About « Green Baggins

About

Hello, world. My name is Rev. Lane Keister. I am a PCA (Presbyterian Church in America) pastor currently serving a CRC (Christian Reformed Church) and an RCA (Reformed Church in America) church. I am located in North Dakota. I graduated from St. Olaf College in 2000 with a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance, and I graduated in 2004 from Westminster Theological Seminary Philadelphia with an M.Div. I have a wife Sarah (married on 8/18/2001), and three children: Ila Lorraine (born 1/2/2004), a vivacious, mischievous girl with a phenomenal memory, James Mark Calvin (born 10/27/2005), a sturdy, linear Keister-mold boy, and Edmund MacLeod (born 7/25/2007), a cute newborn too young to show any signs of what he might become.

94 Comments

Gomarus said,

October 10, 2006 at 8:00 pm

Lane,
I wasn’t sure where best to post merely to say hello. I notice there is no info on this page yet. I hope you add name and location info for other visitors. I have added you to my blog roll.

Jim
a.k.a. Gomarus
greenbaggins said,

October 11, 2006 at 9:44 am

Thanks, I will do that as I expand my wings (this is still a new blog-site for me).
Josh said,

October 29, 2006 at 3:39 pm

Lane, is this guy related to you: Name:Adrian C. Keister Location:Blacksburg, Virginia, United States from http://cumberlandisland.blogspot.com/. That would be totally wierd if he is, I just moved from Christiansburg/Blacksburg.
greenbaggins said,

October 29, 2006 at 4:06 pm

Josh, he is my identical twin brother.
Josh said,

October 29, 2006 at 4:12 pm

Small world.
Josh said,

November 11, 2006 at 5:46 pm

Lane,

I cannot find an email addy for you on this site. Will you pls email me at kymanika@gmail.com.

-Josh
Seth McBee said,

November 15, 2006 at 5:11 pm

Lane, you have a lot to add on your blog and have enjoyed what I have read…It is not a big deal to you but I will be adding you to our blogroll being that the content on your site is very in depth.

thanks..
greenbaggins said,

November 15, 2006 at 5:23 pm

Thanks for the link, Seth. I appreciate it.
Thomas Twitchell said,

November 18, 2006 at 11:44 pm

I am new to the internet and interested in speaking with friends of the Reformation. How do I get regisered to use this blog?
greenbaggins said,

November 19, 2006 at 2:01 pm

You don’t need to register at all to comment on my blog. If you would like a blog of your own, you can go to wordpress.com, set up a blog (which is very intuitive with wordpress) and then link to this blog (I have many Reformed blogs in my blogroll as well). If you want to read lots of Reformed blogs, then I suggest you get Omea Reader (just search for it in Google), and start entering in Reformed blogs you come across.
Josh said,

November 19, 2006 at 2:22 pm

Lane,

How did you add your picture to your profile?
greenbaggins said,

November 19, 2006 at 2:29 pm

You have to edit the picture so that the pixel size is small enough. With most picture viewers these days, you can click one corner of the part that you want, and then drag to the opposite corner of what you want, and then copy it as a new picture. then, when it’s small enough, you can upload it to your WordPress blog profile.
Seth McBee said,

November 21, 2006 at 12:26 pm

Lane…sorry for the question, but is there anyway on blogger to show the most recent comments on the sidebar or is that something unique to wordpress? It is very helpful
greenbaggins said,

November 21, 2006 at 12:39 pm

You can do it fairly easily in Blogger. Just go here:
http://bloggerhacks.blogspot.com/2004/09/farrago-recent-comments-hack-103.html

NOTE: follow the directions ***precisely***. Actually, this hack is even nicer than WordPress, because WordPress can only show the five most recent comments, whereas the Farrago hack can show as many as you want.
Fr. Bill said,

November 21, 2006 at 12:55 pm

As long as this page is gathering odd-wad questions, here’s a couple …

How is it that you get away with ministering in CRC and RCA congregations with the convictions you have on women’s ordination? They both are officially committed to ordaining women as ruling and teaching elders, are they not?

