Tuesday, January24. 2012

A LONG THREE MONTHS

Hello World!

I'm glad these postings are helpful to you. Trying to get back into a normal routine after 3 very long, stressful months of preparing a 40 page petition to the United States Supreme Court.

Catching up on letters is one of my first goals. Letters from you are one of the greatest sources of strength and hope. It is a daily battle to keep oneself motivated and not become discouraged.

Yesterday I decided to dedicate my morning to prayer. My prayer, bible study and scripture reading went from an average of 2 hours daily to about 15 minutes as I focused all my emergy on the legal work.

I prayed myself right into a depression. Have you ever done that? We pray seeking answers, direction and peace. In all of this we always praise God. Givin thanks forthe blessings of the past, and of the future. For the truth and joys of life and the hope in tomorroe. In our honesty we lif up our needs, wants and fears as we should. But sometimes I notice my "list" of problems really outweigh the light I see at the end of the tunnel and instead of being strengthened and inspired after prayer I end up spiraling down nto a deep funk.

Fortunately it only lasts a short time.

Psalm 30:56 "WEEPING MAY ENDURE FR A NIGT, BUT JOY COMES IN THE MORNING".

Friday 1/27/2012

It was a sad reminder today in the chow hall when a serious fight broke out. It doesn't happen often here at Graham C. C. hen I was at Pinckneyville C. C. there were four fights in 2 weeks in the chow hall. when a person is awlays looking for trouble, they usually find it, and then get transferred to a "rougher", tighter securiy facility.

The fight didn't make me sad so much, as seeing the pure enjoyment of 80% of the men aroundme. So many craved the violence and found it entertaining, and lusted for more. A frew even tried to egg - on al all out riot, but fortuntely cooler heads prevailed and told them to shut up and sit sdown. Those who have known violence intimately don't lust after it. It's sad to see the true nature of a man's heart at times, but that is daily prison life.

Thank you to everyone who sent information they found on veteran cases. I was able to use many references. I still need any new cases you read about on line or in newspapers. It seems no one was able to find the New York case for Army SSGT Eiphart?

There will still be monhs ahead I need to prepare briefs, rebuttals or letters to the supreme Court Justices before an actual Court date, so please contine to send me any information. Thank you very much!

A retired Sergeant (Correction Officer) conducts a "movie night" twice a month at the chapel. Last night we saw the movie "couragious2. It was fantastic! it was funny, well made and had a very positive mesage about Fatherhood. About 80 men were there and we are all trying to encourage the staff to air it on the facilities T.V. channel one of these weekends.

i've been exercising in my cell 4 times a week and finally mad eit to the gym this morning for the 2nd time in a week. it helps a lot, but don't think it's fun and games. It's no like your local fitness centre. It's so crowded that there are groups of 5 to 10 men at every exercise station. With 100 to 200 me crowded into the gym your sharing sweat with at least 20 guys. Fortunately it's pretty civilized.

Bye for now,

David