NOT PREPARED

There certainly is a difference between wisdom and knowledge.

Knowledge is book learning. Wisdom is learning from experiences in life.
Learning is great, if you do that: learn.

This week Wisdom has spoken to me alot in lIfe and work.

Like what?

Using alot of chapstick or some lip protectant because winter robs your skin of moisture.

I think I got the winter living aspect of not licking a pole on a winter day, but there were a few curve balls I just didn't see coming.


Dry winters.

The result? Lips that chap, bleed, and peel. Yuck. One of the things you take for granted being in California is how good the weather is for your skin. I mean, how was I suppose to know that?

Well NOW I know. And a fustrating thing in the MidWest: buying a device to TAKE WATER OUT OF THE AIR in the summer, and then a device to ADD it back in. That's right a humidifier and DEhumidifier.

California is perfect along the Central Coast because you have God putting a humidifier and DEhumdifier going at the SAME time. That's why the weather is perfect. No humid sweaty, nor winter-cold chapped skinned.

I think one of the angels in the MidWest pulls the DEhumidifier away during the summer, and vice-versa. I hope God takes notices and brings those two together.

Really funny Gabriel.

"It is better to pay the price of endurance, than the price of drifting."

- Bill Hybels

Funny how things come full circle. I heard a great message by Bill Hybels, and that quote got me thinking.

Thinking that quote the following morning after I saw my knee's rash was coming back.

I was getting discouraged. I thought I was near the end, and then the itching came back.

When I got to Michele's apartment, I told her about it briefly. She could tell I was down.

A few minutes later, I went into the living room for some solitude - fell down my knees to pray. I was tired of fighting this knee. It's been a year, and thousands of dollars spent - and the person I know who could help was God. A few minutes passed as I was praying quietly, and I felt a hand on my shoulder. Michele knelt right next to me.

Michele wrapped her arms around me as we bow silently, and I saw a glimpse of what Christ loved. A bride who will kneel next to Him, and be ready to identify with him. Loyalty, love, faithfulness, and such nobility.

When I finished, praying - I looked to Michele and my heart was so moved and touched. Her face streamed tears, and she whispered, "I'm so sorry about your knee." I couldn't help but be a bit overwhelmed. My Michele was identified with me, my pain hers....I was struck with a bit of awe.



I can tell my future kids, and my grandchildren - your mother was noble. She was radiantly beautiful and so devoted.
You are wonderful Michele.

9/11/01

We took time to pause - Michele and I.

That day that children, women, and men died in one unspeakable act of evil. A day that as Americans we must not forget.

The silence should serve us as a reminder the preciousness of life.

Mayor Guliani at a funeral for a firefighter said, "He got there first....when they went up - the firefighers, the cops, none of them were saying, 'Wonder how much these people make that we're trying to rescue? Am I going to rescue a white, hispanic, or black?

God wants us to live like that. I'm not saying I live this way, but I feel like I should say this, but I asked God to help me live like those firefighters. To not be a respecter of persons and to see all life precious and supremely important. ' "

Gifts.

It's seldom for me sentimental. It's functional, and rarely a lust factor. Unless it's from Apple, but that's another story. So when I decided to propose to Michele I knew I was getting one practical soul, like my own.

Today is Michele's birthday, and she doesn't look a day over 29. Her eyes are big and deep - the ones that you can just stare at it for awhile, and also she's get a killer smile that makes me sigh on a bad day. I like to keep that smile going without costing me a wad of cash a few years from now...so I bought her a steroid toothbrush. It's the Sonicare 5300. I highly recommend it unless you're the type of individual enjoys the music of drilling and color of bleeding gums.

Get this toothbrush...it's a hoot to use and you can be lazy about your brushing since the brush does all the work!

Michele got a bit spoiled today (cards, teriyaki salmon with potatoe medley and NO DISHES TO DO FOR DINNER), but it's the joy of loving someone...you let them know they are special to you...and you are to me Michele that - very special.

Smile alot to me babe, because I just invested in seeing that smile go on till I be in heaven. Love you M.

Meet the Parents was a funny movie. Meet the Parents for me, thankfully, isn't like the movie.

