Headed for Seattle Washington

I'm headed for Seattle Washington to meet with Jim Henderson, author of "aka lost". I had originally planned to see him at a workshop in Holland MI but the seminar was cancel. Fred Peatros is Jim's friend. Fred wrote Jim and asked him to meet with me. Thank you Fred!

Speaking at the Pike County Recovery Council

Last Friday I did another training for the counselors at the Pike County Recovery Council. This was my sixth training in Pike County Ohio. I am teaching counselors how to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to treat addiction, mood disorders and a variety of emotional and behavioral problems in outpatient treatment. The counselors are doing great work, applying the principles of CBT. We are doing a year-long outcome study of treatment effectiveness using three standardized measures. I love working with them.

By the grace of God I now have four years of sobriety.

By the grace of God I now have four years of sobriety. My sobriety date is October 19, 2002. I thank God for saving my life. I am so thankful that Kim stayed with me. She loved me when I was unlovable. She stayed with me and I am so thankful and I love her. We have three wonderful daughters that are happy and healthy. I’m so thankful for them. I love them. I thank God for my mom and Jeanie and Susan and all my family. I so thankful to be serving as a minister at Norway Avenue. The Christians at Norway Avenue are wonderful. I thought I had totally disqualified myself but God’s grace covered me and people forgave me. God has opened many doors for me. If you could have seen me four years ago you wouldn’t believe it. God did a miracle in my life and I give him praise. God saved me. I thank God for AA and my sponsors and all my friends in AA. I am most thankful for my Lord Jesus Christ.

You Can’t Grill It Until You Kill It

I love to hunt. I grew up in the WV hills. When I was a kid I played in the mountains and creeks. Swinging on grape vines, riding down trees, building a cabin, and damming up a stream. Fishing in the summer time, hunting in the fall, me and family we all had a ball, in the country (I may put that to music some day). I learned to hunt when I was a boy. It's stayed with me. I love to be in the woods. It was my day off and I stayed in the woods all day. Well, I did come out to eat lunch but I went right back. I killed a deer today. I killed another deer two days ago (last Saturday). I killed one in September on a land damage permit. God gave me three deer and it's only the first two weeks of 2006 deer season. I thank God for the thrill of the hunt and the meat. I eat what I kill. Tonight I grilled deer tenderloins and deer hamburger. I read the two scriptures below with fresh eyes this evening. Genesis 9:1 Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. 2 The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands. 3 Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. Acts 11:6 I [Peter] looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts … 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' As Ted Nugent says "You can't grill it until you kill it."

Dreams

I dreamed about deer hunting last night. It was so vivid and real. I was hunting that big buck I've been hunting for two years. I saw him in my dream last night. I’ve seen him twice while awake (in real life). He is huge, a monster moose of a deer. And now I’m dreaming about that buck. I can’t get out in the woods to hunt him because of my schedule. So I’m dreaming about hunting him. Weird, isn't it. In the Bible God spoke to people in dreams. God spoke to Abimelech, Jacob, Joseph, Gideon’s friend, Samuel, Solomon, Daniel, and Joseph in dreams. God can still speak to people in dreams but I don’t believe my dream is a message from God. It’s simply my desire to hunt deer. I think about it a lot. My feeder and bow are in my garage. Three hundred pounds of corn are in my trunk. I just can’t find the time to get out in the woods. So I think about it while I’m working and even while I’m sleeping. We dream every night. It’s one of five stages of sleep. We don’t always remember our dreams but we always dream (if we sleep well). I believe dreams are an attempt to resolve some thing i.e., a problem, a thought, a desire, a preoccupation. We think about it even when we are unconscious. That’s probably what happened to me last night. I’m preoccupied with a sport that I can’t enjoy right now. So I just think about it. This cooler weather makes me want to rub my head against a tree or something. I want to hunt and until I actually get out in the woods I’ll dream about it.