Understand … I’m not questioning your convictions or integrity. I’m just curious how this kind of combo remains stable. Do the RCA or CRC have “conscience clauses” for people like you?
greenbaggins said,

November 21, 2006 at 1:07 pm

Both denominations do have conscience clauses…currently. The two churches I serve are conservative and are in a relatively conservative classis in both cases (the CRC Minnkota classis is considerably more conservative than its RCA counterpart). I do not know how long that will last, since the liberals are in full power in both denominations. The last CRC synod was completely disastrous. I would hope that they will not take away the conscience clauses (which are currently under attack). If they do, then we might be forced to leave.
Seth McBee said,

November 21, 2006 at 1:10 pm

thanks for the “recent comment” help…much better
Fr. Bill said,

November 21, 2006 at 1:26 pm

If the CRC and RCA follow the path of the Episcopal Church, the conscience clauses will vanish relatively soon. In ECUSA, they were offered as a sop to the conservatives, to get them to go along with women’s ordination to the priesthood. But, once the House of Bishops was firmly in the hands of the revisionists, it was yanked. Since the 2003 General Convention, one cannot receive ordination in ECUSA unless one subscribes in writing to a belief in and a support for “all persons without respect to sex or gender orientation.”

I’ll be interested to see how the withdrawal of the conscience clauses in the CRC and RCA proceeds. Once the EUCSA clauses were withdrawn, time alone suffices to rid the group of clergy who could object to WO.
greenbaggins said,

November 21, 2006 at 1:29 pm

I fear you are right. My two churches will eventually become one. The difficulty is that one of them is considerably less stable than the other. If the conscience clauses are yanked soon, then we will be forced into something which I would rather have had happen naturally.
Andrew Barnes said,

December 14, 2006 at 11:06 pm

Hey you should do a review of http://auburnavenue.org/documents/wilkins_presbytery_response.htm
Colin Adams said,

December 16, 2006 at 10:28 am

Just happened to be on your blog and wanted to say thanks for linking to my wife’s site (Titus 2 Talk).

There’s lots of stimulating content on here.

The Lord bless you,
Colin Adams
Josh said,

December 24, 2006 at 9:41 pm

Merry Christmas,

Keep on blogging, in the free world!

Lane, your blog has been a gift for me. Thanks for your faithfulness. I look forward to the day we will worship together in heaven.
greenbaggins said,

December 26, 2006 at 6:59 pm

You are welcome, Josh. And I look forward also to that day.
Josh said,

January 3, 2007 at 6:37 pm

You need to notify your chain of command, and ask em to plant a PCA here in Chillicothe, Zip 45601 (for planning purposes :-) )
Seth McBee said,

January 4, 2007 at 5:12 pm

Lane…when you get a chance throw in your two cents on my site regarding the homosexual sin issue…if you could…I always like hearing your side.

http://contendearnestly.blogspot.com/2007/01/is-homosexuality-sin.html
david said,

January 4, 2007 at 10:40 pm

Lane,

Just a note to say thank you for hosting such a provocative discussion of all of the matters on your blog. I am sure many find it helpful to engage in these dialogues.

Best regards,

DP Cassidy
greenbaggins said,

January 5, 2007 at 11:02 am

David, any relation to Jim Cassidy?
joe said,

January 5, 2007 at 2:31 pm

Hey Lane! I love the blog. It was great seeing you guys again! Luke and I have started a blog at http://www.goodnesstruthandbeauty.wordpress.com. Check us out!

BTW – we linked your blog and your brother’s to ours. Is that okay? I don’t know the blogging etiquette yet.
greenbaggins said,

January 5, 2007 at 2:34 pm

Great to see you, Joe! I never complain about links. I’ll link to yours as well.
david said,

January 5, 2007 at 10:41 pm

No relation to Jim…that I know of! But perhaps he and I can one day share a Guinness and laugh.
DC
G.L.W.Johnson said,

January 17, 2007 at 7:33 am

Lane
I too could not find a email address for you. I am also a grad. of WTS in Phila.
Fundraiser said,

January 18, 2007 at 4:14 pm

A few questions from a blog idiot

How do you keep the spammers from eating you alive? i\’ve seen blogs with nothing but spam postings.

How do you keep some left wing extremist from posting racist or defamatory rhetoric? and if you cant stop them, what are you legally liabel when they do?

can viruses be posted to blogs?
greenbaggins said,

January 18, 2007 at 4:28 pm

WordPress has an excellent spam-protection device called “Akismet.” It has blocked about %99 of all spamming attempts on my blog. The remaining %1 of spammers don’t use any links. I just get rid of them manually. I do not believe that viruses can be posted to blogs, but I don’t know for sure.

