An all powerful, all loving God and tragedy don't seem to jive. Dr. Tom Oord (theologian, author) is here to give us options. He sat down to explain open and relational theism, and, more specifically, how love, especially divine love, doesn't control others.

If you're a fan of what Tom lays out, check out his book The Uncontrolling Love of God. You can even get a free audio version at https://homebrewedchristianity.leadpages.co/uncontrolling-love-of-god-audio-book/. You can keep up with him at thomasjayoord.com.

As always, a big thanks to Light Theory for the intro and outro jams.

The Bible contains some pretty disturbing takes on gender, but Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. (Brite Divinity School) doesn't shy away from these texts. She wrestles with them, questions them and illuminates them in unexpected ways. We sat down to talk about her latest book, Womanist Midrash. By the end of the episode, Wil had unpacked stories from across the Hebrew scriptures in a way that helps us confront gender based violence today.

For more from Wil, check out www.wilgafney.com and her books Womanist Midrash, Daughters of Miriam and Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah in the Wisdom Commentary series.

As always, a huge thanks to Light Theory for the intro and outro tunes.

David and Constantine Khalaf are in a loving, Jesus-following, same-sex relationship, which unfortunately means they’re not welcome in every church. As writers and journalists, they’ve begun documenting their relationship as a resource for faith communities and LGBTQ Christians. We talked about their lives, faith, church experiences and, of course, the infamous Nashville Statement, all in hopes that their story helps ground our beliefs in the actual experiences of actual people.

You can read their blog at https://daveandtino.com and find them on Patheos at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/modernkinship.

As always, don't forget to check out Light Theory’s music at https://joehamgeri.bandcamp.com/.

Shane Claiborne (author, activist, all around interesting human) has spent his life trying to act like Jesus really meant what he said, which, as it turns out, has some political implications. Shane talks about what it might look like to faithfully follow Jesus politically in the age of Trump. 

For more from Shane, including his books, check out shaneclaiborne.com. To find out more about The Simple Way, the community Shane helps lead, visit thesimpleway.org. 

As always, don’t forget to check out A Better Story on Facebook and Twitter, and listen to the sweet sounds of Light Theory, who does the intro music, at joehamgeri.bandcamp.com.

Frank Schaeffer (author, artist) knows the toxic role our desire for certainty can play in religion and politics. He has seen it at its worst, and experienced the freedom of letting it go. In our conversation, he talks about how addicting it can be, how it has led us to the age of Trump and the beauty and wonder that can come on the other side of it.

Check out his latest book Why I Am an Atheist Who Believes in God and find out more at frankschaeffer.com.

Yolanda Norton (San Francisco Theological Seminary) explains Womanism and shows how reading Ruth as a black woman illuminates the story in unexpected and much needed ways.

Of course, don't forget to check out Light Theory's music if you're into the intro tunes: https://joehamgeri.bandcamp.com/.

Because some things are too good for the cutting room floor. Yolanda talks about Huldah, Hagar and Womanist resources, such as: 

I Found God in Me: A Womanist Biblical Hermeneutics Reader by Mitzi J. Smith (with contributions from Yolanda Norton)

Psalms, Book 2-3 by  Denise Dombkowski Hopkins (with contributions from Yolanda Norton)

Womanist Interpretations of the Bible: Expanding the Discourse by Gay L. Byron and Vanessa Lovelace

The Woman Babylon and the Marks of Empire: Reading Revelation with a Postcolonial Womanist Hermeneutics of Ambiveilence by Shanell T. Smith

An Introduction to Womanist Biblical Interpretation by Nyasha Junior

Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne by Wilda C. Gafney

How can a seemingly creepy old man in Genesis 24 help us with tough decisions? Check out this one recorded at Crosswalk Church (crosswalknapa.org) in Napa, CA.

Don't forget to give Light Theory's music a listen at https://joehamgeri.bandcamp.com if you're into the intro and outro music.

On a day where love of America is overflowing, a 2000 year old phrase can challenge us to think more deeply about love and patriotism.