Greetings . . . thanks for visiting this blog to wish Tom well on his 50th birthday!
It's easy--hit the "comments" link below and add your words of love and blessing.
Thank you for the place you have had in Tom's life. What a rich circle of friendship he has enjoyed, and this seems like an ideal time to celebrate that blessing.
60 comments:
Happy Birthday, birthday boy! Thanks for being such a loyal friend and godly encouragement. The Lord is using you greatly! And we're all grateful. May your next 50 be twice as productive and blessed as your first! Love from Kenya, Andrew & Carla Braine
Hi Tom,
This is Marilyn and Tim from China. So, you are turning 50, eh??? Well, I hear it only gets better!
Thanks for being our friend and pastor when you lived here. You have a special gift of encouragement, wisdom, and love.
Blessings on your big day!!!
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, FROM ALL OF US TO YOU...
WE WISH IT WAS OUR BIRTHDAY,
SO WE COULD PARTY TOO - HEY!!
Happy birthday, Tom! You're a great Grace Group leader and we so appreciate your wisdom and friendship. Happy 50th!! We're out of town, but don't worry, your birthday song will be waiting for you when we return!!
Love,
Diana & Marc Walker
Dear Tom...
We wish you all of God's best this year as you turn 50...and take it
from us, it only gets better!
love and blessings, Dan and donna
Happy Birthday Tom!
We greatly appreciate you and are thankful for your commitment to the Lord and to His kingdom. May the Lord bless you in this upcoming year with more and more of His grace, peace, and joy.
Much love,
Nate and Sarah
P.S. Zoti ju bekofte!
Dear Tom,
Happy 50th Birthday!
How we wish we could be there to celebrate with you, but please know that our love and best wishes come to you in their fullest. You are a great blessing and friend to us both. May God bless you with many more years of service to him, and may your birthday be filled with joy and thankfulness.
Love from us both,
Harv & Heidi
Tom,
Debbie and I wish you 50 happy birthdays! We appreciate your friendship so much, and as one of our elders, want to say "thanks" for setting such a great example for us to follow. We hope to be just like you when we grow up.
We're sorry we can't be there to enjoy the celebration with you. In our absence, just remember that the heat of 50 candles can easily light your hair on fire, so make sure the fire extinguishers are serviced before the cake starts burning.
May your celebration be memorable. Of course, memory is such a fickle thing at your age. But I'm sure you'll enjoy sweet memories of the evening for a good hour or two.
We're sorry we can't be there to give you a hug. We love you and hope you know we are with you in spirit, friend.
Curt and Debbie Swindoll
I'm so grateful (and reminiscing a bit here as I think about it..) for the time we shared together this summer, and through it, observing your leadership, humility, and singular vision for the gospel. I'm glad you're on our side. ;-)
We love you both. It's about time to grab another french press (or some raqi, or our toothbrushes) and sit across from you and Sue.
Here's to 50! We love you.
Ben + Kel
Dear Tom and Sue,
Though it's YOUR birthday, Tom, we know from Genesis that God's plan is that the two become one flesh so we send greeting and happy birthday wishes to you both. What one celebrates in a marriage becomes a celebration for both!
We are the grateful ones for the years the Lord has given to you. We are trusting for many more.
When we would visit Kunming during our infrequent respite from the life north of you in Yunnan we always felt so loved, accepted and appreciated by your warm greetings. With so many who came and went through Kunming International Fellowship we wondered at being recognized and personally welcomed. It was such a blessing and we deeply appreciated and needed your love and nurture during our years in Zhaotong. Your pastoring us even though infrequent was sustaining and crucial to our service years there.
God has gifted you to be a blessing and we will be trusting that every year just gets better in your home, your work and your service. Thanks for being God's blessing to us for so long overseas. May you continue to be a blessing all the days of your life.
