Paul, 
I find myself thinking about you all the time. You were such an amazing guy, kind and funny. I miss you. I wish I'd have spent more time with you, but I think that's life. Once something is gone, you always want more. I hug my kids and wife a little harder when I think of you. I love you. Thanks for being  so autheentic in life. I'll continue to think of you all the time. 
I miss you.
Ryan Johnson 
 

I, like most everyone he knew, talked cars with Paul. He loved to talk about anything cars and we shared the odd affection for car auctions. We also shared the experience of being car salesman. So just about every Sunday we would lean on something in the lobby and start off with some type of car talk. It would always shift to talk of his family though. He never missed an opportunity to brag on Jennifer and her military career, it was something he loved very much about her. Noah of course would come up and it was usaully after he zoomed in or out of where we were. His eyes always lit up when he talked about them. Even more then when he talked about cars and as we all know, Paul really loved cars. But he loved Jeus and his family more and you didnt have to know him long to see that about him.

Eventually one of us would bring up his battle with cancer and the treatments he was trying. I would often walk away praying in my heart for Paul. Such a huge battle he fought. We were planning on attending a car show the following February, we never said but we knew it would take beating cancer first. I would often wonder how a man could stand up under such pressure. I would wonder if I could be positive like him or still be the encourager in a conversation. He would always be encouraging to me and what I was doing. I would enter with the goal of encouraging him but he somehow always seemed to end up encourageing me instead.

We all know the word hope and have had hope and we still have hope in Christ. Ive given messages on hope and they are my favorite to preach. It is the foundation of every Christian. That Christ gives us the hope of forgivness and the hope of Heaven. But Paul did something that Im not sure he knew he was doing but it change me. Paul showed me what hope looks like. In every conversation we talked of going to shows and auctions and how much we looked forward to our growing friendship. I never heard him say 'If Im healthy' or give any qualifier. It was always just going to happen. Some Sundays he would say he got bad news and others he would have good but his demenor was always the same. What the doctors told him seemed to have no bearing on his determination and hope. I would leave our hang time every time saying and believing Paul was going to get better. 

Paul, we didnt get to be friends long enough but I will never forget you. Thank you for showing me what hope looks like. That what we are battling doesnt have to define us and that family is the reason for our goals. Love and miss you my friend. 

The first time I ever went out with Paul, we talked for two hours. After exchanging a few pleasantries, he  shared where he was at with his treatments and then proceeded to open up about his marriage and life as a father.

His candor was refreshing. When you sit down with people for the first time, they often put up a front to make you think more highly of them, but Paul did the exact opposite. He didn’t pretend to have all the answers. He was honest about his fears, doubts and mistakes, even before he was diagnosed with cancer.

As he shared, I realized more and more how much he loved and appreciated his family. Much of this stemmed out of his commitment to rededicate his life to God.

If you ever met Paul, you know he was not shy about his faith. He repeatedly spoke of how God had strengthened his family. If you brought up church, you know that he believed God would use Compel to reach many in the valley.

If Paul was in town and physically able, he never refused to serve. No job was too small for him, he just wanted to be involved. He didn’t see himself as better than others and was careful to point out the many people, namely his family, who had been such a blessing to him. 

One of my favorite memories was of Paul being baptized. He wanted to make a very public declaration of his faith. As I watched, I was moved deeply by his story and commitment. He didn’t have to be baptized, but it was important to him that others know he was turning everything over to God.

That’s the thing about Paul, his walk was more powerful than his talk. Watching him fight until the very end was difficult, but inspiring. He wanted nothing more than to be the husband, father, son and friend that God had called him to be.

Thank you Paul for being an inspiration. Your story lives on in me and so many others.

I love and miss you, my friend.

Ray Hintz 

I will always remember Paul coming over to our house when our bible study group would get together. And many times he would text me and say "time for some guy time" which meant we would hangout and talk about anything and everything. We would joke and laugh hard, talk cars, health etc. Paul could talk about anything, and always had me laughing. He would always speak so highly of his parents, and about plans for himself, Jen and Noah. 

One time my wife Shelly, Paul, myself and another friend from church were all together for a bible study and got off topic. I don't remember what exactly we were discussing but we all ended up laughing so hard for at least 30 min we had tears coming out. For about two weeks Paul would text me about that night, just to share a good laugh again. 

Paul was the kind of guy you just liked and enjoyed being around, he was funny, loved his cars, had many stories from his car sales days. From his words, stories, questions and prayer requests with us, it was clear his son meant the world to him, he loved his wife dearly and loved and spoke so highly of his parents. 

He was truly a man that loved God and his church. I miss our times hanging out and bible studies together.  But because of Paul my wife, kids and I have the great privilege  of knowing and having a friendship with those he was closest with. 

Thank you Paul for the blessing of just having known you! 

With love, your brother in Christ

James Shaffer