Dear Friends,

For much of my life I thought I understood how much God loved me. My relationship with God was comfortable and safe. I called on Him when I needed something, He didn’t put too many demands on me and I did those things I felt were required to stay on His good side. My relationship with God had become as comfortable as the place that many of our relationships end up when we take each other for granted and fall into our comfortable and familiar patterns of behavior. Somewhere along the way the passion and fire of our “first love” is reduced to a pile of barely smoldering embers. We are lulled into such a place of comfort that we don’t even realize what has happened. As I continue in my walk with the Lord, I’ve come to understand why it is so significant not to get too comfortable.

For instance, it was life changing for me to discover what it means to live by grace and not performance. I knew and understood that He loved me because I was doing things for Him. But I did not understand that He also loved me when I was not doing anything for Him. When I was hiding my sin, running from Him, and playing the impostor. I had it all together on the outside but was a mess on the inside. To simply come to the place of living in His grace, (defined as a state of being protected by God), helped me to see that there was much more about Him that I did not know. I heard Jack Taylor say, “If you claim to know what you don’t know, you will never know what you do know.”

If you had asked me, do you know God? I would have answered, “Of course I know God. I’ve been a believer since I was twelve years old!” As I later discovered I was claiming something I really didn’t know and it was keeping me from fully knowing how little of God I did know. If I had stayed in that place of comfort claiming that I did know God, I would never have come to the place of wanting to know Him more. When I understood how infinite His love for me is I began to grasp the verses in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” That’s incredible!

You might ask, how did this happen, that you came to a place that you wanted to know God better? It came when I made a conscious decision to spend more time in His presence. Brennan Manning wrote in his book, “The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus,” “The longer you spend in the presence of Jesus the more accustomed you grow to his face, the less adulation you will need because you will have discovered for yourself that He is enough. And in the Presence, you will delight in the discovery of what it means to live by grace and not by performance.”

What incredible freedom this brought to me. Not only did my life not need to revolve around the acceptance and approval of others, but also if my Father God was pleased with me, everything else was of little consequence. At first read this statement may sound a bit arrogant but think about this. If I am living a life that is pleasing to Him, I will be living out His love for others and treating them with the same love and grace that is being extended to me by God.

If you were to ask me today, do you know God? I would say, “Yes and no.” Yes, I know Him as much as I can at this point in my life, but no I do not know Him as well as I will a year from now. My quest is now to know what I don’t know which will help me to better understand what I do know. My question for you is, do you know how much God loves you, how valued you are? Do you understand that He wants to have a passionate, fully alive relationship with you, much like that fire that burns in you when you first fall totally in love with someone? Or are you comfortable where you are? Do you understand what a joy it is to live by Grace-not works? That you can relax and just be you and that He likes 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.

Check out our whole catalog at THIS LINK. or call 661-431-9869.

Dear Friends,

Do you know Jesus as a person or a painting? Is he a perfectly carved, crafted statue with a beatific smile on his face or does he have flesh and blood that sweats, smells bad and bleeds when he cuts himself. Does your Jesus stub his toe; accidentally hit his thumb with his hammer and react? Does he get tired and weary with people always wanting something from him or is he at all times perfectly composed, gentle, kind, gracious, and happy to see them?

You may wonder why I am asking these questions. It’s because I believe we have an unrealistic picture of Jesus. Many of us have a Jesus that is not really human, who lived his life in another world and is totally untouchable, unapproachable or out of touch with the reality we have to live with.

We are told in Scripture (John 8:29) that we will be conformed to the likeness of his Son. If that is going to happen here and I don’t have a realistic picture of how he really was as a flesh and blood man, then for me that scripture is unrealistic and unattainable.

A true knowledge of Jesus is our greatest need and our greatest happiness. To be mistaken about him is the saddest mistake of all.

In his book “Beautiful Outlaw”, John Eldridge writes,

“If you do not know Jesus as a person, know his remarkable personality – playful, cunning, fierce, impatient with all that is religious, kind, creative, irreverent, funny – you have been cheated.

“If you do not experience Jesus intimately, daily, in these very ways, if you do not know the comfort of his actual presence, do not hear his voice speaking to you personally – you have been robbed.

“If you do not know the power of his indwelling life in you, shaping your personality, healing your brokenness, enabling you to live as he did – you have been plundered.”

Cheated, robbed, plundered! Those are pretty strong words. As I read them and thought about my own personal feelings about Jesus and how I saw him, I realized that for much of my life I did not know him as a man with flesh and blood. I saw him as someone so holy, pure, and righteous that for me to even think of being in his presence was crazy. I do sweat and smell and bleed. I do say more than “oh darn” when I accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer. I do get tired and impatient with people and want to be left alone.

