming to visit tonight and tomorrow, I’m super excited to see them, and rumor has it some more family will be at tomorrow night’s concert in Sedalia. It will be good to see them.
I’ve said enough, check out the calendar page… I’m going to VEGAS!!! thankfully I don’t get a paycheck until the day after I leave Vegas, shouldn’t gamble away all my money then!!!
Also head over to my cause life page, I’ve put up two videos that really kinda make it blatently clear as to what it is we do… seriously, watch it.
September 14, 2009
Hitting the Road FOR REAL
The past two weeks we’ve driven in a large circle, starting in Viriginia, we headed into west Virginia, then to Ohio, then to Pennsylvania, and now back to Virginia. Tomorrow we’ll start driving for real, We will leave at 9AM and head to Bristol Tennessee, which is a cool city, I’ve been there once before on a tour with The Retail Age, from Bristol we will head West to Paducah Kentucky for a night, I wish we were there longer since its a short 40 minute drive from my Grandparents house, but I won’t be able to visit them. From Paducah We’ll head to Warrensburg, Missouri which is where we will be performing on Sunday. I’m looking forward to that performance because my parents will be coming to visit me (bust mostly the kids) it should be a lot of fun to see them, and have them meet the kids.
After we leave Warrensburg, MO we will then start our trek out west, We have stops in Vegas, and Texas I believe before we head to southern California for the Kingdom Partner’s Golf Tournament. I’m very much looking forward to the long drives because I really enjoy driving long distances, which works out nicely.
I’m still very much excited to be doing what I’m doing. I wake up everyday excited because I’m literally saving lives, and fighting apathy. It’s encouraging to watch the reaction to people when the stats video hits the screen (you can view this here) It has had quite an impact on individuals and churches. There have already been to my knowledge at least 5 different people/groups that have pledged to build a well. That’s awesome. I can’t convey adequately how much I love this, I hope you’ll watch the video and I think you’ll be impacted.
here’s a few new photos of the kids, this was from their concert at the Chapel at Mercer, which was part of the Underground Railroad… very cool
September 9, 2009
Farewell PA
well as you can tell, I’ve picked a logo, many thanks go out to John Rice for designing the choices, and being super awesome to get me the finished products so soon… I’m hoping to get business cards ordered soon, that will be exciting.
Tomorrow, we will leave Pennsylvania for hopefully the final time. We are slated to travel down to Chesapeake Virginia tomorrow which means a wonderful drive around Washington D.C. Apparently DC is like Atlanta, either its smooth sailing, or more than likely death by traffic, I’m not looking forward to it, but I am excited and more than willing to give Kory the blessing of driving that trip. We’ll be back in Virginia for a little less than a week, then we begin our trek out west, or at least to Missouri, where we will be on the 20th of the month, which I’m excited about, because my parents will be traveling out to see the kids, which should be a fun trip, I’m not sure if they’ve ever seen the children perform.
When I was in college, I traveled around with a band, and one of those concerts was at a Bar (sorry Cedarville) in Dayton, where they shared the stage with MC Goldie Wilson/ Team Goldie… My favorite Goldie song is “Sharpshooter, Sharpshooter”, which features the line “you can’t spell home without pennsylvania” every time someone mentions Pennsylvania I play that song back in my head.
I was going to upload it, but the 19.97 it costs to be able to add music, and the 59.97 it costs to add and host my own video’s didn’t seem worth it just yet.
I’ve been taking tons of photos, I promise, I’ll post some later when I have time to put them on the computer and then get them up here on the site.. Thanks for being patient.
Until then, be kind to strangers…
September 6, 2009
I’m awesome enought to have a logo… I think
September 5, 2009
meet the team
here’s a video of the children on my team, so you will know everyone’s name.
August 29, 2009
Here we go!
Today is the day, the day where we pack up all the cots and air mattresses and prepare to hit the road. The laundry has been done, the suitcases have been packed, the sound system is in the trailer, and the RV is hooked up to the truck and calling my name to get in and drive from Lynchburg, VA to Salem, VA; not the longest of drives, but the drive that will mean the most, the first official concert, and the final day at camp until the June 2010. I would not be telling the truth if I said I wasn’t at all nervous, however I am ready to break out and hit the road. The preparations have been made, the program rehearsed, the schedule is set, and now it is time to wave goodbye to the preparation, and say hello to the tour.
