Going in circles or feeling broken under the weight of your responsibilities and daily trials? By looking at who or what is leading us, we learn that going farther in the works set out for us starts by going deeper in our relationship with God and results in transformation. 01.07.07 (video iPod friendly)

What does it mean to be deep and am I among the deep people? These are the questions explored in this New Year's Eve kick off of the Deeper In and Farther on series. If going deeper in your relationship with God is something you are interested in, these questions are a great place to start. 12.31.06 (video iPod friendly)

Observation: There is a working relationship that God invites His people into. We are to live a holy life and yet it is God who makes us holy. We see an active pursuit of holiness is expected on our part and a supernatural activity on Gods part to make us like Himself. There is nothing more frustrating then instruction without direction. God doesnt just tell us to live holy, He tells us how. With such utter detail does he direct us that we quickly come to understand the our God is not blind to anything. He sees and is aware of the ways of the human heart from the most pure to the most perverse. He calls us all to a new level of purity. Application: As I read through Leviticus its hard at points not to get a little sick to my stomach. The scenarios of sin depicted, the rules behind offerings described, all of it showing Gods attention from one end of the spectrum to the other. It all begins to make sense when seen through the lens of a Father caring for His children. There are things that come out of my mouth regarding what to do and not to do that I never would have thought Id ever say prior to having children. But, how else are my young boys supposed to know how to live unless I guide them. I realized my love for my sons when I no longer hesitated to wipe their bottoms, catch their vomit or hold their muddy soggy bodies to my clean clothes when they have fallen into a puddle. If someone would have described the level of care required to raise children in pure and holy way prior to having them I might have chosen to get a goldfish or something less demanding. But, just as natural as this care and instruction is for me to my sons, so too is it from my Heavenly Father to His children. From this perspective the need for the explicit detail and unending repetition then begins to make sense. I took my boys to Alki Beach yesterday to enjoy some brief glimpses of sun and blue sky. I explained carefully where to run and where not to run. Dont run near the cars on the road or near the water. Run like mad everywhere else. Pretty clear right? Nope! Splash! Daddy, my shoes are wet. But, I just got done telling you not run near the water! What I had failed to clarify however was how to respond when coming face to face with a mud puddle!. If theres a loop hole they will find it. We are the same way with our God. How many times have I told you not to grab your baby brothers head while hes sleepin? But I forgot! Thus, repetition and detail in direction become painfully necessary. Now, finally, Leviticus makes perfect sense. Prayer: Thank You Lord, for fathering me so well. Thank you for having patience with me. Thank you for both calling me to holiness and showing me how to get there from here. I love your direction. Im thankful for your discipline. You are so good to me!

Stacie and Clinton's hosting roles get outsourced to kick of this episode on Pride and Humility. This extra special Christmas service shows us that surrendering your Pride and putting on the clothing of Humility starts with a choice and results in transformation. 12.24.06 (video iPod friendly)

Pastor Jon Burgess dives into an all too common emotion that leaves a wake through our words and actions, Anger. He encourages the reality of our Anger and through God's word, shows how we can be responsible for our emotional wakes and follow our models for Meekness. 12.17.06 (video iPod friendly)