A Deep Passion

I've been doing displays with the Lego Church Project for eighteen years now. It is an amazing time for me to be able to showcase my talents and my mission. If  the building of the project is the telling of a story. Then the displays themselves is the sharing of that story. 

Their is always a level of excitement any time I have the chance to show my project. I have fans who have followed me over the years and they are always asking me what kind of project I'm working on. They look forward to seeing how I out do myself from the previous years. They know I do this yearly and understand that the project the following year will not be the same. 

When I bring the project to a new location. Their is an extra bit of excitement. For me it is the chance to see and visit another parish community. To visit with them and see how that parish does things. From the lay out of the building to the way the Mass is presented. For the project itself it is the chance show my work to a new audience. People that might have heard about my work but have never seen it in person. 

I have a mild case of cerebral palsy. I also suffer from severe tinnitus and visual snow. Doing these displays allows me to share my messages of disability awareness- that God can and use your talents even you have a challenge or disability. It also allows me to share my faith though the church itself. My love and my passion for what we believe in. 

One of the comments that I always get is "the church is always full of people". Our parishes are struggling a lot these days. Many have stopped going to Mass for various reasons. The Project is full of people because it is a reminder of how important our faith is to us. But it is also a prayer that more people would come home to the faith. That our parishes would be filled again. For me the project is a creative way to reach out to people. I don't see the church as it is. But rather how it *should* be.

I close this blog post with this: The Lego Church Project is a deep passion of mine. I am building faith one brick at a time. I enjoy the building of it. I enjoy sharing it. I am thankful to any place willing to host a display. Along with the people willing to help to make sure that happens. 

-JM

Miss Donna

Yesterday morning my elderly neighbor Miss Donna returned to Christ at the young age of 78. I knew for for about 9 and a half years. Shortly after I moved into the complex. She was a fiery German who was rather quick to tell you how it was. Even if you did not like the message. Yet if she let you into her world she was your family. You could count on her just as much as she counted on you. From the stories she shared it sounded like she had one heck of an adventure in this life. I'm blessed that she got to see me and Kat together. In fact she took Kat under her wing and really became another Grandmother to us both. Donna was truly a blessing in our lives. While we will both be sad that she is no longer here. Her memory lives on in our hearts. Knowing that she is no longer suffering. I thank God for the time we were friends with her. She was an amazing person. God grant you rest my friend. You earned it.

-JM

My Faith

My Catholic faith is the center of who I am as a person. It is the foundation of what makes me whole. It has guided me though some of the the most trying times of my existence. It has helped me celebrate when times have gone well. It also gives me the proper foundation on my own political views. Putting Christ first allows me to put elements of my life into proper perspective and is not some kind of "cop-out". Rather to surrender to Christ is one of the most hardest things an human can do. Because of our nature we want to be in complete control. In fact I would challenge more to do what I have chosen to do. It also gives me much needed wisdom and understanding of what goes on. I don't consider myself blinded by the single political party mentality that has gripped our nation as of late. My reasons for not supporting a single party are long and deep. But at the core of those reasons is how important my Catholic faith is to me and the values that they hold. So I gladly put my faith in Christ above all else. Because nations will come and they will go. But in the end Christ will always remain.

-JM

Poetry

Back in the day I use to be way more of a writer than I am now. Part of me would like to get back into it. I found it was a creative release and another way to explore some issues. The following is a brand new poem that I wrote the other day.

A Father's Shadow

JM Kraemer

At the time of my birth,

I was held in his arms.

Resting in my father's shadow.

As I grow and as I learn

Lessons that he has passed to me.

I crawl in my father's shadow

As a teen I am one to test limits,

Yet the lessons still remain,

I walk in my father's shadow.

As an adult I still have much to learn,

Passing along the wisdom he has gained

I still am in my father's shadow.

As I grow older with wisdom of my own,

The thoughts and words that I use.

I am passing my father's shadow.

At this I now fully understand,

What all those lessons have prepared me for.

I have left my father's shadow.

As I age with the passing of time.

It dawns on me this simple reality,

I have become my father's shadow.

Displays

One of the neat aspects of the Lego Church Project is that I do take this on the road. My feeling is that this project is a work of God. He is using my talents in an amazing and very creative way. This project isn't something that should be hidden. But something that needs to be shared with others. To show people that even if you have a disability or other challenge that God can and will use your talents in amazing and very creative ways.