I have administration powers over any comments. I can edit them to the point of eliminating blog comments if I wish. Unless someone has my password, they cannot actually post in my blog at all.
Bryan Peters said,

January 30, 2007 at 12:30 pm

Excellent blog. I’m a bit of an outsider as a Reformed Baptist, but very interested nonetheless in the Auburn Avenue/Federal Vision controversy. I hope more voices like yours are heard within the PCA. I just received my copy of Covenant, Justification, & Pastoral Ministry in the mail and hope to post a review over at my blog in the next week. (shameless plug: http://youngevangelical.blogspot.com)
greenbaggins said,

January 30, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Bryan, I’ll look forward to reading it. Hopefully my copy will come today. I’ll link to your blog, as I like what I see.
theologian said,

January 30, 2007 at 9:10 pm

Lane,

I would appreciate you emailing me your email address, i have something i want to discuss with you. My email is…
larryicr@hotmail.com
Xon said,

January 31, 2007 at 9:03 am

Hey, Lane, I also graduated college in 2000 and married my wife (also named Sarah) only a week before you married yours. Fascinating, sort of.
Christopher Meredith said,

February 1, 2007 at 12:49 pm

Though we have differing theological views, we may have similar tastes in web aesthetics. I like the look of your blog so much that I borrowed (read: stole) a bit from it. I hope you don’t mind.

But you know what they say about imitation…
greenbaggins said,

February 1, 2007 at 12:54 pm

It doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t own the copyright on this web design, and I didn’t make it up myself. This is one of wordpress’s own themes. It fits my screen-name, so I decided to use it.
markhorne said,

February 1, 2007 at 2:34 pm

I’m sort of humbled and astounded I didn’t think of the connection on my own.
William Hill said,

March 9, 2007 at 4:15 am

Lane,

Please contact me off-list at the email address listed in this comment.

Thanks!
Matthew Paul Buccheri said,

March 10, 2007 at 8:08 pm

I’m trying to contact you regarding WordPress and other blog questions I have. Can you write to me direct? I can’t for the life of me find how to contact you on your blog…. Blessings!
Danny said,

March 15, 2007 at 9:22 am

Came to your site today on a search for Ridderbos. Really pleased to have found you, and will be adding you to bloglines and doubtless my blogroll also.

Blessings,

Danny
greenbaggins said,

March 15, 2007 at 9:39 am

Thank you for the link, Danny. I will check out your blog as well.
Danny said,

March 20, 2007 at 6:05 am

Lane –

Are you online as a church/churches? Any downloadable sermons?

Danny
greenbaggins said,

March 20, 2007 at 11:15 am

No, not as of now. This blog is all there is. Our two churches are small and rural, not very muich up on internet things. I would eventually like to have the sermons available on sermonaudio. But I do not currently have the time to do so. However, I do post the complete text of the sermon every week. The Genesis sermons are done (look under the indices to find all the Genesis sermons), and the Ephesians sermons are available under that category as well. That’s the best I can do at present.
Jay Young said,

May 4, 2007 at 10:22 am

Greetings,

I just wanted to say hi and to tell you that your website was a blessing to me today. Keep up the great work. I attend a PCA church in Philadelphia and I am witnessing to friends at work. Your message on Eph 2 is precisely what I was looking for in combatting an Arminian argument a baby Christian in our bible study had heard.

Thanks and God Bless!
Jay
greenbaggins said,

May 4, 2007 at 10:44 am

Jay, welcome to my blog. Praise the Lord that you found it helpful.
Peter said,

June 14, 2007 at 10:45 pm

Just blog browsing. Funny how it’s a different denomination, same old story. There’s almost a theme here, don’t you think? :-)
Holly said,

June 23, 2007 at 5:55 am

Hi Lane,

I am a friend of your sister! Holly Martin from Chattanooga Christian. Been looking for her and can’t find a phone number or email for her. Could you ask her to drop me a line? hollyrench@nc.rr.com
I haven’t seen you since you were about three. PCA pastor now? I feel old!
Thanks
Mrs. Heidmann said,

June 23, 2007 at 6:24 pm

Greetings Lane! Wonderful to find you here on the web and see how God has worked in your life since we were at Parkwood PCA! Many blessings to you and your family from the Heidmann clan!
greenbaggins said,

June 24, 2007 at 4:22 pm

Holly, welcome to my blog. I have given my sister your email, and you have probably already gotten an email from her. If not, then you will soon. Lord bless!