Worshiping God Under the Stars

I like to think about the size of the universe when I look up at the stars. It is so large that scientist have to measure space by the speed of light. The ruler of measurement is one light second. Light travels 186,000 miles per second. It’s 1.3 light seconds to the moon. It’s 500 light seconds to our sun. When you move beyond the sun to other stars you need a bigger ruler called a light year. A light year is 32 million times longer than a light second. It takes 10 light hours get from one side of our solar system to the other. There are about 100 billion stars in our galaxy (the Milky Way) and it takes 100,000 light years to get from one side of our galaxy to the other. That’s just our galaxy. Over 2 million galaxies have been counted and scientist estimate that there could be as many as 100 million galaxies. When I look up at the stars and think about the size of God’s creation I feel like singing with David - "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? 6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!"

Dr. David Olson Performed Additional Analysis with My Dissertation Data

It was such a surprise when I received an email from Dr. David Olson telling me that he had done additional analysis with my dissertation data. Dr. Olson, from the University of Minnesota has authored 100s of publications, including four marital satisfaction inventories that have been used by millions of couples. He’s like a guru in the marriage and family field and he used my research. I thank God for this. It came out of the blue – like a gift from heaven. Olson used the same data I used for my dissertation and did a comparison of the four groups on couple typology. It is unreal how similar the percentages are in each type across the four groups. He is featuring it in the PREPARE/ENRICH Newsletter since they are coming out with the Empowering Couples book in Spanish. You can read a short summary at this address - http://image.exacttarget.com/members/3362/hispanic_study.pdf - Or I pasted the summary below. _________________________

Hispanic and Caucasian Couples have Similar Couple Types Jeffery Garrett & David Olson (2006)

Although it is often assumed that couples from different ethnic groups will have unique patterns of marriage, this study found considerable similarity in the ENRICH couple types across four ethnic combinations (both Hispanic, both Caucasian, Male Hispanic—Female Caucasian, Male Caucasian—Female Hispanic) of married couples. The results indicate that the four groups had very similar numbers of couples in each of the five ENRICH types. These findings are based on ENRICH data used in a dissertation by Jeffery Garrett (2004) who found no significant differences between the four groups of couples on the major ENRICH scales (i.e. marital satisfaction, communication, conflict resolution). Using a national sample of 868 married couples who took ENRICH, these four groups of married couples were compared on the ENRICH Couple typology. The average age of the males was about 35 and females was 33 and they were married an average of 9 years. The individuals were second or third generation Hispanics. As illustrated in Figure I (see http://image.exacttarget.com/members/3362/hispanic_study.pdf), there are no significant differences in the percentage of the four groups of couples in any of the five couple types. About 20-25% of the couples were Vitalized, 5-10% were Harmonious, 10-15% were Traditional, 20-30% were Conflicted and about 25-35% were Devitalized. The only difference (not statistically significant) was that there were slightly more Hispanic couples that were Traditional and Devitalized, and fewer that were Conflicted than the other ethnic groups. This study clearly demonstrates the ENRICH Couple typology is relevant to Hispanic couples where one or both are Hispanic. It also demonstrates there is no significant differences between the Caucasian and Hispanic ethnic groups using this couple typology. These findings are similar to a study by Bill Allen and David Olson (2001) that found no significant difference between African American couples and Caucasian couples on the ENRICH couple typology. In summary, the current and earlier studies demonstrate that the five couple types based on ENRICH are valid for use with Hispanic, African American and Caucasian marriages. This is a powerful and important finding since it says that marriages across ethnic groups are not that different in terms of their underlying patterns. References: Allen, W.D. & Olson, D.H. (2001) Five types of African American Marriages based on ENRICH. Journal of Marital & Family Therapy. 27, 3, 301-314. Garrett, J. (2004) The Marital Satisfaction of Hispanic-White Interracial Couples. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Counselor Education, Ohio University. Garrett, J. & Olson, D.H. (2006) ENRICH Couple Typology and Hispanic and Caucasian Married Couples. Unpublished manuscript. Minneapolis, MN: Life Innovations.

