How a Young Kid May Have Inspired the "Star Wars Lego" Franchise

This is not me. Not at all.

It was back in the 90's. I was a young kid who enjoyed the simpler things the 90's had to offer. I loved computer games, playing outside, riding my bike or rollerblading, building Legos, watching tv and movies and all things Star Wars.

Everything seemed simpler back then. Star Wars was only 1 trilogy, Nickelodeon was still airing amazing shows and Lego sets consisted of Pirates, Underwater Divers (Aquasharks are the best!), Cowboys and other generic sets. I loved my Lego sets, I would sit in my room and build and build and build. I eventually started to make cheesy stop animation movies and was even subscribed to the Official Lego Magazine which I looked forward to often.

One day I got this bright idea out of nowhere. I loved watching Star Wars. I had Star Wars books about characters, vehicles, encyclopedias filled with Star Wars knowledge. I loved Legos and I loved building with them and playing with them and making awesome things with them. Wait a minute - What if they made Star Wars Legos?

Scoring Points for the Afterlife

This is something that I have been thinking about for a long time. It is something that I frequently encounter on the streets by Christians and non-Christians alike. Personally, I find it frightening that non-Christians think this way and even more frightened that Christians think this way too. What I am talking about is the idea that somehow we can work our way to Heaven. The thought that if we can do enough good things, they will somehow outweigh or cancel out the bad, horrible things that we have done here in our time on Earth.

I generally find that strong, mature Christians do not buy into this as much. However, it needs to be pointed out that this belief is completely false. It does not matter how many good things you do, you are still guilty. I think that part of the reason this is the case is because our culture in inundated with this thinking.

Take a portion from Weird Al's parody "Amish Paradise" for example. Read the lyrics below and you'll see what I mean.

Hitchin' up the buggy, churnin' lots of butter
Raised the barn on Monday, soon I'll raise another
Think you're really righteous? Think you're pure in heart?
Well, I know I'm a million times as humble as thou art
I'm the pious guy the little Amlettes wanna be like
On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
So don't be vain and don't be whiny
Or else, my brother, I might have to get medieval on your hiney

This song (although a parody) is a secular take at Christian life (albeit Amish) and this portion of quoted lyric is an example of how secular non-Christian people view salvation in Christ.

Paul addresses this clearly for us in Ephesians 2:8-9 where he writes, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

When Paul is speaking of works in verse 9 he is specifically talking about the Jewish customs that one performed in service to God. Paul is writing the church at Ephesus so they know that they haven't been enabled to go to Heaven because they have completed certain religious achievements but because Christ's substitutionary death on the cross atoned for their sins. Just like Christ's death atoned for the sins of the Ephesians, it atones for our sins as well, today.

Christ will judge both the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5) and the judgment is based on your standing with Him. Are you reconciled to Him or not? Are you forgiven of your sin or not? Are you adopted by the Father or not? Has your sin been removed from your account or not? Is your rap sheet clean or not?

To continue the thought of being judged consider this: You are standing before Christ, the judge, in His court of law. He has all the evidence you could ever want: eyewitness testimony, pictures, video, audio, he knows your thoughts and your heart while you did everything sinful. There is no question, you are guilty of the sin you have committed. You are about to be sentenced, the gavel is about to be slammed down but you object. You say, "Well, what if I can do more good things that will outweigh all of the crimes that I have been charged with?" Do you realize what you are doing? You are bribing the judge with your "good works."

You cannot bribe the judge (especially a judge who is completely good, righteous, just and will not compromise his ways)! If you bribe the judge it usually means you get thrown into prison quicker! This is all assuming that you could somehow outweigh the bad with good deeds.

This is why non-believers are hopelessly lost. If you are reading this and you aren't a Christian and you have thought this way, you need to realize your error. Your crimes aren't going to be erased because you set out to do "good things," not here on Earth and not later when you will be judged for those things.

So how can you stand before a Holy God and have any hope to enter into Heaven? You have to have your rap sheet wiped clean. You need to have your sins pardoned. You need to take your case to the cross.

God says that he "is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9) God doesn't want his favorite creation to suffer an eternal death in Hell, separated from Him. He instead wants us to turn away from our sin and turn towards Him. God wants us to stop loving our sin, and start loving Himself. That is what repentance is.

