Subtle reminder

So i was having some free dinner with a friend at Chick-Fil-A at East Lake when all of a sudden a certain man walks behind me and just starts talkin to me.

Not to mention any names or go into any details, but let's just stay he was not in a perfect state of mind.  I am not judging or incriminating, i just want a more full picture painted of this story.  So as i begin to talk to this guy i discover, and he outright tells, he is not in a "perfect" drug free state of mind.  As we talk he just opens up and shares so much about himself.  He mentions that his birthday is next Tuesday and so i wish him an early happy birthday.  He mentions he is 26 and then he asks how old i am.  I tell him i am 21 and he asked if i got drunk and i said that i didn't.  So he jumps ship and says that he goes to church too.

I love the connections there.  Not being drunk on your 21st birthday means that you are a Christian, or at least go to church or are a Southern Baptist. Ha.

But he continues to open up and share his story and i mention that i go to Echo and North Metro, a non-denominational church, and he gets interested and says he would love to come, especially to Echo. 

Well after all of that and as we finish our conversation he says that we should hang out.  So i respond with "Yah, if you come to Echo we can sure hang out."  So we said a few more things and then i went on about eating my dinner as he gets his hand spun milkshake.

So i think to myself, why does he have to come to me for us to hang out?  Why does he have to be in the right state of mind for us to do things together?  Why is this about me and doing what is best for me?  I understand that there is some wisdom in being careful about how the hanging out would go down, but why does it have to be about me?

I immediately thought of Jesus and how he met others where they were at.  He met others in their greatest need's no matter the problems or junk that they had going on in their life.  I was thinking to myself, "What if I met others in their great need?"  How different would my life be?  How uncomfortable would i be?  As i walked away from this gentleman  with a phrase of basically come to me under these guidelines i thought of how selfish i was.

God seems to be reminding me of quite a few things lately and i will be sure to blog later about them, but as for now, he seems to be reminding me of this question of how different would my life be if i sacrificed myself and did things that would make me more like Jesus.  More like a man who trusts instead of tries.

What if i trusted in God to change lives including mine, and what if i trusted God to break me of my wants and meet others where they are at, where they are hurt, where they are struggling, and where there is death and pain.

I am...

Australian!

Yes it is true.  I know work at the Australian bakery in the Marietta Square.

I love love (Oh Brett Younker) working there with a passion.  It has been so much fun.  It is a job that consists of everything from running the register, making different Australian and American delicacies to dipping sheet cake in chocolate and rolling it around in some coconut.

I mean i really do love this job and i am going to give some partial credit to a big Rob McDeezy.

Well it has been a blast so far getting to know everyone that works there and getting to meet a ton of regulars.  I mean some of these people even have tabs, how cool is that.

Well i hope to see you around this awesome bakery getting some great Australian goodies and desserts.  Give me some mo of those.

Oh Hey Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:10-14 (English Standard Version)

 10"For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile."

So i have slowly been reading through the bible this past 3/4th's of a year.

Now after reading quite a few books of the Old Testament i am in the book of Jeremiah, and i seem to be at what is everyones favorite chapter and verse, Jeremiah 29:11

It was kinda funny though, i was reading Jeremiah 29 not really thinking about anything im-particular like, ewww Jeremiah 29:11 is coming up, what a popular verse. To be honest it kinda caught me by surprise... and i am glad that it did because i saw something that i only partly understood before.

To forgo delving into my past with this scripture lets just go into the now. So let me just say this, context is everything.

It seems that everyone uses Jeremiah 29:11 as pure encouragement that everything is in control, that everything in your life is going to go great because God has a plan for you, that you just need to sit back and relax and God will take care of your situations, just follow him and you will be ok. I think this verse has so much more meaning, and honestly verse 11 is just something that is really squeezed in there. Yes this verse packs a nice punch, but all 28 chapters and ten verses before make it truly worth reading.

Verse ten is where it is at and it seems we always skip over this verse. After 70 years of going through struggles and being torn away from their home do things only start going well for the Israelites, Gods chosen people. This verse is beautiful because it gives you reality. It shows you that life isn't a cakewalk, but that it will be tough. God desires us to follow him and trust him. God wants us to pursue him, not necessarily for 70 years before he will do something, but God is bringing us through a tough yet rewarding process.

