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 |
| T6259/9964 |
Mattel Hot Wheels Elite - Ferrari 512 S 1000 Kilometres of Nurburgring #55 (1970, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Red) T6259/9964 |
New |
| T6287/9964 |
Mattel Hot Wheels Racing - Ferrari F10 Bahrain GP Edition Fernando Alonso #8 (2010, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Red) T6287/9964 |
New |
| T6288/9964 |
Mattel Hot Wheels Racing - Ferrari F10 Bahrain GP Edition Felipe Massa #7 (2010, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Red) T6288/9964 |
New |
| 185117 |
Norev Racing - ING Renault F1 Team R29 #8 (2009, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Yellow/ White) 185117 |
New |
| 185119 |
Norev Racing - Renault F1 Team Showcar #11 (2010, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Yellow/ Black) 185119 |
New |
| 18529 |
Norev Racing - Porsche RS Spyder Navi Team Goh Le Mans #5 (2009, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Red/White/Black) 187529 |
New |
| 187520 |
Norev Racing - Porsche RS Spyder Le Mans Series Team Horag #27 (2008, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Red/White) 187520 |
Restock |
| 187537 |
Norev Racing - Porsche RS Spyder Team Essex Le Mans #31 (2009, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Green/White) 187537 |
New |
| 187951 |
Norev Show Room - Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Convertible w/ Removable Bonnet (2006, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Light Blue) 187951 |
New |
| 3615 |
Sun Star Ford Legends - Ford Mustang Race Car (1971, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Sam Auxier) 3615 |
Restock |
| 4583 |
Sun Star Platinum - Mercedes-Benz Strich 8 Saloon Hard Top w/ Sunroof (1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Black) 4583 |
New |
| 5231R |
Sun Star Platinum - Oldsmobile "98" Closed Convertible (1959, 1:18 Scale Die-cast Model, Cardinal Red) 5231 |
New |
| 34092 |
Maisto Custom Shop - Ford F1 Wrecker (1948, 1:24, Asstd.) 34092 |
Restock |
| 2542D/24 |
Kinsmart - Volkswagen Classical Bus (1962, 1:64, Asstd.) 2542D/24 |
New |
| 4004DB |
Kinsmart - Funny School Bus Big Wheel (3.75", Yellow) 4004DB |
Restock |
| 5017D |
Kinsmart - Dodge Power Wagon Pickup (1:42, Asstd.) 5017D |
Restock |
| 5050D |
Kinsmart - Kenworth T2000 Tractor Trailer (1:66, Asstd.) 5050D |
Restock |
| 5091D |
Kinsmart - Ford Mustang GT Hard Top (2006, 1:38, Asstd.) 5091D |
Restock |
| 5107D |
Kinsmart - School Bus (5", Yellow) 5107D |
Restock |
| 5253D |
Kinsmart - Ice Cream Truck (5", White) 5253D |
Restock |
| 5256D |
Kinsmart - Turbo Sandrail (5", Asstd.) 5256D |
Restock |
| 5257D |
Kinsmart - Fast Food Truck (5", White) 5257D |
Restock |
| 5318/69D |
Kinsmart - BMW Z4 Coupe Hard Top and Convertible (1:32, Asstd.) 5318/69D |
Restock |
| 5319D |
Kinsmart - Ford Thunderbird Hard Top (1955,1:36, Asstd.) 5319D |
Restock |
| 5320D |
Kinsmart - Chevy Corvette Z06 Hard Top (2007, 1:36, Asstd.) 5320D |
Restock |
| 5327/3D |
Kinsmart - Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor (1:42, Asstd.) 5327/3D |
Restock |
32342GY |
Signature Models - Cadillac Sixteen (2003, 1:32, Grey) 32342GY |
Restock |
| 32398GN |
Signature Models - Packard Darrin Convertible (1941, 1:32, Green) 32398GN |
Restock |
| 32521GN |
Signature Models - Ford Model TT US Army Issued (1923, 1:32, Green) 32521GN |
Restock |
| 49720DUS |
Welly - Assorted Vehicles (1:34 - 1:39, Asstd.) 49720DUS |
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
Former Neighbor John is You
By Lu Su
Once I encountered a woman who told me that she's been reading my newsletters for years now. She told me that she enjoys reading them, concludes that I'm very philosophical, and for the most part agrees to most of what I have to say. Then she stressed, "But NOT everything!" So I must have, at one time or another, countered her convictions.
I'm okay with that. I wasn't offended or anything like that. I honestly believe that some resistance is healthy and necessary if one is to grow spiritually. It's kind of interesting that in order to grow physically strong, our body need resistance. Gravity is a form of resistance that is necessary for our physical body to stay healthy. One problem with us living out in space is that our muscles start to quickly atrophy. Without the simple resistance of gravity, in outer space the body quickly starts to lose muscle mass. I remember many decades ago seeing footage of an astronaut (or maybe cosmonaut) who was in space for an extended amount of time. After he returned to Earth, he had lost so much muscle that he couldn't even walking and even had trouble holding his head up straight.
So if we want to grow physically strong, we need resistance. Why would it be any different if we want to grow spiritually strong? For some reason, I've noticed that many people think that their spiritual journey should be effortless and thus often take the path of least resistance (e.g. opting for the pillow instead of a early worship service, a newspaper instead of a good book). I'm reminded of this famous quote about resistance. I had thought this quote was originally from Conan the Barbarian, but it's actually from a German philosopher.
