Dear Customers,
A few shipments arrived this week. If you log into your account at www.toywonders.com, before clicking on any of the links below, approved wholesale accounts will see wholesale pricing.
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DIECAST Collectible
Model Cars And More
| Item# |
Description |
Stock
Status |
| 5302R |
Sun Star Mini - Austin Se7en De Luxe Hard Top (1960, 1:12, Tartan Red) 5302 |
New |
| 2701SV |
Sun Star - De Lorean LK (1981, 1:18, Stainless Steel Finish) 2701 |
Restock |
| 4541BU |
Sun Star USA - Ford Falcon Hard Top (1963, 1:18, Blue) 4541 |
New |
| 5141W |
Sun Star Platinum - Mercury Montclair Hard Top (1956, 1:18, Persimmon & White) 5141W |
Restock |
| 5172 |
Sun Star Platinum - Pontiac Bonneville Hard top (1959, 1:18, Cameo Ivory/ Silvermist Gray Metallic) 5172 |
New |
| 24010 |
Sun Star Vitesse - Back To The Future Part II DeLorean (1:43, Stainless Steel) 24010 |
Restock |
| 24030 |
Sun Star Vitesse - Green Hornet 'Black Beauty' (1:43, Black) 24030 |
New |
| CSM1010 |
JLP CSM - Buick Enclave SUV (1:18, Gun Metal) CSM1010 |
New |
| PP355CDSET |
Crystal Clear Display Case w/ Mirror & Wood Base (1:18) PP355CDSET |
Restock |
| PP355CSET |
Crystal Clear Display Case w/ Wood Base (1:18) PP355CSET |
Restock |
| 4102D |
Dream Car (3.5", Asstd.) 4102D |
Restock |
| 5097D |
Kinsmart - Hummer H2 SUT Pickup (2005, 1:40, Asstd.) 5097D |
Restock |
| 5331D |
Kinsmart - Chevy Nomad (1955, 1:32, Asstd.) 5331D |
Restock |
| P7001/999Q |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7001/999Q |
New |
| P7001/999R |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7001/999R |
New |
| P7001/999S |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment S (3", Asstd.) P7001/999S |
New |
| P7001/999V |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7001/999V |
New |
| P7001/999T |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7001/999T |
New |
| P7121/999F |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Checklane w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7121/999F |
New |
| P7121/999G |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Checklane w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7121/999G |
New |
| P7121/999J |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Checklane w/ Eyes Change Assortment (3", Asstd.) P7121/999J |
New |
| T8450/956B |
Mattel Hot Wheels - Vintage Racing Assortment (3", Asstd.) T8450/956B |
New |
| T8450/956C |
Mattel Hot Wheels - Vintage Racing Assortment (3", Asstd.) T8450/956C |
New |
| N5531/998B |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Oversized Vehicle Assortment (4", Asstd.) N5531/998B |
New |
| P6746/999S |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Toon Mega Size Vehicle Assortment S (1:64, Asstd.) P6746/999S |
New |
| P6746/999T |
Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Toon Mega Size Vehicle Assortment T (1:64, Asstd.) P6746/999T |
New |
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Thank you
Lu Su
Toy Wonders, Inc.
www.toywonders.com
201-229-1700
God and the Art of Toy and Diecast Marketing
Stop Stealing from God (part 1 of 2)
By Lu Su
How is your current relationship with God going? Are you like Lucifer, who once adored God, but has now fallen away? Perhaps you know about God, but can't say that you have a relationship with God? One simple way to know if you have a relationship with a person is to figure out whether your understanding of that person's likes and dislikes is increasing or not. Like our human relationships, the better we get to know a person, the more attuned to what pleases or upsets that person.
Contrary to how Agnostics think, who claim God is unknowable, you can know and have a growing relationship with God. This is because for reasons unknown to me, the God of the universe has chosen to reveal himself. For the vast majority of the people here on Earth, God has chosen to reveal himself through the Holy Scriptures. I know for many, this is probably not your preferred method, because it involves effort. Who would think that in order to grow a relationship it would involve some effort? Maybe that explains why our divorce rate is so high in this country.
One of my son's was watching this infomercial that he found hilarious. It's some As Seen on TV gismo you strap to your stomach and this device, without any effort or strain on your part, is suppose to tighten your muscles. So you just strap this device on, turn on the TV, plunk your big butt down on the couch, crack open that half a gallon of ice-cream, and soon you'll have 6-pack abs of steel. No effort required. These gimmicky items sell so well in America because so many of us want to have a good thing, but-without the effort. I think this type of thinking spills over into our interpersonal relationship. You know it's bad when our personal relationships with our family member(s) get messed up; But, I assure you (according to the Bible) it will be much worse for you when your relationship with God goes awry.