One of those challenges for me is that I do not drive. I need help with transport for any display that I want to do. This means that any host site would need to provide transport for the project and in most cases myself so I can be there to over see things. This post is about the types of displays I can do. What kind of set up I need. What my transportation requirements are.

Types of Displays

Most of the time my displays fall into one of two types:

Single event: These are the Bazaars, craft shows, special events or functions. Set up could be the night before with the event happening the next day. Project would go home after the event was finished. I would be present so I can keep and eye on things and answer any questions that people might have.

Multi week/weekend run: Several of my parish displays (Christ the Good Shepherd, St. John XXIII, All Saints Parish) are multi weekend runs. This is where I set up the project up and then check it out once a week. Usually before and after the Mass(es) at the parish. How many weeks/weekend the project stays at the location is at the site's request. Personally I find that two weekends is a decent run. Though it can be longer if needed.

Setup needs

For the displays I need a folding/card table and access to an electrical outlet. Table needs to be medium sized but something that can support something that is about 47x25x25 inches. In most cases I will have my own extension cord. 

Transportation needs

The hardest part of any project season is not the build. It's finding locations to display my work and figuring out how to get the project and me out to the site. So for this season I am asking for help in this part. That way I can do more displays.


Project needs: The project sits on a 48x26in plywood board. Height is about 25 inches give or take. In most cases the project will fit in a normal SUV/mini van/small pickup truck. Just need to make sure the project is protected from sliding off the board. 

As far as moving the project. This project weighs about 40lbs or so. Because of it's size it does require two people to move it. If you have a cart that would also make things easier.


For the builder: Single event displays I will need to be picked up before the event starts and taken to the site. After the event is finished we will need to take the project back to my home location. 

For parish displays I would like to be around for the Saturday and Sunday Morning Mass. So I would need a ride there and back. If your parish has more than one Sunday Mass, need to be there for the earliest service and then be taken home after the last Mass. If your parish has a Sunday evening Mass. I don't need to be present for that. 

If anyone is interested in hosting or can help with transport, just drop me an e-mail to kc8wzm@gmail.com and we can work out the finer details.

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Important Links!

The Lego Church Project (FB Page)

Twitter: @kc8wzm

EMAIL: kc8wzm@gmail.com

Donations! (PayPal)

What can you do to help?

those who hate us

“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

In this life their will always be those who look down on you for what you have chosen to believe. This is not the usual level of disagreement. But rather profound and rather venomous contempt for the very core values that you practice. If anything social media has done much to make such hatred more apparent.

Lately I've had more than a few encounters with some members of various "Christian" groups. With one fellow specifically saying he "hates the Roman Catholic Church". He feels justified in his hate because he claims he use to be Catholic. The ones that I have encountered all use the same one track mind. Quote the Bible chapter and verse and then ignore any counter points that you may have to offer. Even if you offer up a Biblical explanation for the Catholic faith. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. Pretty much the same debate over and over.

I have to openly wonder if these people truly believe on their own that the Catholic faith is evil. Or have they been mislead by some powerful and out right dangerous element that they don't realize. Even those who have left the faith and then go on to attack us. As if doing so just adds more validity to their arguments. No matter what the reasons for their dislike of us. Those who go on the attack have bigger issues than what they believe the Catholic faith to be.

Some time ago I made a decision that I would stop engaging these people unless it could not be avoided. Even then I would not stoop to their level and go on the attack. I will of course point out things that need to be shown. But instead I would rather put my efforts into praying for them. Even the fellow I mentioned above. The reality is that many people attack what they think the Catholic faith is. However what they are attacking is an illusion that they themselves have created. They have allowed their hearts to be corrupted and have decided to twist the Bible to serve their own personal agendas. To justify their hate of anything that does not conform to their world view. These are the people I pray for the most. Because unless you have chosen to walk in the path that is the Catholic Church. To embrace it completely. Then you really have no idea what it means to be Catholic.

-JM

The Mission

I often say that their is a mission with my work. That the building itself is only part of the story.

The entire core idea is about raising awareness for those who have some kind of disability. Such as those that are more invisible like mine. I was born with a mild form of cerebral palsy. Not many people fully understand all the ins and outs connected to it. No matter how you slice it I am unable to work. Instead I focus my efforts on other areas. My feeling is that if God has been kind enough to give me this amazing talent then it is something that I need to share. To show others that even if you have some kind of challenge God can still use your talents. Often those talents are used in amazing and creative ways.

