H. Baptism II

Since, Lord, to thee

A narrow way and little gate
Is all the passage, on my infancy
Thou didst lay hold, and antedate
My faith in me.

O let me still
Write thee great God, and me a child:
Let me be soft and supple to thy will,
Small to my self, to others mild,
Behither ill.

Although by stealth
My flesh get on, yet let her sister
My soul bid nothing, but preserve her wealth:
The growth of flesh is but a blister;
Childhood is health. 

George Herbert
English Poet, Anglican Cleric
1593 - 1633


Photo taken 10 April 1988
on the occasion of the baptism of DD#3

After church we (17 adults & 8 children) enjoyed the following menu at Cochise ~
Fresh Ham
Sausage-Cheese Grits
Marinated Cold Asparagus
Tomato-Artichoke Aspic
Orange Fruit Cups
Zucchini Bread

Bloody Marys or Mimosas
Sun Tea
Coffee

Potato Chip Cookies
Fudge Bars
Lemon-cheese Cake

Southern Living, April 1986

Branded:Sunday, June 8, 1958

How is our baptism to be improved by us?

The needful but much neglected duty of improving our baptism,
 is to be performed by us all our life long,
especially in the time of temptation,
 and when we are present at the administration of it to others;

by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it,
 and of the ends for which Christ instituted it,
 the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby,
 and our solemn vow made therein;

by being humbled for our sinful defilement,
 our falling short of, and walking contrary to,
the grace of baptism, and our engagements;

by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin,
 and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament;

 by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ,
 into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace;

 and by endeavouring to live by faith,
 to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness,
 as those that have therein given up their names to Christ;
 and to walk in brotherly love,
 as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.


Col 2:11,12
Rom 6:2, 3-5, 4, 6,11,22
I Cor 1:11-13
Rom 4, 11,12
1Pet 3:21
Gal3:26,27
Acts 2:38
1Cor 12:13, 25-27

Larger Catechism Question 167

Link to baptism posts on http://hiddenart.xanga.com/tags/baptisms/.

Links to children's baptisms.

Anniversary Celebration Welcome 
by William Daniel Jordan, M.D.

Many of you know of my interest in reading alternative history, where the
author takes a pivotal point in history, and writes a story about what would
have happened if the historical events had gone the other way.  It makes me
stop and look for that event in my past that was indeed a pivotal event.

  I believe that event occured a little over fifty years ago when I was faced with a
decision about attending medical school.  In the first part of my senior year in
college, for some strange reason, I had three personal interviews for admission
to medical school in the same week, beginning at the University of Alabama in
Birmingham on a Monday.  Next here at Emory on Tuesday and at Duke in
Durham, NC, on Friday.




  During my interview in Birmingham, the UAB people asked me, "If you are
accepted at both UAB and Emory, which school will you attend?  I paused for a
moment, and said, "I will go to Emory, because Emory has a better clinical
exposure for medical education."  I don't recall any other portions of the
interview.  I finished there, drove over to Atlanta and had my interview with
Emory on Tuesday.  All of which seemed to go well.  The next day,
Wednesday, I received a letter of acceptance from UAB, with a provision that I
must reply within ten days, and requiring a deposit on my tuition.  I resolved
my dilemma by returning my plane ticket to Duke and using the refund for the
deposit to UAB.  Then, one week later, I was accepted to Emory and, of
courrse, began my studies there.

   I believe that the pivotal event in my life was my decision to attend Emory,
because this led me to my wife.  In the last months of college, God placed this
woman in my path.  Some days we argue about just who had designs on
whom, but a little reflection makes it obvious that our marriage was
predestined.  I used various excuses during my freshman year of medical
school, trying to forstall making such a radical move, but in the fall of 1955 (my
sophomore year) I concluded that the only alternative to failing medical school
was to get married.

   So -- fifty years ago, on Tuesday, the 27th of December, we began our true
lives.  The old southern adage of keeping your wife barefooted and pregnant
did not apply -- she wasn't barefooted all the time.  All of you know that getting
a bundle of children in a short time is a life changing experience.  Add to that a
five year residency program of internship and residency at Grady Hospital and it
becomes more like an odyssey.

   I don't believe I recognized the full impact of this odyssey until I watched my
children have their own children.  Then I could see the trials and tribulations of
rearing children, and understand the strength and dedication my wife exhibited
while I was off somewhere operating or trying to straighten out the medical
profession.

   Then, as if caring for seven children (six plus me) wasn't enough, she
decided to let the rest of her see the light of day.  First as a house designer and
contractor, then horticulturalist and landscape designer, then as a paralegal,
and finally as an artist.  Little did I know that the pivotal decision to attend
Emory Medical School would lead to all of this.

