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It’s like a language. You learn the alphabet, which are the scales. You learn sentences, which are the chords. And then you talk extemporaneously with the horn. It’s a wonderful thing to speak extemporaneously, which is something I’ve never gotten the hang of. But musically I love to talk just off the top of my head. And that’s what jazz music is all about.

Stan Getz

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Looking to give this Christmas?

AClogodesignStamp2 If you are looking for a gift that has lasting meaning this Christmas, you might want to check out Advent Conspiracy where we are being encouraged to “give presence.” The [AC] website explains:

People are dying from the lack of clean water. In fact, it’s the leading cause of death in under resourced countries. 1.8 million people die every year from water born illnesses. That includes 3,900 children a day. The solution to this problem is directly beneath our feet. Drilling a fresh water well is a relatively inexpensive, yet permanent solution to this epidemic. $10 will give a child clean water for life. That’s not an estimate. It’s a fact. And here’s another fact: Solving this water problem once and for all will cost about $10 billion. Not bad considering Americans spent $450 billion on Christmas last year. Our hope is that, by celebrating Christ in a new way at Christmas, the church can serve as the leading movement behind ending the water crisis once and for all.

Advent Conspiracy has partnered with Living Water International in the well drilling project. LWI has a great and unique gift card program; I encourage you to check it out.

‘Avatar,’ movie review

Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in Avatar Image: 20th Century Fox

Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) in Avatar Image: 20th Century Fox

The long awaited James Cameron (Titanic) CGI fest, Avatar, has hit a screen near you. Boasting a new generation of effects, the film, 5 years in the making, cost a reported half-billion dollars to make and features live action along with the special effects extravaganza.

Moviegoers looking for deep meaning will likely be disappointed; this story has been told a thousand times in a hundred ways: underdogs win the day. Sam Worthington plays Jake Scully, a paraplegic, ex-Marine who, upon the death of his identical twin brother, finds himself on a five light-year mission from earth as part of a diplomatic effort. Diplomacy was needed on the distant planet of Pandora, where an abundance of “Unobtainium” (or that’s what it sounded like they were saying) is needed to power Earth which has been stripped of her own natural resources. A few humans had “avatars” developed which mixed their own DNA with that of the host race, the Na’vi, then, through a cerebral link, a la “The Matrix,” the human is able to control their avatar in the toxic atmosphere of Pandora.

Trained by Dr. Grace Augustine (Sigourney Weaver, Alien Series), for working with his avatar, Scully is simultaneously recruited by the corporate security chief, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang, Public Enemies), to infiltrate the Na’vi and attempt to move them from their dwelling place, Hometree, underneath which lies the largest deposit of Unobtainium for “200 cliques.” Predictably, Scully falls in love with one of the natives, Neytiri (Zoe Saldana, Star Trek), and ends up rallying the troops to fight the invading bulldozers, tractors and other pillaging equipment.

Scully (Worthington) and Quaritch (Lang) takes a look at a schematic of the Na'vi Hometree Image: 20th Century Fox

Scully (Worthington) and Quaritch (Lang) takes a look at a schematic of the Na'vi Hometree Image: 20th Century Fox

The Na’vi themselves are twelve or so feet tall with long tails, carbon fiber skin and feline agility. In fact, they look like the cross-bred offspring of a jamboree of jaguars with The Blue Man Group. Culturally, they are African complete with Shamans, communication with dead ancestors, bows and arrows, adulthood rituals and loin cloths. Similar to Tolkein’s Elvish language for LOTR, an entire language system was developed for the Na’vi and it sounds like an African dialect. At its core the Na’vi could be any people whose land has ever been taken by a stronger people and exploited for the availability of some natural resource, whether that be the land itself (the American Indians), oil (Nigeria) or diamonds (Sierra Leone).

Generally the movie is anti-imperialistic and pro-environment; be forewarned, when you see the ultra-lush, spectacularly rendered vistas of Pandora, you’ll be pro-environment, too. Otherwise the human acting is nothing outstanding (other than Lang, who is the best of the bunch) and the storyline was obviously a vehicle for the special effects, rather than the effects carrying the story.

Also, I think it important to note that there is a very heavy pantheistic bent and open promotion of goddess worship. This is not an undertone; it makes up the central spiritual thread of the movie. Though Cameron may not believe these things himself, their presence mitigates against any real biblically redemptive quality.

