Letters from my Hotel room in Tacoma Washington.

“Grace greater than my sins.”

What an amazing comfort to know that he who loves me enough to send his Son to save me did such a great job that nothing on heaven and earth or under the earth can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Fifty years ago, today (August 1, 1971 at 4:15 pm) by God’s grace I said “YES” to Jesus and I meant it. Little did I know it was not I who was saying “YES” to Jesus but it was Jesus who from eternity past had said “YES” to me in the most total, unconditional, effectual, irresistible and persevering way so that even now I find it hard to believe such immeasurable love that would not let me go. Thank you, Jesus.

Few things I know in life are worth keeping let alone sharing with others. But the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord is the one thing I know that I am not only willing to die for it but I am dying in peace for it.

The jaws of death threaten to end my life with stage five of kidney failure plus hepatitis, cirrhosis, hypertension, pancreatitis, diabetics, skin cancer, anemia and a long list of other diseases. They have not been able to succeed to erase the peaceful smile that I have come to know for 50 years.

“Nothing can separate me from the Love of God that is in Christ Jesus.”

Nothing and that includes me.

While the counsel of the wise is that I should drive to the sunset of my life quietly and silently, everything with me says NO!! As late as last night I am still dreaming to answer with my life and a few close friends the prayer of Jesus in his “New Commandment”.

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. By this they will know you are my disciple if you love one other.”

The most extraordinary revolutionary principle that our planet earth had the chance to know is the principle of discipleship of a few men such as Jesus, loving Peter, James and John.

In a stroke of “Genius” I have come to call it, “Small obedience.”

You will agree with me that anybody can make three friends in their lifetime.

All you have to do is what Jesus did, “Jesus chose twelve to be with them.”

Be with them in the good or in the bad times, in plenty and in want, in joy and sorrow …from beginning to end. Remember this is to be done in front of a watching world. According to Jesus we are in the business of being known not as believers but as a disciple who is discipling others.

Evangelism is great but discipleship is greater. Evangelism is to discipleship as parenting is to parenthood. Anybody can beget a child, all that you need is sex but not anybody can be a responsible parent who gives himself or herself for others by loving after the example of Jesus.

Dear family and friends of Jesus, I feel like I am already like the space shuttle ready for departure from my own “Cape Canaveral”.

Out of the thousands of things I could have written … I have chosen to write about the only one true Revolutionary principle that can truly change the world and that is “Discipleship.”

It is all about the small groups of covenant relationships like that of Jesus with Peter, James and John where the secrets of the Jesus’ Revolution rest.

I believe in discipleship because I am being disciplined and I love to disciple others.

Since my stroke and its complications, I have been limited in motion but never in vision.

I am selling the house in Georgia, and I am looking for a place to keep on writing to encourage the body. At present, by the grace of God and the generosity of a lover of Jesus, I am in a Hotel in Tacoma but looking for a place with plenty of light for an office and a bedroom to place my hospital bed.

Once again as the Saints of old it is my honor and privilege to say in clear conscience:

“Here I stand in front of the altar like the Bullock, ready to plow or ready for sacrifice.

Ready for either.”

In your hands I commit my spirit dear Lord.

Gerry Gutierrez.