Dear Friends,

I’ve received some very encouraging feedback on my new book. There are so many stories to tell that I put them down in a book titled, Riding Shotgun With God. This book is filled with stories of the miracles and the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing that I have seen over the last 27+ years of ministry. If you haven’t ordered a copy and read this book yet, do so, as it will encourage you and increase your faith and expectancy. The book is just a snapshot of some of the incredible experiences I have had. I look forward in the coming years to many new and exciting things that our God will reveal about Himself.

You can order “Riding Shotgun With God” directly from the Wholeness Store at THIS LINK.

Recently I read in one of Brennan Manning’s books about Father God’s love for us. He said, “I love you as you are not as you should be because you’re never going to be as you should be.” Did you get that? YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO BE AS YOU SHOULD BE! All of us without exception live with this nagging feeling that we should be something better than we are. We are convinced that in order to be this something, if we do those things that we should, we will then be worthy of God’s love. We have thoughts like, I should read my Bible more, pray more, spend more time with God, go to church more; I should, I should, I should. We are convinced that if we do the “should’s” then we will be loved by God because we will be what we should be. These actions will make us worthy of God’s love.

It is difficult for us to grasp that God loves us even when we are unlovable, inconsistent, irritable, incompetent, irrational, inconsiderate, and a pain in the neck. We have been conditioned to believe that when we are kind, giving, loving, patient with those we don’t even like, then we are worthy to be loved by God. If we’re not, we’re not. The Bible says to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt. 22:37-39) If we don’t love ourselves we’re certainly not going to be able to love our neighbor. And many of us don’t love ourselves because we feel that we are not worthy to be loved because we are not what we should be.

Fortunately, our worth is not based on our actions. In reality we are all unworthy of God’s love. Even if you think you’re worthy, you’re not. The very idea that you are worthy is preposterous. We are broken people with weaknesses and character defects. This condition is best described as being fully human.

The Good News is that we have been redeemed. Thomas Merton wrote, “God is asking me, the unworthy, to forget my unworthiness and that of my brothers, and dare to advance in the love which has redeemed and renewed us all in God’s likeness.” (Merton’s Palace of Nowhere, pg.71)

If you can accept that you are loved as you are and not as you should be then you will begin to accept that God’s love for you and His choice of you will define your worth. You are radically and irrationally loved by God because you are His beloved.

Thank you for your prayers and faithful support of this ministry. You are much appreciated.

God bless,

Mike

RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD!

I’ve received some very encouraging feedback on my new book. It is filled with over 150 testimonies of miraculous healings I have personally witnessed. Give it a read. You will be encouraged to see how God is still moving powerfully today.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Riding Shotgun With God

Dear Friends,

Life is serious business. There is often little time for joy in the pressure of meeting life’s demands. After all, we must be responsible and people who run around happy all the time obviously don’t understand the problem or are not concerned about anyone or anything but themselves. What immediately comes to your mind when you think of Joy? Often we confuse happiness with joy. But happiness is dependent on circumstances, people, or success. Joy is deeper. It is a condition and not dependent on life’s circumstances. It is the gift God gives, often when things are the worst. What is a “gloomy Christian” but a contradiction in terms? What or who can make you grim? What makes life fall in for you? What circumstances throw you into an inner panic?

On the night before He was crucified Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete,” John 15:11. Think about that! He knew that in less than 24 hours he would be hanging on a cross and He is talking about Joy! In the first 10 verses he talks about the Conditions of Authentic Joy – ABIDING IN HIM. When I looked up abide in the dictionary, one of the definitions was, “to remain stable or fixed in a state; to conform to.”

He talks about vines and branches. The branches must remain in the vine to bear fruit. They can do nothing apart from the vine. They are dead wood, connected to the vine but fruitless. The branches that do remain, he prunes so that they may bear more fruit. If you bear fruit you show yourself to be His disciple. What this chapter does is begin to bring a realization that we are loved, cherished, valued.

