After my last year in prison,I was never the same.While I was ther, I took several bible courses and led bible studies an eventually earned several bible course commendations. But I made a lot of enemies. Its not too advantageous in prison society to be a christian. In prison society its a different world. I experienced a culture shock in my first stint in there. You fight or you get punked. Well, I wasn't no punk.At 19, I weighed 270 lbs of redneck attitude. I wss in shape.I worked out, studied some in martial arts for protection.More because I prided myself in being the best physically that I could. so, I fit in very quickly in my new home. The reality that hits you in your first night there and the steel door slams behind you as you are pushed wearing into a cell. I had the top bunk. I lay there staring at the ceiling. My freedom was gone. I grew meaner in my first year. Survival is an instinct that is not taught by man's society. Oh, you say what about the military? Well, a soldier only survives as a soldier in the military.How does he do in the every day life after he comes home? I was in my military.Prison is not much different as the military.Just the reasons that you are there. We had 3 meals a day. I had to shower with 4 other guys at once! Hey, that was not cool! I befriended more black men than white men. Because this white boy could jump and play basketball. The court was there's. They chose whether or not you got a chance to play. And if you did get the chance you had to impress or you don't get a second one. I scored 12 points and was 3 of 3 shooting. I won their respect. I was the only white man allowed to play after that. I had black friends who were in the same condition that I was. Forgotten. My friends forgot me.The one that I was arrested with was the kinda friend you have that you get into trouble with. He was in another cell block in the same prison. I got tougher and wiser faster than I normally in the course of a natural life a normal man would. Prison hardened at 23. At 25 I met Jesus Christ. Forward now in time to my last year in prison. I made a promise. A promise that would change my life forever. Standing in my friends living room holding a King James Holy Bible in my hand, I cried and said " God, I don't know if you really exist. All I know is what I have been told by men. But if I ever needed something else in my life, now is the time. I am about to go to prison again. But if you will do something to make me believe you exist, then I will spend the whole time I am in there reading this book. I paused, hearing what I had just said, and said aloud "yeah, that's what I 'll do. The next day,I turned myself in.