The other focus is showing and giving a reminder of how important the Mass is to the Catholic faith. Our parishes are the backbone of our lives. It is not just a place we meet every weekend. It is a place where we come to celebrate Christ and to rebuild our faith from all the stuff that goes on in a typical week. The Catholic Mass is one of the most amazing and beautiful things one can take part in. Because of the rich history that is contained with in. My project is a snapshot of that parish life. That is played out at parishes all over the world. The project in that respect has become prayer. That more people would come home and that people would be reminded of how important the Mass is. How important is to take a more active role in our parish communities.

This is my mission in this life. This is why I keep doing this year after year. This is why I want to share my work with others. This is The Lego Church Project.

-JM

Season 18 Update

The Season 18 project is coming along decently enough. Fifteen days in and I'm farther along than I expected to be. Things have been going decent enough so far but I have a lot of work between here and now.

This project has been a rather fun mix of old ideas revisit and new ideas yet to be tried. But so far the keeping in line with the vision I had when I started out. Fan of the project will note that I'm using a window design by the alter is a lot like what I did on the Season 13 project. This goes back into the history and was a common feature of previous builds. Something I happened to like. Though it wasn't the plan starting out. The benches are a pretty simple build for the most part. Same style I've used for years. If I could ever get enough parts or a major donation I wouldn't mind upgrading to something that I'm using for the ensemble music group. A lot simpler to build but would require more plates and hinges than what I have on hand. Not even sure what the bricklink prices are on those parts to be honest.

The long read beams were done by mixing plates together. This is done for support because those beams also mark the main area of the church. The beams in this case also support balcony and the bell towers. So far this project has the record for the longest beams ever built. In fact I pretty much wiped out my collection of red plates doing this. Unless I happen to find some extra buried in the one tub I have all the red bricks in.

This project is extremely ambitions. Even with the stuff I've added recently I will probably have a few issues here and there. But I have a much better handle on where the project is going than I did last week. The list of what needs to be done is rather large and may take some time. I don't have a finish date in mind just yet. But this isn't a marathon. Speed building can cause more problems than they solve. I can't wait to finish the project and I can't wait to start doing displays.

If you would like to help me out please check this page: "What can you do to help?" Or consider making a Paypal donation via this link: https://www.paypal.me/LegoChurchProject.  

-JM

Working on the Project

I always get excited when I sit down and start work on a Lego Church Project season. I never know before hand how the project will turn out. What challenges I will face in the process of building. Typical stuff that is probably common with any artist who spends time on his/her craft. Mine just happens to be using a well known brand of building toys.

The project is for me a release. It is a chance to focus all I am on that single moment. To work with my hands in ways that are not all that common. It forces me to think and to look far into the future. I often say that I go in with a "throw and go" kind of view. Meaning that I don't have much of a plan going in. To be honest that is only partly correct. Once the lay out is set you do have to have to have some kind of road map.  A vision where things will go. Giving me a chance to tell a story with my work.

It gives me a chance to confront my own fears and anxiety over life head on. The fear and anxiety that comes with this project is with the bricks themselves. Assuming that I have enough of a specific part to finish my goals. That some issues will develop with the design and I may have to scrap something for another plan. But I've been doing this for a long time. I fight the anxiety and the fear in reminding myself that I know how the previous seasons have gone. I know that if something doesn't go according to plan their is always another way to do something. I'm not sure how it is for other artists. But I know for me that sometimes things happen and you learn. Still that fear is always in the back of my mind.

Still though all the challenges I am telling a story. The bricks and parts are a mix of new and old. Some have faded with age. Some have scratches and dings from years of use. When I work on the project I'm not seeing a new building. I'm seeing a parish community that has been around for a while. That this place has been around for far longer than most realize. This parish community could be mine. It could be yours. It could be in theory any Catholic Church in the world. It is a snap shot of who we are as Catholics. Celebrating the most important part of our faith. Jesus Christ.

About eight days ago I started work on my 18th season. I have no idea where this build will take me. I've been having visions of past visits to Our Lady of Loretto in Redford. Though the layout is not connected to the parish. More along the lines of past visits that I have made. I've done two displays with them in the past and it is one of list of places I would love to go back to. Any place I've been to becomes fuel for my ideas. The build is going well so far. Not quite to the half way point as of this post. I'm not in a rush. This isn't a race for me. I want to build the best project that I am able to.

By the Grace of God, I'm still building.

-JM

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