Comments on: On tattoos…

By: Chrissy

Chrissy — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:53:36 +0000

On 11/19/2009 I can say my life has changed in the most beautiful way. I am looking for a biblical quote to represent that day. This gives me so much comfort to know I am not alone on wanting to mark my body in remembrance of this date. I myself think tattoos are a beautiful way of telling a story. I currently have 5 tattoos (which NONE do I regret). I Thank you for all the stories shared. I am on search for the perfect tattoo to represent my special day.
I love this quote: Let go and Let God!! As children bring there broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because he was my friend. But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own. At last, I snatched them back and cried, “How can you be so slow?” “My child, He said, “What cold I do? You NEVER did let go………… how beautifully said!!

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:30:04 +0000

I guess God is against mullets if he doesn’t want hair cut short on the sides and long in the back. I always suspected that but it’s good to have Bibilcal proof.

By: Sunday. Tired. No Title. « Watching The Waters

Sunday. Tired. No Title. « Watching The Waters — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:13:34 +0000

[...] Tired. No Title. Jump to Comments Do you know Pastor Ryan? I love him. I love his tattoos. I love his gorgeous wife. I love his beautiful babies. I love his pan-seared mushrooms. I [...]

By: Ted

Ted — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:05:46 +0000

im so going to get a tat now, i was uneasy about it till i read this article.

By: Stacey J

Stacey J — Mon, 11 May 2009 06:10:32 +0000

Hi Ryan. I found your blog a little while back and have been reading your archives. I was never very religious, but was baptized Catholic when I was a baby, and attended Catholic school from grade 6 through HS graduation. I am just now, at age 29, realizing that I kind of have a calling to come back to the church (though not Catholic). Anyway - about your tattoos…I find you much more relatable because you do have tattoos and gauged ears. You seem much more real to me than the priests I grew up with. Because of your blog, I already feel closer to God. Thank you for having it and putting yourself and your faith out there for all of us to see.

~Stacey

By: Ben

Ben — Sat, 09 May 2009 23:44:16 +0000

Mate, you’re a legend. I love your attitude. This is the first post I’ve read of yours (I googled something about tattoos). I’m a Christian youth leader in a South Australian church and got my first tatt about a month ago and have booked in for my second. The responses are amazing. I have a secular job to pay the bills and only one Christian colleague. She blatently said that my tatt looked satanic and evil (it’a a tiger/warrior design from Erwin McManus’ book The Barbarian Way, drawn by a Christian artist, so it’s very much not satanic!). And my youth dont care, but the one other person who gave negative feedback was a girl on my team at church (one of only 4 people at our church with a tatt!!). Crazy how people respond. It’s definately about the heart and you’ve said that so well. What amazes me is that the people who throw the “your body is a temple” verse at me are often unhealthily overweight men! Anyway mate, Hope the sleeve is coming along nicely! My next is “Be strong and courageous” in Hebrew on my inside right forearm. Can’t wait…no doubt it’ll be “satanic” too!

By: Krista

Krista — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:57:51 +0000

wow! im so glad to see another christian that has the same views as i do about tattoos! thanks!

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 01:23:05 +0000

How is a tattoo different from lipstick, eye shadow or any other make-up, an ear ring or even a hair cut?

An interesting way to bring people to Christ.

By: farouk

farouk — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:12:46 +0000

So have you had opportunities to talk about faith matters as a result of a faith design tattoo?

By: kk

kk — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:15:24 +0000

Ryan,

I’m not the sort who comments on posts, nor am I the sort who gets a tattoo. Guess I am now that “sort” of person, since I’ve done both now. I am one of the women who went on the excursion last week. We first began discussing tattoos when ONE in our group announced she was planning another tattoo, and wondered if we like to join her. Without going into the apparent evolution of that initial conversation (results transparent) we laughed, cried, listened, nurtured, and loved each other. I have already been “judged” because of my ink, but am old enough to know (and have learned) that people having judgmental tendencies will do that no matter — it could be my clothes, hair, jewelry, skin tone (yes — people have told me I “need” a tan!), weight, and even ……. my shoes! (ohmygosh). I learning everyday to be more secure in myself, and grow in his love and “grace.”

Thank you for this blog, and generating this great discussion. You pretty much rock!

By: Julie

Julie — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 14:08:06 +0000

Awesome post!!!
And I love the answer you gave your father in law. All this from a woman with no tattoos because pain is not my thing. They’d have to knock me out!!
julie

By: Bridget

Bridget — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:57:18 +0000

Hello! I read your recipes on The Pioneer Woman’s site. I have two small tattoos and don’t feel that tattoos are contrary to God, if they’re respectful and beautifully done. Tattooing, like any art form, is a skill given to people by God, and I feel it’s wrong not to use the talents we were given. I especially love that your tattoos enable you to be more approachable to the people that need you the most. Very similar idea to Jay Bakker’s “Revolution Church” - he reaches out to people who have lost God or who feel alienated by society, and the fact that he looks as he does (more punk rock than preacher) helps that cause. I also know a man like Maggie (#29) described. He’s not a pastor, but a straight-edge (no drugs or alcohol), “Christian metal” musician. He has two full sleeves depicting Biblical verses and themes and says that kids at shows will often ask him about them. He said that it’s another way to get God’s messages across to people. And that’s a good thing!

By: Debbie

Debbie — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 13:52:27 +0000

I don’t have any tatoos myself but they don’t bother me either. I do admit that obscene ones aren’t fun to look at. And Ryan, I agree with you that yours make you more approachable to alot of people. I think they are a part of who you are.

By: pam

pam — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:40:19 +0000

can we have this same discussion about the subject of drinking alcohol. pleeeeeeeeeeeeaze.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 02:39:57 +0000

I don’t really know where to start with this. I love tattoos (although I don’t have one of my own yet) but I’ve never really been able to “defend my position” when my more conservative Christian friends go after that one.

I have some thinking to do. Hopefully next time this comes up I can be a bit more eloquent!