Turn away from what is hindering you from following and loving God supremely and "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)

The afterlife isn't based on "points" or a "grade." It is pass or fail.

Project: Quotations

As I haven't had a real blog in a long time, I figures this would be a good way to accomplish this and celebrate the new year! Yay! Anyways, late 2009 myself and some fellow Bloggers got together and created an entirely new blog.

This new blog is entirely dedicated to providing quotes on a weekly basis that will meet the Christian where they are at or challenge them in their walk. We have all sorts of topics from apologetical, theological and even practical quotes that can help the Christian in their walk. Additionally, we cite all of our sources so if there is a quote or author that you particularly like you can find enough information about the book to acquire it yourself.

You can find that blog over at projectquotations.blogspot.com. We are all thoroughly excited about this project as we use this to equip the body and grow in each of our walks in the Lord.

Reading List

WHY is my blog reading list empty?? I am not following any of the blogs I was following before! My world is over!! NOOOOO!!!

Celebrate!

Is this real
I hope it's not fake
Just a dream, don't let me wake
Hands down
Hands down
You're the best I've ever found
And I celebrate the day
That I met you, That I met you
You and me, can change the world
Move a mountain, the impossible
Is unbound, hands down
You're the best I've ever found
and I celebrate the day
That I met you, that I met you
The impossible is possible
The unthinkable is coming true
And I celebrate the day
that I met you, that I met you.

-Bleach

The One Blog Post of June

After meeting with my staff, we have decided that it is best to only have one blog post for the entire month of June. Research has shown the average mouse clicks double in June, so we here at "I'll think of something witty eventually" are going Green and helping cut down on unnecessary mouse clicks by posting everything that is of importance in this one blog post. Check back for updates later!

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6/1/2009
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The most significant event of this month would be the one that kicked every other event off. My birth! This month I turned a whopping 23 years old and have pre-ordered my walking cane just as a precaution. I had a small 'surprise' party that weekend where a bunch of my good friends came over to celebrate by having fun, eating cupcakes and trying to decide what movie we should watch. But all in all, it was a blast and I'm everyone that made it out came.

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6/9/2009
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As I looked at the date today I was almost certain we were half-way through the month. I'm very surprised to find out today is only the 9th. In any event, I am really really excited for some of the thing the Lord is putting on my plate. I am feeling very stretched in my walk with the Lord and it feels very good (even though it hurts sometimes). I really, really want to just blurt out what I'm excited about but I need to keep it under wraps. However, I will say that it is something that we have needed to do for the last 4 months or so at Activate.

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6/11/2009
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So this is probably worth blogging about. I turned in my two weeks at work. Pretty random, huh?

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6/15/2009
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So its pretty dumb I decided to do this when I actually have some pretty cool things to blog about. But anyways... yesterday was my mom's birthday. Our family surprised her by taking her all the way out to Knott's Berry Farm! It was fun because we haven't hung out as a family for a looooong time, not even for dinner. So that was a good time, plus we haven't been to Knott's since I was a teenager.

You are not forgotten, You are forgiven!

Isaiah 44:21-23

"Remember these, O Jacob,
And Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it!
Shout, you lower parts of the earth;
Break forth into singing, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
And glorified Himself in Israel."

God said he would not forget Israel, which he has set apart from every other nation on Earth. During this period in Israel's existence, they were rebellious to their creator.

The Lord did not say, 'return unto me and I will forgive you,' to Israel. He said, 'I have forgiven you, so rejoice and return to me!' Wouldn't you expect the Lord to say, 'return to me, and I'll forgive you?' Nuh-uh! He says 'I have blotted your sins out, so return to me!'

Christian, wherever your spiritual thermometer is at this very moment: return to Jesus! Why? Because you have been forgiven, you have been redeemed by Christ's sacrifice on the cross.

Renew yourself (Romans 12:2) and your relationship with Jesus and come back to Him because He has already forgiven you and is waiting for you with open arms! Believe it and receive it!

“This is preposterously good news!” - Jon Courson

Truth

Truth is like Water

Water deludes.

Water refreshes.

Water gives/sustains life.

Water erodes.

Water polluted is toxic.

That Day of Giving Thanks

I enjoy thanksgiving just like anyone else does. Food and fellowship is always great but this thanksgiving was a little more difficult. The reason why is because the seats around the dinner table weren't filled like they have been the past 22 years of my life.

