- Dec 22, 2023
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A message sent universally to all the core people God gave to me to love with His love - to whom I utterly failed.
This testimony has been in the works for the last 17 years of self-induced isolation - due to the devastation over my divorce, and what I feared the most - another nervous breakdown - this time as a believer.
Name it, I lost it - all.
All due to not a genetic disorder, but for using His grace as a license - to fall back into serious sin.
Yet I declare to you all, that our God is an awesome God! He knows exactly what He's doing and He doesn't waste a single day of our lives - in my case not 60 years of suicidal ideation (healed), not struggles with mental illness since 1983 (healed), not various addictions (set free), and not shame over it all - borne for me instead by my best friend Jesus on His cross. He offered repeatedly to set me free, and I finally said yes and He broke my chains.
Jesus has restored a 30 yr. prodigal son, the chief of all sinners, left the 99 others to rescue me, and released a man held prisoner alone in his mind and isolated from the world for 17 yrs.
All for the purpose of reaching just one person. I throw my reputation down in an offer to bring glory to HIS Name again, because you are worth it to Him, therefore worth it to me.
All of my personal info follows, to whoever just needs a friend who is waaay beyond condemning anyone - and dedicated to encourage you along your walk and hold your hand through the worst.
Jesus loves you. Full stop. Whoever you are, believer or non-believer - as long as you draw breath - you are not beyond redemption. Anyone who is telling you so, send them to me!!!
God bless us all!
••••
[copied: my ex-wife of 17 yrs, my children estranged for 5 yrs, my own estranged family, and a select group of friends - new and some restored after 20 yrs]
Howdy, folks. New Contact info:
Joe/Joseph Gunlock
1950 Webberville Rd. #3314
Austin, TX 78721
1-979-431-2325
joegunlock@gmail.com
Facebook (facebook.com): 'Joe Gunlock'.
Christian Forums (christianforums.com): 'Joseph G'.
Believe In Jesus Forum (Log into Facebook): 'Joe Gunlock'.
Friendly reminder for us all...
According to the Bible, forgiveness is not a suggestion by God, but a command:
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
The key to restoration, for fractured families and a fractured world, is 3-fold: 1) Receive/return to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, 2) be willing to dialogue, and 3) mutual forgiveness.
It really is that easy. The invitation is extended by Him to us all. And therefore from me, as long as we all draw breath here. Speaking of which, until that last breath, NO ONE is beyond redemption!
The Good News is that God's purposes will NOT be thwarted:
Acts 3:21 NIV
" Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."
God bless us all!
biblegateway.com
•••••
p.p.s. All are invited to call, email, pm, join/post, vid chat, drop a line via carrier pigeon - anytime. Would appreciate reply verifying your up-to-date info.
/finish
•••••
A little gift for all, from ~ 30 years ago. God bless us all!
••••
Wow, look what I stumbled across, folks!
Emily Janellen (Spencer) Gunlock
Love ya forever, Mom! We all who believe gonna see you again in Heaven, sooner than we probably expect.
You struck gold twice, Dad. Love ya, too, Trish (Mom 2).
Blessings
•••••
Copied from my FB tribute. Some may wonder why I'm such an unashamed "Jesus freak" these days. Well what follows is just one of many things God has done for me since leaving the 99 fauthful sheep to come get me - since ignoring the jealousy of the older brother and welcoming the 30 year prodigal back into the Loving Father's home.
Can I do no less than shout the name of Jesus from the rooftops? If I don't, the stones will!
One of the last things Mom said to me was this, "Joe, you still have something to contribute". This to a guy whom God gave it all, and I blew it all by using His grace as a license to sin.
God met me face-to-face on Christmas Day last 2023, and He answered my cry and confusion over whether I was really ever saved, or had perhaps lost my salvation. I had been faithfully reading His Word and praying every morning and floundering in the midst of serious spiritual warfare - one side quoting all the promises passages, the other quoting all the frightening warning passages - both sides applying to me.
The only thing I knew to do was daily beg for mercy and grace, ask Him to make Romans 8:16 come alive to me, and keep walking in faith dedicated to loving and planting just one seed for His Kingdom that day - despite my feelings.
On this awesome day, The Author of Scripture Himself settled it thusly...
He got my attention first, by direction my focus on an old man digging through the dumpster for cans in the parking lot - to reveal His heart of compassion (I'll elaborate with the full story to whoever is interested).
