Have you ever battled with anxiety or with trusting that God is always in control? Matt discusses the process of "hurry up and wait" in today's blog entry: http://ping.fm/0Xjtx

Matt reveals what caused his anxiousness before going to prison. Its not what you think. Find out at http://ping.fm/ypN1V

During a conversation with an inmate who is soon to be released, Matt can hardly believe his ears...Read more at http://ping.fm/T3bYX

Thoughts from the victim's family

Hort Kap was a father and husband who worked diligently to pave the way for each of his six children to have an education. He taught them love wasn’t just a word. He showed them by his actions. Hort Kap and his wife Sawann survived the KhmerRouge killing field in 1980. Hort helped his wife escape to a refugee camp. From there, the family was sent to the Philippines, then to the Bronx, New York, and eventually to Philadelphia. He was popular and liked within the Khmer community and always lent a hand to other refugees. Hort and Sawann have six children Somaly, 29, Savorn 28, Noun, 27, Linda, 25, David, 23, and Daniel, 18. He is survived by two grandchildren, a boy D’mear Tau Ung age 8, and a grandaughter Cierra Ung age 10. He has one grandchild on the way.

Somaly, Mr. Hort Kap's oldest daughter, writes about how Matt's reckless decision to drink and drive has affected her since the accident that claimed the life of her 55-year-old father. She writes: "That Friday March 6, 2009, was the day I last saw my dad alive. I was packing to spend a weekend at my sister's house with my son..."

Read more @
www.themattmaherstory.com

Stay Focused

Another hot day on the tier, but I was blessed to be able to go to my classroom for work in the a.m. hours where it is air conditioned. Work was slow, so I was able to write for about an hour. After work, I hung out on the tier and finished Book V Among the Gods. It's a very good series, a historical fiction based on the bible times. This afternoon, I watched the State Movie, Avatar.It was my first time watching the State Movie, which they play a different one every day.
Nothing too crazy and it was actually a boring day. Tomorrow is already Friday, and I'm not sure who is coming this weekend for a visit. Monday through Friday flies by, but Saturday and Sunday crawl because there is not much movement in the prison. There's nothing that gets your mind racing more than boredom in prison, especially on the weekends. When there is nothing to do, and nowhere to go, it's very easy to lose focus. Instead of keeping your eyes on the goal, the boredom causes your mind to run rampant, mostly thinking outside these walls causing negative thoughts.
At times, during the boring days, this happens and it is only when I begin to pray/talk to God in my head that I'm able to refocus on what's in front of me. What's in front of me rests the opportunity to re prioritize my entire life and grow in my relationship with Jesus. This requires focus at all times and even though the boring days are a dime a dozen, I am thankful every night when I rest my head to sleep for having these opposing concentrations.
I believe that it shows that my mind and heart are aware of the importance of staying focused. Each day that passes and thoughts of that day are different, boring or not, but each day ends the same way with nightfall; why waste your thoughts on the temporary when you can focus on the eternal. Staying focused, pressing forward.
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3:14

Matt's mind begins to race and he starts to lose focus. Find out what happened at http://ping.fm/7I2P2

