Look into History: Season 8

Season 8 (2007-2008): This was a unique project which was based on the idea of a "Look into history." The idea of course was to go back over the past few season and merge together some of the more fun ideas that I had at the time. This also includes the attempt at the dome roof.  More on that in a bit.  

The project itself was one of the more massive works. I think at the time it was one of the first ones to cross the 45 inch length mark. Though the primary worship space is much smaller than some of the newer projects.

The roofs of any of my projects have their challenges. Sometimes things don't always go the way they should. In this case with the Season 8 project. I tried to do too many things and pretty much ran out of bricks. I had decided to use the grid system that I had developed for the Season 7 project. With the theory that I could do a full truss system which would allow me some more stability and to keep the roof from twisting as I built upwards. However I did not fully expect as to how many parts that would take. So as I am working on building up the dome I find out that I have in fact run out of parts. The solution was was rather creative. I took two gray base plates and linked them together. Then added side plates to make up the difference. Doesn't look that bad to be honest. Held up well during transport.

I have found that with in this life their will always be challenges that we have to face. Sometimes the best answers to those challenges happen to also be the most creative. In building these projects over of the years I sometimes find answers to my own challenges. For me it is always a learning experience. One that I do enjoy.

-JM

Showing compassion instead of building walls

As someone who believes in Jesus Christ though the Catholic Faith. I believe that we should show compassion and mercy to those around us. We should not single out anyone because we may not agree with the path they have in this life. I can understand the current agenda in trying to secure our borders. To prevent acts of terrorism. However banning groups of people from entering into our country based on where they are from and what religious path they follow goes against the spirit of what the Founding Fathers intended. I agree that we live in an age where more security checks need to be made. But the majority of the violence that has visited our nation has not come from outside our states. But from inside our country. People born and raised here. The polices being offered are knee-jerk reactions that gives a false sense of security. But they do nothing to seek out and address the underlying issues that our country is facing. Perhaps if we shifted our focus into creating better paths for citizenship, better and more affordable health care and remove the stigma of mental illness. Rather than spending our resources building walls and excluding people we don't agree with. Then perhaps we can move forward with true progress.

-jm

Fighting the Darkness

Their is a lot of darkness in this world. Thankfully with Christ we have a light that can help us though that darkness. Perhaps if we put more of a focus on Him than the chaos that has always been the world. We can find some measure of peace and bring about real change and compassion to this troubled world we live in.

To easy

It is easy for someone like me to say that we should surrender all to Christ. All of our celebrations and our defeats. The challenge is turning words to action. We like to be in control of all things. Every aspect of our lives. With surrender we give up that control for something greater. Something far more profound. The road is not easy. But with Christ as our guide we can overcome the challenges. Surrender to Christ all things. For in all things there is Christ.

Protests

People who feel that violent protests are path to follow. Fail to understand the nature of the problems to begin with. Violence never solves problems. It takes existing issues and makes them worse. But in that same process creates new ones. The reality is message the protesters are trying to send gets lost in the destruction of property.

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On this Day

As we head into this transfer of presidents we should take the time today, and every day, to pray. That our leaders would have profound wisdom to lead our nation in a path that helps all around us. Not just the select few. That our nation would seek peace instead of violence. That both Republicans and Democrats work together and seek common ground. Instead of working against each other. That all would come to Christ and seek out His Glory in our times when we feel the darkness is too strong to cover come. Amen.

-JM

celebrate

I will celebrate and thank the Lord in all things. I will offer up praise and glory in all struggles. I will lay my anxiety and fear at the foot of the Cross of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter where the journey in this life takes me. I will seek shelter from the storms and embrace Christ. Even when it seems that all hope has been lost.

-jm

I surrender

(taken from a post I did on my personal FB page)

I surrender to you O Lord in all things. May your will be done. The hardest thing in our life to do is to give up all to God. Even when we have no idea where the path will take us. When our heart is troubled and our bodies are riled. We cannot do Your work. Because the anxiety created by our challenges creates itself a wall that prevents us from being at peace. Into Your loving arms I see your embrace. So I can be at peace and focus on what needs to be done. Amen.

