An Unexpected Journey

Cynthia’s dad died yesterday morning. After open-heart surgery in mid-December he progressed well and had been transferred to a rehab center for a bit of physical therapy and was scheduled to go home next week. It was not to be—at least not going back to his home of over 60 years on Mobile’s Fairway Drive. Rather he went home to heaven—“absent from the body” and “present with the Lord.”

I am happy to be able to say that with a good degree of confidence. Mr. Howell was a genuinely good man, exactly the “good man” Romans 5:7 talks about. His honesty, hard work and genuine, personal integrity (goodness, if you will) were know to all acquainted with him even in a casual way. But such “goodness” doesn’t purchase a home in heaven, just as Romans 5:6-8 demonstrate. Rather eternal life is a gift purchased at the price of God’s own Son at Calvary—and it is a gift Mr. Howell told me (and on separate occasions, Cynthia) that he had personally received by placing his faith in Jesus Christ alone as his Savior. It is a great comfort to be able to rest in that testimony—something we know about because we took opportunity to personally discuss it with him.

His death was unexpected, given his improving condition. When we got the call it hit Cynthia hard. She was close to her dad—only two days before he had told her how much he missed her. We shuffled our schedule and I was able to arrange tickets to fly to Mobile this morning (thanks to America Airlines Advantage Mileage!).

We were to leave O’Hare at 6:00 a.m., which meant we needed to be there by 4:30, which meant we had to leave home before 4:00, which meant….well, you get the idea: early! We made it in the morning snow and cold only to board the plane and learn it was “frozen to the ground.” Turned out that it was the tractor that pushes the plane back from the terminal that was stuck. Then they told us that one of the luggage carriers had turned over and we would be further delayed.

When we finally arrived in Mobile our baggage didn’t make the trip. We’re waiting now to see if it arrives. I might get a new suit out of this! I’m doing the funeral service on Friday afternoon; the visitation is tomorrow evening.

With Mr. Howell’s home going we have lost a faithful viewer of Forgotten Truths. He watched each week and consistently invited others to watch, telling them, “Ricky teaches the Bible different than those other TV preachers!” Proof he was watching!

We arrived in time to join Cynthia’s family as they made the arrangements with the funeral home and cemetery. After the business was concluded, the man in charge of the cemetery gave a word of testimony to the family and asked if he could have a word of prayer with them. I don’t think I ever had that happen before! It is nice to be back in the Bible Belt, where spiritual things—Bible things—are more readily talked about in conversation and life at a time like this. A lady from one of Cynthia’s sisters' work was just here at the house talking to her mom about the hope available in the gospel and how God’s Word is the real source of comfort and strength. This might turn out to be a great time of testimony!

By the way, I have to confess that the food has begun to arrive. If you’ve never done a funeral “pounding” Alabama style, you haven’t lived! Sugar baked ham, green beans, chicken-‘n’-dumplings, corn bread, killer peach cobbler—oh, I better stop! Getting hungry just thinking about it (and smelling it!).

I will miss the Florida conference—the brethren have already replaced me (what a great thing it is to have such a “deep bench” of great preachers!). I am scheduled to fly back to Chicago Monday so I can go to Detroit Tuesday for TV taping. Cynthia will stay in Mobile until the 16th. Pray for her, if you will. Someone asked me what to pray for. I suggested Ephesians 3:16 would be a good start.

Maranatha!