Golden Rule

I just realized that today is my brother Mike's 28th birthday. That's so crazy to me because my oldest brother John passed away at 28. I never realized how young that actually is, until I thought about how young I actually feel at 26. I guess when someone is older than you are, you naturally view them as old until you approach that age. Just crazy life thoughts.
I just had an unbelievable conversation with Jack that really aroused some good insights. We talked about trying to live so that everyone likes you. I compared that with treating everyone the way you would like to be treated. This is easier said than done in this environment for several reasons; a lot of these guys take kindness and generosity as weakness, and when you try to be liked by everyone, you are bound to run into some who just don't. We talked about certain inmates, who have absolutely zero respect for anyone around them and will take advantage of you in a second.
I deal with pretty much every single person in the entire tier, and Jack was asking how I put up with certain guys. My first month here, I would say I wouldn't put up with some inmates, but now I've realized that I can only control myself, my actions, and how I treat people. I can't control someone else's manners or disrespect, but I can be an example to them. I told him, I've found it easier to deal with these guys because when I do it unto the least of my brethren, I am doing it unto Jesus.
I've always tried to live my life so that everyone around me liked me. Then I would get upset when I would find out someone didn't. I realize we can't care what people, haters think about us. All we can do is control how we act and if someone doesn't like you, who cares? Treat people the way you would like to be treated and then move on. We shouldn't CARE how as long as we are acting in character reflecting Jesus. Not everyone even liked Him and His life was perfect. I said it before and I will say it again, Nay-sayers will always Nay. What do we know about living? I guess when we do it our way, it leads to death and destruction. We crucified the only One without sin. How backwards is that?
~~~For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.~~~

Matt's friend Jayson discusses the key factor that can change one's whole outlook in prison. Read about it at http://ping.fm/zdfc0

Guest blog from former NBA player (and Matt's cellmate) Jayson Williams

Matt shares about a handball game that turns ugly when tempers begin to flare. Also, guest blogger and former NBA player, Jayson Williams shares some advice he gave to Matt.
http://ping.fm/bYULY

Things start to heat up in Tier

Last day of May and already into June. I can't believe how fast each month is going by. It seems like these past three days took forever because there is not much movement on the weekends, plus today is a holiday too. It is so hot and sticky on the tier right now, and the over-sized fans just blow warm air. Many inmates walk around without their shirts on covered with baby powder to keep their bodies cool.
This environment and the humidity inside doesn't bother me because it was exactly like this every soccer pre-season at Temple University. Unfortunately, this heat makes everyone irritable and unpredictable. Arguments can start just from brushing into someone when you walk by, and arguments can turn to chaos just as quick as the accidental bump occurred. I usually treat these situations as an opportunity to practice self-control, but it's extremely hard because it seems as if everyone's senses are heightened, their egos fragile, and spaces easily invaded. In fact, I heard outside during rec that a particular inmate dropped a remedy slip on Jay and me saying that we were receiving food from the outside. I guess he acted out of jealousy. Pretty crazy that this happened today considering what I wrote about yesterday pertaining to envious people. A person who drops a secret remedy form in prison is known as a snitch. That is a label you definitely don't want in here because it is the unwritten code in prison that snitches get stitches.
That situation got us upset because we thought this inmate was cool with us, and we have no idea what his motives were. Usually I would respond hot-headed, but this time I decided to pray about it. After praying, I felt a little better, but still felt like I was backed into a corner and had no other option but to react to the situation. The next best thing was to sit down and write, but before I did, I opened a book I had never read before, and there was a chapter about every action having a reaction. I read a little bit of it, and then came across and example that used the exact person;s name in it that had snitched on us. I could not believe my eyes. The answer to my prayer rested right in front of me. With the wise instruction, it was a lot easier to completely place that issue in God's hands. Just shows you some of the people and the mentality in here. A lot of wolves in sheep's clothing and a lot of sly snakes. A wicked man is a trouble maker. A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth; he winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his finger, perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly. Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. Proverbs 6:12-15
I now know how I have to treat this jealous inmate, and that's like a prescription friend, take him in small doses. I, too, can say that the heat is getting to me a bit. I have let an inmate irritate me. I should do as a wise man, who thinks about his troubles only when there is some purpose in doing so. I'm glad I took a cold shower and prayed because second thoughts are even wiser.

Matt writes about some of the unwritten codes he's discovered in prison...New Blog entry @ http://ping.fm/wRFxr

Even though prison bars and barbed wire keep Matt out of the world, he writes about what cannot be contained at http://ping.fm/j5z1H

Prison can be a time to reflect. However, Matt writes about how other prisoners spend their "dead time" at www.themattmaherstory.com

I'm that guy: The Matt Maher Story

Hi there,

Matthew Maher, a 26 year old former professional soccer player, is now in prison for the next 5 1/2 years for killing an innocent man while driving drunk on March 7, 2009. Before he began his prison sentence earlier this year, Matthew spoke to over 7,000 students at 36 schools in an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. He writes a daily journal from prison which we, his family, post on his website www.themattmaherstory.com. Supported by the victim's family, we're sharing Matt's "I'm That Guy" story to prevent future tragedies like this one from ocurring.

We will be posting more of Matt's story as well as his daily prison blogs. Come join him on his journey as he shares the valuable lessons he is learning.