A Rom-Com Adventure

When I was a kid, I remember putting on a pair of khaki pants and a green button-up, looking in the mirror, and thinking, I look like Jack Colton from Romancing the Stone.

Now, if you don’t remember that 1984 Rom-Com adventure classic with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner… that’s okay. You’ll be just fine.

I loved that movie, and others like it, Indiana Jones and The Goonies. Over the years, that love for adventure films has carried through to National Treasure, Uncharted, and Fountain of Youth.

There’s just something about the idea that ordinary people can get swept up into something extraordinary. One minute they’re doing normal life; the next, they’re exploring ancient mysteries, uncovering hidden truths. Don’t we all want to be swept up in something exciting? And by “swept up in something exciting,” of course I mean watching other people be swept up while we’re comfortably at home.

A friend of mine, one of the most creative people I know, is a master at this. Every summer, he creates an elaborate world of clues and challenges for his kids, like a real-life treasure hunt. It’s wildly imaginative and wonderfully extraordinary.

But here’s the thing: as followers of Jesus, we have this same opportunity right in front of us.

Another friend once told me that growing up, he was taught the Bible was a rule book, a list of things he needed to know and do. Years later, he said, “I wish someone had shown me that the Bible is actually a treasure map, meant to be explored.” Inside are treasures beyond imagination. It’s wonderfully extraordinary.

Of course, in every adventure story, there comes a moment when the hero decides to leave behind the ordinary and step into the unknown. The same is true for us. Most of us haven’t really jumped into Scripture like that. We’ve watched others do it, but we’ve stayed comfortable.

Why wouldn’t we? Every one of us has the chance to be swept up in the adventure of a lifetime, to explore ancient wisdom and discover hidden truths that can change everything. But if we don’t engage, we miss the exploration of a lifetime, one that will take the rest of our lives.

Now, Sarah’s mom has always said I remind her of a young… someone. I can never remember who.

So, naturally, I decided to ask AI who I look like.

The AI told me it couldn’t name actual celebrities, but it said this:

“You have that classic, easy-going charisma you might see in a well-loved TV host or adventure-film lead. Your expressive eyes and confident grin give off ‘friendly hero’ energy — think of someone who’d be cast as the optimistic explorer or charming travel-show presenter.”

Adventure-film lead? Friendly hero energy? Optimistic explorer?

I think AI nailed it. Maybe I really do look like Jack Colton… or maybe it just scanned my Google searches and is listening to me speak…

Then I remembered who Sarah’s mom said I look like:
A young Michael Douglas. The actor who plays Jack Colton.

I’ll take it.

I may never swing from vines or find buried treasure, but I do hope I start to look less like Jack and more like Jesus, that I keep journeying through uncharted spiritual territory and discovering hidden truths that transform how I live and see the world. I hope following Jesus and engaging Scripture becomes a lifelong adventure I live, not just something I watch others do.

And the only way to begin that adventure is to simply start, to open the treasure map and begin.

This Sunday at The Chapel

We’re in the middle of our series on Scripture, exploring how to engage with it in deeper and more life-giving ways.

Last week we kicked it off by talking about the simple rhythm of just reading — making space in our lives to open Scripture regularly. If you were with us, I hope you’ve been practicing that this week.  If you need some direction or resources, please let us know.

This Sunday we’ll continue the conversation, looking at more ways to engage deeply with Scripture.

If you’re in town, join us at 10am at The Chapel (or online).

We’ll also share in Communion at 9am, a short, 15-minute service open to all, followed by coffee and pastries before worship.

And don’t forget: Time Change! You get an extra hour of sleep — hey oh!

Coming Up at The Chapel

Tuesday — Noon Prayer
A lovely time to sit, worship, pray, and rest in the presence of God. Come and go as you need.

Wednesday — Bible Study

• Men: 8am
• Women: 9:30am
  We’ll be in Hebrews 10 this week. If you’ve missed any sessions, catch up on the Chapel Study Notes podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you stream.

Resources
If you want to dig deeper into our Scripture series, visit thechapelatseaside.com/scripturefor resources, or you can also listen to last week’s sermon on Apple or Spotify or wherever you stream if you are ever sick or out of town.  The Chapel at Seaside Podcast.

Let us know if you need anything.
We hope to see you this Sunday for Communion and worship.

Blessings,

Andrew