If you are reading my journal please send a note of encouragement.

This evening I feel braintired. I learned a ton in Excel this week.

An extraordinary thing happened today. I had a chance to hear Mike Barber in person, and even shake his hand. Mike is a retired NFL football player with an evangelistic ministry called Second Chance, and his sole focus is preaching in prisons.
I had seen Mike Barber on TBN a few times, but it didn't prepare me for seeing and hearing him in person. The spirit moving in him convicted me, inspired me, and taught me more in two sittings than I have ever received from any teacher or preacher in a comparably short period of time. I spoke to a few guys afterwards and they all reported feeling powerfully moved as well. It felt like a revival!
I foresee many good things happening in this prison. Inmates who weren't able to attend will still have a chance to see it, as the Warden sent a man with a camera into the chapel to film it. At some point, maybe next month, the prison will play the recording on a closed circuit inside the prison so everyone with a TV will have a chance to witness it. I'll definitely watch it a second and third time and take notes while I'm at it.

The prison has a small group named AFLASH comprised of seven to fifteen inmates, who give motivational speeches in classrooms around the prison. The two people who made the group a success have both left, so for the last year the group has lacked direction and suffered through internal problems. It is still in existence, thanks largely to the new chairman of the group, Ken.
Ken has rejuvenated everyone's interest. Ken has prior experience with public speaking. In Riverside, he taught debate at the high school and college levels. Ken is having us practice giving one-minute and three-minute speeches. Today we each gave a one-minute speech and offered each other positive criticisms.
That's what I've been looking for. Even though I gave presentations two times a week in my last job position, I want to get better. Someday I hope to give motivational speeches before large audiences at high schools, at auditoriums full of people.

Today I called my girlfriend and found out she won't be able to visit me this month. I ended up being the one to comfort her, and that's alright. I appreciate even having someone to call.

Today was a good day. I took the exam to become certified by Certiport as a Specialist in Microsoft Word. I'm not out of my computer class yet. Now I'll shift my focus to mastering Excel. I hope to earn that Certiport certificate too before the Drug & Alcohol Counselor Training begins and I get moved.