Annette, long time no see! It’s good to “see” you again. How’s viola playing coming along?
Mrs. Heidmann said,

June 25, 2007 at 12:23 pm

Lane, I actually saw your comment somewhere that included your juno e-mail address, and then found your blog here. I sent an update to that address, but if it is no longer valid, let me know where to re-send. :-)
greenbaggins said,

June 25, 2007 at 1:02 pm

I got it, and enjoyed it immensely! But there were no pics of you or Paul included. Do you have any of those?
Mrs. Heidmann said,

June 25, 2007 at 4:46 pm

Check out the links at the bottom of the e-mail for 5 years worth of family fotos! :-)
Brent said,

July 4, 2007 at 1:06 pm

Hi Lane,

I noticed that you pastor in North Dakota.

I have a friend of a friend who will be attending ND State University. Do you know if there is a good church in that area? Confessionally reformed would be ideal, but also tell me if you know of anything that’s evangelical. Do you have any contacts who might know more?

Many thanks for any help you can offer.
greenbaggins said,

July 4, 2007 at 1:15 pm

Brent, welcome to my blog. I have responded in a private email to you.
Jenny F said,

July 6, 2007 at 2:21 pm

Lane- can you email me? I would like to send you a link. I don’t want to post it here.
Susan said,

July 29, 2007 at 7:55 pm

Someone needs to update this portion of his blog. . . ;-)
Alan Gielczyk said,

August 18, 2007 at 9:18 am

Pastor Keister, It is nice to meet you as well. Thank you for linking to my site. I was just thinking that I may have to link to quite a few of your posts since I do not feel adequately prepared to post on the NPP. I hope you do not mind. Also I noticed you are serving in the CRC and RCA, my wife and I just left the CRC church here, I am PCA and we just got married in Feb, because of the liberal direction the denomination is going and the sad lack of discernment withing the local church here, ALPHA, Richard Foster and contemplative prayer, etc. Just wondering how you got hooked up with them and the even more liberal RCA?
In Christ
Alan
greenbaggins said,

August 18, 2007 at 9:46 am

Hey, Alan. Link away.

The CRC and RCA are much more conservative here in the Midwest, especially the CRC classis. Some of them are WTS grads. It feels much like a PCA church would.
Grace Morgan Farmer said,

August 20, 2007 at 12:26 pm

Dear Lane,

I attended Colleyville Pres the same time you and Adrian and parents were there. My former name was Grace Nardine. Please give my best to your Father JC & your Mom Susie as well as Adrian. Pleas feel free if you so desire to pass on my email adress to your parents. We (those of us now at MCPC) were lamenting the fact that your dad was not with us yesterday as an interesting discussion came up regarding ‘infinity’ with Samuel Schreiner (age 11) providing an interesting mathematical answer.

Best, Grace
Chad said,

September 2, 2007 at 10:27 am

Hi Lane,

Stumbled across your blog. Looks solid.

Chad
Dave Sarafolean said,

September 20, 2007 at 7:57 pm

Hi Lane. I enjoy the blog too. You write as if you have several years of ministry under your belt.

When you get a chance send me a private email. I have a few questions about ministry in your neck of the woods.

Thanks!

Dave Sarafolean
Christ Covenant Church PCA
Midland, Michigan
Bruce Clemence said,

September 30, 2007 at 9:22 am

Hi Lane – loved your blog on God’s wrestling with Jacob. I noticed you used the translation for Israel that Robert Alter supports in his wonderful recent rendering of Genesis: “God struggles” rather than the common “He struggles with God.” Have you read the Alter book?

God’s rich blessings!
Bruce Clemence
greenbaggins said,

September 30, 2007 at 1:30 pm

Thanks, Bruce, and welcome to my blog. I have not read Alter’s book, although I hear it’s good.
Seth McBee said,

November 16, 2007 at 10:09 pm

Lane.
Thought you might be interested in the atonement debate over on Contend Earnestly since you came over and commented about my change in thoughts on the atonement.