With love,
John and Trish Rondema
Tom,
What a source of God's care and grace you have been to Donna and me and our whole grace family since you and Sue came our way! Your kind, gentle, thoughtful, prayerful, wise, Kingdom-minded presence has been a tremendous blessing. Your marriage is a wonderful example and your consistent your love for Thomas, and your family at Grace has been beautiful to watch. You are a good brother and co-laborer for whom I'm deeply grateful. Happy Birthday and may God continue to use you to point people to him.
Press on brother,
Erik Thoennes
Happy Brithday Tom!
Remember when FIFTY sounded sooo old? Now it sounds sooo WISE! God has really taken you on an exciting journey; and just think - He's got much more planned. I'm excited for you - Sue has given me little updates on "Kimber life", and it is so neat to see how He is orchestrating things to give you a glimpse into what the next 50 years in His service might involve. Jeff and I of course hope it will bring you into our lives again...maybe a move to TN; but hopefully we will be working in same cities again.
Enjoy your day...you deserve it; and go ahead and eat a piece of cake for me and have a big bowl of ice-cream for Jeff.
We miss you, Linda and Jeff
Happy Birthday Tom!! You know if you were in China you would be turning 51, right?! Except for this little cancer thing the 50's have been great. I hope the 50's will bring you new adventures, new insights into God's grace, wonderful memories made with Sue and Thomas and lots of love and encouragement from your family, friends and others you meet on the journey of life.
Love, Susan
Happy Happy!
If I could post a bowl of sizzling noodles from Supreme Dragon for your birthday I would...
Lydia and I have been greatly blessed by God working through your life. We are both praising God that we have been able to spend time with you and Sue. We cherish the time we have spent with you and look forward to our friendship growing.
I hope the next time we see Les Mis together it will be for a sing-along!
Blessings,
T&L
Hi Tom… greetings from the fresh air and brilliant blue skies of Lunan! Not that you would miss that living in So Cal, but I appreciate it. Enough of that stuff. How is the birthday boy? I can say that because I’m still older than you are, but I won’t claim to be wiser… just a wiseacre! This should be a special year for you as you hit the big 5-oh. I am asking that it truly be momentous for you, that it be filled with great joy and great accomplishments for Him, and that those two would be coupled together! May He stretch you and use you until you think you will break… but come through it with flying colors and deep satisfaction in your soul. And, most of all, I wish you a really fun year with Sue and Thomas as the three of you continue to grow with Him and in your own relationships with one another. Tom, never stop growing… never stop serving because when you do you will begin to die! Instead, continue to live for Him… to the fullest!
With love and best wishes. Happy Birthday!
Diane
Tom,
"Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday to you...Happy birthday, dear Tom...Happy birthday to you!!"
As you turn 50, I am grateful to say that you have been such an important part of our lives. Your words of encouragement, insight into our lives as a co-laborer of the gospel, your contagious kingdom mindedness, your willingness to serve in so many capacities for the building up of God's people, the wisdom you bring from 50 (count 'em, 50!!!) years of experience, your love for our Lord and Savior, the godly example you are as a husband, the ways you shepherd those in your life....all of these point to a man who is pursuing God and living with purpose. Thanks for a life that says, "Follow me as I follow Christ." May the Lord continue to bless you richly in the years ahead. PERHAPS TODAY!!!
Love,
The Talley's
Hi Tom - wow, the 1/2 century mark! Don and I are ahead of you in this, and we welcome you to our demographic. We're so proud of you and Sue for how you're not sitting back on your laurels but moving on, moving forward, moving ahead. May this 2nd half be richer, deeper and even more colorful than the first half. Blessings - Don and Kim Lytton
Happy Birthday!
Thank you for exalting Christ and living for His kingdom. You have been a great encouragement in countless ways and I look forward to serving with you in the coming years. It has been a joy to be in your classes and the sending group. I hope you have a wonderful Birthday! Does this mean that you can get into Disneyland and buy food for a cheaper price?