To try and be like Jesus for any length of time was so far out of my reach that it was for me unattainable. Sure, I could be like Jesus Sunday morning when at church or when around my “religious friends.” But what about when my teenager has just smarted off to me, or that driver in front of me poking along talking on their cell phone?

But then all of that began to change. I did begin to know him intimately, hear his voice, and see him as a friend. I did see the side of him that is playful, irreverent, funny, and impatient with all that is religious. I began to see his humanness and understood that through the power of his indwelling presence he was healing my brokenness and shaping my personality so I could live as he lived.

I don’t have to try and be perfect, sinless and always-in control. In fact, it’s not even possible. But I can be better and over time conformed and transformed so that people hopefully see more of Jesus and less of me. But most importantly I began to see Jesus as a human dealing with many of the same feelings and issues I have. And I can fully know that he understands those contradictions in my life and still loves me.

So the question is: what is your Jesus like? Have you been cheated, robbed, and plundered? If so, you can change that by replacing that unreal Jesus with the one who had flesh and blood and is much like we are. Spend some time with him; get to know him as a friend. Get honest with him and you will discover he will be the best friend you ever had.

TRAINING
“A BALANCED APPROACH TO DELIVERANCE & SPIRITUAL WARFARE”
Saturday, October 10, 2026
9:00am -12:00pm
New Life Church
4301 Stine Rd.
Bakersfield, CA 93313
Come and learn about these two valuable topics and how to deal with them.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support of Wholeness Ministries. Much appreciated.

God bless,

Mike

“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,

Recently I was sitting with a young man who was questioning his relationship with God. He had fallen into that trap that many of us fall into in that we feel our value is based on what we do, not who we are. So, we feel that we must constantly be doing something for God for Him to be happy with us. This way of thinking does not see any value in just being with God, not doing anything.

So, we struggle with insecurity in our relationship with Him, knowing that we should spend time with him but feeling as if we don’t have the time. Or that we need to be doing something, otherwise we are wasting time. We easily fall into the trap of taking God too seriously. I believe we don’t understand he simply likes being around us.

As I was talking with my young friend, God dropped this thought into my head,” Tell him I created him to have someone to have fun with.” That took me by surprise but as I shared it with him and later thought about it I realized God was giving me another reason why relationship and intimacy are so important to him.

Because we often take God so seriously we forget he also laughs, has a sense of humor and thoroughly enjoys having fun. How do I know this? Take a serious look at how he created us, male and female. Or, look at some of the wacky looking creatures he created. Who can’t look at a duck-billed platypus and not laugh. What about those silly looking penguins when they walk? Or, what’s more ridiculous looking than an Ostrich?

Here’s a thought; look at Jesus. He says that he is the exact representation of his Father. You want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Look how he is described in the Bible. Granted he was on a mission but he also liked to have fun. He went to wedding parties that lasted days. He hung with a group of guys that were not religious prudes. Some were well educated but most were fishermen and men that we would classify as blue-collar workers. I can’t picture him walking around always looking like he was sucking on lemons. I wouldn’t want to hang around someone like that!

I believe what God was saying is, “You need to lighten up.” We have so shrouded him with mystery and awe that perhaps that’s part of the reason he sent Jesus to show us that he does enjoy hanging with us just being a friend. Abraham was called a friend of God. When I think about a friend, I think about someone I like being with. We laugh, we cry, we goof off. There are times we are serious and times we are silly. I realize that this kind of talk may upset some religious people but we have way too much of that kind of thinking. I completely understand that we must hold God in reverence and awe. He is worthy of our worship and trust. We must honor and respect him. But if He is truly my friend then that relationship must have some other elements if it is going to be what I understand to be friendship.

I also thought about what it means to have fun with God. Some of my most fun times are when I am out in His creation enjoying the sun, swimming, feeling the sand between my toes, the breeze gently blowing across my body as I lay in the sun listening to the sounds of the river. Think about this world he originally created perfect for us to enjoy. Although we messed that up he is going to bring about a new creation for us to dwell in that is going to be so perfect that we cannot even imagine what it would be like.

When I pray with people and see them healed nothing is more fun than that. God doesn’t need me to pray for people to be healed, He can heal them without me, but He lets me be a part, to participate along with Him. When I consider some of the healings I have seen it blows my mind.

