I Choose Hope

My Favorite "God Behind Bars" Prison Ministries Something I miss about the free world is worshipping God with my family and friends at church each week. That may sound crazy coming from an inmate, but I was raised in church and vividly remember many of my childhood Sunday mornings being rushed out of the house by my parents to make sure we were on time for church. God Behind Bars and the Pando app have created opportunities for incarcerated people to worship God with our families even while serving time. Here are a few of my personal favorite ministries on Pando and why. Podcasts on Pando with God Behind Bars 1. Forgiven Felons with Jay Dan Jay Dan is a success story. After serving prison time he has dedicated his life to serving in prison ministry. With authenticity and a contagious sense humor, Gumm conducts powerful interviews, facilitates family shout out Zoom calls, and exemplifies what a man of God looks like today. 2. Worthy People with Cody and Julia Cody is...

  Just A Few Of My Favorite Quotes At The Moment "You can be a victim, or you can be a leader you just don't get to do both." -Robin Sharma I'll admit it, I used to play the victim role and I was pretty good at it if I do say so myself. These days I meet many guys in prison who are masters at shifting the blame to their circumstances, to other people, or to the judicial system for their incarceration. Unfortunately this is kind of the norm around here. Taking full responsibility for our poor choices in life can be difficult. Sharma explains that people who see themselves as victims are not leaders. Leaders step up to the plate when it's time to swing, they face the fire when things get hot, and they do the things that others don't want to do in order to find success. Until we decide to stop allowing our lives to be determined by "victim" stance we will never lead our lives, our families, or our communities in the most effective way. I want to be a...

Surprise, It's NOT Money! After spending almost two decades of my adult life inside the prison system, I have learned what matters most when it comes to love and support from the outside world. I used to think having a significant commissary account balance showed that I have people who care about me in the free world, but as time has passed, and as the Ramen soups have disappeared, I have realized that while financial support certainly has value, there are much more important things than having a full locker. If you really want to show your loved one that you care, here are the three things they need from you the most. 1. Affirmation When everything that shaped your identity is suddenly ripped from you and you're left only with a shaved head, a prison uniform, and an I.D. card proclaiming "INMATE" or "OFFENDER" in all capital red letters, it's easy to lose self-esteem. While we may all agree that the clothes we wear, and the location we sleep does not ...

Jordan and Nike The 2023 Ben Affleck directed film, "Air," is about the origin of the groundbreaking partnership between Nike and basketball legend, Michael Jordan. Throughout the entire story, Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon) was told that Nike securing a contract with Michael Jordan was impossible. Sonny heard this from Jordan's agent, from his boss at Nike, from previous coaches of Jordan, and even from Jordan's own mother, but Vaccaro persisted. Most of us know that a contract was signed, a partnership was created, and the deal between Nike and Michael Jordan, called Air Jordan, changed the landscape of contracts between athletes and brands. Like Vaccaro, we live in a world where we are told some things are simply impossible, where the status quo is accepted by almost everyone around us. We have a tendency to flippantly say, "That's just how things are," never striving for something better, something bigger, or something more meaningful. Those ...

Five Things You Must Include, Two Things To Avoid Introduction After years of "doing time" with your loved one, the day finally arrives when they ask, "Hey, can you do me a favor? I could really use a support letter from you for parole. Will you write one?" Perhaps on autopilot, you agree to write a letter but have no clue where to start. Over the years I have advised many on this subject through their parole eligible loved one and I have read countless support letters. While parole is not a guarantee, I believe it is critical that every inmate present their best in order to have any chance of getting a positive parole vote. Here, we'll look at the five things every parole support letter should include, and two things to avoid. Parole Support Letters Should Include 1. Your Loved Ones Offense At first this may seem counterproductive, but your acknowledgment of the offense your loved one committed demonstrates that you are fully aware of the crime(s) they are inc...

  What to Get an Inmate for Christmas Introduction I love the holidays and I bet you do too. Even while I'm serving time in prison I still feel the Christmas spirit and choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I want to be in the free world giving presents, enjoying time with my family, and overdosing on cheesy holiday movies, but that's not my reality right now. My family and close friends have told me they wish they could find something to get me for Christmas but they struggle to find prison approved presents, and I imagine you might be struggling too. So I'm here to help! Here are my Top 10 Gift Ideas for your loved one this holiday season. 1. Send A Book Whether finding the newest release from your loved ones favorite author, or choosing something nonfiction on a subject you know they like, sending a book through Amazon or any bookstore to your loved one will show them you care. One book I use and recommend is "Hot Pot Chef: Texas Prisons Cookbook" by ...

  Suicide and Self Harm Prevention In Prisons and Jails As they wheeled him out of the building on that gurney, my stomach tightened in knots. His white prison uniform was splattered with blood and his head rolled in the way you'd expect an unconscious persons head to roll. I turned to my coworkers and said, "This isn't okay." During the holiday season there is a spike of suicide attempts in our Nations prisons and jails. While the months of November and December are times of celebration for those in the free world, the holidays are just another reminder for your loved one that they are away from you. As a supporter of someone doing time, there are ways you can make a difference in your loved ones life, and decrease the chances they will try to harm themselves here are three: 1. Reach Out (Connect With Your Loved One) People who have never spent time incarcerated cannot begin to fathom how much your loved one thinks about you. Inmates spend countess hours looking at...

1. I'm a die hard Texas Longhorn fan.  From a young age I remember attending Longhorn football, basketball, and volleyball games with my family. Something about the Frank Erwin Center, the smell of fresh popcorn, and the brass section playing "The Eyes Of Texas" makes me proud to be a Texan. The burnt orange color is like a Texas sunset, and Bevo is my hero. I watched Ricky Williams break the NCAA Rushing Record against Texas A and M, and I'm forever a Longhorn fan! Hook 'Em.  2. I met President Clinton in the White House.  Being selected by the American Legion to attend Boys' Nation in Washington D.C. as an 18-year old meant I would have the honor of stepping into the White House to shake hands with the most powerful man in the free world, the President of the United States, Bill Clinton. My adrenaline spiked as the moment arrived and I stepped forward for this once in a lifetime experience that I'll never forget.  3. I can two step and line dance.  Havin...