Brian Petersen
Tom! Happy 50th Birthday! Its so hard to describe how much we appreciate and care about you! Sorry old (I mean young) Tom! We just have to say that you are such a great person. You (and Sue) have been such a huge blessing in our lives. Without your leadership, love, and kindness, we would have been lost. Thank you for all that you are and will continue to be for all these people who just wanted to tell you they love you! We love you too and hope that your birthday is wonderful!
Mike and Kim Wise
Happy 50th Tom!
We wish we could be there to celebrate with you. We are so grateful for the blessing you have been in our lives. We hope you are blessed likewise today and in the days ahead. Please let us know if you are on the east coast again. We have a few more rooms that need painted.
We love you,
Eric, Martha, Hannah Beth, Abby & Ethan
Today, Sue told me that you were turning 50. When I thought about whether or not you came across as 50, I was ambivalent.
On the one hand, 50 is definitely a believable age for you, and I mean that in a good way. You possess an air of wisdom and maturity (in a non-pontificating way) that seems to come along with having lived 50 years and having been shaped by Yahweh throughout many of those years. So you definitely seem like a 50 year old in that sense.
However, you do not have the stereotypical 50-year old doldrums or physique. You don't come across as a weary man for whom life is winding down, but as one who is steadfastly moving forward, marching energetically and faithfully to the cadence of the Spirit. So no, you don't seem like 50 in the (mostly negative) stereotypical sense.
But maybe that's what 50 looks like in the Spirit. Hopefully the same will be said for me.
Happy Birthday!
- Phillip
HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY TOM!!!!
I have been so blessed by your leadership at Grace. Your passion for empowering others for missions, and your Gospel-oriented life constantly encourages me. What instinctively comes to mind when I hear your name is: long ever more for the day of Christ’s return; “Today could be the day!” Thank you for setting such a godly example of the Christian life. Grace Evangelical Free Church would not be complete without you! I hope and pray that as you celebrate 50 years, you would be encouraged as you witness God’s faithfulness to you over those years, and that your faith would be increased as you look forward to what still lays ahead of you. Much love and prayers, and celebrating with you, Tom Kimber!
-Cynthe
Tom... Happy Birthday. I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again, having you in my life has changed it for the best. Thank you for you guidance, your insight, your love and for being like a second father to me. You should be thankful though, that I still love you... despite you telling me to "shut up" in front of the Harrah's grace group. You are Tom though, so I guess you can get away with it. I look forward to hearing many more stories in the future... especially ones that start with, "You know Sara..." I hope you feel honored today... you deserve it. Thanks for being the coolest Tom Kimber I know! Love ya! Sara
Tom!
Happy Happy 50th Birthday! Your life and friendship has been such an encouragement to me and I thank God for putting you and Sue in my life! I hope this next year is full of joy and fun! Happy Birthday and may God bless these years ahead!
Kara Snell
Zhu ni sheng ri kuai le! You'll always be one of our favorite folks who aren't people. We miss our times together, feeling like we've gone through lots of seasons with you all in such a short span of time. Let's make some more memories together next month - it's been too long!
Happy Birthday from some other people who aren't people!
Jerry & Kristin
Hi Tom, Alice from south Africa here!!! :) Awesome to be part of the friendship circle that is wishing you happy birthday on your 50th. Many, many blessings are wished you my dear friend. May God pour out his love and joy and peace on you in even greater measures than in the past 50 years.
Much love, Alice
祝你生日快乐！实在是很感激你对我的帮助，虽不在身旁但我从心里祝福你！
白宇翔
Jon Patches
Dear Tom,
You are an amazing man and a great friend. I so appreciate all that you have added to my life. You are very special to Violet and I.
Have a great birthday. I know that Sue and Thomas will do it up right and make it a memorable day.
Many birthday blessings!
