Front porch in ybor city
Good morning from sunny Tampa, Florida. I am actually in Ybor City, part of Tamp Ybor City and a historic town on the national registry. I’ve been coming here for years when I’m in the area. It is about 75 degrees with a nice breeze, and I am sitting on the front porch of my Airbnb.
Ybor is world famous as it was for years the cigar-making capital of the world. As many of you know, I’m a cigar guy, so this is mecca apart from Cuba. I know some of you consider cigar smoking disgusting, but I like it and have many cigar friends s,o to each his own. I am sure Jesus would have sat around the campfire with His twelve, sharing a good smoke if it had been invented. Arh Arh! The world of cigars is a wonderful sub-culture built around good conversation, meeting new friends, and learning the science and art of this fascinating pastime.
At one time, there were over 120 cigar factories where Spaniards, Caribbean folks – especially Cubans – and several Latin cultures settled to work in these factories. Cigar-making is an art akin to wine and bourbon creation, and it is a craft that takes years to perfect. This mix of people groups makes the region multi-cultural, which I especially enjoy. The Spaniards introduced the practice to Cuba in 1524, and it was brought to America by the Amish of Lancaster County – yes, the ones close to where I live in PA– in the 1700s. Our Amish brethren still produce cigar tobacco, and I got to view some of it earlier this week. Who knew?
I am staying in an old 1920s refurbished cigar worker home. I’ve been here all week and enjoyed meeting the neighbors and sitting on the porch watching a man across the street in the process of restoring another of these homes. The house is simple but nice, and I can walk to downtown Ybor.
Earlier in the week, I toured the J.C. Newman cigar factory, which is the only cigar factory left in America. When President Kennedy placed an embargo on the importation of Cuban cigar tobacco, all the factories shut down, and thousands of people lost their jobs. So much for the American dream.
Interestingly, President Kennedy smoked Cuban cigars most of his adult life. He placed the embargo on February 7, 1962, but on the evening of February 6th, the President ordered himself 1200 Cuban cigars. I guess being King has its perks. Now the famous Cuban product can once again be brought into this country for personal use only. However, since so much Cuban seed left the country with the exodus, Cuban cigars have lost some of their mystique. Many places in the world now produce equal-quality sticks.
Over the years, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Mexico, and several African and South American countries started producing the product. Tobacco growing in numerous countries increased dramatically when thousands fled Cuba during the take-over by Fidel Castro.
The factory was fascinating, and I watched cigar makers perform their art up close and personal. Cigar production is a vast industry since people all over the world imbibe. The history of this practice is fraught with ups and downs and has enjoyed a revival in recent years. Enjoying fine cigars is very popular these days.
Chatting with the rollers, some of whom have practiced this trade their entire working lives, was a joy. They are jolly folks who are very proud of their work and eager for visitors to watch them at work. We met and chatted with the owner, who is a fourth generation in this field. He is the first millennial to run the company, and he explained that this practice is now popular among his generation and the upcoming Gen-X, Y, and Z, I suppose. What will we call the generation after “Z?” Maybe we will start over at “A.” I’m still a fan of the “Greatest Generation” who made it through the Great Depression, destroyed Nazi Germany, fought in the thankless Korean and Vietnam wars, held off the tide of Communism, and, most importantly, created muscle cars! I’m driving Dodge Charger Hemi this week, and it is fantastic! I owned a 1968 of the same model when I was a teen. I digress.
Ybor consists of several beautiful parks and streets lined with Spanish buildings. The main drag is filled with restaurants, shops, and cigar lounges. The original famous Columbia restaurant, which is stunning, also sits on this street. From Ybor, one can board the free trolly, which takes you downtown, where there are all kinds of activities. Tampa is a booming city that sits majestically on Tampa Bay. Of course, Mr. Tom Brady brought football pride back to the town, so the stadium is usually filled for every game. Professional ice hockey is also popular. Go figure? Ice- hockey in a place where the average temperature is 71 to 91 degrees. Their arena is a work of art.
Next week I will attend the National New Church Conference in Orlando. I’ve participated in this conference since about 150 church planters showed up. Now the number is 4500, along with numerous other similar gatherings. I don’t go for the program so much anymore, though it is excellent. I’m there to see friends from all over the country that I only enjoy once or twice a year. I am an abundantly blessed person since I have close friends throughout the world. They are my cherished possession, and many smoke cigars. Ha!
New church planting became and was promoted by my generation in ministry as we understood that if we do not constantly start new congregations, the church will go out of existence. However, I doubt God is worried about it. I’m sure He has a plan for His Church, and He never fails. So far, He has figured out how to keep it alive and flourishing around this planet for over 2000 years. Several of my close friends were the pioneers of this movement in America. They are men and women who took on the call to keep the Kingdom of God moving forward. I highly respect all of them. Many of you attend churches that are the result of their work.
Now new generations now take the baton and step up to the challenges of initiating new congregations everywhere. It is happening much more quickly in other countries, but America is slowly turning the tide. Every year, nearly 5000 churches close their doors forever, so if we don’t start new ones, the natural life-cycle of churches, including death, will threaten our existence. I am always astounded by the creativity and commitment of these younger colleagues, and I learn something every time I am in their presence.
A few years ago, I had the privilege of standing where the Apostle Peter proclaimed to his Teacher, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” They were standing at the foot of a vast Roman pagan shrine in the mountains of north Israel. Hundreds of statues of gods and goddesses adorned the mountainside. (Many are still there) In the middle, a spring erupted from the mouth of a vast cave that descended deep into the earth. It was known as the “gate of Hades,” and they believed the entrance to the underworld. Thousands of pilgrims came there to make sacrifices to the god Pan. The gifts were then thrown into the abyss.
Jesus responded to Peter’s bold statement by proclaiming that the gates of Hades would never, ever prevail over His Church. As I gazed upon the impressive site, I thought, “Indeed, Rome has long since passed, as have their pantheon of gods and goddesses, but Jesus’ Church is still alive and well. When Jesus makes a proclamation, you can take it to the bank!”
That fact applies to the larger Church and each of us individually. Like the cigar factories of Ybor, kingdoms, industries, and organizations come and go, but if you place your life into the hands of the Rock, by His power, you will stand through whatever storms life brings your direction.
Well, I’ve got to go for now. A delightful older woman is just passing on a walk, and I am chatting with her. She cares for her mom, who is in her early 90s and has dementia. She asked if I traveled much, and I answered, “Yes, I have been extremely blessed to travel all over the world.” She replied she would like to travel someday. She was leaning on a cart to walk and moving slowly, so it is good she walks every day. She then told me she is sixty-eight, which is my age. I immediately quietly thanked God that I have not only gotten to do more than I ever dreamed, but I’m still healthy and “youthful” enough to continue. Meanwhile, she asked about my birthday, and I responded. “Well, what is your birthdate?” to which I told her. “What is your birthdate,” I asked. “The first of August when it’s hot.” I said, “Ha, well, you're still older than me!” We had a good laugh, and she moseyed along. I asked her name, and she told me though I couldn’t make it out, and said, “I’ll be back around, so I’ll be seeing you again.” How delightful.
I like cigars, but I love people!
Live Inspired!
Don Mark