It would be good to dialogue with you once again.

Hope all is well.
Tommy Myrick said,

December 5, 2007 at 1:30 pm

Hi Lane,

I’m wondering if you would consider forwarding along the information from both Scott Clark (Heidelblog) and John Fonville (Gospel-Driven Blog) about our upcoming conference at Ponte Vedra Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL…

The Gospel Driven Life Conference
featuring W. Robert Godfrey, Michael Horton, R. Scott Clark, and special guest R.C. Sproul.
Feb. 1-2

http://www.pvpc.com

*information was just posted on the Desiring God blog this morning, link shared above.
michael dewalt said,

December 21, 2007 at 5:44 pm

Hey there. I maintain two different blogs, one for myself at http://www.gospelcentermusings.com and another one in which I wanted to talk to you about at http://www.heritagebooktalk.org
I am not sure if you have ever heard of Reformation Heritage Book or not, you can check that out at http://www.hearitagebooks.org
Anyways we are starting a blog, of author interviews, book reviews, book news, new and upcoming publications, anything with books from our publications to others as well.
Now where you can help us is in three areas.
#1 if you read, or ever do read, write a 250-1000 word review of any book of reformed, reformation, or puritan works, and we would love to post it mention you, your blog, and your thoughts over the work/book.
#2 if you could blog maybe once about us, or add us to your links on your blog to further our ministry of the work that the Gospel is doing today, namely on the World Wide Web!
#3 say a prayer at least once for us, after you read this, for our ministry at RHB and getting out good reformed literature to the saints of Christ!
Thanks for your time and please let me know your thoughts on these things, in helping us at RHB, thanks! Thanks! Thanks!
reformedmusings said,

December 21, 2007 at 8:58 pm

michael,

I added links to both your blog and the book site to my blog and will mention them in a post shortly. It’s up to Lane what he wishes to do here. I have a number of your books and will pop in some reviews as I have time.

Blessings,
Bob
Daphany Prewitt said,

March 8, 2008 at 7:40 pm

This comment is requesting assistance in finding a PCA church in the St. Louis, MO area which is not associated with the Federal Vision movement. My husband and I moved to St. Louis from the Pittsburgh, PA in late Oct 2007 when the US Army informed me it was time for me to move to another assignment. While searching for a PCA church in St. Louis we learned of Federal Vision and since FV on the surface sounds ok, we have since learned alot from this blog and other blogs. Right now, it is a daunting task trying to find church while ensuring the PCA church is not involved with FV, knowing a proponent of FV leads a PCA church here.

Please, Please help
Daphany
APuritanLady said,

March 18, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Daphany, if you are on the IL side of the river, then you might wish to consider Center Grove PCA in Edwardsville. If you on the MO side, then at least please consider contacting Pastor Tony Cassoria there. He may be able to help. Last I knew, CGPCA was strongly Confessional and not in any way affiliated with the FV movement ;)
HaigLaw said,

March 19, 2008 at 6:13 pm

Lane, it’s very nice to read about your family and friends.

-Dave
reformedmusings said,

March 19, 2008 at 9:09 pm

Daphany,

I’m sorry, but I didn’t see your note until now. I have contacts who can help with your quest. I’ll send out an inquiry tonight and get back to you.

Bob
reformedmusings said,

March 22, 2008 at 7:31 pm

Daphany,

I have it on good authority that there are a number of good, confessional PCA churches in St. Louis. Three in particular are Kirk of the Hills, Twin Oaks, and Covenant, but there are others. You apparently already know some of the FV ones to avoid. The prominent buzz words “covenant renewal worship” and Anglican/Roman church-looking robes in person or pictures are a good tip-off. Most confessional PCA churches only use black robes and only on special occasions. I hope that his helps you.

Bob
David Gray said,

March 22, 2008 at 8:28 pm

>Most confessional PCA churches only use black robes and only on special occasions.

