If you are a regular reader of “Inside Out!” I am sure you are already aware that Jerry, its writer, went home to be with our Lord on Tuesday, June 21, 2005. His call was sudden, but its suddenness didn’t catch Jerry unprepared. Jerry lived a life ready to meet “PAPA”, as he often called our Heavenly Father.

Jerry leaves behind one of the most interesting, diverse lives and ministries that I have ever had the privilege to witness and share in. His legacy of warmth, love and wisdom, with a healthy side of silliness, leave a hole that no one else could ever quite fill.

I’ve already said most of what I can say about Jerry in my blog (see:”Pray for Jerry” and “Jerry’s Upgrade!”) So, rather than go down the same road and repeat myself. Let me just make a couple of observations about what this past week has taught me. Jerry was always big on observations and life lessons so, here’s my way of paying homage to the irreplaceable PapaJ with a couple of life lessons learned from him.

First, somewhere around the first month or so of e-mailing back and forth, I started to sign my e-mails, “Love ya”. This isn’t something I normally do, I guess PapaJ’s warmth just exposed my extremely soft underbelly. I remember him remarking about the first time I signed an e-mail that way. He praised me for it and from then on we both signed our e-mails with the same codas — no matter how brief or buisnessy or silly the e-mail, the ending was always the same.

Now flash to a few weeks ago when I first heard about Jerry’s illness. As part of a prayer request on my blog, I wrote a tribute to Jerry. I am so happy that he was able to read it and know exactly how I felt about him. Of course he brushed it off in his humble manner, but Pat told me it really meant a lot to him.

I am not the best at expressing my feelings. Hug me and I am as awkward as a newly-born colt. I know that I have missed opportunities at telling people how I feel about them; how much I appreciate them, but this time I got it right. Jerry’s ascension reminds me that it is always best to tell people you love them often and always. That “love ya” this morning, might be the last “love ya: for awhile.

Secondly, there were times when Jerry would sense that I was going through a tough time. He would feel a greater burden to pray for me. He would ask me if everything was OK, or if there was something he could do or pray about. I mostly took him up on it, but there were times that I didn’t. I know the last few months he had asked and I told him that as soon as I got a moment to write I would fill him in on everything I was going through. I hesitated knowing he wasn’t feeling well, and in one way I don’t regret that, but in another way, I took for granted that a source of wisdom and support would be there when I needed it. Jerry was prompting me to spill my guts, and I longed to do that, but didn’t. God brings people into our lives that give us tremendous opportunities to learn and grow and connect, but those opportunities don’t last forever, so don’t miss ’em.

On the other side of the fence, I feel that part of what I must now do for Jerry, in appreciation to what he gave me,(the Papa’s Pipeline Principle) is be that wisdom, warmth, concern and support for others (as best I can). The baton has been passed, and the need is great. People need shoulders to cry on. People need an ear to listen. People need wisdom steeped in God’s Word. People need to be loved in practical, life-giving ways. PapaJ knew that more than anyone else and that’s why he always made himself so utterly available.

You, Jerry’s loyal readers, have always loved to read and interact with what Jerry wrote, so let me give you the opportunity to comment of what I, or any of the others, have shared in this piece. Or simply share what Jerry’s writting / friendship have meant to you. I will include what I can in a response section sometime in the future. Just e-mail me atrememberingpapaj@hotmail.com

Grant

He lived for the Lord, loved the Lord and now he is with the Lord. PapaJ, you will be missed by so many people who knew and loved you. I am so glad I got to meet you in person twice — and I discovered, of course, that what you were on the Web was the same face-to-face. You were kind, witty, wise and compassionate; you loved the Word and digested it for us all……Enjoy heaven where there is no pain and you are really alive and praising the Lord. May He bring comfort to Pat and the family. We know you’re in a far better place than this old, “stinkin'” world but you’ve left a “huge hole” on Planet Earth. Party on–save some pasta and chocolate for us all!

Peggie C. Bohanon

PapaJ was a preacher man
preachin’ an’ a prayin’ all the time
telling folks all about hope and love –
the gift of Jesus sent from above.

PapaJ was a prayin’ man
prayin’ an’ a preachin all the time
showing folks how to love one another
acting just like his Heavenly Brother.

PapaJ was a cyberfriend of mine
preachin an’ a prayin’ for me all the time
telling and showing me how it should be done –
loving God by loving everyone.

