Support for the Project

The Lego Church Project (Face Book Page)

Donate PayPal

kc8wzm@gmail.com

First off I want to give a big Thank You to my supporters. The ones who encourage me. The ones who often share my FB posts and tweets when I am talking about the project. The ones who see the passion in my heart for what I do. The ones who believe in the message that I share with the Project. To those who have already donated. It your support that keeps this project going. Even when I'm facing my own personal challenges.

This post will cover donations and other ways to support the Project.

Donations:

Why are they needed?

I am a one man operation as far as the building of the project goes. Given my disability I am unable to drive or work. I rely on Government benefits to make ends meet and over all I don't do too bad for myself considering. However LEGO, even on the secondary market, is not cheap. Given the nature of what I do with the project. Parts wear out over time. Plus their are new parts coming all time that can be put to good use. Given my fixed income. I don't always have extra cash because of price increases in other areas like food.

What kind of donation?

The project relies on people either donating money or donating LEGO parts directly. Personally I've always preferred to accept LEGO directly from people. Often times kids grow out of it and parents then need to figure out what to do. I can help out with that. With the development of services like Pay Pal. It makes donating money much easier. But either format is helpful for me in the long run.

If I donate Money where are you spending it?

Any money I get goes to either LEGO or Bricklink (online market place) for parts that I need.

How can I donate money?

Using the Pay Pal Link is the best way to send money directly. If you don't have access to pay pal or are not a fan of using them. Drop me an e-mail at kc8wzm@gmail.com and we can work something out.

How can I donate LEGO parts directly?

Drop me an e-mail to kc8wzm@gmail.com and I will give you my mailing address.

 Support: 

Their are other ways to support the Project.

Helping me secure a display location and/or proving transportation:

I have a hard time securing locations on my own. With out the help of others to act as a go-between many of my displays would not happen. If you have a place in mind. Talk to them and see if they would like to host the project. Keep in mind I will need help with transportation given that I don't drive. Both for the project and myself. More information on displays can be found here or drop me an e-mail to kc8wzm@gmail.com and I can give you more details. Including types of displays and what kind of rides would I need.

Helping me get the word out about The Project:

Social media is an amazing tool that can be used to reach many people in this world. The Lego Church Project Face Book page is the nexus for what I do. It contains all the photos of the last 18 years. Updates on display locations and building process for each season.

Getting the word out about what I am doing and why I am doing it is as important to me as the build. Having the chance to share my love and passion for the Catholic faith along with my personal mission of disability awareness and reminding people of how important the Mass is to our faith is an amazing thing.

Share The Lego Church Project FB page. Tell people that my work exists. I'm also always looking for chances to share my work in the media. Such a TV/Radio or even print and pod casts. I haven't had much luck getting to Catholic Media. So let people know that this is something you want to see featured. Every little bit helps.

But as always the best way to support my work is though Prayer. Please keep me in prayer. This isn't something for myself. This something that gives glory to God in all things. With out Christ. This Project would not happen.

Once again. Thank you for all the support. It means a lot to me.

-jm

Making Disability Disappear

Down syndrome is disappearing

The link above is to a news story put out by CBS. The key points of the story for the sake of this post is that thanks to testing. Most women who find out their child might have Down syndrome have abortions. The story says "close to 100%". 

As someone who has a mild form of cerebral palsy this is disturbing to me on so many levels. That instead of showing love and compassion. We become monsters of our own creation in deciding who has a right to live. But also who should not be allowed to live. That seems to be the key element of abortion in general. This feeling that a child is better off dead than being allowed to exist at all. Doesn't matter what the justification is. So long as that "choice" ends in death. To think that the only way we can prevent disability is to simply eliminate the child. I am truly at a loss for words as I ponder on what I've read in the few days.

To deal with some kind of disability, no matter what type or form, can be a profound challenge. I know it has been for me in my life. While I am blessed in so many ways. I know that their are families who have a much bigger struggle. In them I see this deep well of love that comes from their hearts. It is something that is shown even in their moments of frustration. Their is a compassion and a sense of purpose. This unconditional love that has no limits. That their child brings a deep sense of joy. The idea that a mother would want to destroy a life that may not even be born with a disability is disturbing to me on so many levels. This notion that in order to save a life we must take a life away.

But I worry for a much darker future for those of us who have a disability. I worry that at some point those who want to eliminate disability though abortion will seek to end the lives of those who are already born. Forcing euthanasia on those of us who have our challenges. That able bodied people will feel that someone like me does not deserve the same right to life as the person standing next to me.  The more that I read stories like the one I linked to. It really makes me wonder about the future of this world. Perhaps I am over reacting. I honestly pray that I am wrong. But I'm starting to see indications that my fears may not be that far off from reality. If anything the two stories I have linked to shows. It is a strong indication of the future we are heading into. One that not only embraces the culture of death. But encourages that culture on those who are most vulnerable and at risk. We as followers Christ must speak out against this culture even if it means being hated for it. We cannot allow Christians who support abortion (directly or indirectly) weaken our resolve.

It is my prayer that Christians who support abortion would open up their hearts and realize that they are doing more harm than good. That these stories would serve as a wake up call that a dark future awaits those who are most vulnerable That we can no longer remain silent. Our voices must be heard. If we don't raise our voices now. Then we might not be able to raise them later.

Till then.

-JM

Being Reminded

I am reminded tonight that when their are times when the road is unknown, the path not as clear as we would like it. The evil one will use that to his advantage. To try and derail us from the path of Christ. Using fear and doubt in our hearts to try and stop us from seeing the amazing glory of Christ our Savior. To try and convince us that our fate is sealed and the outcome is all in the negative. The evil one will try to plant images in our hearts of every bad thing that could happen.

