Uncontrolling Love: Essays Exploring the Love of God, with Introductions by Thomas Jay Oord.

Told someone would review this while specifically asking they not re-tweet or what have you, conceivably signposting TS among the open theist crowd.

Put in sufficient effort and discipline might likely warrant passing on in making some reasonably interesting remarks? Insteadio m'usual jumbled-up quick-time freestyle rant but first; a related issue and explanation on the above desire not to bother the sheep.

(As y'can see; 'not to bother...' and my being somewhat rude about)

Open Theism is to Christianity what Conspiracy Theory is to politics. Derided and dismissed by a majority and mainstream of spokespeople and public pundits. Those unable to face and engage, rarely taking the subject/s seriously. Two elephants and pretend not.

In fairness to non-open theist Christians and theology, there are notable contemporary attempts to contend but overall it's hit-piece attitudes. Been some open debates with pros and against yet again, no overstatement to suggest the conspicuous sign open theists are onto something is in the reaction.

There's been slow but steady growth in numbers of adherents who've shifted in their understanding to God being open not closed. Mostly those looking for new pastures and out of sorts with their traditional church meet-up and crew. Looking for fresh ways and find antidotes to credibility-lacking tones.

Suspect though, camp lines are fairly firmly drawn up and in some ways, that'll be that and mass swings. Pride dying, is hard. Or at least in these overall relatively comfy Western times. Once the reaping of the complacency displays more clearly the building of the prison; Just maybe, oh maybe and why pray, we'll see a new wave of more rigorous local church arising.

Pockets and seeds. Ring them bells.

In the meantime Open Theism is the underrated and under-seen theological essential for these times. It's the logical progression from God who promised to continually reveal ever-better Biblical clarity and somehow get through to us.

Rare encounters and those sincerely considering, yet not-convinced about God being so open, is the place to read or listen for most convincing arguments. Bridge talk, which seems to me, the most likely dialogue and space to encourage sceptics exploring on.

Yet and re-me? Why not try get OT's for consideration of TS-type talk?

After all, m'cry is for OPEN -- inc. or let's say, this much about Open T-ism -- Christians, who 're AWAKE and out the closet.

Be bound to make themselves known. All so -- we can do a whole heap of mutually aiding damage to hell's work/ers, with all eyes on bringing heaven down, here and now.

No one out there/thus far/seen to be. Nor close. Let alone daring to dismiss. As if.

Sounds like I'm being churlish or in a tiff at the wall of defiance and therefore don't bother assertively reaching out. Somehow need more faith for anyone taking up a rigorous re-appraisal of mainstream assumptions and truly contrary claims, regarding historical and contemporary geopolitics.

Kinda talk that barely raises a whimper among Christians. Of course all 'know' there's light in this darkness but mental gymnastics and unholy dissonance keeps at bay. Hope beyond our life-time troubles. What have you..? Praying into the list. Call them 'blinkers'.

There are some who 'come out'. But thee be boxed into closed. Whereby, you do have to wonder sometimes, what for?

With Progressives there's hope might shift. Yet, you can feel the embarrassment through their disregard and resistance in taking any opportunity to communicate. Think know best, not to enter in. Not so much thinking with 'me' but among themselves. But hey, non-Christian trendier-type counterparts, are also wide-eyed closed.

Stay safely and with the seen, respectable crowd.

Reasons for this are manifold. One specific to open theism and their corresponding progressive evangelicalism, is it seems to them oh so uncool to get close, superficially reminding of the all-in-all cranky-ville Christianity they flee'd from.

Conversely, those least-open theological-wise aka Calvinism -- actually, push to conclusions and not at all open -- are undoubtedly buttoned-up about, because it would cause a train wreck through their blueprint theology, driving their welded into politics.

Curtailing the bambling-on and a final bit with a line or two on the book:

1) Laboriously covered in comments/posts, there's much here in the open view, that relates to most inquiries into God. Overturning the nos1. arguments against, in being fairer to the text and the unpacking of traditional side-tracking, to convincingly distinguish God from evil. Therefore, sense a particular rile-up with some, as their stock unbelieving apologetics can't swagger around so easily unchallenged. Hence open theism is essential, as are some of the progressive revisions, in preaching the prophetic and appropriately convicting message.

2) Evil outworking in the cabal and the substance of their religion is difficult to assess. Are they being blinded by fatalistic dreams and therefore theology, or have the demons disclosed the genuine hazard? Obviously evil spirits are aware of 'open' because we have the Biblical record confirming this. As for self-induced deception? Could surmise their conscious state and perhaps, all consumed in intoxicating grandeur? But who knows and not sure led much to care.

Don't get what I'm tryin' to say?

Simply put, it doesn't so much matter what the enemies of God and pass on, believe or think. Being compulsive beyond even need to be liars, they're likely to be conning the central conners on earth. Have and convey faith, motivated to make Jesus declaration their 'time is short' etc, as long away as can be.

3) God is love and the root of this -- and his/her -- personality. Unlike us, unable to differ from. Questions otherwise and God's capacity, can only be discovered in genuinely receiving personal revelation and what God, could or not, choose to do? The Bible a lens but we can focus in. We know in continuing against deciding to end this creation, God takes on our suffering himself. God here and now talking, to proclaim through Jesus death and life, our new living way. Opportunity and have us beat back the alt.religion which is the elite empire.

Conclusion and Ad to the multitude coming to TS:

This book is the best that's out there theologically. Dozens of contributors with snappy short-essays while indexing and titles making it an ideal dipper in and out. Supremo stuff. Someone would do well to make various printable versions tailored for seekers.

What's also heartening is the broadness within the field. This allows for personally fine-tuning perspectives, something much of the church generally wobbles about.

God IS open. Bible tells me so. Traditions throughout history do not demonstrate otherwise and this book ...

love letters from God.