Dennis and Violet
Happy 50th Birthday to you, Tom!! Would you like us to send some leftover mooncakes for your birthday? Tom, you will always hold a special place in our hearts as you and Sue played an important role in welcoming us to Kunming in 2001. Not only did you welcome us to the fellowship, but you welcomed us to the Chun Fang Li neighborhood. We remember when you and Sue brought candy to our kids on October 31st, and we remember spending our first Thanksgiving in China with you. You have a wonderful way of reaching out to others and making them feel welcome, Tom. You also have a remarkable gift as a teacher, and we miss your messages at KIF. You are certainly missed here in the Kunming community, Tom. On behalf of your many Kunming friends, we send our love and best wishes for your 50th birthday celebration.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
With love,
John and Karen Tannous
Daniel, Jonathan, Elizabeth, and Sarah
Tu,
Just want to add my best wishes to you as you enter the 50's. May they be as kind to you as they have been to me. What an honor to have you as a friend. My God continue to show you His favor.
Love,
Ju
What business do you have turning FIFTY!? Better get those teeth you've been passing around every Christmas and hang on for dear life.
You are a great friend to have - and not just because you turn 50 before I do. Although that helps.
Happy birthday from the many, many Richards in Georgia.
Happy Birthday Tom! Seems like just last week when we saw you you were just in your 40's...like me! Seeing you guys while we were in California just affirms what I already knew, that you are GOLDEN! You are a forever friend and the rich history we have is an awesome gift! I think one of my favorite things about you, besides the fact that you are so very Kingdom-focused, is how genuinely fun you are, and what a regular guy you are. Conversation is always easy and plentiful and not necessarily always serious, or even useful ... it just happens ;-)
Here's to what's to come and all the friendship and fabulousness it holds, and have a great day!
I love you- Jacquie
Happiest of Birthdays to you, Tom!
You're the best "neighbor" anyone could hope for..."neighbors" in the IFL Comm Dept, "neighbors" in the blue Honda, "neighbors" on Denver Ave, and now "neighbors" at BU. I'm thankful the Lord has our paths crossing thru life...God bless you on your 50th!!! (And welcome to the "neighborhood" of the 50's...you'll like it here :)
Love, Don and Letty
Happy happy birthday Tom! I hope it's a good one, the big 5-0 and all.
Thank you for all of your kindness and support throughout my years growing up. It's good to know that I have another "dad" around the corner I can call on. :-)
Chelsea Swindoll
Happy Birthday Tom! I guess we have the spoon now so it is our turn to send greetings.
Thank you, Tom, for being a great friend. Thank you for loving our family--each and every one of us. Thank you for living a life of grace.
May God continue to bless you in the next 50 years!
Bruce and Lisa
Happy 50th Birthday Tom!!!
Can't believe that we're aren't going to be there for your BIG DAY, but of course, you know that we'll be thinking of you. When you come to Kunming again, we'll plan to have a belated celebration!
We're not surprised that you're doing what you love on your birthday-preaching! The Lord has obviously given you a passion in this area, and we're thrilled that you are pursuing ways to share that gift with others.
We truly miss you being in Kunming and hope you know how much we treasure your friendship. We trust that He will continue to guide and direct your steps.
Lots of love and hugs from the Shickley gang
Tom, I love that as I talked to you about turning 50 that your focus was on being a year closer to Jesus. Thank you for prodding us to live daily with the end more and more in mind! May the Lord bless you with an even deeper joy and longing for Him in the coming year. Happy Birthday!
Tom,
Happy 50th, and congratulations on reaching such a great milestone!
You've had a great impact on my life. Your willingness to mentor me twice (you obviously don't learn from your mistakes!), the summer of '01 and the fall of '03, really means a lot to me. I regularly find myself thinking through some of the lessons you taught me. I was just thinking again the other night about the importance of workers feeding themselves on the field. So many of your other lessons come to mind on a regular basis. I so often find myself sharing with others about "my mentor in China" and a specific lesson. So, thank you for investing in my life in such a personal way.
