R.D. Hottle (1948-2020): A great American and patriot
Lead Summary
By
-
By Rory Ryan
The Highland County Press
Local educator, farmer, businessman and Marine Robert D. "Bob" Hottle passed away Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, surrounded by his loving family on his beloved farm just west of Hillsboro.
Bob and I met almost 20 years ago, when he was still teaching. I also bought a few vans over the years from Bob's Higher Ground Motors on Route 138. He always provided great service at a fair price.
Shortly after The Highland County Press relocated from the 100 block of Hillsboro's West Main Street to the 100 block of South High, Bob approached me about writing a weekly column.
The rest, as they say, is history. For more than 300 weeks, Bob wrote his meaningful words of faith, inspiration and spiritual enlightenment for our community. The Highland County Press has been honored to publish Bob's columns.
As a former Marine (Are there really any "former" Marines? Once a Marine, always a Marine), Bob was often called to speak at Memorial Day observances and Veterans Day ceremonies. He always obliged – as long as his health allowed.
On a hot and sunny Memorial Day 2018 in Buford, local businessman Glenn Hess welcomed those in attendance, and thanked everyone for taking some time to remember that our freedom isn’t free. After a prayer, a patriotic song from the Whiteoak High School band and the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Hess introduced the day’s speaker, our friend, Bob Hottle.
As reported by Steve Roush, Bob shared the following:
We’ve got to keep patriotism alive in our nation. America is unique in history because it was founded on faith and the word of God – and it can be re-founded. Freedom that lasts comes from God and truth. The greatest majority of our Founding Fathers and Mothers wanted to live in a nation where faith is the norm. Unfortunately, things have been changing in America.
Samuel Adams warned us of internal invaders from within, which will be stronger than a common outside enemy. When the people have a godly virtue, they cannot be conquered, but when godliness is dissolved in a nation, it will be ready to surrender its liberties. That day is upon us – right values are being reversed, evil is becoming considered good. Wrong is now being made right. How could we think that a Bible-neglecting people could elect anything but humanist leaders and appoint godless judges?
We need to do some internal reflection.
We need to recall our ancestors and remember those who died for our freedom, but we also need to rethink ourselves. The direction our nation is headed is not what the Founders intended, or what we really want. America was blessed by God in the past because God was honored, the Bible was studied, preachers preached and churches were filled. The best way we can honor our ancestors is to honor our Creator. The greatest sacrifice of all was made by our Lord, Jesus Christ. Let’s start there. Receive Him and be saved. It’s God’s marvelous plan – it is the way life is and, America, it is then we can hold high that torch of life.
• It is only fitting that funeral services for Bob will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – at the Anchor Baptist Church on Anderson Road. Pastor Travis Burke will officiate.
The Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro is serving the family. You may leave an online condolence here or at www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.
Godspeed, our friend, Bob Hottle. They just don't come any better.
Note: With permission, The Highland County Press is republishing Bob's 2019 Veterans Day column.
Anchor On … Peace in the heart on Veterans Day
By R.D. 'Bob' Hottle
Veterans Day 2019
“Thus saith the Lord, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths (the Bible), where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk therein’” (Jeremiah 6:16). How sad to know that the desire of mankind is always in a majority of decisions to “Have it my way.” That song from years ago is the popular choice of humanity. The idea is that our decision is more important than God’s (if there is a God), say many Christ rejectors.
Jeremiah writes about the Godlessness of his day (over 2,500 years ago) that still moves onward today. He writes that folks were realizing back then that many were promoting the idea that has never brought about really good truths. He says in both Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11 that folks had predicted: “Peace, peace” (in the world) “when there is no peace.” Those prophets of false thinking can still be easily found today. They try to make it popular in thinking that we dare not put Jesus Christ first in our lives as Savior and Lord, so that then we could develop our own peace. That has not been true and can never be possible.
Ezekiel, years later, spoke against the false leaders of his time by saying that: “they have seduced my people, saying, ‘Peace;’ and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar” (Ezekiel 13:10). In the next verse, we see that the constructions of mankind without the truth of God in their heart is the same as if they would “daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it” (verse 11). That “untempered mortar” of a person trying to get through life today without the strength of Christ is exactly what the great majority tries yet today. Nations are filled now, more and more, with the thinking that none of the Bible applies, and yet we all want to live in peace.