I looked a second time and the old man was picking up everybody else's trash off the ground and throwing it away.
Jesus said to me, "The greatest amongst you shall be the servant of all."
And now that I recognized Him, He did this....
He placed His hands on my shoulders, locked eyes with me, and said, "I keep telling you, Joe, you... are... my... son!"
I was stunned and speechless. God had actually said yes to my prayer. He brought Romans 8:16 to live and permeated my being with His peace.
After a few minutes, through tears, I finally asked Him, Why me, Lord? Why me? After all I've done to your Name, and hurt, betrayed, neglected, and abandoned those You gave me to love, why have you chosen me?"
His answer:
Romans 9:15-18
King James Version
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
And God then said to me, "For the remainder of your days here, go and do
likewise."
I know very well that I am seriously estranged from some copied here. I want you to know that I hear you at last, and I am seriously grieved and sorry for rejecting your love for me and sinning against you. I take full responsibility. I would and will acknowledge being the source of your pain face to face again if given the opportunity. And clearly ask for your forgiveness. I ask for nothing from you, other than a sincere request that you risk resuming dialogue and building trust in me in the wild hope that I might finally have something of value for you - His love and encouragement to you through me. I'm dedicated to continuing to give as much and remain in prayer for each of you for the rest of my days here, regardless of your response. I don't seek the restoration of any title in relation to you, other than "friend" - as it is the highest honor Jesus bestows upon us - calling US His friend.
I don't even know if this and my past messages are reaching the correct phone numbers, but if it reaching just one of you, would you find enough mercy in your heart to pass along to the rest of my dear ones from whom I'm estranged, too? Just this one time?
Didn't plan all this, but here at the end it makes sense to me why it happened. It all goes back to my Mother - who forgave me without me asking, and refused to stop loving me despite my indifference. Same with my Dad. Same with Trish (Mom 2). You two alone never stopped reaching out to me, when I had cut everyone else off because of the shame and humiliation of failing my wife, kids, and both families. The rift to this day has its source in me.
So I dunno... maybe that's why God chose me, the chief of all sinners, to make a weak attempt at offering restoration amongst us all.
Seriously, what do we have to lose from trying?
Thank you, Mom, for leading the way for us all by elevating just one Word - forgiveness.
••••
This testimony has been in the works for the last 17 years of self-induced isolation - due to the devastation over my divorce, and what I feared the most - another nervous breakdown - this time as a believer.
Name it, I lost it - all.
All due to not a genetic disorder, but for using His grace as a license - to fall back into serious sin.
Yet I declare to you all, that our God is an awesome God! He knows exactly what He's doing and He doesn't waste a single day of our lives - in my case not 60 years of suicidal ideation (healed), not struggles with mental illness since 1983 (healed), not various addictions (set free), and not shame over it all - borne for me instead by my best friend Jesus on His cross. He offered repeatedly to set me free, and I finally said yes and He broke my chains.
Jesus has restored a 30 yr. prodigal son, the chief of all sinners, left the 99 others to rescue me, and released a man held prisoner alone in his mind and isolated from the world for 17 yrs.
All for the purpose of reaching just one person. I throw my reputation down in an offer to bring glory to HIS Name again, because you are worth it to Him, therefore worth it to me.
All of my personal info follows, to whoever just needs a friend who is waaay beyond condemning anyone - and dedicated to encourage you along your walk and hold your hand through the worst.
Jesus loves you. Full stop. Whoever you are, believer or non-believer - as long as you draw breath - you are not beyond redemption. Anyone who is telling you so, send them to me!!!
God bless us all!
••••
[copied: my ex-wife of 17 yrs, my children estranged for 5 yrs, my own estranged family, and a select group of friends - new and some restored after 20 yrs]
Howdy, folks. New Contact info:
Joe/Joseph Gunlock
1950 Webberville Rd. #3314
Austin, TX 78721
1-979-431-2325
joegunlock@gmail.com
Facebook (facebook.com): 'Joe Gunlock'.
Christian Forums (christianforums.com): 'Joseph G'.
Believe In Jesus Forum (Log into Facebook): 'Joe Gunlock'.
Friendly reminder for us all...
According to the Bible, forgiveness is not a suggestion by God, but a command:
Matthew 6:14-15 NIV
"For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
The key to restoration, for fractured families and a fractured world, is 3-fold: 1) Receive/return to Jesus as our Lord and Savior, 2) be willing to dialogue, and 3) mutual forgiveness.