(Lang is a largely under appreciated actor having played Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals but is better known for a significant part in one of the most quoted movies of the 1990’s. See if you can figure it out by his voice and features. I’ll put it on the first comment, so don’t look if you don’t want to know.)

Avatar, from 20th Century Fox, is rated PG-13 for language, violence, and scant CGI clothing on some most Na’vi.

A couple of music videos for your enjoyment

I think I first heard this on a Jaguar commercial a few years back. This is History Repeating by Propellorhead w/Dame Shirley Bassey. Purchase History Repeating on Propellerheads & Shirley Bassey - Decksandrumsandrockandroll - History Repeating

This song was used on an L.L. Bean commercial a couple of years ago. This is a fan video but looks almost good enough to be the real thing–Fountains of Wayne’s Valley Winter Song. Warning: This song is habit forming. Purchase Valley Winter Song on Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers - Valley Winter Song

At the Acoustic House Show, concert review

Jordan Burk opens the Acoustic House Show. All Photos: Donna Chapman

Jordan Burk opens the Acoustic House Show All Photos: Donna Chapman


Andy Zipf

Andy Zipf


In the great tradition of indie music small venues like coffee shops, bars and homes are the trade specialty. Last night I have the opportunity to enjoy an acoustic show at the home of Eric and CJ Burk of Buford, GA. Headlined by American Standard, Damion Suomi, Lauris Vidal and Andy Zipf with opener, Jordan Burk, those in attendance were treated to about three hours of music, food and fun. It was the second show in as many months at the Burk home, a warm establishment perfectly suited to such concerts and though the performers might have outnumbered the attendees, they did not lack for spirit, enthusiasm and talent.
Damion Suomi

Damion Suomi




Lauris Vital

Lauris Vidal


All the performers with the exception of Jordan have been traveling together in transportation currently provided by To Write Love On Her Arms a “non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.” TWLOHA t-shirts and information was also available. While many songs were in the relationship genre, others were very reflective on issues of life including a few filled with biblical allusions like the eye of the needle and the vanity of life based on the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes.
The Samsonite drum kit of American Standard

The Samsonite drum kit of American Standard


Another aspect of indie music in full force was quality musicianship and the vocalizations typically different than pop radio–much more expressive than the million sellers that fill the air waves. It is this uniqueness of sound and experience related in the lyrics that make indie fans fiercely loyal; somebody you’ve never heard is somebody a fan thinks is the best musician penning tunes.

Lauris Vidal on MySpace and on Lauris Vidal.

Andy Zipf on MySpace and on Andy Zipf

Damion Soumi on MySpace and on Damion Suomi

Jordan Burk on Facebook and on You Tube

American Standard online and on on Facebook

You can keep up with Acoustic House Show now on Facebook and here beginning in February.

When faith strengthens faith

faithA few thoughts on the subject of faith, an excerpt from my Keeping Company With God prayer journal.

It seems to me that faith is a long term deal more than a short term solution. Less “I’m praying for a good deal on a house,” and more “I’m confident that God is in control of the universe, regardless of what happens to me.”

It is obvious that there is a “day-to-day” faith that sees us through decision making, relationships and storms. This seems to be the kind of faith that pervades our prayer times-“Lord, make my child well.” Our longer term faith is less expressed in prayer than it is lived out over the course of years. It becomes a disposition of our existence-not fate-but trust in the all seeing, knowing and caring God of the Bible.

In this life, the long-term faith must always inform the short term faith and not vice-versa. When long term faith is experienced as contentment in the actions of the sovereign God, then short term faith is encouraged. When the struggle of short term faith becomes the foundation of long term faith, then both waver and may collapse. We cannot, nor are we expected to go day-to-day without the assurance that God is for us in the end. In the end we are helped when we view our short term trials and persecutions in the light of a yonder star, not the flashlight in hand.

Paul wrote, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8). God’s view is always the long term view and that should be ours as well.

