Anniversaries in Heaven?

{16 January 2008}

today is the 7th anniversary of the death of a good friend of ours. Tanner Hurst was 13 years old, and contracted a case of spinal meningitis at school one day. he was the first of a handful of students who lost their lives to this terrible virus, in our area over several months that year. he was/is the brother of one of my closest friends….someone i have shared 25 years of friendship with. it’s still difficult for me to think about seeing him in the hospital, the night before he was taken off life-support. he simply looked like he was in a deep sleep….he loved to sleep….i guess most 13 year-old’s do

January 16th is also the 7th birthday of one of my nephews. could there be two more contradicting emotions….the birth of new life….the death of an earthly body….two people i love/d very much created an emotional chasm that day, that will make every January 16 special. we received a new life here on earth….Jesus received another spirit/soul for an eternity of rejoicing in heaven….this kid loved a good gospel song!

i asked my wife tonight, having thought about all this throughout the day, if she thought there were anniversary celebrations in heaven….a logical question i think. we celebrate births, weddings, milestones, holidays on earth everyday….what better reason for Christ to celebrate than another soul that was committed to him on this earth, whom has “arrived home”….for eternity.

 i like to believe that tonight, Tanner, angels, and all those whom now worship in eternity in heaven, are worshipping at His feet tonight, in a good ‘ol gospel anniversary celebration!!

happy 7th birthday, Cole…..happy 7th anniversary, Tanner!!

                                                                                             
Revelation 5:9-13

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”