Kevin Costner, Robin Wright-Penn, Paul Newman.
Warner Bros., Luis Mandoki, 1999. PG-13, Romance.

Synopsis: A newspaper researcher (Wright-Penn) finds a bottle with a message in it written by a boat builder (Costner) trying to rid himself of grief at the loss of his young wife.

She traces the message and meets the man and his endearing father (Newman). Romance blooms, but it does not come easy as the man seeks to bring closure to the past before moving into the future.

Trivia: In his final message in a bottle, the boat builder played by Costner tells of his remorse at seeing Theresa, played by Wright-Penn, getting on an airplane and heading back to Chicago. Actually, when they parted in the movie, she simply drove away in a rental car alone to the airport.

Talking Points: Romans 8:28-39.

1. Was the idea of finding a message in a bottle just too unreal? What do you think about that in relation to Romans 8:28?

2. Do you think couples are predestined to be together like Garret and Catherine or Garret and Theresa in a way similar to that described in Romans 8:29-36? That is, does this spiritual principle filter down to us in our relationships?

3. According to Romans 8:37 nothing stands in the way of the love God has for us. Why do we sometimes allow things to stand in the way of the love we have for each other?

4. Even though he was a flawed person, how did Dodge show God’s love in the relationship between Garret and Theresa?

5. Who showed the greatest Christ-likeness? Theresa for her persevering love or Garret for his sacrifice?