Our important day was originally called “Armistice Day” and is now observed as “Veterans Day.” We need to respect these people who have made themselves available in keeping peace as much as possible in a world where there is an extremely small amount of peace-giving life with Christ. The special day expresses the fragile hope that war can be settled and that world peace would prevail.
Better than reading about so many who have made themselves available to bring peace is to accept Jesus Christ into the heart and actually to have in our life the peace that passes far above our eternal position with Him. Governments are filled, as always, with those who want power and strength to rule for a few years.
We read of the absence of Godly peace in this world that has brought fighting and killing since the beginning of sinful mankind. J. Vernon McGee writes that there have been only a few decades of no large wars in the past nearly 2,000 years. When we read of the Babylonian time, the Greek days and Roman rulers of years past, we find that war and domination attempts have been always moving forward. Wars have always gone forth because of selfish idolatry. Ezekiel says in 14:6 that: “Thus saith the Lord God; ‘Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations’” (usually war).
We obviously are to show great thankfulness to all those who have served against the atrocities of governments that deserve to be removed. Anything like communism, socialism or Nazi-ism is not going to work because it is not ordained by the Lord. These false directives end in death and destruction to mankind and are a great delight to the devil.
The Bible shows us that: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all the things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8). The time known as the “tribulation” will come to earth anytime. Christians of all time will be removed from Earth, and Hell on our planet Earth will break loose upon those who have rejected Christ. Warfare, death and great destruction will last for the seven years of Satanic tribulation. Then Christ will come and take charge.
May we all seek to guard virtue and freedom more than ever in America. Benjamin Franklin said: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” John Adams declared that: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Thomas Jefferson stated that the desires for power and the confidences of man must be binded “down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” George Washington stated that our Constitution “will demonstrate as visibly the finger of Providence as any possible event in the course of human affairs can ever designate it.”
Paul knew very well the nature of mankind that would be upon earth until the time Christ returns to take complete charge. He says to us in 2 Corinthians: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Thank you to our “Servicemen and Women,” and may we now all be serving Christ as our Lord, so that true peace will prevail when He returns.
R.D. “Bob” Hottle was a retired schoolteacher, a Marine, a farmer and the pastor of the Anchor Baptist Church.
The Highland County Press
Local educator, farmer, businessman and Marine Robert D. "Bob" Hottle passed away Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, surrounded by his loving family on his beloved farm just west of Hillsboro.
Bob and I met almost 20 years ago, when he was still teaching. I also bought a few vans over the years from Bob's Higher Ground Motors on Route 138. He always provided great service at a fair price.
Shortly after The Highland County Press relocated from the 100 block of Hillsboro's West Main Street to the 100 block of South High, Bob approached me about writing a weekly column.
The rest, as they say, is history. For more than 300 weeks, Bob wrote his meaningful words of faith, inspiration and spiritual enlightenment for our community. The Highland County Press has been honored to publish Bob's columns.
As a former Marine (Are there really any "former" Marines? Once a Marine, always a Marine), Bob was often called to speak at Memorial Day observances and Veterans Day ceremonies. He always obliged – as long as his health allowed.
On a hot and sunny Memorial Day 2018 in Buford, local businessman Glenn Hess welcomed those in attendance, and thanked everyone for taking some time to remember that our freedom isn’t free. After a prayer, a patriotic song from the Whiteoak High School band and the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Hess introduced the day’s speaker, our friend, Bob Hottle.
As reported by Steve Roush, Bob shared the following:
We’ve got to keep patriotism alive in our nation. America is unique in history because it was founded on faith and the word of God – and it can be re-founded. Freedom that lasts comes from God and truth. The greatest majority of our Founding Fathers and Mothers wanted to live in a nation where faith is the norm. Unfortunately, things have been changing in America.
Samuel Adams warned us of internal invaders from within, which will be stronger than a common outside enemy. When the people have a godly virtue, they cannot be conquered, but when godliness is dissolved in a nation, it will be ready to surrender its liberties. That day is upon us – right values are being reversed, evil is becoming considered good. Wrong is now being made right. How could we think that a Bible-neglecting people could elect anything but humanist leaders and appoint godless judges?
We need to do some internal reflection.