Why is there so little Joy? We are confused about how the Lord loves us. We are hung up with the idea that his love means smooth sailing. Tranquility means blessedness! We assume if life falls in on us, God is punishing us, or we must have done some terrible sin, or He has turned his back on us. We often miss the fact that those who are called and chosen are subjects of reconciliation and renovation. In renovation there is a pruning process that goes on. Cherished-pruning can be painful but it results in greater joy and productivity. He prunes out of our lives anything which will keep us from him and being effective for him. Think just now about what in your life would fit in that category. He doesn’t send the rough circumstances but he uses them. He gives us the power to choose what our attitudes toward them will be.

Earlier I said the key was abiding. But what is the key to abiding? Surrender! Joy is His special gift to people who submit life’s problems and perplexities to Him for his intervention. You can become bitter or blessed, hardened or softened as clay available for God to mould as He desires. So true joy comes with surrender, abiding, prayer, and listening.

“Joy is the realization that nothing can happen to us that the Lord cannot use for an experience of grace and new growth”

I recently heard from a gentleman in another state who has been using our material quite successfully to lead people out of bondage into freedom and healing. It is always exciting and encouraging knowing some of what I have written is bringing freedom to people I will probably never meet.

God bless,

Mike

BEFORE YOU GET HERE

Deal With The Garbage That Oppresses You Now!

BEFORE YOU GET HERE: BAGGAGE TO DROP ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN

Why wait until heaven to be freed of the invisible burdens that oppress and defeat you? God wants you to face those burdens now, on this planet, and through the power of specific prayer be freed from them. My book, subtitled Baggage To Drop On Your Way To Heaven, is a guide to assist in discovering freedom from the invisible burdens that oppress and defeat you.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Before You Get Here

If you have a copy don’t forget that they make great gifts. Consider giving one to a friend.

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube

Dear Friends,

I was recently reflecting on my life and thinking about what I had done with what God had given me. During the 1960’s I was in my mid twenties, going to college in San Francisco and living on a sailboat in Sausalito, CA. I was in a good place in my life. I had recently finished my four-year commitment with the Air Force, was living in a beautiful part of California and had my whole life ahead of me. The future looked good. I had asked Jesus to come into my life at the young age of 12. When I was growing up the church my family attended was what we referred to as “hell fire and brimstone” preaching that scared me into getting saved because I didn’t want to end up in hell. Though I had accepted Jesus into my life as a young boy it was now 12 years later and my walk with the Lord was somewhat shaky. Much of how I was living during this time was not honoring to Him.

There was a point when I began to question if God was even there, much less interested in my life. I found it hard to reconcile my faith with what was going on around me during those turbulent 60’s. I was living in the San Francisco bay area in the midst of the peace and love hippie generation. There were protests regarding the Vietnam War, there was a strong anti-establishment movement, and we had just witnessed the assassination of Robert Kennedy.

During this period of my life I began to write poetry. I had a somewhat jaded view of life so much of the poetry I was writing was a reflection of what was going on around me. Never in my journey I had ever considered being in full-time ministry. My goal was to get a good job, make lots of money and enjoy all that went along with that. It is now 60 years later and I was reading over some of the poetry I had written during that time. This one poem surprised me because what I had written during that time was certainly not a reflection of what I wanted to do with my life. It’s called “One Life To Live”.

One Life To Live
For what I want that pleases me
If I wallow in that deceiving mire
Of worldly pleasure and desire
I fear there waits consuming fire
To punish me and my desire

Two roads to take which shall it be
The one that pleases only me
One’s long and wide and can be fun
But what about when it is done
Does there only wait the fire of hell
At the end of a road that’s built so well

The other road is rough and narrow
Why should I go that way
There’s so much work and sorrow
I’ll have to learn to pray

But then I think why shouldn’t I
At least there is a reason
For life and love and clear blue sky
That makes me laugh and makes me cry

Now that I know what I’m to do
I’ve got to go and get it through
‘cause when they lay me ‘neath
the sod
They’ll know I’ve lived my life for God

When I read over this poem I’d written when in my mid 20’s it seems to me that subconsciously I was already deciding as a young man to live a life that would be honoring to God. Even though I didn’t realize it at the time God was preparing me for a life devoted to full-time ministry. I found this experience stunning in that God in his loving providence let me do what I wanted with my life until I reached a point where I was not satisfied with what I was experiencing as a result of my choices. What initially drew me toward ministry was that my wife and I were helping with the college youth at our church and I was finding that much more fulfilling than my work.