   But then I came to the full realization that the pivotal event was not my
choice, but was the Providence of God.  How else could two innocent,
immature young people begin with two cats and a bunch of guppies and have
such a life of happiness and fulfillment.

   I could probably ramble on for a while, but there are two points that I really
want to make:
           1) To acknowledge and praise God for His sovereignty and kindness,   
               and His direction over the years of our marriage.
            2) To offer toast to my wife, that incomparable woman who has     
                nurtured me, admonished me, accepted my faults and loved me
                in spite of them.

May our future years be as bright and beautiful as the past ones.

December 27, 2005 

Larry McDonald Memorial Highway

All we need do is return to the fine highway we were once on.

There is a stretch of Interstate Highway 75 from the Chattahoochee River northward to the Tennessee state line that I have traveled all my life, but that I want to call to your attention today.

In 1998, the Georgia General Assembly designated this thoroughfare,
the Larry McDonald Memorial Highway.

Thousands of people pass this sign daily.

I suspect that most ignore it.

Today, on the 28th anniversary of his death, do I especially remember
this family friend, former employer, and dedicated American
by calling attention to the principles he dedicated his life to teaching and preserving.

The above quote comes from the first chapter of his book,
We Hold These Truths: A Reverent Review of the U.S. Constitution,
and tells us how to reclaim our freedoms. 

The complexity of social organization does change.

 Our technologically sophisticated industrial society is more complex than the agrarian society
 of the eighteenth century. In this regard, that was a "simpler world."

But the complexities of politics (politics here meaning the science of governing)

  do not change much.

The basic political problems confronting the Framers of our Constitution

  were as complex as our political problems today -
 perhaps more so, because they were striking off into the dangerous unknown, whereas

all we need do is return to the fine highway we were once on.

Skip watching the Republican Presidential Debate next week.

Read Larry McDonald's book and use it as a guide to assess
a political candidate's worthiness of your support.

He explains the *free way*.

Grandma Jago

Mrs. Vivian Lillian Jago, age 82, died on June 8, 2010, at her home following an extended illness.

Her children and grandchildren were at her bedside.










Reared on a farm in western Canada, Mrs. Jago emigrated to the United States in 1969 with her husband and children. She then resided in Newfane, New York; Charleston, South Carolina; Beverly, Ohio and finally Canton, Georgia, where she has spent recent years enjoying the company of her children and grandchildren.

In addition to being a creative homemaker and loving mother, she was a licensed Real Estate Agent. She was active in her church and belonged to several organizations, including The Red Hat Club. She maintained an avid interest in collecting and refinishing antique furniture.

Mrs. Jago was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, Norman S. Jago.

She is survived by three children, Daniel (Deanna) Jago of Portland, Oregon; Dr. Ken (Dana) Jago of Canton; and Carolin (Jim) Knight of Woodstock; and seven grandchildren.

Her remains were cremated, and a memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 3, at 2:00 p.m. The service will be held in the chapel of the First United Methodist Church of Canton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Canton's Prayer Quilt Ministry (930 Lower Scott Mill Road, Canton, GA 30114).

Please contact the family to make arrangements for flowers.


Grandma is reading the poem in her birthday card.  It's by George Eliot

You love the roses -- so do I.  I wish
The sky would rain down roses, as they rain
From off the shaken bush.  Why will it not?
Then all the valley would be pink and white

And soft to tread on.  They would fall as light

As feathers smelling sweet; and it would be

Like sleeping and like waking,

all at once!

Family Photographer

It's a big job to rear a family.

Whether you're the parent of one or twenty-one (and anything in between), it's a constant challenge to keep the group cohesive.

While there are many ways to encourage solidarity, allow me to suggest the power of sharing family photos as a possible *gluestick.*






Metaphorically speaking :)




From birthdays to graduation, from weddings to reunions, many of us take pictures.

But what do you do with them?

One of my muse's, Donna at Quiet Life, is quite the photographer. Not only does she share her knowledge with us on her own blog, she's also a contributing writer at the famous site of the Pioneer Woman. I've known her since college when she was head photographer of the college yearbook. Now she's branching out into the bigger world of photographing others and improving her skills by taking workshops. Recently she shared pictures from her local farmers' market. Even now she's thinking ahead and taking a family photo for the Christmas card!

But back to the gluestick.


Here's another photo of our family photographer who received her first camera at age seven.

Self-taught my mother has photographed the family as long as I can remember.