"that which does not kill us makes us stronger." -Friedrich Nietzsche
So it seems for us to grow both physically and spiritually strong, we need to engage in a regular and regimented amount of exercise -and not to the point that it kill us. You also have to keep in mind that not all exercises are beneficial. Push ups and pull ups in outer space, even with 25 pound weights strapped around your ankles, don't benefit your muscles. What I am saying you need to be particular and selective.
The way I give my spiritual muscle a workout is by reading the Bible. I frequently come across passages of Scripture that rubs me the wrong way or sometimes think it's just flat out wrong. You could even say that at times, I butt heads with God. In the past, when I was young, any passage that I didn't like I would just dismiss or conclude that it didn't apply to me. But I now no longer approach the Scriptures that way. I now know that if I am able to overcome what I think wrong or inconsistent, it'll eventually bring my spiritual walk closer to God.
Think about this. How is it possible that if my small brain can barely understand the coefficient of friction or how light behaves like both a wave and a particle, which are two relatively simple physical truths, then what is the likelihood that I'll understand spiritual truths the first time?
At least with the coefficient of friction and properties of light, I have the tools of science to help me understand (barely) these truths. But when it comes to spiritual truths where I don't have these nifty tools called math and science to assist, what is the chances that my thinking, reasoning, and perspective can perfectly square with God's?
This reminds me of a conversation that Jesus had with this fellow named Nicodemous about 2000 years ago. This man was a very learned man, who pretty much dedicated himself in the study and teaching of the Scripture (Old Testament). He had the benefit of the Scriptures in written form, a top rate education, and excellent instructors to help guide him. During Nicodemous' time, he was probably one of the most studied and knowledgeable men in Jerusalem and its suburbs. And this is Jesus reply to him:
I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? -John 3:12
The Bible is God's word to us. It's not only the source of the Judeo Christian world view (i.e. providing answers to origin, morality, meaning, and destiny), the Bible reveals God's character -what he likes, what upsets him, and how he wants us to live. Since our ways and philosophy is unlikely to match God's, it should be expected that we will have some disagreements when we delve into his word..
Here is a passage that is challenging to accept no matter where you are on your spiritual journey. As it is written:
“There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.” -Romans 3:10-12
If you ask people, "What happens after we die?" (a destiny question), most will shift the subject to morality (how "good" of a person they are or try to be). The very first sentence in the passage above directly refutes that. It firmly states that there isn't one good (righteous) person.
“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. -Mark 10:18
Even if the entire school thinks that Ferris Bueller is a righteous dude, this Bible says he's not. Realize that for you to say that something is "good", you are making a moral judgment that something is better than another thing. Because the God of the Bible often uses the concept of marriage to express intimate relationship he wants to have with you and I (Isaiah 49:18, Jeremiah 2:2, Matt 9:15), God uses himself (the partner) as the standard of comparison and not the morally corrupt or highly deficient persons you want to compare yourself to in order to look good. "Well, I'm way better person than Dilbert's boss".
I know our Muslim neighbors believe that Allah is all powerful and merciful, but to speak about God in terms of love and a marriage partner can actually be considered a bit insolent and even disrespectful. Buddhists, Zen Buddhist, Taoists, followers of The Secret, and Jedi Knights cannot related to God as an intimate being, because the creative power or energy that is "out there" is an impersonal force (like gravity). A force has no feelings right?
"There is no one who seeks God." When I first read that, I initially found it hard to stomach. Come on, nobody seeks God? There is no one that does good? What about all those people in convents, seminary, churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples? None of them are seeking God? Many of these people have dedicated their life to seeking something. But the passage tells us that none seek God.
This is where my former neighbor John's behavior might shed some light on this passage. If you recall, John was married to Lisa for a reason. Did John seek Lisa? Or did John seek Lisa's things? To me, John only seem to be in a relationship with her, in order to gain access to something he thought Lisa possessed. John was seeking something. But in my opinion he only had sought to use the marriage relationship with Lisa as a stepping stone to what he was truly seeking. My guess is that John sought being a respected restaurateur again. He sought the fame and the life style that he once had. Do you realize the risk God takes when he loves us? That you will prefer the gift more than the giver.
Are we so different than John? Do we seek God? Or do we seek God's things (i.e. eternal life, material wealth, spiritual understand, health, healing, wisdom, help when we are in trouble)? If we could not obtain God's things, would we be like John and dump God?
I feel that to a certain extent Atheists do this. In their mind God MUST behave in a certain way that they define. They define what God is like. They define what God must do. If God does not do or provide what they are looking for, they conclude that God must not exist and dump God.
Whenever you read the Bible and you see the words, "It is written", it's a tip that a reference to an older part of Scripture is being made. In the passage above, the apostle Paul is quoting King David who said,
The fool says in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.
The LORD looks down from heaven
on all mankind
to see if there are any who understand,
any who seek God.
All have turned away, all have become corrupt;
there is no one who does good,
not even one. -Psalms 14:1-3
So Atheists do not seek God. The Bible calls them fools. But are you and I any better? This is a kind of downer way to end the article by telling people that we're no better than my former neighbor John, we are no good (unrighteous), and none of us seek God. But despite our faults, despite our misdeeds, and despite the evil in us, I do have good news to share. Despite of ourselves, God loves us and wants to have a relationship with us. When you truly start understanding this, you start asking yourself, "Who am I that God should desire me?"
But It's all captured in the Christmas story. Stay tuned next week.