Used to be standard Presbyterian garb…
reformedmusings said,

March 23, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Used to be standard Presbyterian garb…

Ah, but the times have changed…
David Gray said,

March 23, 2008 at 4:09 pm

>Ah, but the times have changed…

More often than not true but still unfortunate. There were good theological reasons for the black robes and in an era of personality driven preaching we might do well to reinvestigate them.
E.C.Hock said,

March 27, 2008 at 5:51 pm

Lane,

I am new on the list, but I have profited from it already. I have much appreciation for the CRC in their materials and in helping me finish my doctorate at Trinity by giving me a church office, though I was not a pert of the local church. A local church can often be not like the denomination (as it stands now). This was in Western Springs, Illinois, outside and west of Chicago.

Question: Though much ink has been spilled on the Federal Vision issue, I wonder if there has been a discussion on another matter: vision-crafting in general at the level of the local church. I do not mean just theological vision, but local church and leadership vision for the local congregation. Much is assumed by using the vision language, and ruling elders, as an example, often expect the pastor to have “a vision” for the church in terms of moving the people forward. But where does the language come from and what kind of vision is a biblical vision, opposed to a business-oriented vision based on reaching certain product and profit margins? Most consultants that talk of vision-planning in the commercial world would take little time to consider biblical core values, or the fact that “God gives the increase” as we are faithful. Yet, many pastors are made to feel like a failures if they do not keep a vision on track and bring the church to achieve certain deadlines in a 5 year plan, or 10 year plan. One may want to break out of convention, but can we put a time line on Divine sovereignty? I wonder what many of the pastors on the blog would say to this as they look at what expectations ought to be in accord with, or accompany, a ministry of the word.
E.C.Hock said,

March 27, 2008 at 6:31 pm

As an added point to the comments above (#79), some might be aware of the book by Kent and Barbara Hughes, “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome.” Though published earlier, it is still relevant in many ways to the question on developing a church vision that coincides with a biblical vision of faithfulness. You can be successful in a church, as God sees it, and not necessarily be a growing church as many expect. The 9 Marks ministry has this as a short vision, “A church that reflects the character of God.” Obviously this needs unpacking, as their principle books show (The 9 marks), but it states the main theme to guide all that comes after it.
Josh Walker said,

April 30, 2008 at 10:41 am

Lane,

I have something I would like to run by you. Would you mine dropping me a line at johnny_redeemed (at) hotmail (dot) com.

Thank you!
Keith said,

May 19, 2008 at 8:59 am

Dear Rev. Keister,

May I have a private word with you regarding book reviews? If so, please contact me at KLoftin [at] arcapologetics.org at your convenience. Thanks!
Les said,

May 23, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Lane, I very much enjoy your posts. My blog is on your blogroll (many thanks).

It has changed.
Was: Reformation Universalis
Now: Reformation Faith Today http://reformationfaithtoday.com/

If you are willing to keep me on the roll, please be advised of the change.

Thanks and blessings to you.

Les Prouty (prouty dot les at gmail dot com)
Darryl Hart said,

June 26, 2008 at 9:05 am

Lane: I’m glad you posted Dick Gaffin’s piece on I&I. I wonder why you turned off the comments. Part of what makes the blog different from a print publication is the ensuing discussion. I’d encourage you to try to prevail on the powers that be to turn the comments on. It could actually be enlightening.
Nicholas T. Batzig said,

June 26, 2008 at 9:28 am

Lane,

I also had to turn off my comments in order to post Dr. Gaffin’s review. But the reveiw itself can be distributed. I have converted it to a PDF and put it on http://www.feedingonchrist.blogspot.com. You can direct others to download the PDF version there. Thanks.

Nick
greenbaggins said,

June 26, 2008 at 10:58 am

Darryl, I have enabled comments, after discussing it with Dr. Gaffin.
Darryl Hart said,

June 26, 2008 at 11:03 am

Thanks.
Lane B. said,

July 21, 2008 at 10:31 pm

Solid stuff here. From one Lane to another, thank you for all the time and effort you put into this blog.
Emily V said,

October 2, 2008 at 7:40 pm

Lane: Found your blog because of an earlier review you did of Bruce Waltke’s OT Theology. Incidentally I think that I met you briefly once, when you visited your brother Adrian at Grove City College and came to a Touring Choir event or something–to I have the right Lane Keister? I went to GCC and was in the TC one year.
I’m a freelance publicist currently working for Zondervan and wanted to see about getting you/your blog on my last of places to contact if I’ve got books I think you’d be likely to review. Right now I have one for which Pete Enns is a contributor. . . let me know how you feel about free books.
Chris Brauns said,

October 12, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Lane: Like Emily V- – I am looking to get you a book. . . though I’m not altogether sure I want you to review it . . . but, if you e-mail me your address, I’ll get you a copy of Unpacking Forgiveness.