As we read on we see that God then calls us to REALLY REALLY Seek after him. Not just say, God is in control and i don't need to do anything. I mean these verses say "seek him, WITH ALL YOUR HEART." That is huge, that is bigger then just sitting around.

I think God is beautiful and amazing. I am so excited to be reading the Bible all the way through. I am thrilled that he shows me the beauty that he has created and the literal sweetness of his word.

Glory to God, and in giving him glory, look around at the context, look at what he is trying to lead you through, because he truly does have a plan that he knows will rock your world.

Just for your 411

I would also like to mention that i am slowly... and i mean slowly creating my own website which will be located at www.paulstippich.com.

It is far from complete, but as i start creating and shaping this website, i will fill you in on the purpose and method for which i am creating it.  Lets just say it will go much deeper than this blog can go and i feel it will be more helpful to others. 

Mmmm mmmm relationships and connections.  

Late night switch to morning

Well, i just thought i would blog about being addicted to Call of Duty 5 (Call of Duty: World at War)

This game is crazy fun and i am getting a lot better.  I mean although my kill to death ratio isn't the best, i put it on the fact that i go more for challenges instead of just strait killing.  I know this doesn't make much sense to most people, but it will to Greg, Andrew, Matt, Paul, and so many others.

Oh and as for the post that is much deeper, i am moving it to tomorrow morning, well this morning, it will give me something to wake up to.

BOOYAH!

Australia... Here i come?

Well Australia... i am not actually coming to your beautiful little country, well right now that is but i am going to a beautiful little bakery off of the Marietta Square for a job interview.

I hope it will go well because then i can rightfully speak in an Australian accent and throw shrimps on the barbie.  Ewww hopefully i get that job.  But honestly i am ok with whatever happens.  God has this all in control.  In fact there might be another blog today about a little Jeremiah 29... and yes for those of you thinking here comes verse 11. We are going to dive in just a little deeper then that.

The only thing with this interview at 2 today, is that they said weekends are a must and i am just not going to give up my Sundays.  The hours of the bakery are a little estranged and so they would completely conflict with my Sunday so i can't give them up.  Aside from that i think i have a fair shot.  I mean this will be the first realish job in over a year.  Not that i have not been working for over a year, i have just been doing events and such that are not constant jobs.

So hopefully i will soon be able to speak with a new accent and have a new and fun job.  BOTH BAKING and maybe even a little BUTCHERING.  Wow, Butchering kinda seems a little scary. Thoughts, comments concerns.

Let me know.

UPDATE: 

I think the interview with the bakery went really well.  Seems like a cool job and something that i want to do for this little season of life. 

Balentines Day

February 14th.  I think is probably one of my favorite holidays.  Right now because it means cheap candy the next day, but i am sure some time in the future the reason for it being my favorite will expand to biblical proportions.

Yes, i mean exactly what you think.

So skipping on along from that, i just wanted to say that i am not one of those people who are bummed out about a day focussed on dates and love because honestly, i am content where i am.  Now i am not saying that if an irish or scottish accented (or just the right) woman showed up on my doorstep with a plate of soggy / crunchy bacon i would not get hitched right away.  All i am saying is that i am loving where God has me.  I am enjoying this time of waiting and growing.  I am enjoying this time where my focus is on him and serving him in some pretty fun and amazing ways from playing hand percussion to hanging out with six grade guys.  

So i just thought in honor of Balentines Day that i would say that i don't hate it, i love it because one day i will get to really enjoy it and have one more excuse to lavish my wife with some gifts.

Mmmm, sappy yes, but all good and honest truth.  

Walking Dogs

So i am trying to be a little more healthy these days.  

Now that doesn't mean i am on some crazy diet because i never really want to be on one of those, and this doesn't mean i am doing some crazy work out routine... my hernia keeps me from all of those crazy shenanigans.

This means i am eating a little better, drinking a smidge more water and doing a little work out now and then.