Back home with our girls

The Greenbrier was great and it's good to be back home. I love my girls. They are so precious and dear to me. Kim and I had a great time. I was happy with my presentation and I thank God for the opportunity. I also thank Pat Chambers - she's great!

From the Greenbrier

Kim is sleeping. I am rehearsing i.e., preparing for my talk in the morning. We had dinner with Pat, two sisters, the president and president elect of the auxiliary, a volunteer and her son (who was a graduate of Bob Jones University) and the CEO of St Mary’s and his wife. Pat is wonderful. Her personality is perfect for her job as director. We had a pleasant evening at the table with 11 people. It was a 3 course dinner plus dissert. We thank Pat for the treat. This was a special night for Kim and me. I pray I do a good job in the morning. I have to get back to rehearsing it.

Headed to the Greenbrier Hotel

Kim and I will leave in the morning for the Greenbrier Hotel. My friend Pat Chambers invited be to speak to the Directors of Volunteer Services for hospitals in WV. It’s a special treat for Kim and I and I pray I do a good job speaking.

A Prayer for My Classmates

I emailed this prayer to my classmates and posted it on our blog. I thought I would share it. _____________________________ Classmates, I hope you don't mind me saying a little prayer for our class. I just feel like praying for everyone. So here is my prayer .... Father, Thank you for the wonderful time we had at the reunion. Thank you for our friendships that last forever. We seldom get to see each other but when we get together it’s like we were never apart. We feel just as close and connected as we did when we were teenagers. We truly love and care for each other and it is so great. We realize all of this comes from you. So thank you God. Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for blessing our families. Thank you for our parents and brothers and sisters. Thank you for our children. It means so much to see our friends’ families. We realize that everything good comes from you and we thank you Lord. It was great to learn about all the wonderful things our classmates are doing in their community. We are homemakers and dentil hygienists and coalminers and construction workers and electricians and computer technicians and communication specialists and teachers and school administrators and real estate agents and car dealership owners and restaurant managers and office administrators and secretaries and truck drivers and businesswomen and businessmen and computer programmers and on and on. Our classmates are gifted and talented. They are making the world a better place. We are spread out from California to Virginia and from Indiana to Florida. Our class is making a positive difference in the world. Thank you for blessing our friends with all of these abilities and the contribution they are making. We know all these good things come from you. Thank you Lord! We are sadden because we have lost some of our friends to death. Please bless and comfort their families. Thank you for the time we had with them. Now, after thanking you for all of these things, we want to ask you to bless us more. Please keep us and our families healthy and safe. Cover us with your protection. Send strong angels to guard our children. Help us to trust Jesus Christ, your Son, and bless us with faith to believe you, hope for the future, and love. Help us to love you and to love others as you love us. Bless us financially and materially, but most of all bless us spiritually so that we are close to you. Bless us in everyway and we will give you all the glory and thanks. Lord, in five years, bring us all back together again for another reunion. The older we get the more important it becomes. Until then, we will remember our 25th Year Reunion. We will remember the smiles, the laughter, the hugs, the music, the dancing, the stories – we will remember it all and give you thanks for allowing us to grow up together and to be friends. So bring us all back together in five years. And then one day, take us all home to be with you. Please forgive all our sins and take everyone of us to the big reunion you have planned for us in heaven. In Jesus Name, Amen! Jeff

Long Time No See

I've been absent from this blog because I have been working on four other blogs. Two for my students at Marshall (which would probably bore you to tears) and two for my high school reunion. My high school reunion was wonderful! I loved it! If you you would like to see a slide show of my reunion (my daughter Amber helped me with this slide show on myspace. Amber is great with this stuff!) just click this link and turn up the music - http://www.myspace.com/scott_high_1981

Tristate Chinese School

My friends, Berlin and Fountane Fang, began the Tristate Chinese School which meets in our church building. It is growing! Berlin and Fountain (and their children Faith and Frank) are an amazing family. They shine so bright because they are full of Christ. Watch this video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6v2X2xvm-Q

Preaching on a Harley Davidson

Last SundayI preached on a Harley Davidson that belongs to Will Edwards. My sermon was called "Treasures in Heaven" from Matthew 6:19-24. I had several props but my favorite was the Harley. I'll never forget when Will started his bike and rode it out. Jesus said "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions"( Luke 12:15). It won’t last. It will captivated your heart. Distort your vision. Make you a slave and ruin your life.

