The vast majority of this blog’s 40 or so regular readers are personal friends of mine, so I figure I’m give a few personal updates.
First, many of you have been witness to my trying to figure out what I’m going to do with myself after I finish my undergrad degree at Multnomah this semester. After flirting for a while with the idea of trying to get myself accepted at one of the many fine east coast schools to study historical theology, I soon realized that what I wanted more than anything was to stay in Portland. This city holds so much for me. I have been lucky enough to be surrounded by friends and family here who know me and put up with me pretty admirably. My church is in a vital stage of growth as a congregation, and the bonds that are being formed between us are beginning to go much deeper than simply being a product of convenience. I’m really hitting my stride as a pizza-maker, and can’t imagine a job that I’d rather have through another three years of studying. Reflecting on all of this, I realized that the only reason I felt the pull to get myself into the most prestigious institution possible was because I’ve been told that I’m supposed to feel that way, that it’s my responsibility to follow my dreams and leave the rest of my community to just deal with it when I peace out. Obviously, I’ve become very disenchanted with that way of making decisions. For whatever reason, though, I still held out the idea that it would be real cool to go to Duke, so I applied there. My continued presence in Portland is sealed now, though, since I got my rejection letter from Duke this past Friday. This only made it sweet as beet juice to see West Virginia hand Duke’s asses to them in the second round of the NCAA tourney on Friday. So there it is Portland friends – you’ll be seeing me around for another three years at Multnomah.
By the way, the face you’ll be seeing doesn’t have a beard anymore. I shaved it easter morning. Check back around October to see it again.
Finally, I just spend a wonderful couple of days up in Bellingham catching up with some of my best friends, Ryan, Matt, Aaron, and Nick. We managed to have a great time up at Bayview state park, in spite of the biggest display of wienery in the history of park rangers and camp hosts.
I’m sad about Duke. I’m sad about your beard. I’m happy that we’ll be going to school together again. I’m sorry about Bellingham park rangers.
Ryan,
Glad that you have to come to definitive position with respect to grad school. It is a tedious decision making process, especially given the many great options in existence.
Erin, my wife, and I want to have the Greek class over again before graduation. I think it would be a great time. I also would like to do something for those of you who are graduating this semester. Maybe we could discuss this as a class; for I desire all to make it.
Hope you are enjoying your break!
Shalom,
JT
Adam,
I have no idea why I addressed the last comment to “Ryan” – which is really strange since I do not even know a Ryan.
Sorry
Excellent . . . I don’t think we’ve ever personally met, Adam . . . but I’m glad to hear you’ll be attending the Seminary (we’ll have the same credentials
. When you were talking about prestigious schools in your post, I assumed you meant “Princeton.” What was it about “Duke” that you found appealing? Steinmetz? Hauerwas?
Oh yeah, what program will you be doing? Let me guess the MDiv (TS). And if your interests are in the area of historical theology, as are mine
, then who at Multnomah, in the seminary, are you looking to as a mentor? I know the guy (don’t recall his name) who replaced Frost, the one from Oxford, did his PhD on the Patristics . . . do you see him as someone who might mentor you in this area? Or maybe Metzger . . . but he’s one of those Barthian guys 
.
You’re at an exciting cross roads . . . thanks for sharing.
Well James, Ryan is a friend of mine, mentioned in this post, and I happen to be called by his name pretty often. Along with Matt, Jason, Taylor, and every other male my mediating face looks like. I’d love to come over with the greek class. Lets talk Tuesday.
Bobby, yeah, I looked at Princeton, but was also really keen on Fordham’s historical theology program. As for Duke, was everybody on that all-star lineup: Hauerwas, Steinmetz, Hays, J. Kameron Carter, Ellen Davis, and on an on. But I honestly believe that none of those big names can replace the sort of environment that I have here in Portland, especially with such amazing people as Patrick, Halden, and Chris Layton planning to study at Multnomah next year. Jon Robertson, the new Historical theology guy at Nomah, looks pretty great. My interests are so varied, though. I might end up with Metzger as an adviser, since I’m really wanting to do my thesis on Bonhoeffer. Yes, I am definitely one of those Barthian Guys!
Adam,
I would say I am one of those “Barthian” guys myself . . . with certain qualifications of course
.
I’m actually surprised to hear that Layton will be attending Multnomah again. From reading his blog in the past, quite awhile ago, mind you, it didn’t sound like he had “much love” for the theological education he had received, at least in the under-grad, from Multnomah . . . ah but that is life. Tell Chris hi for me. I think you’re wise for staying at Multnomah . . . I mean , from a purely financial perspective, you’re set (with your Dad as an employee of Multnomah) . . . if I were in your shoes, I would exhaust everything Multnomah has to offer, as far as degrees (i.e. through the ThM).
Continue to enjoy your time at the “Nome,” maybe some-day we will meet face-to-face beyond these enigmatic meetings on the web.
Bobby