The banner photo was taken during a break for an MTS course; all the good questions arise during break.
Author’s Note on Interpretive Adventures followed by a Review
Interpretive Adventures
Subversive Readings in a Missional School
I wrote Interpretive Adventures as a work of love to commemorate the content and dynamic character of the teaching that I provided to the students of The Institute for Global Outreach Developments International. Over the years I watched students weep, rejoice, voice their astonishment for all they were learning, sit in wonder and silence for numerous minutes as the impact of word and Spirit touched their hearts and minds. The interpretive readings presented in this book are mine, yet they are also the product of sitting under good teachers, and reading the best authors that history has provided. They also represent my ongoing pursuit of God in the text of scripture, the world, and in my life experiences. The freedom to think creatively and constructively with faith has been essential for arriving at the claims of my interpretive readings.
Review
Insightful exegesis...a theology meant to be lived
I highly recommend “Interpretive Adventures.” The author invites readers on an insightful journey. The book reflects a theological perspective that is the product of decades of biblical studies, ministerial experience, and communal dialogue. In particular, I am impacted by Dr. Garner’s feminist reading of the characters in the book of Judges. Beyond a fresh perspective, his exegesis draws out issues concerning male and female relations that are paramount in our time. The connection between the biblical text and our current historical context is clear in the section on "Restoring the Voice of Oppressed Communities." The author has a way of packing layers of meaning into pithy statements that cut to the heart. Dr. Garner’s contrast between “endangered guardians” and “entitled conquerors” is an example of his skill of putting a situation into a proper perspective, uncovering injustice, and challenging readers to come alongside society's vulnerable.
— Shaun Galford, Professor History of Christianity
B.A. History, Bachelor of Biblical Studies, M.A. Theological Studies (Church History Emphasis)
Shaun Galford