I didn't realize it fully until my Dad led our family in prayer. As a family we've had 4 significant deaths from people that we loved in 2008 so far. Our friends Corey and Casey Todd lost their father Jerry Todd. Daniel Hooper and I even made a visit to the hospital where he was in critical condition. The Todd's have been close family friends and we labored with them during this time of uncertainty and loss.

We also lost my Grandpa Harry, who was actually my step Grandpa since my Dad's mom was widowed early in his life. He was a sweet old man who had a calm demeanor and understood what it meant to walk by Faith.

Then we unexpectantly lost my best friends mom, Barbara Brown. I lost her too. This woman was my second mom and I love her dearly. She was one of the Godliest women I have ever encountered. She was somehow able to sternly discipline without showing any kind of wavering love. And believe me, I was disciplined without hesitation. She was a prayer warrior of warriors. You cannot even grasp the kind of battles she prayed through by any amount of writing that I could make appear on this page. She prayed. She sacrificially gave her time, suburban gasoline for shuttling us ALL, money, sweat and prayers. I am still so amazed at what Christ had been doing in her and through her. I still shed tears when I think of her and her Godly example.

I also recently lost my mom's mom, my Grandma Alice who I've written about in past blogs. I will probably never know what kind of trials and tribulations I was prayed past and through by this woman. She was faithful to seek her King and longed to see Him more than anything. This woman loved wholeheartedly and she forgave.

All these things rushed through my mind during my Dad's 3 minute prayer and our family Amened with teary eyes.

This year, I'm thankful for my family staying resolute in their commitments to the Lord. I'm thankful for the Godly examples the Lord has given me in my life. These people turned my life upside down for Jesus. Now I want a better legacy. Thank you Jesus. Maranatha.

Preach the Word

Okay so the Preach the Word conference is happening now. It is being hosted at my home church any there are some amazing speakers teaching and giving biblical principals on how to Preach the Word. And I'm not there.

This is wack. I'm not gonna candy coat it, I'm pretty bummed. I'm watching everyone's status updates online and I kinda envy them. I do hope that my friends continue to be blessed by the conference and I can only pray that they will keep learning God's Word. Hopefully there will be a dvd or something that I can gleam onto.

Maybe I can do something useful while everyone is at the conference...

It's the Lord who's faithful

So not last night, but the night before I had this dream. Let me precede my dream with a little reality check. So this past weekend and even the latter part of the week I had been feeling really down. I had been my own victim to a lot of spiritual warfare that was happening. I felt like I had lost my sense of direction and really was lacking any motivation spiritually.

But then last, last night I had this dream. Granted it was a weird dream if you were there with me but this one part stood out. So this girl (who will be unnamed) makes a cameo and just walks out between two cars, hands me a gift and leaves. So later I'm handling the gift and I look at it and it has writing on it. It says something nice on it and also written on it is Philippians 1:6. Shortly after that I wake up.

The funny thing is I know the verse if I hear it, but I am not familiar with the chapter and verse location. So I look it up and it says, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" Wow. I've never had a dream with a Bible verse in it before. I was so excited after I looked that up and meditated on it. God is so good and faithful to give us just what we need when we need it. Needless to say, I know where that verse is now.

Promises of a Future and a Hope - Part 2

If you've read my past blog post and are still reading: Thank You! This post has gotten larger than what I expected it; but I believe it's results are most intriguing.

Although I had just gotten the text that my grandma had just passed away I knew what my responsibilities were. There was a quick pain in my heart after reading it, followed by a constant flowing of peace that continues as I write this. I didn't have to rush home, my grandma wasn't there. I led the Christian soldiers back to Harvest and had a fun time setting up chairs for the Sunday morning service. In more ways than one the Lord blessed that night.

I returned home expecting a weeping mother and sorrowful family. I couldn't find them. My mother had one of the calmest composures I had ever witnessed following such an event.

Anyway, this blog wasn't supposed to be about my Grandma's passing but what happened earlier today at the funeral. So now to the intriguing part.

I had to work today. That stunk. So I vroom from work to the Forest Lawn cemetery in Glendale. The chapel that the ceremony was in was the same place my grandpa, her husband was at many years ago. The place had shrunk since then. Leading the services was Pastor Jim Schultz who pastored the church my grandma used to attend in Glendale. He was a very kind man who had bright white hair accompanied by a deep preacher voice and was nice enough to cancel his other plans to do this ceremony for our family.