Tonight I am also reminded of how important prayer is. That it is a tool to combat the evil with in our own hearts. That it truly is the light that shines on in the darkest places. That by asking for the Holy Spirit to help us in our time of need. That it becomes a beacon and a lantern that can guide us though the biggest storms in our hearts. That prayer is a reminder that above all else. Our Father in Heaven loves us deeper than we could ever hope to realize. Those who dismiss the power of prayer fail to understand it's important to those who openly, and boldly proclaim Christ. That we have embraced something far greater than ourselves.

Every storm that we face in our lives. Their is always a chance the evil one will take advantage. It is a time when we are at our weakest. Yet by embracing Christ our Savor. By embracing God the Father. Along with the power of the Holy Spirit. We become strong again and that we can face our storms head on. In the middle of my own storm tonight. I was reminded of this in a powerful way. I ask as always for your prayers for me. For the things that I am involved in. Knowing that I will pray for you as well.

Till then.

-JM

The Ride

People my weight are not suppose to be able to ride blocks let alone miles... I've said it before. I'm 450lbs. It is who I am. My weight issues have been the stuff of legends. But that is a story for another day.

Fact is people my weight class in theory shouldn't be able to go on rides of my nature and survive. But I do it often. The fact that I can is rather amazing. I've had my beach cruiser style bike for over eight years. My rides are sometimes the stuff of legends. Since I've had this bike I've put on way more miles than I have ever expected to do so. To the point that I sometimes stop in to Bicycle Village on the ride. Which when all is said and done is a seven mile round trip for me.  They know the history of me and the bike. They know that when I go for a ride. It is always a ride that most people would not consider. Bike like that is only rated for about 250lbs. Over the years I've had to replace parts on it. Such as the crankshaft I broke last week.

Riding for me is a major release of energy. It allows me to get out into the world around me and surround myself with the sights and sounds of what is in this world. Over the years it has helped me recover from some of my more epic and dramatic falls. Helping me though bouts of arthritis pain that has developed in both of my knees. Partly because of the weight. Partly because I keep falling. It is also one of the few things I can do to help drown out the tinnitus. It creates background noise that gives me some relief for a bit from the constant tone that I hear. Riding is something that I truly enjoy doing. I have a lot of fun with it. Keep in mind some of my long rides can be ten mile round trips. Short rides for me are around three or four mile round trips. If you do that even two days a week. The miles can add up rather quickly. It's also rather funny with me. I complain the next day when I'm not achy from one of my more infamous "insanity rides." Such as the twelve mile loop I do that takes me around the campus of Saginaw Valley State University and back to my apartment. I don't do it often. But even that is a fun challenge for me. Weight loss, while important, isn't the primary goal. The ride helps my joints out. Also helps with my over all endurance and stamina. Along with a natural way to deal with my anxiety and depression.

This past week has been a week of "unknowns". This last crankshaft failure has brought me back to a reality that my cruiser is probably on borrowed time. I'm not easy one stuff at all. The bike is no exception. You ride hard enough at some point stuff will start to break. Which is part of the unknown. The question is should I repair the bike and ride things out. The frame is in great shape. But the bike is battered and beat up from years of heavy use. Some other stuff like the rims are going to need to be looked at as well. But also my balance isn't what it use to be. The cerebral palsy is catching up making me more of a fall risk than ever before. Yeah, I know the weight isn't doing me any favors on that issue either. But in the last six or seven years I've had some pretty major falls. Often taking direct hits on to my knees. My left knee isn't still back 100% from last year's stuff.

I've thought about getting a three-wheel bike. Long as I can ride that is all that matters to me. But I need one that is more or less industrial class. A bike made of stronger materials that can handle or at least tolerate some of my more longer rides. They make bikes that are rated up to 500lbs. But they are by no means cheap. Looking at least 800$ to $1000 for the bikes I've looked at. Not sure how I would be able to afford one. My parents can probably help out. But even still that is a lot of money even for them. That is one of the other unknowns. Figuring out how to pay for such a ride.

It's in the hands of God. All I can do is pray for the answers that I seek. Fact is I need to have some kind of transportation that is not connected to any of my rides. I need to have some level of freedom with out a car and the bike does just that. Not being able to use the bike has been hard on me. A level of frustration that is hard to describe but I suspect people know where I'm coming from. Pray that something can develop soon. I miss the ride already. Last time I took that fall last year. I was on the bike with in a few days. So not being able to ride is driving me up the wall....

Till next time.

-JM

Few quick updates 8/6/17

Here are a few quick updates and info that don't fit into a full blog post:

Wanted to give everyone an update on me from Last Sunday's entry. I'm still having some issues with my left knee and leg. Though over all I'm feeling a little bit better. My nerves on the other hand are shot to hades. Not from riding the bike. But just from the entire falling aspect. The more I fall the more worried I get that I'm going to break something.

The bike has not been repaired. At this point I'm not sure if we are going to repair it or out right replace it. Though I'm leaning on getting a replacement bike. Probably an industrial grade three-wheel. Problem of course is figuring out how to PAY for it. Those start at around 800$ for one that can hold up to 500lbs. So please keep this issue in prayer that something can develop.

Also on the prayer list is more displays with transport for the Lego Church Project! Something of this nature needs to be shared with other and not kept in my apartment.

Still looking for some donations! Either direct LEGO bricks or funds to be able to buy specific parts via BrickLink. If you have parts to donate directly: Drop me an e-mail over at kc8wzm@gmail.com and I will send you the info! Check out the Donations link or "What Can You Do to Help" Blog

Thanks to everyone who has helped out. Offered up kind words or even shared/retweeted various postings of mine. I am always thankful to those who support what I do. Never thought I would take the project to where it has been.

That's all for now.

-JM