Brothers Under God: The Story Behind the Name
How the Name Began
When I came up with the name The BUG Boys, I didn’t want it just to sound fun; I wanted it to mean something. Somewhere in that brainstorming process, the phrase Brothers Under God came to me. Honestly, I believe the Lord gave it to me.
Each of the main characters—David, Josiah, and Zeke (short for Hezekiah)—is named after the three good kings of the Old Testament. Those kings weren’t perfect, but they stood out because they chose to honor God with their lives when it wasn’t easy to do so. That’s the kind of legacy I wanted these boys to reflect, even in small ways.
A Hidden Message of Faith
In a sense, that’s where the name Brothers Under God really began. It’s a reminder that these friends are connected by something bigger than friendship; they’re united by faith, whether they fully realize it yet or not.
When I wrote The Great Scavenger Hunt, I wanted to weave in a few quiet lessons from Scripture. Not sermons. Not lectures. Just little “Easter eggs” of truth that kids might not catch right away, but parents or anyone who’s read those Bible stories might recognize. And someday, maybe those same kids will look back and think, Wait a minute… that’s why their names mattered.
That’s what I enjoy about storytelling. Sometimes the most meaningful truths are hidden inside an adventure.
Raising Boys with Purpose
As a dad, I’ve also thought a lot about what it means to raise boys who follow Jesus. I remember reading Raising a Modern-Day Knight and feeling challenged by its message that our sons need more than rules or routines. They need a vision of what godly manhood looks like. They need to know that faith isn’t just something their parents talk about; it’s something they can live.
That’s part of why I wrote The BUG Boys the way I did, full of humor, friendship, and challenges that test the heart as much as the mind. Because boys this age are paying attention. They’re forming their view of who they are, what they believe, and where courage comes from. And I want them to see that faith isn’t boring, it’s the most incredible adventure they’ll ever take.
Truth That Speaks to Every Kid
But I also think this story and the message behind Brothers Under God—isn’t just for boys. The same truths apply to girls, too. They’re growing up in the same noisy world, searching for what’s real and who they can trust. My hope is that both boys and girls who read these stories will see that living for God doesn’t mean being perfect. It means walking together, helping each other up, and learning what it looks like to love Jesus in the everyday moments.
So yes, Brothers Under God started as a name for three fictional friends in a small Minnesota town. But for me, it’s become a reminder of something far bigger: what it means to grow up grounded in truth, surrounded by people who build you up, and guided by a faith that lasts.
That’s what Brothers Under God is all about: raising up a generation of kids who follow Jesus with courage and heart
📖 Discover the book behind the adventure.
Visit the Books page to learn more about The BUG Boys: The Great Scavenger Hunt.
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