Blindsided by ‘The Blind Side’

Image: Alcon Entertainment

Image: Alcon Entertainment

As a rule, I do not go to a theater to see a sports movie. Still have not seen Glory Road or We Are Marshall and I’m sure I did not see Remember the Titans until it was sitting on the shelf at Blockbuster. So, even though I thought the new Sandra Bullock film, The Blind Side, looked promising I was willing to wait. Thankfully, my daughter, aged 13 and no fan of football, was not. (Though when it opened with some drone and the unknowns really screwing up a cover of Nick Drake’s, “The Cello Song,” I got antsy.)

Having opened November 20, The Blind Side has already grossed nearly $150M in telling the story of Baltimore Ravens left tackle, Michael Oher (pronounced “oar,” Quinton Aaron), a former homeless high school kid from the projects of Memphis, who is brought into a family of a rich white people, the Tuohys (pronounced, “Two-ee”) and given a home. If that were the extent of this movie, then it would have easily and inevitably veered off into a sappy, Hallmark Channel vehicle, capturing only the attention of some bored kids on Saturday afternoon. But this is not a movie about white guilt or Republican racial angst. In the end, it’s a movie about the gospel.

The movie begins with a dozen or so replays of the Monday Night Football Lawrence Taylor hit on Joe Theismann that shattered the leg of and ended the career of the latter. This wince inducing video (I did not watch the replays then and I do not watch them now) is necessary to explain why Oher’s eventual football position, left tackle on the offensive line, is so important: it protects the quarterback’s blind side. Thus, the movie reasons, since the quarterback is generally the highest payed player on the team, the left tackle is the second most important player on the team.

We are quickly introduced to “Big Mike” as a hulking, but gentle presence whose worldly belongings are a light blue golf shirt, a pair of shorts and some old high top sneakers. His other shirt is kept in a grocery bag. He “borrows” dryer time at a local laundromat after washing his shirt in the sink for free. In another scene Big Mike is seen picking up leftover popcorn after the school volleyball game. He’s been away from his crack addicted mother since he cannot remember how old and ran away from every foster home he had ever called home. His case worker calls him “a runner.”

Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in 'The Blind Side' Image: Alcon Entertainment

Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy in 'The Blind Side' Image: Alcon Entertainment

The only person in the Tuohy family who knows anything about Big Mike is the pre-teen son, SJ (played with regular hilarity by Jae Head), but on their way home one cold, rainy night the family happens upon Oher walking down the road on his way to the school gym, planning to stay the night because “it’s warm there,” and, after a brief road-side interview, Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock) decides to bring him home for the night. This decision, while generous, is not portrayed as necessarily righteous. She puts some sheets and blankets on the couch for their guest, then heads downstairs in the morning with some expectation that, like an inner city Jean Valjean, Oher had stolen away carrying the silverware in his grocery bag.

Interestingly, nearly the entire first half of the movie is devoted to telling the story of the relationship between the Tuohy’s and Oher: Thanksgiving dinner shared around the table instead of in front of the TV, being the only black kid in an all white Christian school (“the fly in the milk” as he is called at one point) while dealing with both his social and learning struggles. When the football portion of the movie comes to the fore, it does so well-the relationship story is not jettisoned for a bunch of hitting and grunting. On the contrary it works to strengthen it. (I will say that many of the real life coaches, Nick Saban especially, are woefully stiff on camera making Mark Richt’s turn in Facing the Giants seem downright Oscar worthy.)

It’s as Leigh Anne is drawn into Michael’s life, trying to peel back the layers of the onion that the movie becomes a picture of the gospel. She’s simply unwilling to be a bystander on the edge of his life. She drives him to the projects where he grew up in a vain attempt to find his mother, then endeavors to find her without him at another time. The end of that encounter says more without words than many scenes say with pages of dialogue. Instead of cutting to another scene when it would be easy, the director stays with it allowing it to reach a poignant climax.

The ministry of the gospel is so real in this movie that it does not depend on it being preached. It truly is an effort at Assisi’s, “Preach the gospel at all times and, when necessary, use words.” This is not a story specifically aimed at the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, but whether the results of those momentous events can be lived out and how. In those words of Jesus that we love to proclaim, yet are usually loath to live, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me” (Matthew 25:35, 36).