In Genesis we read that after He finished creating this world He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Nothing else in all of creation is quite like us. Why is that? I think in part it’s because He wanted someone around that would enjoy what He had made and enjoy being with Him.

Here’s something to consider; if one reason God created you was just to be with you, how would you do that? Or think about what is fun for you or how you have fun with your friends? I think that what God was showing my young friend was to lighten up a little bit and enjoy this relationship. What might He be saying to you?

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

God bless,

Mike

“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 believe most of us would agree that we live in uncertain times. The economy is out of control, our President got us involved in a war we did not want. Gas prices, food and rent are so costly it is difficult for many of our citizens to afford them. The dream of owning a home someday is “An impossible dream,” for most young people today. The cost of health insurance is totally out of reach for much of our citizenry. Our elected officials appear to be doing nothing to change things. The Republicans doggedly follow along with whatever the President wants to do and the Democrats come across weak and ineffective to bring about any change. Admittedly this is my take as I see it and though you may disagree with me there are many of us that are concerned about what the next two years will bring.

You may be asking why would I begin a newsletter with such controversial statements? Because I want to make the point that no matter what is going on around us in the present or coming in the future we are assured by Scripture that we are under God’s protection and care and do not need to worry about what is happening around us. In Matthew 6:25-34 it is written, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

It then goes on assure us that God knows we need these things and he will meet all our needs just as he does for the rest of his creation. What is most important to God is found in vs. 33-34. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

When I first began this journey thirty-one years ago I did worry about all those things mentioned above as I did not know where the money would come from to support what I was doing. But as I’ve experienced life and come to understand that my role in this is to trust God and stand on his word, he has brought me to a place that no matter what is going on around me my needs and my family’s needs are met. God has not only supplied what we needed but has abundantly blessed us beyond what we can even imagine.

I believe that a large part of this is due to following his mandate to, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.” To me this means that the most important thing I can do is spread the good news about the kingdom of God. I can do this by how I live my life, by the integrity with which I speak, the love with which I treat people, and the generosity that I share with others.

If this is a difficult scripture for you to understand or live out, you might begin by examining what is important to you, may be the material things you have, the social circle you run with or the important friends you know. I can assure that none of these matter to God. When he says in scripture, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” that is what matters to him.

I continue to thank you for your unwavering support these many years and your faithful prayers and encouragement as I try to follow what I discern the Lord is doing with Wholeness Ministries.

God bless,

Mike

RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD

Filled With Healing Testimonies to Encourage You!

RIDING SHOTGUN WITH GOD: A JOURNEY WITH GOD ON THE ROAD OF HEALING AND MIRACLES

This newest book is filled with stories of over 150 healing miracles that I have witnessed in my travels. I believe God prompted me to write this to encourage His people that He is still healing and restoring today.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Riding Shotgun With God or call 661-431-9869.

Dear Friends,

This last Sunday I was sitting in church and the Pastor gave this message that caught my attention and inspired me. It was the story of Caleb in the Old Testament. He and Joshua and ten others were sent into the promised land to spy it out. When they returned to report ten of them said they could not go in and take the land because they could not defeat the giants that lived there. Caleb who was forty said they could go in and should definitely do it.

“In response the Lord said, “Not a man of this evil generation shall see the good land I swore to give your forefathers, except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it and I will give him and his descendants the land he set his feet on because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly.” Deut.1:35-36

What was fascinating to me was here is Caleb forty-five years later, an old man of eighty-five now reminding Joshua that Moses promised him this land.

In Joshua 14:10-12 it says; “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. Now give me the hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there, and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

The message that applies to us is that we are never to old to stop dreaming. Have you stopped dreaming and expecting that God can use you in the future?

It was inspiring to me as I had been for some time doing ministry as I have done it for many years, not really thinking about the future and dreaming about what could be. This message inspired me to start to dream again and begin to think of what I wanted the future to look like and how that might be accomplished. Admittedly I am still in the process and do not have a definitive direction yet. But I am excited about the future and where I would like to see Wholeness Ministries be in this journey God has us on in the years to come.

I continue to thank you for your unwavering support these many years and your faithful prayers and encouragement as I try to follow what I discern the Lord is doing with Wholeness Ministries.

God bless,

Mike

WHY NOT WASTE TIME WITH GOD

It’s About Relationship!

WHY NOT WASTE TIME WITH GOD: MOVING BEYOND A SUPERFICIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO LIVE IN INTIMACY WITH HIM

“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

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?

You can order directly from our store at THIS LINK – Why Not Waste Time With God or call 661-431-9869.