It really is that easy. The invitation is extended by Him to us all. And therefore from me, as long as we all draw breath here. Speaking of which, until that last breath, NO ONE is beyond redemption!
The Good News is that God's purposes will NOT be thwarted:
Acts 3:21 NIV
" Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets."
God bless us all!
biblegateway.com
•••••
p.p.s. All are invited to call, email, pm, join/post, vid chat, drop a line via carrier pigeon - anytime. Would appreciate reply verifying your up-to-date info.
/finish
•••••
A little gift for all, from ~ 30 years ago. God bless us all!
••••
Wow, look what I stumbled across, folks!
Emily Janellen (Spencer) Gunlock
Love ya forever, Mom! We all who believe gonna see you again in Heaven, sooner than we probably expect.
You struck gold twice, Dad. Love ya, too, Trish (Mom 2).
Blessings
•••••
Copied from my FB tribute. Some may wonder why I'm such an unashamed "Jesus freak" these days. Well what follows is just one of many things God has done for me since leaving the 99 fauthful sheep to come get me - since ignoring the jealousy of the older brother and welcoming the 30 year prodigal back into the Loving Father's home.
Can I do no less than shout the name of Jesus from the rooftops? If I don't, the stones will!
One of the last things Mom said to me was this, "Joe, you still have something to contribute". This to a guy whom God gave it all, and I blew it all by using His grace as a license to sin.
God met me face-to-face on Christmas Day last 2023, and He answered my cry and confusion over whether I was really ever saved, or had perhaps lost my salvation. I had been faithfully reading His Word and praying every morning and floundering in the midst of serious spiritual warfare - one side quoting all the promises passages, the other quoting all the frightening warning passages - both sides applying to me.
The only thing I knew to do was daily beg for mercy and grace, ask Him to make Romans 8:16 come alive to me, and keep walking in faith dedicated to loving and planting just one seed for His Kingdom that day - despite my feelings.
On this awesome day, The Author of Scripture Himself settled it thusly...
He got my attention first, by direction my focus on an old man digging through the dumpster for cans in the parking lot - to reveal His heart of compassion (I'll elaborate with the full story to whoever is interested).
I looked a second time and the old man was picking up everybody else's trash off the ground and throwing it away.
Jesus said to me, "The greatest amongst you shall be the servant of all."
And now that I recognized Him, He did this....
He placed His hands on my shoulders, locked eyes with me, and said, "I keep telling you, Joe, you... are... my... son!"
I was stunned and speechless. God had actually said yes to my prayer. He brought Romans 8:16 to live and permeated my being with His peace.
After a few minutes, through tears, I finally asked Him, Why me, Lord? Why me? After all I've done to your Name, and hurt, betrayed, neglected, and abandoned those You gave me to love, why have you chosen me?"
His answer:
Romans 9:15-18
King James Version
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy."
And God then said to me, "For the remainder of your days here, go and do
likewise."
I know very well that I am seriously estranged from some copied here. I want you to know that I hear you at last, and I am seriously grieved and sorry for rejecting your love for me and sinning against you. I take full responsibility. I would and will acknowledge being the source of your pain face to face again if given the opportunity. And clearly ask for your forgiveness. I ask for nothing from you, other than a sincere request that you risk resuming dialogue and building trust in me in the wild hope that I might finally have something of value for you - His love and encouragement to you through me. I'm dedicated to continuing to give as much and remain in prayer for each of you for the rest of my days here, regardless of your response. I don't seek the restoration of any title in relation to you, other than "friend" - as it is the highest honor Jesus bestows upon us - calling US His friend.
I don't even know if this and my past messages are reaching the correct phone numbers, but if it reaching just one of you, would you find enough mercy in your heart to pass along to the rest of my dear ones from whom I'm estranged, too? Just this one time?
Didn't plan all this, but here at the end it makes sense to me why it happened. It all goes back to my Mother - who forgave me without me asking, and refused to stop loving me despite my indifference. Same with my Dad. Same with Trish (Mom 2). You two alone never stopped reaching out to me, when I had cut everyone else off because of the shame and humiliation of failing my wife, kids, and both families. The rift to this day has its source in me.
So I dunno... maybe that's why God chose me, the chief of all sinners, to make a weak attempt at offering restoration amongst us all.
Seriously, what do we have to lose from trying?
Thank you, Mom, for leading the way for us all by elevating just one Word - forgiveness.
••••
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