Jesus who hates religion

This concerns a guy in Plano, Texas, minding his own business, self-publishing a little book about Jesus for friends and family; another guy who stumbles into an acting career while sitting in a waiting room because the fella who is supposed to read for a lead role doesn't show up; and a case of the flu that gets guy #2 to read the book by guy #1 that was left by a guy #3 in his dressing room and that sat on his coffee table for months. This is how God does business.

The first guy is David Gregory and the second one is Jefferson Moore, and the result is two wonderful films about Jesus. I haven't seen a flick about two people sitting in a restaurant talking since the cult film "My Dinner with Andre," which friends kid me about for obvious reason. In presenting Jesus, Moore choose words like a sommelier chooses fine wine, and "The Perfect Stranger" (2005) and "Another Perfect Stranger"(2007) are the most palatable product.

You never think of Jesus playing a round of stick-out-your-tongue with a mischievous little girl on an airplane, because we've been brought up on the film Jesus who doesn't blink his eyes. But like the little kid asked in a book of children's letters to God, "Did the people in the Bible really talk that fancy?" And you never think of Jesus agreeing with the woman at the well --- or in the 727 to Oregon: "I hate religion."

My Christmas shopping problem is solved. Everybody on my list, be advised.