Display "0" on LCD

[skimask]

Then try this:

DEFINE LCDCOMMAND_US 5000
DEFINE LCDDATA_US 255
i var word : trisb.7 = 0 : portb.7 = 1
pause 1000 : lcdout $fe , 1 : pause 1000
for i = 0 to 10000 : lcdout $fe , $80 , DEC5 i : pause 500 :next i
END

EDIT: Just looked at your config settings. I've always found it helpful to have the powerup timer on, no matter what PIC I've used.
And even though you aren't using it, turn off the watchdog timer.