Tyler Braun's Blog

Hey blog-reading friends, it has been a long while since I last published something here. I have no plans of shutting down this space, but I am not actively writing here either. But I am still writing and posting! On top of my various social media pages like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, I’ve been consistently writing in two separate spaces:

I enjoy recapping the year, mostly as a way of reminding myself of all the great things I enjoyed throughout the year. Check out my best of 2020 if you enjoy looking back even further.

One other quick note: I started a newsletter this past year and have transitioned all my writing to that space. Sign up to read upcoming emails here. Thank you for taking the time to read! A writer without an audience shouts into an abyss. You make this endeavor worth the effort.

#1 Manche...

What a year, right?!? I don’t know that any of us would choose to run that one back, but I did manage to find some redeeming pieces of the year. Here are some of my favorite things from 2020.

1. exile by Taylor Swift (feat. Bon Iver)

2. Sunday Morning by Tyson Motsenbocker

3. Citizens by Jon Guerra

4. You Bring the Morning by Andy Squyres

This week has done the necessary job of exposing idols. At one moment many are decrying a demoralizing outcome, only to see a shift in votes followed by a complete reversal of outlook. When an outcome determines your outlook it has become a god in your life.

A question I’ve been asking people in conversation recently is, “how are you getting through 2020?” It’s a practical question that everyone can relate to because 2020 has been unlike any year prior. It’s also an exposing question because ...

Over the last 8 years my church has focused on slowly preaching through whole books of the Bible instead of focusing on individual topics. Especially in 2020, wouldn’t it be helpful to focus the sermons around racism, politics, and other culture dynamics? Though each of those topics has been highlighted, they have not been our primary focus, preaching through the text of the Bible has.

Nearly two months ago my family moved into a new (to us) home, only a few miles from our previous home in Salem, Oregon. The process of looking, then selling and buying, happened so fast I’ve spent these past two months processing its significance.

The obvious question you might have is: Why would I go through the hassle of moving just a few miles during a pandemic? Doesn’t my family have enough things going on between leading a church and doing distance learning with our children? (Of ...

Why I Won’t Be Voting For a President, Again

Now that the two major US political parties have hosted their conventions, announcing their candidates and platforms, it is time to decide who is worthy of my vote for President of the United States. Four years ago I published an article outlining why I found myself unable to vote for either of the two-party candidates nominated in the 2016 Presidential election. I find myself in a similar place again.

I have many dear friends who I respect ...

I have always been a person who relies on routine to maintain a level of certainty and steadiness in the midst of life’s craziness. I am also a person of faith in Jesus. On the surface, the two don’t seem to mix, because it would seem that faith is embracing the unseen. The routine allows me to consistently feel connected to Him, often reinforcing my faith. But what happens when life becomes particularly crazy?

Despite living in a pandemic, my family has been exploring moving. Why not just le...

Paul’s admonition toward the end of his letter to the church in Ephesus has always been striking to me: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 6:12). It runs against my inclination to wage a battle against what I can see, touch, and quantify.

During these Covid days, many have mentioned that we are fighting a battle against an un...

Singer/songwriter, worship leader, and film score composer Jon Guerra uses various artistic languages to give people opportunities to worship.

On this episode hear from Jon Guerra describe his background that led into leading worship with Vertical Worship (4:40), creating devotional music (24:35), and most recently working on the film score for A Hidden Life, Terrence Malicks latest movie (30:25).

Listen to the full episode below:

Or listen to the episode on various podcast hosts, such as:

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