From my encounters, I see that people often confuse knowing about God for having a relationship with God. Lucifer knows more about God than all the theologians put together. I would dare say that this fallen angel also knows the Scriptures far better than any human; For one, he's in the script and two, he's had a long time to study them. I also see this in very religious people; They know about God, practice many routines, but don't seem to be in a relationship with God. Then I also see this on the opposite spectrum; people who claim they are not religious but very spiritual. So you desire to be "spiritual" without having any relationship with God? (So, I will then often ask them if they are they a Jedi Knight?). What is common to both groups is no personal relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If your relationship with God seems to have stagnated as time advances, might I suggest that God's prophet Malachi's message may have been written for you.
Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ -Malachi 3:7
This special offer will expire one day. And it's not an offer given to anyone. I bet Lucifer himself would like in on this offer -now that Scriptures are complete and he's read what happens in the end (the end of a new beginning). Realize that this offer is more than just a pardon. God wants us back and wants to fully restore us. This is a generous and almost unbelievable offer -that God would take us back. If you read on, Malachi immediately tells us that our thieving ways is hampering our return. Like God's people 2500 years ago, God's people today want to be "innocent until proven guilty". Malachi is very direct and tells us how we steal from God.
“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. -Malachi 3:8-9
Wow, how is that fair? Freddie over there, steals from God and both you and I get put under cursed too? Can't God just curse Freddie? Why do innocent people who are not robbing God also get a bum deal? The answer is because of how sin works and because we are "One nation under God." (I just wanted to sneak that last line in before our country bans me from saying or writing it). Now it is very important that you realize that Malachi's message is not for everyone in the nation. It's designed only for God's people.
Now a reasonable question to ask here is, "Why do I have to stop stealing in order for me to return to God?". The answer is analogous to a husband and wife who have been separated because of, say, the man's infidelity (unfaithfulness). Can the man return to his wife, but continue his affair? The answer is no, not if the wife (or God) is righteous.
God probably knew that most of us would not be rocket scientists and would have a difficult time figuring out how we are robbing God. So he tells us directly. In the "tithes and offerings". God's people are shorting God on his share. God's frustration is understandable here. If you and I are 50/50 partners on a business venture together and say we have a good year and make a wind fall profit of 10 cents by the end of the year. If I divvy up the profit and keep 8 cents and give you only 2 cents, you most likely would get upset. Understandably, you aren't upset over the money, your upset over the unquotable distribution. God seems so upset and frustrated with us that he actually throws down a challenge.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. -Malachi 3:10
2500 years ago, most of God's people were in an agricultural business. Most of the wealth back then were derived from flocks, farming, and through trade. So hence the metaphors about storehouses and food. A tithe is simply a portion (typically 10%) of what you have received. An offering is sacrifice (time and/or asset) that is voluntarily given back to God.
Now the tendency here, particularly for those people who are not in a close relationship with God, is to become legalistic and bean counter like. But don't get me wrong, it's better be lawyer or an accountant than nothing at all (much better than a toy salesman these days). But then questions like, what is God's fair share? Is a tithe calculated before or after taxes? Let me calculate God's share and pay it back begrudgingly. What often ends up is a type of relationship with God that is a kin to the same relationship they have with the IRS -very frigid like. I'll return a portion of the money back, but not a penny more. This is not the loving relationship God is looking for. When I read the Scriptures, my understanding about tithes and offerings is that 1) it's a mandatory requirement for God's people. So if you are not a follower of God, you are totally exempt. And 2) God leave it up to us on how generous or frugal we want to be about it.
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. I am the LORD your God.’” -Leviticus 23:22
Most of us don't farm for a living, so many of us might not know what a gleaning is. Whenever you harvest a crop, there is always some of the harvest that doesn't make it into the bin or into your storehouse and remains on the field. So in this one sentence ordinance give us, we learn three things. The first is that is is a requirement to be followed by God's people (I am the LORD your God). Second, God has compassion for the poor and the foreigners residing among us and wants his people to help provide. Certainly an all powerful God could make money appear in poor people's pockets and in pockets with people with strange last names. But God expects us to help provide. And finally, God doesn't dictate to us how much we need to give -but that we are to give.
God just said to not reap to the very edges of our field. This portion of the harvest is for those less fortunate than you. Perhaps for me that means when I break out my old John Deere tractor during harvest time, I'm going to keep my tractor 10 feet from the edges of my field. Perhaps you are far more generous. Your field is twice as large as mine and you keep your tractor 15 feet away from the edges. So in addition to leaving the edges of the fields unharvested, we are to give a small portion of our harvest to the disadvantaged living among us. So when you do give, just remember how poor and how foreign we once were to God without Christ.
Okay, I think this is how some readers are taking all this. God's wants me to Return. Got it. I need to stop shorting God on the tithes and offerings. Got it. If I give more in the tithes and offerings, God is going to bless, lift the curse, and I'm going to be better off. Here, you need to be very careful, because it borders on following the letter of the law without following the spirit of the law. You need to watch that you are not following God's ordinance with the ultimate intention of using the ordinance to meet some selfish desire.
From my observation, there seems to be a total disconnect between tithes & offerings and the way many of God's people live. I think you will soon see, we're not that much different than God's people who lived a few thousand years before us. Since most of us learn faster from mistakes that were made, let's look at one man's single error that cost him his life and his entire family's lives.
Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” -Joshua 5:13
More next time.
