The past four weeks have been incredible.  My four days in California listening to Rick Warren were some of the best teaching I've received thus far.  The staff and I were at Mountain Lake last Monday and Tuesday and it was unreal.  All of us left excited about taking 5 Point to another lever.  While there I had the opportunity to have lunch with Rick Warren.  This past Monday I led the staff meeting for Foothills in Seneca.  I consider Pastor Greg Oraham a friend and mentor.  I was honored to share some leadership thoughts with their staff.  And then today 30 plus 5 Pointers attended Unleash at New Spring in Anderson.  WOW is all I can say.  Perry, his staff and volunteers had their game faces on and did an unbelievable job. 

I have spent a lot of time thinking about all I've heard and learned during the past four weeks.  Upon much reflection I want to share what God has laid on my heart about myself and 5 Point:

1. Dean Herman has to be Dean Herman.  I'm not Perry Noble or Rick Warren.  God created me to be me.  My style of leadership and teaching is nothing like these two men, but I'm ok with that.  I just gotta be me.

2. Everything rises and falls on vision and leadership.  I gotta do a better job of sharing vision weekly and taking our leaders to another level.

3. Never be scared or apologize for challenging people.  Jesus ask people to come and see and later demanded his followers to come and die.  As I teach the Holy Word of God I must challenge God's people to step up and be everything God expects.

4. To love all people regardless.  Seriously, love all people regardless because Christ does.

5. Volunteers are the heartbeat of any successful church.  We've got to do a better job of allowing our people to serve their
Savior.  I'm as excited about this challenge as anything.

6. I'm 100% convinced God wants churches to gage their success not by their seating capacity but by their sending capacity.  As the Pastor of 5 Point I can promise you we're going to make some radical changes in discipling people.

7. I've got to do a better job of enjoying what God is doing right now.  It seems like we can't enjoy what we have because of what we want.  My goodness, think about what is happening right now.  A woman got saved in our New Members class last week.  3 people stood in front of hundreds of people last Sunday and admitted they didn't know Jesus.  Counselors led all of them to Christ.  WOW!

I'm as excited about what God is doing at 5 Point as any time in our brief history.  Hold on 5 Point, we're just getting started.