It came time for the open mic session of the ceremony. Many friends of the family and family members stood up or went to the front and shared kind, inspiring memories at the Godly woman my grandma Alice was. Pastor Schultz asked if there was anyone else who wanted to say anything. I raised my hand sheepishly but my dad blasted out of his seat and said some nice words and gave thanks from the family. After my dad sat down the Pastor gave a last call. My other grandma who was sitting next to me saw me raise my hand and nudged me to go for it.

I stood up, but I didn't just stand up. I walked to front of the stage, but I didn't stand there. I walked all the way to the mic'd pulpit and placed my bible down. I didn't have anything written down or prepared but I shared John 11:25 and also Galatians 5:22-23 from my heart. I just briefly talked about how the fruits of the spirit were evidenced in her life.

Then I left the pulpit and went to sit down. Pastor Schultz returned to his pulpit and rhetorically asked me from the pulpit, "David, have you ever thought about becoming a preacher? That was great." Actually I have thought about it. I can't seem to stop thinking about it. My grandma gave me praise for my kind words and echoed the pastor's sentiments. She said that mantle was being passed on to me from him. I understood what she meant but as I was writing this I now understand the significance. She was referring to 1 Kings 19:19 which says, "So [Elijah] departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him." I was complimented also the brother of my grandma who was just encouraging me who is also a preacher. Lord, this seems to be where you're guiding me.

I talked with Pastor Schultz a little after the ceremony and he invested a few personal moments with me and where I thought the Lord was calling me. In fact, (I told him) I was reading a book entitled, "Is God Calling Me?" We talked for a bit more and he shared his own experience being called to serve the Lord. All of this was very refreshing and encouraging for me. Throughout the day I also received a couple other encouraging words, comments and pieces of Godly wisdom and advice from family members. I am thankful for all of those. But this is where it gets interesting.

Years ago my Grandma Alice (the one who passed away) shared this story with me when I was much younger. My mother also confirmed this story, you can ask her! According to my grandma the night before I was born my grandma had a dream. She had a dream about me. I've never shared this with anyone outside of the family, but she had a dream that I was speaking in front of a large crowd. She said I was speaking to a crowd like Billy Graham did. She said that I was a Pastor.

Weird, huh?

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

Lord, show me your plan! Bring it!

Promises of a Future and a Hope - Part 1

The past few weeks have been interesting. Try and keep up.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

My grandma from my mother's side has been living with us for the past few years. She has always been a blessing to me. She was a kind hearted 91 year old woman who closely resembled the Proverbs 31 woman that all Godly men desire. She was also very generous; there were times when I would be on the computer playing a game and she would walk by and just drop a $20 bill, say she loved me and went to her room. My jaw is still hanging to the ground to this day because of her random acts of lovingkindness. She prayed too. Not just for herself but others above her ownself mainly. When she said she would pray for something I know I could take it to the bank. She also always had the nicest things to say. Every morning she would compliment me on the color of my shirt, my hair or my peanut butter and jelly sandwich lol.

A few weeks before New York came the Lord was ministering to my heart and mind. He was indicating to me that I would lose him while I was in New York on the SWAT trip. I tried not to think much of it but only a few days before I had to leave for New York she had to go to the hospital for some various things. I wanted to visit her before I left for New York so the Wednesday afternoon (day before) we were to leave, I visited her in the hospital with my mom. She was struggling and looked weak and frail until she looked up at us. The biggest smile came across her face and I'm not sure how to explain it but I saw Jesus in her big beautiful blue eyes. She was happy to see us and I was really happy to see her while I still could. We sat and talked for an hour. Then I asked her how she came to know Jesus. That story maybe one for another blog, but she basically 'found' Jesus by studying and became a witness to her unsaved family. She led them all to the Lord, what an amazing testimony.

So I left for New York reflecting on our last time together. And while I was in New York I kept waiting for that text. I kept waiting for that text that was going to confirm what I already knew. Interestingly Aaron Adame prayed (at some point) during the SWAT trip that noone would receive any ill news of any kind. And I didn't. So I figured that when I would physically return home I would get the news that my mom was keeping from me.