We need to recall our ancestors and remember those who died for our freedom, but we also need to rethink ourselves. The direction our nation is headed is not what the Founders intended, or what we really want. America was blessed by God in the past because God was honored, the Bible was studied, preachers preached and churches were filled. The best way we can honor our ancestors is to honor our Creator. The greatest sacrifice of all was made by our Lord, Jesus Christ. Let’s start there. Receive Him and be saved. It’s God’s marvelous plan – it is the way life is and, America, it is then we can hold high that torch of life.
• It is only fitting that funeral services for Bob will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11 – Veterans Day – at the Anchor Baptist Church on Anderson Road. Pastor Travis Burke will officiate.
The Turner & Son Funeral Home in Hillsboro is serving the family. You may leave an online condolence here or at www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.
Godspeed, our friend, Bob Hottle. They just don't come any better.
Note: With permission, The Highland County Press is republishing Bob's 2019 Veterans Day column.
Anchor On … Peace in the heart on Veterans Day
By R.D. 'Bob' Hottle
Veterans Day 2019
“Thus saith the Lord, ‘Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths (the Bible), where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk therein’” (Jeremiah 6:16). How sad to know that the desire of mankind is always in a majority of decisions to “Have it my way.” That song from years ago is the popular choice of humanity. The idea is that our decision is more important than God’s (if there is a God), say many Christ rejectors.
Jeremiah writes about the Godlessness of his day (over 2,500 years ago) that still moves onward today. He writes that folks were realizing back then that many were promoting the idea that has never brought about really good truths. He says in both Jeremiah 6:14 and 8:11 that folks had predicted: “Peace, peace” (in the world) “when there is no peace.” Those prophets of false thinking can still be easily found today. They try to make it popular in thinking that we dare not put Jesus Christ first in our lives as Savior and Lord, so that then we could develop our own peace. That has not been true and can never be possible.
Ezekiel, years later, spoke against the false leaders of his time by saying that: “they have seduced my people, saying, ‘Peace;’ and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered mortar” (Ezekiel 13:10). In the next verse, we see that the constructions of mankind without the truth of God in their heart is the same as if they would “daub it with untempered mortar, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it” (verse 11). That “untempered mortar” of a person trying to get through life today without the strength of Christ is exactly what the great majority tries yet today. Nations are filled now, more and more, with the thinking that none of the Bible applies, and yet we all want to live in peace.
Our important day was originally called “Armistice Day” and is now observed as “Veterans Day.” We need to respect these people who have made themselves available in keeping peace as much as possible in a world where there is an extremely small amount of peace-giving life with Christ. The special day expresses the fragile hope that war can be settled and that world peace would prevail.
Better than reading about so many who have made themselves available to bring peace is to accept Jesus Christ into the heart and actually to have in our life the peace that passes far above our eternal position with Him. Governments are filled, as always, with those who want power and strength to rule for a few years.
We read of the absence of Godly peace in this world that has brought fighting and killing since the beginning of sinful mankind. J. Vernon McGee writes that there have been only a few decades of no large wars in the past nearly 2,000 years. When we read of the Babylonian time, the Greek days and Roman rulers of years past, we find that war and domination attempts have been always moving forward. Wars have always gone forth because of selfish idolatry. Ezekiel says in 14:6 that: “Thus saith the Lord God; ‘Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations’” (usually war).
We obviously are to show great thankfulness to all those who have served against the atrocities of governments that deserve to be removed. Anything like communism, socialism or Nazi-ism is not going to work because it is not ordained by the Lord. These false directives end in death and destruction to mankind and are a great delight to the devil.
The Bible shows us that: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all the things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places. All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:6-8). The time known as the “tribulation” will come to earth anytime. Christians of all time will be removed from Earth, and Hell on our planet Earth will break loose upon those who have rejected Christ. Warfare, death and great destruction will last for the seven years of Satanic tribulation. Then Christ will come and take charge.
May we all seek to guard virtue and freedom more than ever in America. Benjamin Franklin said: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” John Adams declared that: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Thomas Jefferson stated that the desires for power and the confidences of man must be binded “down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution.” George Washington stated that our Constitution “will demonstrate as visibly the finger of Providence as any possible event in the course of human affairs can ever designate it.”
Paul knew very well the nature of mankind that would be upon earth until the time Christ returns to take complete charge. He says to us in 2 Corinthians: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11).
Thank you to our “Servicemen and Women,” and may we now all be serving Christ as our Lord, so that true peace will prevail when He returns.
R.D. “Bob” Hottle was a retired schoolteacher, a Marine, a farmer and the pastor of the Anchor Baptist Church.