I taught public school ( 7th & 8th grade) for nine years in Horry County.  I can honestly say that one of my favorite parts of teaching was the day to day conversations I had with the kids.  When they would open up and share their hearts.  Some of the stories I heard were unbelievable.  Heart breaking to say the least.  I'll never forget one of the kids favorite questions for me, "Mr. Herman, what are you scared of?"  They would ask that because I was always trying to teach them to take their fears head on.  And at the time I was in pretty darn good shape.  There still the same amount of me, just looks different.  So they saw this 300 pound man and instantly thought I wasn't scared of anything.

It's been 15 years since I taught public school but I continue to teach, just out of another book.  One thing that has changed is what I'm afraid of.  I was asked this again recently and it got me to thinking what I'm actually scared of.  For the next couple of days I want to share the things I'm afraid of.  Might I add they have changed big time thought the years.

1.  Straying away from God. 
It seems as if every week another pastor is failing morally or financially.  Its as if pastors can't keep their pants zipped up and their hands off the money.  I use to think, "that could never happen to me" until men I know, love and respect fell.  I pray regularly that God helps me to stay close to Him.  I want to be faithful to my Savior, wife & family and God's church.  The best way to do this is by staying in God's Word and in prayer. 

2. Pride
When God finally decides to open the floodgates and bless a church it easy for a pastor to think, "look what I"VE done."  I've learned the way that God can take away even quicker than giving.  As we continue to grow I pray for a spirit of humility for our people, our staff and for myself.  I never want to think that we deserve any of the credit for what is happening here.

3. The Big Three.
    a. women
    b. snakes
    c. lighting
I've always been scared of these three.  When something can bite you and its bite has the potential to kill you, RUN!  I am scared to death of women, snakes and lighting.  All three have tried to bite me and thus far I've avoided disaster.  Best thing to do when any of the three are close, run DEAN run.  I can't run as fast as I use to but hopefully I can run fast enough.

Some thoughts:
* I can promise you this Sunday will be off the charts.  God has given me a message that I can not wait to teach. 
* I can also promise you that some people will leave upset.  God's Word has a habit of doing that.
* Not sue I can handle marriage counseling much more.  Hard to hear the heart ache and then try and write messages. 
* Praying now for God to perform some BIG TIME miracles in marriages.
* Egg drop is really coming together.
* Had an awesome time with God this morning.  Reading God's Word and praying is the only way to start your day.
* Met with my coaches early this morning.  We've added another question to our accountability questions.  Have you taken a risk for
   Jesus this week?  What a great question for all of us.
* Week after next could be one of the most intense Sundays we've ever had at 5 Point.  I don't like giving you any idea what is
   happening but I will share this, the band will be singing Highway to Hell.  Think you get the gist of the message. 
* Loving this weather.  I know we need the rain but I love the sun shining and these temperatures.
* Let me share something really cool with you.  On a regular basis people have begun asking me if I'm the pastor of 5 Point.  More
  and more people are becoming aware of what god is doing here.  But, there are those who say, "your the pastor of that church?"
* Enough for today.  Go and do something a little risky for JESUS!