-M

Every now and again you meet someone who stands out. Jerry Meyer (aka PapaJay ) stood out head and shoulders above the countless throng that one has met on the internet. Papajay was a friend. He was a Christian who put the Word of God to work in his life. He reached out to people and did what he could to care for them. Whether it was music, preaching or fighting a fire in someone’s house he did what needed to be done. And he had a great sense of humour. PapaJay could be as twisted with a pun as anyone. Lots of times we would email back and forth, torturing the English language.

He was a mentor in many ways. His patience with silly ideas was wonderful for me. He was willing to sit and listen to what I had to say when I was a baby minister, and by asking gentle questions he would lead me around what I was saying till I saw the silliness of my idea. In the same way he would show me when the Lord had blessed me with an idea that I thought was silly. His was the way of God.

As a fellow firefighter (Smoke-eater he would say) we shared in several areas an understanding that others couldn’t. He understood what it meant to be blind in a fire, he knew what it was like to search and attack, and he understood what it meant to have your hose die in the fire. He understood what it was to trust God. It was good to have another Christian firefighter with which to talk and pray. And prayer was the top of his list. PapaJay would pray, then he would pray some more. He believed that we need to talk with God about everything, so that’s what he did.

PapaJay’s life was about God. It was about being loved by his Father and loving Him in return. It was about spending time with Him and thanking him for his wonderful family here on earth.

Thank you God, for sharing your child with us for a time. I look forward to seeing him again someday.

Geoff Clarke

PapaJ will certainly be missed here on this earth! He meant so much to so many people and touched so many lives. He wrote “Insight to Scripture” for my Manna site, and I’ve put all the articles on Entourages. He was such a blessing, and knew the WORD ‘Inside and Out’. I looked forward to his ‘Inside and Out’ articles, and they are certainly going to be missed!

There is a void in all our hearts, knowing he is gone forever out of our lives here on earth. But, just knowing he’s on Heavenly ground …. singing in the Heavenly Choir , puts a smile on my face. I will always treasure the CDs that he sent to me many years ago. I had never met him in person, but feel I’ve always known him.

Barb

SOME SELECTED RESPONSES TO “C’YA JERRY”

— Thank you for the tribute to PapaJ, I am the missionary that he prayed for every time he had to stop at a red light, which he mentioned in his article, “Portable Parking Lot.” We met at 10 years of age when his dad came to pastor our hometown church in Northern Iowa. It was a privilege to know him, to have him as a friend and prayer partner these many years, through school, part of Bible College and many years in ministry.

I was shocked to learn of his sudden Homegoing, but he had the privilege of “going home early!” Days of hard work or school often provoked the longing to go home early � that’s what the Lord did for Jerry. What a Homegoing! What a Homecoming he must have had! I think of Paul’s message in Acts 13. Verse 36 says: “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.” And again in Revelation 14:13, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord…they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”

Jerry was a wonderful father, husband & friend to many who certainly had a ministry of reconciliation to churches, couples and the lives of individuals who needed to know the Lord wherever they were found. He will certainly be missed — our loss is Heaven’s gain.

— Remember that song – this little light of mine? That’s what I’ve always thought about when I picture Jerry in my mind. From the first moment I was introduced to Jerry and Joyce down in Pensacola back in 1974, they were like beacons in the dark. Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s left a lot of room to ponder what’s life all about and once I was embraced by Jerry and Joyce, it all made sense. They were those little light’s under the bushel we were always singing about in Sunday school. Here was a family who wasn’t preaching at you, they were just living the Christian life instead. Since quite a few of the people from my church used to hang out at the bar, I had pretty much decided that being a Christian didn’t work. All of that changed when my friend in the Navy shared the Meyers with me on one of my visits. What a living testimony – it’s never altered over the course of our friendship. He leaves behind a big hole in my life as well as anyone else who’s ever come into contact with our Jerry.

Ann Soby

— I had not had the time or the will power to visit the Inside Out page since Dad’s death. I did today and at first I gasped, then I called my husband to come in the office and then I burst out laughing. I guess I covered all the emotions in about 3 minutes’ time. The picture was taken at our house during one of his visits and I am not sure who snapped the famous photo. That encapsules my dad. His sense of humor was incredible. Thanks for sharing the e-mails and comments about my dad. He was/is still a very special guy to me. The e-mails are a blessing.

Kathleen (Meyer) Lanford