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Climategate Hurts Real Environmentalism

There’s already good reasons to be conflicted about modern environmentalism. And the unfolding Climategate scandal will, most likely, only inflame that anxiety. If anyone should be concerned about the environment, it should be Christians. And frankly, I wonder why more Christians aren’t more concerned. It could be argued that the first role of Man was [...]

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Keep Your Lipstick Off My Vampire!

It used to be that the undead were known for their appetite. Now it’s their abs. The gaunt, pale, nocturnes of yore have bitten the dust. Today, our vampires come trimmed and tanned, sporting six packs and swarthy good looks. These wusses aren’t real monsters. But when your target audience is a bunch of gooey [...]

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New Pics at Duran Clan

Talk about self-referential. I’ve posted a new slew of family pics at Duran Clan. We had a photo shoot at the Claremont Colleges several weeks ago. It was lotsa fun. Thanks Frank! But finding a picture with everybody’s eyes open was a challenge. Check ’em out. Family Shoot 2009.

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10 Blogging Mistakes

Most amateur bloggers learn about blogging on the fly… if they learn at all.  As far as I know, there is no Blogging 101 course required before one goes public with their product. Yet without learning basics of layout and HTML, developing a relative command of the language, being funny, interesting or scandalous, and doing [...]

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The Blind Side’s Not-So-Hollywood Formula

Every year, on Christmas Eve day, our extended family goes to lunch and sees a movie. It’s become a fun tradition. The challenging part, however, is selecting a film that everyone might enjoy. This is my job. Last year, I received praise for choosing Slumdog Millionaire, which at that time was a relatively obscure film [...]

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My apologies to those who would rather move on, but I am still perplexed by the recent spat that occurred between Ted Dekker and Steeple Hill and its, I guess you’d call it, resolution. For now, it appears both parties have agreed to move on. Which leaves me wondering what the Christian writing community should [...]

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Family Tree ’09

From the Duran family to yours, have a blessed Thanksgiving!

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Is Doubt a Virtue? — Pt. 1

Several weeks ago at our small group, we were discussing the Deity of Christ and the Trinity. Heavyweight subjects, I know. One guy in the group became agitated and finally blurted, “I don’t get it, dude. This is confusing. How can Jesus be God and still pray to Himself in the Garden? Man, it doesn’t [...]

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Sexiest Man (Once) Alive

So Johnny Depp wins his 2nd straight Sexiest Man Alive Award. He joins previous hunks like George Clooney, Richard Gere, and Brad Pitt. In 70 or 80 years they’ll join the other winners… like this guy. My friend told me about lastlongerinbedhelp.com. Lasting longer in bed become more sexy for me.

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Redemptive Movies (NC-17 version)

Today’s release of Warner Herzog’s The Bad Lieutenant has reminded me about two things: (1) How spiritually powerful the original film is, and (2) How moral rigidity keeps us from appreciating such films. Abel Ferrara’s, The Bad Lieutenant, was released in 1992 to an NC-17 rating. And for the record, it earns every bit of [...]

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