-jm

What I need to replace.

(update 1/25/17)

In this post I mention that I am looking for donations.

One of the things that I want to do before the Season 18 build is to replace the base plates that I use. These are the foundation of which the entire project rests on. Over the years the plates get used and abused and at some point will wear out completely. Sometimes becoming warped.

Here is the list of base plates I'm looking at replacing.

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=4186#T=C

This is probably the most expensive part.  48x48 studs They are about 15$ a pop depending on where you go. That cost alone wouldn't be that bad. However I use three of them. So that comes up to about 45$. 

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3811#T=C

I use four of these 32 x 32 (studs) plates. The goal is to get them in some form of Gray to match the gray 48x48(studs) plates. Current prices on brick link goes to around 9$ a plate. So about 36$ total for the ones I need.

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=3857#T=C

I use one 16x32. Once again I need to find these in some shade of gray. Price for this is about 2$ and is the lowest cost item on the list. 

So that's about 83$ right there. Needless to say the base plate changes won't be made this season. Would like to. Just don't have the resources right now for it.

Any other funds will be put to replacing bricks. With a focus on getting Blue, Red, and White. (the white ones get a lot of sun damage).

If you want to help out in some form. Drop me an e-mail at kc8wzm@gmail.com. 

You can make a donation directly:  paypal.me/LegoChurchProject 

-jm

The Chicago Four Attack.

News has been making the rounds of the attack on the young man who has a disability. Carried out by four others and streamed live over FB. I haven't seen video. I haven't seen the comments. But I've heard that not a single person watching the video had any decency to call the police. Or to get FB to take down the video. Has our society has gone that far down hill that watching some one who is clearly defenseless just as normal as watching the evening news? To the point that we would rather let things play out than do anything to help. Worse some people probably even felt that the attack on the guy was justified. Given current political elements we are in. How many of those people were cheering on hoping this young man would be killed. To say that this has bothered me is putting it mildly. I've been trying to wrap my head around on how much evil can happen right in front of our eyes and yet we made the choice to do nothing to stop it. Has our society lost that much compassion for each other? To the point that someone is brutalized and we say "it's not our problem". This story makes me sick. Not just for the attack itself. But for the total lack of help this young man got while this was streaming. Some can argue because of our incoming leadership that such attacks are justified. But violence is never a solution to a problem. Violence only makes an already bad problem worse.

-JM

Donations

On the FAQ post that I use for the Lego Church Project  I mention that I take donations.

Why do I need donations?

LEGO is a good solid brand of a building system. It is made up of many styles of parts. Often using high grade materials. However as things age they do tend to wear out and need to be replaced. My collection of parts spans many decades. Over time I've had to replace parts. Bricks break and crack. Plates/base plates get warped. Window elements break down. Some parts fade and start to turn brown because of the sunlight. The project also creates extra wear and tear because of the transportation to various display locations.

In most cases people who have children who are no longer into LEGO will give me what they have. I can use the stuff to add on to my existing collection and replace worn out or broken parts as needed. I do from time to time accept money donations. This is so I can go on to market sites like BrickLink  and get special parts that I normally can't get though donations.  

I'm on a fixed income thanks to the nature of my disability. I don't always have resources need to replace the parts. So the donations do help ease up some of the cost on my end. I'm not one for asking for help. Goes against my nature.

What will your donations be used for?

Anything I get will be used for the Project. Money donations will be used to buy parts off LEGO or Bricklink. With the the primary goal of replacing existing parts. Some of the donations given might go to cover the cost of gas for some of the transportation as well.

You can donate directly via PayPal to: paypal.me/LegoChurchProject 

If you would like more information on how you can help the Lego Church Project, check out "What can you do to help." Blog post. Or of course send me an e-mail at kc8wzm@gmail.com.

-jm