Have you thought about your life and how much God’s hand has directed decisions you’ve made and steps you’ve taken? It’s fascinating to think back and reflect on how God has directed, provided and protected each of us. Try it, you may be surprised at what you learn about your one life.

God bless,

Mike

WHY NOT WASTE TIME WITH GOD
Moving Beyond A Superficial Relationship With God To Live In Intimacy With Him

IT’S ABOUT RELATIONSHIP!

God wants to hang out with you. We so often feel as if we must be doing something even when we are with God that it’s difficult for us to grasp that He wants to be our friend. In order for deep friendship to develop there are times when we must spend time together doing absolutely nothing but being together.

This book will help you understand that, but only if you apply it will it help you live it. Everything in this world fights against time alone with God. Everything in God longs for time alone with us. Why would you possibly choose to be influenced by the former?

“This book frames spiritual growth with God’s heart, given in his Son and validated by His Spirit. This book demolishes our excuses and defenses against divine intimacy. This book is for those willing to have a fresh self-encounter and a fresh God-encounter,” Dr. Don Williams

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Why Not Waste Time With God or call 661-833-2920.

Dear Friends,

In the January 2024 newsletter I did a recap of the journey that God has had us on for the last 27+ years of ministry. I ended 2023 with a newsletter focused on the second coming of Christ. In that newsletter I explored the topics: “What is the coming of Christ, When is Jesus going to come back, How is Jesus coming back and Why is Jesus coming back? With this newsletter of February 2024 I would like to pick up where I left off regarding Christ’s return and how we as believers will be affected.

I think it’s important to explore this topic a little more as I believe that we may well be living in or near the end times when Christ will return to take all believers to be with him forever. But first I want to state that no one knows the day or hour when Jesus will return. Jesus clearly says in Matthew 24:36 “But the day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the Father.”

Clearly we must stand on these words that NO ONE KNOWS, but I believe we must also be aware of what is happening in our world today and be ready for His return.

When asked when he would return Jesus says in: Matthew 24:2-8 “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name claiming, “I am the Messiah; and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars but see to it that you are not alarmed.” “Such things must happen. But the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

These are a few of the signs. These are not the end but just the beginning of the end. I think as we look around at our world today it is alarming what is happening that could easily lead us to believe that we are near the end of time.

In his book, “The Great Disappearance” Dr. David Jeremiah writes: “We know He will return and one of the first things that will happen when He returns is The Resurrection. In Thessalonians 4:15-16, we read, “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep…And the dead In Christ will rise first.” When the Lord descends from heaven, He will begin by summoning to Himself those who are asleep. Paul’s terminology, “are asleep,” is New Testament language, which identifies Christians who have died. He backs this up with passages from John:11:11, Acts 7:60 and Acts 13:36 that refers to believers who have died as those who have fallen asleep. When Christian die, it is as if they are slumbering peacefully in a place of rest, ready to be awakened at the return of the Lord.

Then in I Thessalonians 4:17 we read, “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord.” At this moment of reunion, the dead will come out of the grave, and their spirits will reenter their bodies.

This is important to understand because I believe that when we die, if we are a believer, our spirit immediately goes to be with the Lord. Our spirit is the very essence or core of who we are. Ecclesiastes 12:7 tells us what happens when a believer dies. It says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” In other words, when a Christian dies, his or her spirit goes back to God, and the body returns to dust, and then at the resurrection our spirit is reunited with our body.

It should be a great comfort to us as believers to know that we will always be with the Lord but it should also spur us on to let others know the message of the Good News. Will you spend eternity with the Lord or separate from the Lord? Wouldn’t you want your family and friends with you? What about your neighbors? Does it not remind you that we are commanded to go out and tell them the Good News that, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13

I love how the NLT in Romans 10:14-15 reminds us; “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

I want to be one who brings the Good News. I will end with this quote from my friend and mentor Francis MacNutt. “I hope you realize the wonderful ability you have to transmit the life of Jesus to the people around you.”