There a funny series of us in front of a camera on a tripod, timer set for the precise moment of portraiture :)

Though what I really want to mention is the way she shares her photos.


They are all
organized and
ready for viewing in albums.

That is a monumental feat.

Worthy of commendation!

I know that too well because most of mine are still sitting in boxes in the basement.

But, no, she doesnt stop with editing, printing, and cataloging.

Sharing is the key.

She makes a family birthday calendar for each of us (six children with spouses and 29 grands!) and gives it at Christmastime.


My father contributes by laminating, collating, and binding.

 At this moment I can glance up at my calendar flipped to May and be reminded that MargaretAnn and James have birthdays this month.


Then she creates her own greeting cards, artistically using her archive of thousands of images. Inside the card you're likely to find a CD containing lots of pictures of yourself with family.



Furthermore, there's an entire hallway of family photos and a family website.

So, when you visit home, there's no question about the roots of the family tree.

Thankfully, all my daughters love taking pictures, too!

I'm looking forward to their glue.

Graduation Speeches

For the past two weekends, we have attended commencement exercises and heard fine speeches.








One of my muse's, Magistramater, recently lamented over the lack of zest in one she had to sit through. But true to her positive nature, she directed us to one worth sharing. It's Neil Postman's, readily available online with permission for others to use it!

In turn, I will highlight what we heard.

The first was at Hillsdale College where former director of the FBI, Louis Freeh, addressed the crowd on the beautiful Saturday afternoon of May 10th, under the pink dogwood tree. More here later...when I find my notes :)

The second was delivered by Bernie Marcus, the chairman of Home Depot and a host of other foundations, on Sunday, May 18th. He gave sound advice to the the Lovett graduates by relating three signficant experiences from his own life: how he handled the disappointment of not getting into medical school; how he turned the lemon of losing his job at age 49 into the lemonade called Home Depot; and the principle of giving back or helping others (actually a faith-based life-long habit modeled in his family).

There were short comments/speeches by others, including mothers, principals, chaplains, and alumni. A couple were worthy of thank-you notes and requests for copies. All this made me try to remember who spoke at my own graduations and what they said.

Since I left high school early, I did not attend my class's graduation, which was held on Sunday, May 30, 1976, at the Cathedral of St Phillip here in Atlanta. I know that Lovett's Chairman of the Board, Richard Denny, was the speaker, but do not have a copy of his address.

Thirty years ago today, I graduated from Hillsdale College and I could recall without help that Frank Shakespeare was the speaker. However, I could not remember his advice. Thanks to the internet and the College's online access to Imprimis' archive, I was able to read his speech The Uncertain World and the Eternal Truths.

Now my scrapbook will be more complete :)

Who spoke at your graduation?

What do you remember?

Voice Recital Program



















Well, I cant read that, so I suppose you can either. I will type it in later, as I have run out of time right now.

Baptism

This third Sunday in September is the anniversary Sunday of DD#2's baptism.

The ceremony was a part of the worship service at Chalcedon Presbyterian Church in Atlanta GA where J C Morecraft III was/is the minister. Although we were living in Gadsden, AL, at the time, we had spent the previous two weeks in Atlanta visiting family, as your maternal great-grandmother had died on September 2, 1986. So, before returning home, we prepared for this special day.

You wore a beautiful white gown handmade by Peggy Schilling.
*I keep trying to upload photo here, but blogger is not cooperating*


I wore a Laura Ashley dress which I now think makes me look frumpy. A family photo was made and used in the 1986 Christmas card.

It would be neat to find a program from the service and figure out which hymns were sung and which Scripture exposited. Edit: I found a tape of the sermon delivered that day and relistened to the *Call to Constancy* based on Heb 6:9-20, part of a series.

Here's what I do know was read: three covenant promises after we had been instructed on the institution, nature, use, and ends of the sacrament of baptism.

1) For to you is the promise, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto him. Acts 2:39
2) And I will establish my covenant between me and then and thy see after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. Gen 17:7
3) Believe on the Lord Jesus, and though shalt be saved, thou and thy house. Acts 16:31

Here are the questions proposed to your parents, all of which were answered affirmatively:

1) Do you acknowledge your child's need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
2) Do you claim God's covenant promises in her behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for her salvation, as you do for your own?
3) Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before her a godly example, that you will pray with and for her, that you will teach her the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God's appointment, to bring her up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

After the service we had a big Sunday dinner at Cochise as was our custom. There were a few extra guests. Grandma and Grandpa Jago had driven over from Charleston, SC for the celebration.

The menu was Baked Pork Chops, Rice, Layered Salad, and Lemon-cheese Cake.