Doug Howard

I washed and waxed my cars today. My 2005 Honda CRV and even my ole 97 Mercury Sable. That might not seem like a big deal but if you know me then you probably have noticed that I am not that much of a "car guy." But I had a special reason for washing my cars today. I did it in honor of Doug Howard and if you knew Doug, you know exactly what I am talking about.

Doug passed away this past Friday and I knew that if I had died before Doug and he was going to my funeral, his car would be clean...then again, his car was always clean...ALWAYS clean.

Doug lived across the street from us and I will miss him. I know his family and many friends will miss him greatly and Jean, his wife of almost 44 years, most of all.

I know Colonial Heights Baptist Church will miss him. I remember when my family and I started going to CHBC in 1998, Doug was as constant as anybody there. It always amazed me how he seemed to be at every door, all the time...always ready to serve as usher and always that humble, but confident grin on his face.

I can see him now, quietly setting Pastor Harper's water in place before the service and I can hear his commanding voice as Finance Committee Chairman, dispelling any notion that the Finance Report during the Business Meeting would be met with anything but a unanimous approval. Whenever the "voice of God" was needed for Pageant Performances, it was Doug they asked. He was quiet most of the time but when he spoke, everybody listened.

Doug was just one of those special people who seemed to have a sense of quiet confidence, humility and kindness all the time.

That is how he was to us before we joined CHBC, while we were at CHBC and he was the same to us when we left CHBC in 2005 and I began to Pastor Community Christian Fellowship.

Every Christmas, a few days before Christmas Day, Doug would deliver a tin of "Chex Mix" to all the neighbors. I have never been a big fan of "Chex Mix" but there was something special about that gift every year. I will miss Doug ringing my door bell this Christmas. I will think about him then.

He was a man that I respected greatly, even before I knew of his distinguished service to our country, all of his medals and awards, not to mention being called to the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 and sent to Indonesia after the Tsunami of 2004.

To me, he was just a great neighbor and a brother in Christ. Not the type that you have cookouts and block parties with but the type that you just knew would be there if you ever were in crisis and you needed a hand.

He was the same when I visited him in the hospital and he knew he was dying. Even though he was very sick, he still had that same look of quiet confidence. He was concerned with others, getting his affairs in order and making sure that he would not be a burden to anyone when he left this world.

When I finished washing my cars today, I went to put the hose up and heard water leaking out...guess the washer is bad...I couldn't imagine Doug ever having such a problem, then I imagined his face as I tried to neatly put the hose away, struggling to just get it under the porch. I looked at my cars and thanked the Lord for humble servants of His like Doug Howard. I am sure that as Doug is now in the presence of the Lord, he is far from concerned about cars and lawns but I have feeling that if he saw my cars today, he would grin and he might even say "good job." See you on the other side Doug. Thanks.

Waxing on Peril

The United States of America is a nation in peril. Why? The economy? The economy is only a symptom. We are financially in trouble for sure, but that is not the root problem. The root problem is that the United States has become a nation where the word of the Lord has become an object of scorn. We are like Israel of Jeremiah’s day, which took no pleasure in God’s word so the word of the Lord was against them: 
“Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart.” Jeremiah 4:18
The Apostle Paul wrote of the end result of the rejection of God’s word in Romans chapter 1:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

This week our President proclaimed June as “LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2009” giving his official approval to behavior that God’s word clearly denounces. Read the proclamation for yourself:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGBT-Pride-Month/

"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations." (Psalm 33:10-11)
10,000 Presidents can proclaim pride in perversion. 10,000 nations can approve of the mass slaughter of millions of unborn children and it will never change the counsel of the Lord.
This is not political speech, nor is it judgmental speech and it certainly is not “hate speech.” If the ship is sinking and one tries to convince you to secure your life vest or get into the lifeboat, he definitely does not hate you. We must not allow the incessant message of political correctness that is now officially approved of by our President to silence the truth. We must warn people while there is time.
The Bible is full of warnings.

Hebrews 12:25
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

The Lord is not willing that any should perish but you must reach repentance in order to be saved. You must repent, Jesus said, or you all will perish. Repent of your rebellion against God. He is God alone. His word will never pass away.

Repent today and trust Jesus to save you. He became sin who knew no sin that we might become His righteousness. His blood will cleanse you, His Spirit will regenerate you, His life is eternal and He has promised to never leave or forsake you but you must repent of your ways and put your faith in Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no man comes unto the Father but by Him.
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

John 3:16-21
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”