And thank you for helping me see your vision for China. My interactions with you added another cut in the lens through which I see China. Your love for her and for her people has impacted me and continues to influence my life.
So, Tom, many blessings to you on a very special day. May you continue to grow in grace and continue to reflect his glory into the lives around you. Thank you for so many years of faithfulness already.
Blessed to be your friend,
Ben Clark
Dear Tom,
50... I hear that every year gets better, so you should be having a grand ole time now!
You and sue have been wonderful encouragement to Pete & I. Thank you, and heres to hoping you have a wonderful birthday, and a great year!
Blessings,
Pete & Rachael Younger
Happy Birthday Tom. I'm very glad to be in the Grace Group with you and so thankful for the wisdom you've shared with all of us and with me personally.
You are a man I admire and look up to and I'm proud to call you a brother in Christ. Happy 50th!
with Christ's love,
Ronan
Happy birthday Tom! So how does it feel to be a half century old?!!! Bet you feel completely different than you did last night when you went to bed. Of course I wouldn't know because I AM NOT AS OLD AS YOU ARE!!!! YOU ARE NOW ONE STEP CLOSER TO BECOMING AN OLD CODGER!!!!...................
Hope you have a great day!
Bruce and fam.................
Gezuar ditelindjen, Tomi!
(Happy Birthday, Tom!)
Unfortunately, we aren't going to be able to make it tonight; because we had a rather long week. We are thinking of you, though. May the Lord bless your day.
Nate & Sarah
Tom, 50 years old and you still haven’t graduated?! Congratulations on passing your comps and turning 50. It seems like just yesterday you were my big college student cousin who would wrestle with me, get me in trouble, and teach me to belch with great fervor. That was 30 years ago. Today you are still learning and still teaching, although the lessons are a little different. You and Sue have shown our family what it looks like to serve the Lord in small everyday ways and in big, life changing, move to another country/quit your job/go back to school kinds of ways. We thank you for your great example, your ability to listen, and your wisdom. We look forward to seeing what God has for you in the years to come.
Love, Steve, Arla, Zoe, and Leah
Happy Birthday, Tom!
I've been so blessed by both you and Sue. Your wisdom and leadership for Grace sending is wonderful! May God continue to glorify Himself through you.
in His love,
Michelle
Welcome to the 50 and over club!
Some of the attributes I’ve admired in you these past 15+ years…obedience, discipline, wit, wisdom…and I’m honored to be considered a friend.
So party on…and congrats on passing your comprehensive exams on the first go around!
Kathleen
Happy Birthday "Uncle" Tom! =) Thanks for all your encouragement and demonstration of humble leadership & a heart for the lost. As my husband Jeremy & I are preparing to go to the mission field here at Dallas Theological Seminary we are encouraged by those who have gone before us & have shared their wisdom. So, thank you so much for your life of service to the Lord & sharing that with others!!
May you continue to be blessed & guided by the Lord,
Joy
Happy Birthday, Tom! It has been a joy to have you at Grace - I'm so thankful you and Sue decided to come over after you came back =) I really appreciate the way you are committed to prayer and your soft heart for people. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!
-Charissa-
Happy Birthday, Tom! God has so richly blessed Grace through your presence, wisdom, and service. I always walk away from conversations with you feeling listened to, cared for, and encouraged. Thank you for pointing me to Christ in the ways that you speak and act. May the Lord draw you even closer to himself in this new year of your life.
Love,
Laura HasBrouck =)
Happy Birthday, Tom!
From embarrassing you when I was a little girl to watching you tear up as you married me to my wonderful husband, I have loved being your cousin and having you be such a big part of my life. I have so many warm, fun memories of you and your family that have helped to shape my life in so many ways. Thank you for being such a great example of a Godly husband and father to Nathan and me, and someone whose advice we know we can always seek and trust.
We love you! Here's to 50 more!