My e-mail is chris (at the) redbrickchurch.org
David Houser said,

November 11, 2008 at 2:04 am

Dear Lane,

This is an indirect counter-response to your positive review of Dr Campbell’s Basics of Verbal Aspects in Biblical Greek. In reading your review, I glanced from Campbell’s name to your comments only to realize the book wasn’t Campbell’s earlier work, Verbal Aspect, the Indicative Mood, and Narrative (2007), which I have read and could post about.

Moreover, I haven’t read the ‘Basics’ volume, so this post didn’t seem to fit on your main page but here instead, off the beaten path as it were. I don’t mind, since my interest is personal, more pastoral than critical. I actually looked for your email address to speak off the public [blogging] record.

Your relief—perhaps, joy—over Campbell’s book is palpable when you say “It offers a way to understand Greek tenses that makes sense of all the data, not just part of it.”

The way I see it—and I think you might agree—all the data should have its own voice, but this is not true in Campbell’s approach, I believe, at least not in the long run.

A good test case is the way Campbell handles the notorious historical present (Verbal Aspect, chapter 2, The Present Indicative Tense-Form). What he does here affects his approach generally.

Campbell (p.48) observes (as the rest of us have) that the traditional view struggles to explain the phenomenon of a present-referring form so prevalent in a past-referring context.

If a form grammaticalizes time, time shouldn’t be cancelable for that form. Yet some holding a temporal view of aspect abandon that principle to argue that ‘the aspectual value of the historical present is normally, if not always, reduced to zero’ (Wallace, ESNT p.527).

Campbell, it seems to me, abandons principle here as Wallace does, but from a different approach. Campbell’s solution is simply to level out anomalies of form in the interests of contextual uniformity, the discourse analysis approach applied heavily.

Campbell frequently appeals to ‘explanatory power’ as a reason to follow his line of thinking. Yet in discussing the historical presents in John (by his count, 167), Campbell can’t explain historical presents by principle. Some historical presents are arbitrary (p.66). Most contribute nothing (p.67: if this is true, historical presents are mystery forms, used by John when there was no reason not to use the aorist). The historical present is not homogeneous (p.68), and so forth.

To deny consistent value to the historical present (i.e., vividness), Campbell (p.68) offers his analysis of John 1.48-49:

“Nathanael’s question is introduced by an historical present and Jesus’ reply is introduced by an aorist, yet if either of these should be seen as prominent, surely it must be Jesus’ reply, which not only implies miraculous powers on Jesus’ behalf, but elicits Nathanael’s response ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ (1:49)” (emphasis, mine)

Thus for theological reasons, Jesus’ typical aorist is more vivid than Nathanael’s strange historical present. Rich irony—contrasting Nathanael’s mental whiplash (historical present) with the serenity of our Lord (typical aorist)—vanishes, leveled by arbitrary theological discourse.

Campbell blames the ‘vivid’ view of the historical present on an anachronism—reading back from modern European practice into Ancient Greek (p.59). Yet this aspersion also is not true: Comrie (Aspect, p.74) explains the historical present apart from European or modern influence, by referring us to Bahinemo, a language of Papua, New Guinea. How Comrie does this would extend this already long post.

Your statement about making sense of all the data is what caught my eye, and I am writing to extend your joy. I notice that your review didn’t express what hesitations you have about this current exegetical wave sweeping through. If so, I would be glad to interact with you about them, for the Lord’s sake and for his church.

Sincerely,

David Houser
D G Hart said,

December 26, 2008 at 9:11 am

Lane,

I wonder if you could email me your email address. I have a favor to ask regarding Greenbaggins. I suspect you can figure out my address from my various comments.
Thanks.
dgh
Shane Vander Hart said,

May 15, 2009 at 10:19 pm

Hey Lane,

I’m trying to kick off a blog network called the Caffeinated Calvinists Network, I’d love it if you would join. You can find out more here – http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/?page_id=2613
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June 25, 2009 at 12:02 pm

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