So besides all this i want to fill you in on one more thing.  I hate running, to me it is just blah.  I don't like it, especially by myself, i mean if i had company it becomes a whole other story.  So i figure i know i need some exercise and i am pretty sure all my dogs over here: G-Baby, Sonic, and Bruiser need some exercise too.

So i have decided to break out a little training schedule (not really though, i just thought that sounded so cool and intense) and walk , Bruiser, and jog the other boys on different days.  So hopefully this will result in a little healthier me. Yay!!!

Plans

So this Thursday i found out some really exciting and thrilling news.  You wanna hear what it is?

I have the pleasure of Graduating in December 09 instead of May 09.  I know, what a treat right?  The reason why is because i have to drop.  Now it isn't because i am failing the class soooo badly right now that i wont be able to pass, it just overlaps with a capstone class for PR, which is my Major and we just can't have that.

Well i just found out it overlaps because i looked at my syllabus, something that was not shown to us until a couple weeks in and the first class ended promptly when a normal 12:30 class should end... 1:45.

So i talked to the teacher and all in all it was a no, i have to be there the entire class from 12:30 to 3:15 which i can't do because i really really need to be at my PR Campaigns class from 2 to 3:15.

Any who, i found out about this all, this past Tuesday and it just hit me, God has these amazing plans which are so much better then mine. 

Proverbs 19:21 (New Living Translation)

21 You can make many plans,
but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

I think this scripture is so huge and i have never really comprehended the fullness of it until this week.  It seems to me that all these little plans that i create come to fruition, but the big ones... God takes them shakes it up and his unseen, only for the time being, purpose prevails.

I am pumped, thrilled, excited, ecstatic even to see what he brings.  I have no problem actually graduating in December it just seems to me that i don't need to worry because the Lord has things in control.  It is just cool to me to see how God has prepared my heart and plans to help me comfortably except this little bump in the road.  God is amazing and i have loved seeing how he has shaped me and prepared me for all that he has in store.  My plans are many and sometimes small, but the Lords are always so simplistically beautiful, even if it takes a few years of set up.

God is good and i love his plans. Even if they are drastically different then mine.  

Summer confusion

I am sure i will write, type more on this topic later, but i figure i wanted to give you something to look forward to.  Plus i feel i should just let you in on my life.

This Summer is going to be the start of a new life for me.  I am pumped and thrilled because i am done with college... well only for a little while.  I will have graduated with a four year degree which i think is a pretty huge deal.  My degree will be in Communication's with a Public Relations focus.  I will also graduate with a related studies in Human Services with a Not-For-Profit focus, which is pretty rockin.  All in all, i will have done a lot.  I wish i could have tried a little harder but i had to break, and still do, some bad and lazy habits. 

Beyond my degree i am free from school for as long as i choose, which wont be that long, but the Summer, man it is just full of so many possibilities and i am thrilled to see what God brings my ways.  There are going to be some huge changes, some that i know, and others that i don't.  But no matter the case i am excited and thrilled about each and everyone of them.

But, as excited as i am, i am completely lost.  I have a ton of opportunities before me to travel the world and serve God.  Because, honestly, i want to serve others and love on others doing mission trips for a year or two, or maybe more when i am out of college.  I never want to really go into the business world but i for sure want to die to myself and live for God wherever he calls me whether here or abroad.  I have opportunities in EA, Jamaica, and other places here in the US, but i have no idea what to do.  I mean it is far away so no real worries, but I just want some peace in the matter to be honest, so... if you all wouldn't mind, help me pray for all of that.

Well i am excited for what God is showing me and where he is leading me so expect a change to the layout of this and expect great and mighty stories to be shared because of my God's glory. 

Million and One

I have been given a million and one thing's to write about, and yet i don't.  I say i want to blog, and yet i don't. 

Why?

Great question, i think it is because of laziness and being uncomfortable, but my friends this is changing.  God has given me a gift, a forum of encouragement and i plan on using it.  So i hope that you will continue to enjoy this journey of life with me.  Lets kick this back up again.

BooYah

-Paul