After I arrived home I found my mom wandering around the house. The news was that grandma was actually in the hospital and was coming home the next day. She would be under hospice care at the home. A day or so later I went in to see her. She was physically deteriorating; she had a machine helping her breathe and looked much more frail. But those eyes... still so full of Jesus and the word she said were filled with love. The first thing she asked me was how my trip went. Even in the state of being she was, she put others first.

Saturday night I was blessed with leading SWAT witnessing. I just finished up having a really good 25 minute conversation with two guys who were skeptical about Christianity and had lots of legitimate questions when I got the text. It read that Grandma passed away about 5-10 minutes ago.

There is more. You can find it here.

Finishing the Race

Earlier tonight, actually about an hour and a half ago my Grandma finished the race. She is in Heaven now. I'm not sure what to write or how to write it, but I do know that my hope is in Christ and so was her's. She passed away quietly after a week long battle with some medical issues.

She was such a blessing to me, she had a contrite heart and was a servant of servants who also had a heart overflowing with generosity. She paid my way to New York by herself!

Our household is doing well. I was leading witnessing tonight when I got the text message. It struck me at first but that was quickly followed by a peace that surpassed my understanding. I expected to come home to a weeping house, but instead everyone was about their business, although a little somber. My mom is doing incredibly well. I don't want to sound morbid but I'm glad she passed away; she is with her husband again but she is also with her first love, Jesus.

So please pray for our family if you find time to remember. We appreciate it.

Whirlwind Weekend

This past weekend I was in New York with the SWAT team. New York is a very cool place to visit, especially if you are a fan of American media. There you get to really experience the melting pot that makes New York city what it is.

While I was there I experienced a lot of things, felt a lot of emotions and thought a lot of thoughts but something really was amiss. For me, this wasn't the best SWAT trip I've had. Maybe my heart or mind was in the wrong place. There is a lot going on within me that I've been thinking about. I have a lot I need to give to God still.

There's so much that I want to do, so much I want to become. What do I want to become? Just a man of God and anything else secondary will do. I tend to be critical of a lot of things, especially myself. I pick myself apart and see that I don't know enough scripture, I'm not well versed enough. I don't generally know generic facts that I believe I should know being where I am in my walk. I understand I'm not perfect but I want to continually strive to be better. I'm reminded of Philippians 3:12-13

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead."

There's things about me that I'm not content with that I need to change. Lord, conform me to your son's image.

The Plate is Full

So I have a lot on my plate right now. There are a lot of things happening throughout my week and some things that are upcoming that I need to make some decisions and changes that will impact my future. Things like work, finances, school, swat new york and my immediate/long-term future.

Work has gotten to a place where it has become somewhat of a burden. It's not my co-workers, but the job itself. I work in sales so my paycheck is directly related to how well I can perform. These past weeks have been bad for whatever reason and my paychecks have been hurting. I'm no lover of money, but I understand its practical need. I'm beginning to realize just how much financial pressure I'm under right now. I also look at the economy and how it's hurting right now and I wonder if I should just be content that I have a job during this time. But I'm ready for change. I'm ready to leave this job behind and pursue something else.

School always has a way of avalanching on you. You sleep in on accident one time and everything is on top of you. I don't plan to be going to Chaffey much longer, at least if I have anything to say about it. I just have to endure for a little while longer.

I also have a pretty hefty payment left for SWAT New York. I was blessed by my Grandma who gave me the money to pay 90% of the trip off, but I needed money to live off at the time. I didn't go on any spending sprees but I didn't make all of the best financial decisions you could make. I knew I was going to have to supplement the payment, but I should have been a little more careful about it, so now I'm hurting a bit. But thats okay, because I need to learn these things. I just pray that the Lord will show mercy to me.

The best part of the plate is this part. I think I have some sort of direction I want to take, one that the Lord has made fairly evident and has confirmed it at least once. Bible College. I haven't really told anyone about it, but have been seeking the Lord and seeking Godly counsel as well. I also have an appointment at Chaffey with a counselor to discuss options to transfer to a Bible College or seminary tommorow afternoon. I am also thinking of using the resources available at CBU, although not sure if I have to be a student or not. Not sure exactly what I'll do with what I'll get out of a Bible college, but the Lord has a funny way of showing us just one part of the plan at a time.