I've spent countless hours in the video room watching myself on the big screen with coaches and other players.  Receiving a plus for doing a good job and a negative (along with a butt chewing) for doing a poor job.  I use to dread these sessions if I'd played poorly but was excited if I'd had a good game.  Through these experiences I found that evaluating yourself is a good thing, especially if you want to make yourself better.

God the Father happens to believe the same thing:

Proverbs 1:5 
A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,

So I've begun a very intensive self evaluation in the past three or four months.  Trying to look inside and see what God sees, not man.  Am I really a Godly Dad and husband?  Am I leading 5 Point in the correct direction?  Could I be a better in all that I do?  Seeking wise counsel.  Sometimes we don't like what we see on the big screen.  

The day is coming that I'll be in the film room with THE coach, that being Jesus Christ.  And as I watched film to improve my football skills, I need to improve in the areas that matter most.  What I've seen on the big screen for Dean herman has been good and bad.

Seeing a therapist is helping me to understand where I need to improve.  I listed the five areas I've started with last week.  These we're mainly on a personal level.  Through spending time with Perry Noble, Gary Lamb, Kevin Childs, Carl Martin and other pastor friends I've had to really evaluate how I operate as a pastor.  After months of listening, soul searching and hours upon hours of prayer; a new Dean Herman is forming.

Some people may not like some of the changes occurring in my life, but they are for the better.
Changes happening beginning now:
1.  Weight - I'll be 280 by September 9th.  Write it down.  This is for myself, my family, 5 Point and ultimately for Jesus Christ.  It's a poor witness when we as pastors stand before people and the first thing they see is fat.
2.  My role as a pastor - I'll be taking my hands off of the administration side of 5 Point Fellowship.  My role will be three fold: a. lead teacher b. leadership of the church itself c. cast vision
That's it.  I won't be leading training sessions or asking people to take leadership roles any longer.  The staff and some key leaders will be handling all of this.  This will protect me and others from my (at times) tactless approaches.  I want only the best for our church and this will help greatly.
3.  How I spend my time - I want everything I do to have a purpose.  No more wasting of my time.  I only have so much and I want to use every second wisely. 
4.  Part of this will be my mornings.  Unless Christ himself or my wife needs me I'll be unapproachable.  I will no longer apologize for being a morning person.  This is when I am the sharpest and need that time alone with Christ.  This is for Bible study, prayer, writing messages, creative thinking etc.
5.  My family - I am truly striving to give my family the best side of me.  Not just whats left over at the end of the day.  I love Debbie, Andrew, Jacob, Lawson & Michelle and little Hud man dearly.  They deserve my best also.

I know I've got a lot of work in front of me.  But I love challenges and this could be one of the biggest I've faced thus far.  As Coach Ford use to always say, "The big eye (referring to the video cameras taping every move at practice and games) in the sky don't lie."
God is watching and I'm going to have the most important evaluation ever very soon.  I want to play a great game for him and enjoy that evaluation!