When we exited the theater, Abigail and I were discussing the movie itself, that this is what a “Christian movie” should be, people in all their flaws. This is not the silly, shallow “the wind stops blowing so my kid can make a field goal” type of spirituality of Facing the Giants where “God’s in control” and everything works out in the end. While Oher is rescued and makes the NFL in real life (a fact saved almost until the credits), that revelation is preceded immediately by vivid reminders that many do not make it out of violent, gang related lives. It is the triumph and the challenge. The Tuohy’s both swear; not incessantly, but some. Leigh Anne wears skirts so tight you wonder how she gets any circulation in her butt. These are realities that make some Christians very uncomfortable, but it’s where people are–even believers. People are a mess–even believers. But, as Tuohy notes, reaching out to Michael changed her. Her family and Oher are alternately being the presence of Jesus and receiving His presence, which, I think, is why Jesus said, “Give expecting nothing in return.” It is not in the changing of another person that we are changed, it is in being like Christ that we are changed.

The Blind Side, by Alcon Entertainment, stars Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Quinton Aaron, Jae Head, Lilly Collins, Kathy Bates, and Ray McKinion. It is rated PG-13 for one scene involving brief violence, drug and sexual references.

Drawing held in nook giveaway

A winner has been selected in “The Great 2009 nook E-reader Giveaway.” Michael Nolen of Tracy, CA, who has responded and is the official winner! Barnes & Noble has contacted me via e-mail stating the nook will be shipped today and should be to me by Monday or Tuesday. Mike, you will get it soon thereafter.

Thank you, everyone, for playing. There will be minor giveaways at martyduren.com regularly and major ones, like this one, as often as management can afford them. In the meantime, don’t forget to shop here for Christmas!

martyduren.com site update and news

'nook' at Barnes & Noble, Mall of Georgia Photo Credit: Marty Duren

'nook' at Barnes & Noble, Mall of Georgia Photo Credit: Marty Duren

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by martyduren.com. Yesterday marked the 1st month since the official launch and I’m grateful!

According to Google analytics I’ve had 1,966 visits with more than 4,200 page views (hits) since I went live a month ago. The nook giveaway is winding down (tomorrow at 11:59 pm marks the deadline) with several hundred individual entries and counting. If you haven’t registered yet, please see the giveaway contest widget to the right. I received the following email from Barnes & Noble this week:

This is to confirm that your nook will be shipping this week. Although your shipment has been slightly delayed, we’ve upgraded you to overnight shipping to ensure you’ll receive your nook by December 16.

I’m pretty sure this means that the winner will receive the prize nook by Christmas (but still, don’t count your chickens and all that).

The picture on this post is an actual nook from the Barnes & Noble store at the Mall of Georgia taken Tuesday. It feels really cool, feels solid. It is thin, incredibly thin. I didn’t get much of a chance to play with it, but it is very readable and I can’t wait to get one myself at some point. Of course, Christmas time’s a comin’…

I’d also like to let you know that I’ve added three stores on the site and a lot of information on my “About” page. All of these are found just above the main content on the same bar with “Subscribe.” The Mall is being geared toward things that are typically of interest to men, The FeMall is being geared toward ladies and the Social Store will feature companies who are trying to make a positive impact in people’s lives. I currently feature Tom’s Shoes, but hope to be adding other soon.

Why monetize?
If you’ve been to other sites I’ve done before (sbcoutpost.com, iemissional.com), then you will recognize a specific change here: advertising. That’s because I’m trying to make some money, so, shop some! In all seriousness, the stores represented here, including Amazon.com, pay me commissions (sometimes called referral fees) for promoting them. Anything you purchase from a link here costs you exactly the same as if you were to go to their site directly, yet puts a little money in my pocket. So, when you are going to purchase from Amazon.com, just start here. You can use any of the search areas to find anything carried there; searching Amazon.com here works just like searching the main site. Thanks for the 12 orders that have already been placed through my affiliates at martyduren.com!

The other links take you directly to the advertised site, many of which currently feature Christmas deals, especially free shipping, so take advantage. I hope to open the Outdoor Store soon, with links to REI, Sierra Trading Post and others. I’ll let you know when that happens.

Thanks so much for your help in this time of job transition for me. You may not think it’s much, but every little bit helps. Thanks.

Big Announcement
Sometime in January be looking for a multi-part interview with Douglas Blackmon, whose book, Slavery by Another Name, won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.

Also, be looking forward to another new website launch in the next couple of days. This one will be dealing with issues regarding business management.