Time For Another installment of life in the big house. I guess it's actually past time, but as I've said before I've always been a procrastinator. You would think (and you would be right) that with this much time on my hands that I would be better at getting things done in a timely fashion, but it would seem that I'm hopeless in this department.

It still seems a little redundant to me to have clocks in prison. Most guys in here measure time in years or decades, some of the lucky ones in days and months. So watching the clock tick off seconds, minutes or hours doesn't make a lot of sense to me. There is 86,400 seconds in a day, trust me, it gets boring watching them.

Have you noticed how I've used the words redundant and procrastinator and mentions the seconds in a day? You can't hide genius. (Does the fact that I misspelled Genius give it away that this statement was a joke?)

I want to wish Shannon a happy 50th birthday! Fifty is a milestone, it's when you stop and contemplate where your going to end up, also a time ti reflect. I suppose you should have a list of things to do by fifty, then make a list of things to do after fifty. Examples: before fifty, raise family, save some money for later list, floss, exercise, eat healthier, stay out of jail (O.K. that one was for me.) After fifty: I guess you could call it a bucket list, travel, spoil grand kids, etc.

As I've said before, I like to think I can pass on some bits of wisdom by now. I've tried to teach me girls some but I know I failed in many areas. If some of it comes in handy I guess it wasn't a big loss. Like putting the toilet paper so that it runs under the roll, not over the top. And at least to this one, stir your chocolate milk. Then reverse to counter-clockwise, two areas of importance that you can use all your life and hopefully pass on to the next generation.

As I've said before, most older guys in here, after a handful of years, feel that we are now qualified to be the next Guru on top of the mountain, we can answer most of life's Difficult questions. A kid asked me the other day if I take the Bible literally, as Christians we are proud to say yes. But this can lead to "trap questions." I spotted this particular question as one of those traps. That's when they bring up something like "Can do anything?" The Bible says that nothing is impossible for God. But the trick Question will be "can he make a rock so big that he can't lift it?" Or Ps:91:4, He shall cover you with his feathers... We know God doesn't have feathers. But I don't mind when these guys try to trick me or make fun of me, because it opens the door to talk about the Lord with them. I do tell them that I believe the Bible was inspired by God. The words "inspired" comes from the Greek word meaning 'God Breathed.' So God breathed into man what he wanted written. That's beautiful thought isn't it? They tell you God works in mysterious ways, they just don't tell you how mysterious those ways can be.

I suppose "they" also tell you things when your young that may not be entirely honest. Things like- When you grow up you can be president, they just don't tell you that it's president of a fan club. Oh the things we learn in life.

I put in for a program they offer at Kirkland from Columbia International University. It's a two year program going to school full time to get your associates degree. It's a Bible based college that designed this program for inmates. It's offered free of charge to inmates who meet all the requirements who want to better themselves and minister to other inmates. In addition to speech, writing, literature, mathematics, philosophy, etc. We get New Testament, Old Testament, Bible Discipleship, Bible Interpretation, Biblical Exegesis and Exposition, Romans, Ethics and Sanctification, evangelism and Discipleship, Plus several other and three different workshops.

It is a wonderful opportunity and I ask for your prayers in being selected. Hosea 4:6 starts off by saying 'my people are destroyed by lack of knowledge in the word and in secular studies is not wasted time, we need to be effective in sharing his love with others and I believe this will deninitely help me in ministering to others.
Once again, your in my prayer, andI do thank you for putting me in yours. Also pray for this Blog site to remain open, there's talk fo S.C. shutting it down.

With Love,
Joe