chialpha-l: The big goodbye

[Joshua Thumann <thumannator@mac.com>]

Wow!  Times are changing.  In the six years that I have been involved with 
MSU's Chi Alpha, people have come and gone.  And now it is my time to go 
too.  I will be heading out of Starkville on August 28th.  Certainly, I 
will come back and visit from time to time, but this is the big move for 
me.  Time to put all this rocket science I have been studying to use I 
guess.  :)  I will be moving up to Huntsville, Alabama to start working at 
my new, full-time job.  God really blessed me with this job, and I am 
eager to go up there.  I believe God has some great stuff for me to do 
there, both in and outside of work.

It has been an honor to share my walk with God with all of you during 
these six years.  I have to thank you all for the chance to share from the 
Bible from time to time at Chi Alpha.  Arturo and Myra, thank you for 
giving me those opportunities.  It truly blessed me for you to place such 
confidence and faith in me.  And thank you to everyone for not being too 
critical at the wrong times of what I shared, and just critical enough at 
the right times.  I daily am growing in the ways of God, and that is 
something that I hope is always true of my life, but it helps to have 
fellow Christians to "sharpen" me.  Even when I shared, someone always was 
able to add something else, and that was always a blessing to me.  I 
cannot know everything!  I thank God for the insights he has given to me, 
but I thank Him also for the insights he has shared with me through all of 
you as well.

Dustin, I know that you still get these messages.  We've no doubt missed 
you at Chi Alpha in this last year.  I want to thank you because you first 
invited me to come to Chi Alpha six years ago.  And after attending for a 
couple months, I accepted Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  
Dustin, thanks for taking that chance on me.  My life has never been the 
same since then.  And I have enjoyed this life far greater than I ever 
could have without Christ!

To everyone reading this, I would just encourage you to do the same.  Look 
for the opportunities in your life each day to share Christ.  This is 
something I myself am working on and growing in.  It isn't easy for 
everyone, no (certainly not me!).  Some may laugh at you.  Some may 
outright reject you.  It's a risk every time.  But, in the end, I think we 
all know that it's worth it!  As Arturo shared at Chi Alpha tonight, in 
the end, all that matters is whether people are going to heaven or to hell.
  Look for those chances to share Jesus with people.  God sets them up for 
us;  we just have to watch for these opportunities.  Luke 12:11-12 
discusses not worrying about what to say to rulers and authorities (and 
almost anyone can have some type of authority over you).  These verses are 
in reference to being arrested and having to testify.  So often, when we 
hear "arrest" we think of police and jail.  But "arrest" means to be 
stopped and held, even to have our attention held briefly.  The lost do 
this very thing to us.  Maybe it is some of our friends, maybe a complete 
stranger, but they will stop us and take a moment of our time and we need 
to watch for those specific times when God says, "Testify to them."  Share 
what God has done for you!  You don't know how or who you will impact!  Be 
willing to do this, and I believe God will honor that, and He will use you 
and speak through you.

I love you all and I thank you for the love you have shared with me.  My 
family and friends are daily in my prayers.  I thank you for remembering 
me in your prayers over the years.  I titled this message "The big goodbye.
"  Many of you I will surely see again.  If I do not, know that you are 
greatly missed and that I look forward to the day when Jesus returns and 
we will all be brought together again!  Sort of like the "big hello."  :)  
You are all welcome always to write, call, and visit me.  My current cell 
phone number will be active for some time (662-425-4115), and I am not 
getting rid of this e-mail address any time soon (thumannator@mac.com).  
When my address and phone number change in the coming months, I will let 
everyone know what they change to.  If you ever come to Huntsville, let me 
know and we'll get together.

May "the Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
--Numbers 6:24-26

Be blessed,
Josh

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