There was much sorrow today as the two teams parted ways to their respective concerts today, especially since we won’t see the east team until June most likely. The kids cried (read: wailed, balled, sobbed, wept) for the better part of an hour, and then seemingly ran out of energy to be sad, and moved on quite nicely. The kids performed very well tonight in the 6:00 service, and look forward to see how well they do tomorrow in their three performances.
Thankfully after tomorrow I will get to experience what people have kept been calling an off day. I have yet to experience one since I have arrived at World Help, but I am a lover of off days, so I look forward to it. The kids are great, don’t get me wrong, its just nice to get caught up on sleep, and relax a little…
I am excited to see money raised to lower drills to dig wells and provide clean water to villages around the world. It is estimated that 1 in 6, or 16.67% of children in developing countries will die before the age of five. In developed nations, that number is 1 in 150, or.0066%. Robert Redford said it best when he said, “Clean water is the sleeping issue of the 21st Century, and it’s time we woke up to it.”
$5000 is what it takes to give 500 people clean water every day for 5 years, $15,000 is what it takes to give 1000 people clean water every day for 20 years. $360 is what it takes to sponsor one child, and give them hope, food, clothing, clean water, and an education for one year. I hope you’ll consider contributing to this cause that will literally save millions of lives.
Bono (the lead singer of U2 for those unfamiliar) said, “Is the American Church going to sit idly by as a continent dies?” I for one hope not.
Our website is up, check it out, get involved, and punch apathy in the stomach. http://www.causelife.org
here are a few pictures, i need to take more.
August 20, 2009
A Call to Action
Since I accepted this position in early June, everyone has been asking me about WorldHelp and what it is that we do, and a few people have even asked me why with a bachelors degree I would choose to take this position that isn’t outrageously high paying, or conventional. So i wanted to take a few moments to answer both of those in depth, and hopefully encourage you to become a part of our ministry, and to help us accomplish our goals.
WorldHelp is a non profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life in developing countries by delivering humanitarian aid and accomplish enormous tasks that benefits the lives of so many. From the installation of their “villages of hope” around the world, to this years big project, the sole mission of WorldHelp is to help others.
This year’s big project is Cause Life; the program hinges on providing sources for clean water to developing nations. Vernon Brewer (President of World Help) has written a book that fully details the necessity of clean water in developing nations. The Average American uses 150 gallons of water a day (shower, cooking, drinking, cleaning) while those in developing nations struggle to find 5 gallons of water, and a majority of those nations have no access to clean water.
Clean water is necessary for life. Clean water prevents diseases like typhoid and malaria from spreading. Clean water allows ARV (anti-retro virus) drugs (prescribed to help combat HIV/Aids) to work more effectively. Clean water sources mean children will be able to attend school in developing nations instead of making the sometimes 3-4 hour walk to get polluted water, and wasting their school day. Clean water is imperative to pulling people out of poverty.
Another big portion of what World Help does is child sponsorship. Child sponsorship is what provides the funds for the villages of hope, and the orphanages that World Help sponsors. For $30 a month, you can provide the necessary funds for a child to receive food, and attend school, as well as have an opportunity to be in a safe environment.
That in a nutshell is what World Help does, but I still have to answer why I chose world help, instead of a more “conventional” job.
World Help’s projects matter, at the end of the day, in meetings, in telephone calls, in memos, in idealogy, it’s not the bottom line, or the amount of money we’re raising, or how much we increased our contributions verse last year: the end goal of World Help is to Help People.
How can you be involved?
You can visit http://www.worldhelp.net and go to the child sponsorship page and considering sponsoring a child
on monday you can go to Causelife.org and make a donation towards that project… $5000 provides enough water to meet the daily needs of 500 people for 20 years. $15 meets the water needs of one person for 20 years, so any contribution helps.
In a few months I’ll start raising support for my international trip to take the children back to their homes, but I’d rather you donated to something like this, than to me if there’s a choice.
here are some pictures