Nathan, Kristy, Judah and Micah
Hi, Tom. Happy 50th birthday. Whenever I think of you, I am reminded of Barnabas. Thank you for your godly example and shepherd's heart. You have enriched my life and the lives of others.
Hey Tom! happy birthday!!
Hope you have a wonderful day, wonderful week and a new appreciation for being blessed by God.
- Jeff Beaumont
Greetings from Brea! I get the award for the closest geographically. 100 yards away Birthday Wishes to you! Congrats on making it this far and hardly showing any signs of being worse for wear. I will be sure to show respect now to my obvious elder. Happy Birthday Tom
Bryan Chaddick
Tom,
If these blog posts prove one thing, it proves you are much loved. If it proves another, it proves your life has been mighty in the hands of the Lord. And in regards to these two things, we are no exception. We miss you much and pray your birthday is rich with celebration.
The Toccolis
Dear Tom,
Happy Birthday! How we wish we could be there to celebrate with you. We praise God for how you have served Him these 50 years, for the blessing you were to so many people in Kunming, and to us especially. We are so proud of your work these past few years back in CA and beyond, and look forward to hearing what God will continue to do through you. We dearly love you, and miss you and Sue greatly, more than we can say.
With much love,
Michaele
Tom,
We’ve really appreciated all you’ve done for us since we got married almost a year(?!) ago now. From talking to us before the wedding, to performing the ceremony, to continuing to talk with us as we start our lives together – it’s been great. It’s wonderful to have such Godly counsel from someone so close to us.
Happy birthday from all of us!
Dave, Julie, Morgan and Lindsay
I think of you and the preparation God has given you. 1. Those years assisting Chuck, and seeing God at work. 2. Ministering in China for those years – the first-hand cross-cultural experience, and currently, 3. The degree program at BIOLA that is the icing on the cake. Now what? What does God have up His sleeve?
God is giving you favor at school, and at church. You are already having an impact on world missions. 50 years sounds old, but it isn’t. (I know, because I passed it by a decade ago!) You have some very productive years ahead of you, if God would grant that. May you see much fruit. May the Word of God be a new and vital fountain for you. And may your words not fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19) but instead may you have ongoing favor from the Lord.
Your good friends in ministry and life in general,
Walt and Sherry
Dear Tom,
I remember the day well. I stayed out in the waiting room at Friendly Hills Hospital like I was told. Everyone forgot about me and had gone on with their business. Finally I went down the hall and asked a nurse about your mothers condition and had she delivered. "Oh didn't they tell you?", she replied and hurriedly left the station. Shortly she returned to announce that your mother was resting and was fine. I had already looked into her room and could tell that she was asleep. "I know she is, but what do we have another boy or a girl?" "A boy" she replied. "And what is his name?" " Thomas Ray. Part of it comes from my favorite uncle and the other part from his mothers fathers side Is the doctor here?" "I'm not sure. He was only filling in for your regular doctor who had gone deer hunting" And that is how it all started.
Congratulations on a half century of great achievements and thanks for all you have blessed us with. Sorry we can't be with you but I am sure you are being well taken care of.
Love, your Mom and Dad
Dear Tom
Best wishes for you big 50 birthday. Hope you have a great day. Wish we could see you all again - we miss you a lot.
We're in Australia for this year and return to Kunming in January 2009.
Lots of love from all of us
Peter, Janelle, Rebecca, Nathaniel & Hannah Moore
Dear Tom,
From onw dishwasher to another, Happy Birthday!!
Thank you for your warm smiles and firm hugs. You have become a beacon for me on Sunday mornings with a smile always so bright that says "I'm glad you're here!" I know that many feel that way when you smile and say hello.
I have so enjoyed hearing you teach on Sunday mornings. Your life experiences bring to life what sharing the gospel is all about.
May God grant you many more years full of blessings, and smiles and hugs galore!!
Love, Paula
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