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Toy Wonders New Arrivals

April 23, 2010

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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
Free Figure Special on going promotion. Place an online order and get a free Motorhead single pack scale figure. Free figure is limited to figures in this category: Motorhead Single Packs . Just place one in your shopping cart. When you check out and at the end of the order, we'll automatically apply a credit for a free figure. Offer is for online orders only. Note that the order for the figure must be placed with your online order; Toy Wonders will not retroactively apply this offer. New
12660/48 Greenlight Muscle Car Garage - Street & Strip Series 8 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 12660/48 Special Price
Limited 1 week offer
while supplies last.
50156C RC2 Johnny Lightning JL 60s Sizzle (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 50156C Special Price
Limited 1 week offer
while supplies last.
50425 RC2 Johnny Lightning JL Holiday Classic 2007 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 50425 Special Price
Limited 1 week offer
while supplies last.
50899B RC2 Johnny Lightning JL Modern Muscle R2 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd. B) 50899B Special Price
Limited 1 week offer
while supplies last.
53970A RC2 Johnny Lightning JL Muscle Car - Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (1984, 1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Silver Chrome) 53970A Special Price
Limited 1 week offer
while supplies last.
40200/12 Castline M2 Machines - Detroit-Muscle Plymouth HEME Cuda Hard Top & Auto-Thentics Chevy 210 Hard Top (1971/ 1957, 1:24, Asstd.) 40200/12 New
11228/06 Castline M2 Machines - Drivers Release 6 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 11228/06 New
31500/11 Castline M2 Machines Auto-Thentics - Release 11 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 31500/11 New
31500/12 Castline M2 Machines Auto-Dreams - Release 12 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 31500/12 New
31700/03 Castline M2 Machines - Auto-Drags Release 3 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 31700/03 New
81161/02 Castline M2 Machines - Ground Pounders w/ Engine Blower Release 2 (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) 81161/02 New
P6745/999D Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Toon Charactoer Vehicle Assortment (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) P6745/999D New
P6745/999E Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Toon Charactoer Vehicle Assortment (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) P6745/999E New
P6745/999N Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Toon Charactoer Vehicle Assortment (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) P6745/999N New
P7001/999G Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment G (3", Asstd.) P7001/999G New
P7001/999K Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars w/ Eyes Change Assortment K (3", Asstd.) P7001/999K New
L8788/996P Mattel Hot Wheels Batman - Batmobile Assortment (1:50, Asstd. P) L8788/996P New
L8788/996Q Mattel Hot Wheels Batman - Batmobile Assortment (1:50, Asstd. Q) L8788/996Q New
N5531/999N Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Oversized Vehicle Assortment (4", Asstd.) N5531/999N New
N5531/999Q Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Oversized Vehicle Assortment (4", Asstd.) N5531/999Q New
N5531/999P Mattel Disney Pixar - Cars Oversized Vehicle Assortment (4", Asstd.) N5531/999P New
N0490/946B Mattel Hot Wheels - Ferrari 5 Pack (1:64 Scale Die-Cast Model, Asstd.) N0490/946B New
T5193/996A Mattel Hot Wheels - Ferrari Assortment (1:43, Asstd.) T5193/996A New
N8049/999A Mattel Disney Pixar - R/C Lightning McQueen (8.5", Asstd.) N8049/999A New
P6340/9993 Mattel Hot Wheels - R/C Racing Indy Car Series (1:12, Asstd.) P6340/9993 New
5059DF Kinsmart - Mini Cooper S (1:28, Asstd.) 5059DF Restock
5060D Kinsmart - Volkswagen Classic Bus (1962, 1:32, Asstd.) 5060D Restock
5096D Kinsmart - Opel Speedster Turbo Convertible (2003, 1:32, Asstd.) 5096D Restock
5255D Kinsmart - Tacos Truck (5", Asstd.) 5255D Restock
5256D Kinsmart - Turbo Sandrail (5", Asstd.) 5256D New
5335D Kinsmart - Audi TT Coupe Hard Top (2008, 1:32, Asstd.) 5335D Restock

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Thank you

Lu Su
Toy Wonders, Inc.
www.toywonders.com
201-229-1700

Lu Su

God and the Art of Toy and Diecast Marketing
Render unto God the things that are God's (part 1 of 2)
By Lu Su

 

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" -Matthew 22:15-17

Even people who do not know anything about the Bible, know the reply.