God bless,

Mike

BEFORE YOU GET HERE

Deal With The Garbage That Oppresses You Now!

BEFORE YOU GET HERE: BAGGAGE TO DROP ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN

Why wait until heaven to be freed of the invisible burdens that oppress and defeat you? God wants you to face those burdens now, on this planet, and through the power of specific prayer be freed from them. My book, subtitled Baggage To Drop On Your Way To Heaven, is a guide to assist in discovering freedom from the invisible burdens that oppress and defeat you.

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Before You Get Here

If you have a copy don’t forget that they make great gifts. Consider giving one to a friend.

“Learning To Do What Jesus Did” is available on YouTube.

In addition to the 9 DVD series being available through Wholeness Ministries you can now watch the entire series on YouTube. The book, an excellent training manual, has been taught around the world and is available in English and Spanish. You can buy the Book, CD’s or DVD’s at the Wholeness Shop.

Learning To Do What Jesus Did (9 parts)
Available on Youtube

Dear Friends,

I was just looking over some the experiences I had during the early days of Wholeness Ministries. There are so many stories to tell that I put them down in a book titled, Riding Shotgun With God. This book is filled with stories of the miracles and the physical, emotional and spiritual healing that I have seen over the last 27+ years of ministry. If you haven’t ordered a copy and read this book yet, do so, as it will encourage you and increase your faith and expectancy. The book can be ordered in our online store or from Amazon. Just click HERE for more info. This is just a snapshot of some of the incredible experiences I have had. I look forward in the coming years to many new and exciting things that our God with reveal about Himself

Annual Healing Conference: Beginning in 1989 until my departure in early 1994 we have had an annual healing conference at Bakersfield Christian Life Center. These were powerful times and we experienced times of significant worship and healing.

Overseas Healing Ministry began with Francis & Judith MacNutt in 1992. A trip to England and Northern Ireland with Francis & Judith MacNutt for 30 days. We had our first all day session here with 500-600 people and 130 different churches represented. Francis and Judith each spoke then I spoke on healing prayer teams. In the afternoon Francis spoke on “Healing through Touch” which was about the laying on of hands without saying anything audible.

What an incredible experience I had in Greenlake WS. In July 1994. This was my first opportunity to attend the Holy Spirit Renewal Ministries Conference of the American Baptist Churches. It was to help facilitate the Prayer Team Ministry by training teams to be available for ministry at the end of each session. This was a powerful time of was and healing.

A PRISON OF PRAISE! 1996-1997
In February of 1996, I was invited by chaplain Roland Ruffin to Duell Prison in Tracy, CA to teach and equip his prayer teams for ministry. Duell is a maximum-security prison with 3500 prisoners. Upon our arrival we were escorted to the chapel located in the center of the prison. When Rick Dickard, Travis Kirkindoll, Rick Pruett and myself entered the chapel the presence and power of the Lord was evident. It was obvious that the inmates were eager to learn and appreciative that we were there. The presence of God was so powerful I was weeping from the joy of being in the presence of such worship. There were 125 prisoners in the chapel singing and clapping with loud, exuberant praise filled with love and passion for God.

When I stood to speak I first invited the Holy Spirit to come. Immediately the power of God swept through the chapel. One man standing in the front was picked up and thrown back against the pew! The other men, who were standing, grabbed hold of the pew in front of them to keep from falling over! This visible demonstration of the power of God had their attention.

Budapest, HU
In early 1997 I was invited to Budapest, Hungary. This was my first trip to one of the former Eastern Block Countries. Part of this story I want to share with you is what I was told by one of my intercessory prayer warriors just before I left for Hungary. During the time of prayer she shared this word regarding my trip to Budapest; “The Lord has shown me that while in Budapest you will meet a young man who will be the key to the doorway to what I am going to do in Eastern Europe.” This was when I met Adam Balogh and indeed was the fulfillment of this prophecy.

Chennai, India
Nothing can prepare you for India. The sheer numbers of people I saw on my way in from the airport was mind-boggling. The traffic, the noise, the smells, and the poverty had all of my senses on overload. Bill Chaney accompanied me on this trip. This was where we both experienced praying for two blind ladies that were healed.

God bless,

Mike