Tyler Braun's Blog, page 9

Called Out Episode 009: Mo Isom

As sex has become a commonplace subject within pop culture, whether it be television, movies, music, or mere conversation, it has led many toward an acceptance of sexual activity outside of God’s design. In response we often ignore sex, pushing it away, thinking of the potential damage it can cause. Lost in this, is that God created sex for a purpose.

In this podcast episode I talk with Mo Isom about her story of sexual brokenness, and what healing looked like in response to it. We also chat...

Blogging: What It Got Right and What It Got Wrong

I’ve been writing on this space and others that were precursors to this space for about 11 years now. After graduating college I realized nearly all my favorite writers were putting their writing on their own websites and making it available for free. I was shocked! After a while of just reading blogs, I started my own, with the goal of posting something every day.

Blogs have largely been cast aside by larger journalist pages where great writers can work together to produce quality content an...

A Year Through The Bible

If you’re too busy to read, you’re too busy.

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I just recently finished a year-long Bible reading plan, for the second time in my life. It did, however, take me 13 months to complete, because I’m human. On my previous one-year read through of the Bible the reading was part of a school assignment so I’m not sure that should even count.

To read through the Bible in one year is a big commitment of discipline and time. To accomplish the goal you can’t miss more than a day here or there or you’ll...

Called Out Episode 008: Godly Power with Jamin Goggin and Kyle Strobel

Last year I named the book The Way of the Dragon or The Way of the Lamb as the best book of 2017. It was not only helpful in and of itself, but I found its focus on power to be especially timely. Previously on the podcast we explored the subject gone viral, the #MeToo movement, but behind that movement is how people in power have taken advantage of others. We don’t have a sexual abuse problem in isolation, we have a power problem.

As easy as it would be to point the finger at Hollywood or Wa...

Called Out Episode 007: AJ Swoboda

This new episode of Called Out features a conversation I had with AJ Swoboda, an author, professor, and pastor from Portland. Although I’ve connected with AJ quite a bit when we were both pastoring in Portland, I also grew up int he same town as AJ. We went to the same high school, same church, and same youth group, though we were 3 years apart. Small!

I talked with AJ about how he went from being a music and drama student to a pastor, what ministry in the urban core of Portland is like, and...

The Beauty of Lament—My Review of Sandra McCracken’s New Album

I had the unique privilege to write a review of Sandra McCracken’s latest album (out yesterday) for The Gospel Coalition. You can read the whole review HERE, but here’s the introduction:

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As many as 40 percent of the Bible’s psalms could be categorized as psalms of lament. Their words pulse with protest, indignation, complaint, and sorrow, even as they contain hope. While the modern worship movement has done much good, it has largely missed the importance of lament.

Artists like Sandra McCra...

The Best Things I Read This Week

1. Rachael Denhollander’s interview with Christianity Today about her courtroom appearance in front of Larry Nassar, and why she lost her church by standing up for sexual abuse victims.

If you haven’t watched the impact statement she gave in court last week, I’d start there. This interview highlights that the Gospel is not merely about forgiveness, and when we only focus on forgiveness we miss out on God’s justice. While what Rachael has to say is sobering as a pastor (“It is with deep regret...

Called Out Episode 006: #MeToo

This new podcast episode topic needs no introduction. The #MeToo hashtag is almost universally known. Not only did it lead to the “Time Person of the Year,” but it has become a nightly news segment, and overtook the Golden Globes earlier this month.

In this episode you’ll hear some personal stories, some encouragement for steps forward for those who are affected by sexual assault in their past, and encouragement for others who are close with individuals who have been affected.

You can listen...

How it All Began

It all started on a pool deck when I was in between jobs, during the summer of my first year of marriage. I figured I was starting seminary so I needed to get used to reading, so I read for hours on end every day, rereading old favorites and new finds, immersing myself in the world of theology.

Theology is simply the study of God, but in those months it became a place to call home—a centering place—where I wanted to know God more for the nurturing of my soul and in order to be able to lead ot...

Best of 2017

While history will likely remember 2017 for mass shootings, protests, hurricanes, floods, and the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States, here’s a few other things that deserve mention from this past year.

Best Album

**Listen to my “Best Albums of 2017″ Playlist on Spotify below (or find it directly HERE)**

I believe that music is best listened to through whole album releases, not just individual songs. So while I appreciate a lot of individual songs I want to highlight some...