Who Gets to Say Who I am?

I have decided to repurpose my blog to talk about a passion topic.

I make no apologies for this change in direction. It is in line with the purpose and the name of this blog.

My passion is to see men helping boys grow into men.

I do like farming and growing fruit. 

Real mangos and real men-go further on their walk with Jesus.

My passion is to see men helping boys grow into men.

I showed up to Sunday youth gathering second time this week.

It was a slightly smaller group.

I was chuffed during recap that they remember mango leaves! 

I was chuffed that two brought their Bibles.

I enjoyed get-to-know-you bingo, because it gave me an excuse to meet the boys and girls and for them to have a chance to know my name.

When we broke into smaller groups I got the upper middle school boys.

It was kinda like this but a bit more suburbia. 

We sat in the shade under some trees. 

It was great for the boys not being stuck in doors. The smaller group was easier for me to be a bit more relaxed on the behavioural management. 

The topic was "Who am I?"

I recapped how last week. With the mango leaves experience  we remember that 

God is a farmer and vinedresser.

so 

if God is a farmer then
who am I?

I recalled stories of when I was unsure about who I am as a person in Christ. I hustled in my studies and work to prove who I am and that I am somebody worth being loved. 

How unnecessary is that, when I am already loved beyond measure!

I shared my take on how Ephesians 2 and Psalm 139 helped me through those times.

I asked a couple of simple questions:

1. What does the Ephesians 2:8-10 say about who we are?
2. What is our purpose?
3. How would Psalm 139:13-14 help us when we are confused or upset about who we are?

One boy shared a practical example of how F1 driver backed himself despite what his mechanics told him, because he knew who he is and what he knew. We talked also about the men who think they know (but didn't know) but didn't listen to other people and made dumb decisions too. 

It was interesting to hear out loud that every single one of these young men want a good future.

They shared they do believe that knowing who they are is important to that future.

We talked about how the world tries to tell us who we are. One of those sneaky lines we can watch out for is "You can be anybody you want to be." 

I took the opportunity to underline what it looks like going forward for us as a group. It is a simple practice that is millennia old:

1. read Scripture and listen to him
2. invite God to tell us who He is
3. invite Him to tell us who we are

The next steps we agreed to take together

1. read those verses at home
2. Bring Bible next time* 

Heya parents, 

You can help your young man take the next step by encouraging him with the above.

I did some quick research below to help you take that next important step.

Let's make it happen together.

He who says who I am says:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 Ephesians 2:8-10 

*If you don't have time to find one, I did some quick research

Affordable NIV from Amazon

Mid range NIV from Koorong

Upper range NIV from Koorong, hardcover version

Oh, by the way, for fun and engagement, check out the Action Bible. My pre-teen Jimmy still loves it.