Alan V. Nelson's Blog, page 2

Read WHAT you want, HOW you want

Above image courtesy of Clean Reader App's website. Not my writing.
Oh, controversy, where is thy sting? Oh, internet, where is thy common sense?

You may have heard about the Clean Reader App, you may have not. It's garnered quite a bit of criticism over its premise, to be honest.

If you wish, you can read posts by other authors on the other side of a completely different fence than I am. Not only that, they're in a whole 'nother neighborhood over the controversy.

- Chuck Wendig's blog...

Why Christian Persecution Isn't A Human Rights Issue

Word to the wise, don't Google Image Search '21 Christians'
Of all the things I've said and written here, the following sentences may be the most controversial. They're also the hardest ones I've ever had to write.

Christian Persecution isn't a human rights issue. We should let it happen and stop fighting it.

For the past few weeks, I've been struggling with what to write. I had Caroline do a guest post, I posted my thank-yous like I do when I don't have anything else. To be honest, I've been mo...

And, March!

I am thankful for... Being 77% done with the rough draft of RAMBLELANDS // New friends that wait forever for a reply to their email // Jonathan Carroll // Michael Bunker - Writer, Iconoclast, Reasonable Man // Nick Cole // Apocalypse Weird // Ludovico Einaudi // Caroline Tart // Tart Sweets // Meeting in a coffee shop and discussing the differences in religious sects, and 'stealing' books from the 'Take One, Leave One' shelf in said coffee shop // ENO //...

Guest Post: Why I Search by Caroline Tart

Alan first proposed the opportunity to me of writing a short piece for his blog while we were discussing his and the works of many other authors over coffee. Looking back, talking about literature in a coffee shop seems a bit trite, but it’s one of the small aspects of life I enjoy. Sometimes clichés are fun.

   However, the point to this anecdote is that this happened almost two months ago, and I am just now able to put into words why I do what I do. For the past two months,...

Running Away

Do you ever have those days where you want to do something, but your heart pulls you to something else? It's like you want to go on a hike, but your heart says, "As much as you may need that, as much as you may want that, your energy is required much more here, doing this thing."

And that's the kind of day I'm having.

I remember growing up as a missionary kid very well. In fact, I consistently remind myself of it. I want to be up and traveling so much, especially as of late, that...

By A Thread

Do you ever feel like letting go of everything? I do. Quite frequently.I feel like it would be such an easier life to masquerade myself in the ideas of relativity, that I often consider switching sides. I'd be good at switching sides. Christians piss me off.Ouch.
But they do. Why? Because we can't agree on anything. There are those of us who even argue whether Christ was being literal about going to Heaven to prepare a place for those that follow Him, or whether He meant some other more metaph...

The Self-Obsessed Social System

The other day, I caught myself thinking a rather nasty thought. I thought, "Man! I wish I had a smartphone with apps so I could post selfies and then I could engage with more people and then I wouldn't feel like such an outcast..." And then I punched myself in the face.
Not really, but almost. A thought like that kind of deserves it.
For the first 13 years of my life, I really wanted to be one of the 'in' crowd. I'm serious. When I came out of the womb, I wanted to be like the coolest baby in t...

'Bout time, son!

Me, doing my best impression of Jean-Claude Van Damme
I haven't made a 'thank you' post in a while. And I'd just like to add that January 2015 is probably my least favorite period of time on record.

I'd say it's about time to be grateful for something instead of being whiny and depressive, so here we go...

I'm thankful/grateful for...

Local honey and ground cinnamon in steamy, frothy almond milk // The Avett Brothers // Roo Panes // Hugs // Prayer // God // Maw-maw // NEEDTOBREATHE (again) // The...

The Year of the Leviathan

In 2014, I had a goal of reading 25 new books (at least to me). I managed to read 29, all total, which doesn't count books of the Bible (indicated with a (B)), or books from this list that were read twice, or books I've read before and decided to read again this year. The list is as follows:
Prague by Arthur PhilipsThe Ocean At The End Of The Lane by Neil GaimanDUST by Hugh HoweyMere Christianity by C.S. LewisThe Crowd, The Critic and the Muse by Michael GungorWildwood by Colin MeloyAmos (B)Ob...

Racism: The International Issue

Note: Make sure you read this entire thing before jumping on me for anything I'm about to say. The views reflected below do not necessarily reflect those of anyone I am close to. I am liable for what is perceived and said over this next article, no one else.

Ferguson, Missouri.

This is the home base for the biggest racial turmoil of my generation. I wasn't old enough for the events surrounding Rodney King to be a big deal to me at the time. I was seven then. But, I'm old enough now - I'm 29 - t...