"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's." -Matthew 22:21

For me, the old school version (The King James Version) is far more catchier.

"Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

But we don't seem to "render" too much these days, so I understand the need for a more modern translation. I have a strong hunch that although most people know the reply by heart, most people don't understand the reply. So let's investigate this. Allow me to give you the back drop of events and the motley cast of characters surrounding this question.

The question on whether it "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" was designed to inflict harm. The question was given to Jesus. Today, it's like asking a candidate running for office what their opinion on abortion is. It's a polarizing type of question designed to get at least half of constituents angry at you.

The question was asked while Jesus was in the temple courts and while the public was around him. It's the last week of Jesus' ministry and just three days before the Jewish Passover. Incidentally, this question was asked right before the afterlife question; but by a different cast of characters (i.e. a different group of religious folk).

Jesus really annoyed an angered all the influential religious groups of his day. Jesus didn't do things their way. He just didn't fit into their mold. Actually, he didn't fit into anyone's mold. But Jesus didn't seem to have any problems getting along with irreligious folk. In fact he talked, taught, and even ate with the irreligious -something very religious didn't do back then (and even today).

I find it interesting that every time a movie comes out that depicts the crucifixion of Jesus, there often seems to be some public opposition. Often they will then advocate that the movie should be banned, because it may stir up anti semitic feelings. I find this to be the wrong group to implicate. At the time there were far more Jews that preferred Jesus alive than dead. If you want to point a finger at a particular group, the group that was most responsible for orchestrating Jesus' death was the ultra religious. It wasn't the irreligious folk that orchestrated Jesus' death. It was the religious groups. That's right; the people that prayed regularly, fasted, gave money to the poor, and read the Scriptures would be a better group to go after.

So the text said that disciples of the Pharisees came with the Herodians. I'll get back to the Pharisees; most people have heard of them. But who were the Herodians? The Herodians were more of a political group than a religious one; this group had allied itself with the Herods who were the regional puppet kings in the area -and thus they indirectly represented Imperial Rome. It's interesting to note that many of the Herodians actually believed that Herod the Great was the promised Messiah. Why it was important to have a Herodian representative there will be revealed later.

Herod the Great was very cruel, constantly sought power, and constantly sought ways to keep his power. He even murdered his own family because he got fearful of some of them. Herod was a talented politician. He had managed to stay in power despite several changes of administration in Rome (an Alan Greenspan of his day, but evil). Herod was also a great builder. He would build these great and magnificent structures (some of which are still around today) and dedicate them to key people who could ruin his life. One of his great projects included the expansion and embellishing the 2nd temple of Israel. This is the one Jesus walks into and calls "My Father's House".

The Pharisees at that time were the largest sect. Unlike the Sadducees which was another sect that you encountered a couple of weeks ago, the Sadducees were comprised of the high priests and mainly members of the aristocracy; the Pharisees were the religious leaders of most of the working class. As a side note, about 35 years later in 70 AD, the Second Temple would be destroyed. During this event, the Sadducees went extinct, but the Pharisaic sect would re-established its doctrine as Rabbinic Judaism. This sect would then ultimately form the normative traditional Judaism which is the basis for all contemporary forms of Judaism found today.

Notice before the question, "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" the questioner attempts to flatter Jesus. The strategy is to pretend that you are on their side, get them to lower their guard, and then hit them with a sucker punch. This technique typically works well on men who seek power; because men that often want to climb to the top usually have ego insecurity issues -that's what feeds their drive. But Jesus is no ordinary man. In the passage, note how the most religious and influential group of the time described Jesus:

1) He's a teacher.
2) Man of Integrity.
3) Teacher in the way of God in accordance with the truth.
4) Not swayed by men.


But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" -Matthew 22: 18-20

You can tell by Jesus' reaction that the question is more than just a polarizing type of question. Typically leaders don't start replies with "You hypocrite". (I think for fun, in the next Presidential election we should make it a rule that every candidate before giving an answer that seldom answers the question, they have to start their reply by insulting the questioner with a unique name -with "You hypocrite" already taken.)

But to be fair, isn't the question "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" a reasonable question? A straight "yes" or "no" would suffice to answer the question. But Jesus knows their intention and knows the question was designed to ensnare him. "Why are you trying to trap me?" This question was more than a simple question to make Jesus look bad. The question was actually lethal. But how is this question a lethal trap?

So now that you have been introduced to the cast, next week let's look at the trap, the reply, and how the answer relates to us.

 

 

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