I’ve dealt with the subject of "Papa’s Pipeline" in some previous "Inside Out" pieces. Not as in "Papa Jerry", but as "Papa God". I envision all these pipes coming down from Heaven into our lives - pipes that bring ALL kinds of blessings to us. Not just material blessings (which, after all, will some day go up in smoke), but especially spiritual blessings. I then see Pipes running back to Papa God in the form of praise. I see pipes running to each other in the form of material and spiritual things we share.

     One of my favorite people is a young man who, with his family, has practiced these principles so well. He opted to remain anonymous for the purposes of this article. Over the years they have cluttered their garage with possibly tons of used bicycles, used building materials, ladders, and SUITCASES. All these things are "Pipelined" to missionaries.

     One of the characteristics of one of Papa’s Pipeliners is that they do what they do for the sheer joy of pipelining...giving things away, often with good value, in order to bless and facilitate the ministry and lives of others. He’s even given away his own guitar to someone who needed it. They don’t do it in order to "get" something back.

     This particular young man has his own lawn, landscaping and tree trimming business. He works 12 to 14 hours a day. He works hard to provide for his family in order to give his kids a full time mother.

     Well, here’s the kicker to this particular story. My friend badly needed a leaf blower for his lawn business. His had literally fallen apart and was no longer fixable. One evening, he called me, as excited as he could be. He related a story that would seem, at the very least, improbable to most.

     While working on an elderly couple’s lawn, an older gentlemen, not a believer, came out and asked him about planting some special palm trees for his wife. This could have been seen as an inconvenience, but my friend immediately dug some holes in preparation for planting some palms. He worked extra long that day procuring the little ornamental palm trees. The next day he put them in. He really put himself out just to make these older people happy.

     When the man asked my friend what he needed in order to settle up for the extra work, he jokingly said that whatever it was, it wasn’t enough to do what he needed to do with it. The man applied a bit of pressure and curiously asked what my friend really needed. He explained about his leaf blower. When asked, he said that it would cost about $500 for a new leaf blower and he was only going to charge him $250 for the palm planting job.

     When the elderly gentleman came out, he had two checks in his hand. One was for $250. The other was for $500. "Give and it shall be given unto you, pressed down, shaken together, and running over".

     Did the young man do his best in order to be rewarded? Was he even thinking that something good might come of this...something that might come down the Pipeline? Nope. Just doing his best for the sake of fulfilling his character.

     I must close with a personal note. Some of you know that I am part of Meyer Family Ministries, a total faith ministry. (We believe in the happy mailbox! (g)) A couple of weeks ago, I had three bills sitting on my little desk in The Cell. I prayed over them and asked the Lord to meet the need because the well was nearly dry! (g) About an hour later, a man called and asked if he could come by. When he showed up, he had an envelope which contained $10 more than the total of the three bills. Thanks, Lord Jesus, for The Pipeline!

     If you have a testimony that illustrates Papa’s Pipeline, just hit my name in the lower corner of this page. I’d love to hear from you!

Responses to "THE COOL BIRD"...

(I just had to include this late response to the piece on Duct Tape)

- Just the week before your tale of duct tape came out, I, too, had my own experience with the wonderful stuff. I had to drive my husband’s car to work one day. Before getting in, I noticed that part of the drivers seat had been "repaired" with that wonderful, good for so many things, duct tape. When I got to work I noticed that I had duct tape glue all over the back of my nice black pants! Guess what? It doesn't wash out, either!! I'm now at the point of wondering if they are worth spending time cleaning them by hand with....? to get the glue off!!!

- Your story reminded me of one of our Christmas celebrations about 30 years ago. We also were on a limited budget, earning about $100 a month plus room and board. So, instead of giving presents we wrote things we would do for each family member. My husband still has the paper with our oldest's gift to him. She promised to do one chore each day for him without complaining for the whole year. No one can remember if she kept the promise, but it came from the heart which is the best present.

- Well, it truly makes me sad to think about your wonderful turkey being mauled by those stupid cats..........AND, bless your heart for letting them finish it........BUT, you honestly have the right idea about giving thanks!!! It isn't the turkey or the yams and mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie. It's giving thanks to our good Lord for Him giving us the greatest gift ever. His life for ours. God bless you, my dear friend, and may you have a beautiful TURKEY filled Thanksgiving this year.

- Thanksgiving, Christmas . . . the holidays are never really "bad" regardless of the mishaps because they are those precious times when we pause during the rat race of life and come together as a family. So many people today do not know the blessings of family, of having someone there to love you in spite of yourself or your shortcomings. I still live in the same little town that I was born in, and I am known by many as "David and Ruth's little girl" even though I'm 44, and I wouldn't change it for all the money in the world.

     With family, you're always connected, always a part, always belonging somewhere and with someone. Family stands beside you when all the world walks out, through the good times and bad times. Family is God's special gift to us all and we should never, ever take that precious gift for granted. So, to you and yours, may your home always know the happiness, joy, peace and laughter that can be found in the presence of God, family, and friends. Happy Holidays!

- Man! I think I would have strangled a couple of cats. hahaha! Good story. I have never had one that was out of the ordinary. I sure would share if I did. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I will pray that the insurance pays to fix your house. God Bless You and your family.

- Oh man, Jerry! I laughed my head off at that one! I could just see the look on your face! The saddest Thanksgiving Day that I had was in 1970; my maternal grandma died that night. I was glad that she went to be with Jesus, but I was a junior in high school and still loved my little grandma very much.

     Also, in 1973 or 1974, I was blamed for spilling the gravy in the kitchen! It was only because my brother Pat (Patrick) jiggled the pan when he went to get more turkey on the plate! Oh, well.....I hear about that darn gravy EVERY year, and this year will probably be NO exception!

(THIS ONE IS A BIT LONG. DON’T READ IT WHILE YOU’VE GOT FOOD ON THE TABLE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT IS WELL WORTH READING.)

- My most memorable Thanksgiving occurred in 1972. My wife had gone to her OB/GYN that Tuesday before for a "ROUTINE" exam, while there at the old Navy Hospital on board NAS her Dr. had seen some scar tissue inside her cervical area and decide to do a biopsy. During this procedure he accidentally cut a blood vessel unbeknownst to her! She drove home after the appointment and, needless to say, shortly after her arrival she began our worst nightmare! She began hemorrhaging big time. She phoned me at work and I rushed home. I, in turn, phoned the Drs. office and their response was have her lay down with her legs elevated and it would quit on its own. "NOT"!! For several hours on into the night I was changing her dressings every 10 minutes. The hemorrhaging wouldn’t stop. At 01:30 I made the decision to load her up and go to the E.R.. We were taken into the examining room and I was instructed by a young Ltjg to wait outside. Boy, did he ever make a mistake!! I told him in no uncertain terms would that I would NOT be leaving her side until the bleeding stopped. Who did he think he was. I had been taking care of her the past 14 hours while she nearly hemorrhaged to death?

     That poor guy tried desperately for over an hour to suture the cut blood vessel with no success; finally he gave in and called the physician who was responsible for her condition. He took care of business within a few short minutes after arriving! PTL, I thought they were going to have to call the MP's.. Unfortunately we were not born again at this time and did not know to call upon the Lord, but when we look back we can see He had His hand of protection upon us even then. I thank God for His goodness and His tender mercies, they are new every day! I also appreciate my wife and love her almost as much as I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!!!!