However, if you hold on loosely, love God with all your heart, see things clearly, and make Jesus Christ your Lord you can enjoy all of these things and use them to God’s glory. 1 Timothy 6: 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Paul didn’t command the rich to give all their possessions away. The only person Jesus said that towas the rich young ruler because his possessions were his god (Luke 18:22). If that describes you the best possible thing that could happen is for you to loose everything you have so that you can trust Jesus Christ.

But I don’t think that describes you. I believe 1 Timothy 6 describes you. Paul gives you seven commands and specifically tells us that this is how to store up treasures in heaven. 1. Don’t be arrogant. 2. Do not put your hope in wealth. 3. Put your hope in God. 4. Enjoy what you have and thank God for it. 5. Do good 6. Be rich in good deeds. and 7. Be generous and willing to share.

Notice that v.19 specifically says that when you do these things you are storing up treasures in heaven. It says 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. If you think the things you have now are good wait till you get to heaven.

I Killed a Deer Today

My friend Dana Edwards obtained permission from the Game Warden to the kill deer that are damaging his property. Dana gave me permission to hunt the deer. Today I killed a doe. I'm not allowed to kill bucks until October 1st. Last Sunday Bruce saw the monster I hunted last season. I'm happy he made it. I will hunt him come October. Another friend, Mike Shepherd, is going to help me plant winter oats on the point above Bruce's house. I have also been watching some nice bucks in another field that Stewart Kaiser owns in Miller. From my stand I saw three eight points and a nice ten point buck. I can't wait for the season to begin. Until then, I get to hunt does and I am happy!

A post from Mom about Dad

This post was written by mom. Jeanie typed it and now I'm posting it. It appeared the the Sonshiner's Bulletin this month.

God's Word

"My husband was a Bible scholar—especially an Old Testament Scholar. People came from near and far to ask him Old Testament questions. He preached and taught classes for 40 years. Never a day went by that he didn’t have his head in the book and his knee on the floor. I used to wonder how he could learn anything new after studying all those years. I had studied the New Testament but thought the Old Testament didn’t apply to us and it was too hard to understand. How wrong I was!! About two years before he died I began to study the Old Testament. I learned that the Old Testament was an unfolding plan for Jesus to come with wonderful prophecies about Jesus. "As I began to study, I made a lot of notes and used workbooks. Then I got the idea to become a scribe. I found that I could remember so much more if I wrote it down. So I began with Genesis and wrote the Old Testament by hand. I have forgotten much of what I studied but remember so much more than I would have if I hadn’t written it down. "My husband is in heaven now. He has joined the great cloud of witnesses cheering us on that we read about in Hebrews chapter 12. He is saying 'read it, write it, memorize it, and teach it. It is God’s word.'" written by: Betty Garrett

A Buck Attack

Check out this video of a buck attacking a hunter. It's wild! Just click on this link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIylw1vPhxA

My Girls made the Volleyball Team

I was more nervous than they were. We prayed that both of them would make the volleyball team and they did. I am happy right now. It's the beginning of another year of school for our girls. I pray that God will help them in school, in sports and with their friends. I pray that it is a great year for all three of our girls.

Fred Peatross

My friend Fred Peatross has been on a blog sabbatical from March til' August but he is now blogging again. Check out his blog at http://fredpeatross.blogspot.com/

My Brother-in-law is a Movie Star

Hollywood came to Allen and Jeanie's house to interview Allen. You will see this inteview when the movie make's it to DVD. Warner Brothers will release the "We Are Marshall" movie in theaters December 22, 2006 and I can't wait. Allen is my hero! It's an amazing story and Allen is right in the center of it. Watch this movie trailer at http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/wearemarshall/featurette/.