Robert Duvall

Robert Duvall received the Best Actor Academy Award in 1983 for his work in one of my favorite films, "Tender Mercies." His co-star, Tess Harper, said Duvall inhabited the character so fully that she only got to know Mac Sledge, the man he played, and not Duvall himself.

And that's what I love about Duvall. He brings to life characters who are deeply flawed and marvelously interesting. Like Sonny Dewey in "The Apostle" (another favorite film), Bull Meechum in "The Great Santini," or Boss Spearman in "Open Range." And that doesn't even count his better known work in "Mash" and the first two Godfather films.

If you like Duvall, you will want to see his newest film, "Get Low." He portrays another eccentric personality, Felix Bush, a 1930s Tennessee hermit who throws his own "funeral party." Given that plotline and the fact that Bill Murray plays the funeral home director, you might expect this to be a comedy. But, although there is a lot of humor, the film deals with serious themes such as regret, loss, confession, and forgiveness.

Currently, "Get Low" is showing at four theaters in the Portland/Vancouver area, including the Bridgeport Regal. If you go, let me know how you like it.

A Church Or A Church Building?

The words we use do make a difference.

People often ask me where our "church" is located. I know they're asking me about where we meet for worship, but sometimes I respond, "Our church is all over the westside of Portland, and we have some on the eastside as well." They then ask what I mean. "Well," I say, "our church is a group of people who are trying to be the Body of Christ. Our church is people, not a building or a location." From there, the conversation can go in a lot of different directions.

The members of the church in this Soriano village received us warmly. This picture was taken as we were getting acquainted with them. The tarps covered their "worship center" as well as their parsonage. Despite their poverty--their village didn't even have electricity--this congregation was generous. They served us drinks and later asked us to stay for lunch. And they are mission-minded. Twice a week they travel several miles to hold a Bible study in another village .

Church is not about a building. Church is about sharing Jesus with others. It's about being the Body of Christ.