Tyler Braun's Blog, page 37

You Need a Mentor (New Book Release And Giveaway)

Not long ago I came to a point in my life where I sensed something was missing. I had a wife and a solid marriage that flourished within the dreaded first year of companionship. I had a job that was allowing me to gain experience in the field I pictured myself working in the rest of my life. I had a strong relationship with God that was continuing to grow over time. I also had the opportunity to attend graduate school, and I still found time to serve with a local non-profit a few hours each w...

Foundation #OneWord365

As a year ends and a new one begins, I enjoy anticipating what will summarize the coming 365 days. As Rose and I approached 2012, I told her my one word was change. I didn’t tell anyone but Rose because when you say the summary of a year will be change people ask questions, and I didn’t have answers.

Sure enough, 2012 was a year of immense change. Pregnant wife, book release, new job, new home. What a crazy year it was.

Now as 2013 has entered into our lives, I approach these upcoming 12 months...

Maybe Starting Over is a Good Thing

My life has featured a lot of new beginnings in the past few months. I live in a new city, new house, and work at a new job. Now that I’ve graduated, I have a new level of freedom with my time. And of course, there’s a new arrival only a couple months away from making an entrance that will certainly bring a whole new level of new to my life.

I think there’s a lot of value in longevity and consistency. But I also see a lot of value in starting over. Sometimes we all need an opportunity to start...

5 Takeaways From Seminary After Graduating in 5.5 Years

This past Friday I walked across the stage, shook the hands of some professors, and celebrated the end of a very long journey. This journey started in the summer of 2007 when I decided to enroll at Multnomah Biblical Seminary in the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies program. Five and a half years later, I am finished!

I’ve written many times on this blog on the value of a seminary education. More often than not seminary is devalued by our culture and by Christians in general.

Some say seminary...

Everyone Enjoys Trees But Nobody Wants to Rake the Leaves

I live in an old neighborhood. Old houses and really old trees that have lots of leaves. Each fall they look beautiful but then they start to hit the ground. In a lot of Oregon we don’t get much snow, but we make up for it with leaves that cover the ground like snow. It’s always easy to tell who cares about keeping up the neighborhood because they’re outside raking leaves once or twice a week, and barely keeping up.

But then there’s the other neighbors who let the leaves sit and then slowly tu...

A Conversation About Holiness

Last week Christianity Today ran an article I wrote reviewing Kevin DeYoung’s book titled The Hole in Our Holiness. Kevin wrote a solid book that I would gladly recommend to others. In fact, both he and I come at the subject from a similar perspective: we have lost our desire to seek after holiness.

In my mind DeYoung does a great job of playing to his strengths in the book. He has an adept knowledge of the Bible and theology, and throughout the book he hones in on those areas to draw the read...

It’s Easy to Make Headlines

There’s a couple pieces of the Bible I wish I could get rid of:

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.” (Matthew 6:3)

“When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:6)

Life would sure be easier if God encouraged me to brag about all my little achievements.

Just last week Rose came home from a long day of work and I immed...

Leading Up: How to Thrive as a Millennial Leader

From Tyler: Today’s post is from a great young writer and leader in the church, Joel Mayward. He’s just about to release his first book. Check out the post below, and reach out to show him some support as his book launches.

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I’m a leader in the church, but I’m ultimately not the one in charge.

That statement describes my present circumstances. I’m a youth pastor, serving under the leadership of a lead pastor, an elder board, and the overall church culture that seems to have a life of its own. I...

On Being Thankful For Things

Back in the summer of 2006 I worked a hard construction job for 40 hours a week. Right before the job started I made an expensive purchase: a legit ring that would wow my girlfriend into saying yes instead of no. Luckily she did the former.

So I worked hard day after day. I didn’t even need to work out because my body ached from the hard work. But by the end of the summer I had paid off the ring in full. It was worth it. Happy wife, happy life. Right?

Fast forward to today. A few weeks ago Rose...

Embracing the Ordinary

When I was 8 I wished I was 12.

When I was 12 I wished I was 16.

When I was 16 I wished I was 25.

Even now at the age of 28, I wish I could be 35. My ordinary life of the present will surely be much more extraordinary by then, or so I like to believe. I think thoughts such as, “In just a few more years I’ll be making more money, changing more lives, and becoming more famous.” These thoughts aren’t unique to me are they?

Part of being human is overcoming the desire to be something we are not to in...