I know God has been good to me to bless me with great in-laws. Michele's parents are super people.

Her dad (I know you're reading this C) is a great guy - like me, he loves the outdoors, and even taught me how to fish (more on that) during a weekend at a Wisconsin cabin Michele's parents have, and I had a great time. Michele's dad was washing and waxing her car the day we were about to leave.

A true servant. He's a guy you cannot help, but take a few character strengths and add it to your life knowing you will be a better man. If he's reading this, maybe he'll score me some fresh fish.

Felt like part of the family pretty much from the get-go. Michele's mom is a sweet, energetic Italian lady with a heart of gold. She smiled alot. She takes time to drive an elderly lady named Franny and fusses over me to make sure I eat enough. Michele's grandmother REALLY fusses over me to make sure I'm getting good reasons to go to the gym. Eating one plate is not enough in the Italian household - they have to rollllllll you out - you didn't eat enough until you chug a bottle of Pepto Bismol.

Ray Romano was right, "If you want a little, tell them you DON'T WANT...ANYTHING."

Which really got me to thinking, MIchele and I will be able to have 'date nights' when we have kids. We have decided we're more than willing to let our parents play grandparents all they want. Actually, watching a PBS program on education, I got a chance to see first hand the strength of a life is found within the strength of a family. Grandparents - are a highly valued commodity. Too bad America lost her respect for the elderly. In China, you do that, and Grandpa spin-kick your sad bottom back to humility. The bible says we should do it too (not the kicking) - respecting those older than you.

They have WISDOM. Wisdom is from living, knowledge is from book-worming.

SPEAKING OF worms, I caught my first couple of fishes from a lake a few weeks ago, and I am hooked - no pun intended.

Earthquakes or Tornados? Vanilla vs. Chocolate

Well, this Labor Day was certainly different.

I spent the afternoon dodging the biggest raindrops I've ever seen and nickel-sized hail. Right after our church's block party - Michele and I scrambled out of the parking lot in the middle of a rainstorm. In the process we were soaked. Then driving - I was absolutely facinated with the weather conditions: it was baaaad.

Bad for a Californian. I'm am accustomed to seeing sunny days, and having warm sunshine basking over my skin.

Later that day when we got home - I turned on the tv to discover that a tornado touch-downed a mere one mile away from where we were driving.

Which brings me to the question. Vanilla or chocolate? Or in California we use to ask, "Earthquakes or tornados?" I replied consistently, "Tornados. With good reason: you get some warning. Earthquakes just happens and it's the most terrifying feeling ever. You don't feel like you're in control."

The first Illinois storm I went through - it spooked me. I never heard thunder like this! It sounded like God was dropping mirrors from heaven.

Then -every storm - after that was just water off a duck's back.

Even while watching the newscast I was pretty calm.....and I even did think if the tornado moved towards Michele and I what we would do: hide in the closet debating about chocolate or vanilla.

HIPPIE COUPLE - like-minded.

Michele and I have our hemp.

We pop our pills.

We are health nuts. A Christian granola couple.

The hemp is a cereal from hemp seeds - not the same as weed everyone! The pills are natural food supplements and I pop about 16 of these a day.

The pills have cured my skin infection on my knee that has bugged for me one year. I literally spent over 5g's fighting this and it wasn't until I went to a nautropathy doctor that there was a breakthrough. I went through five different anti-biotics and numerous one hundred dollar tubes of skin cream before i got a handle on this. The pills are all vitamin foods -- by a Dr. Robert Thiel, who has publicly declared he cured 96% of his patients...and I'm one of the 96%. Check him out at doctorsreasearch.com

I look back and have to thank God he put someone with a consciousness of healthy living into my life. I firmly believe today many people are too medicated and alot of health problems are self-induced. We are literally dying in our riches. We will eat junk so we can spend time making more money - and the long term it's going to cost you later dearly. We ignore the only one vehicle we can exist on planet earth and we will pay a price. We pay already pay a price for our souls...with the ignorance of a moral compass.

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One another note - growing closer allows for great hilarity. Michele and I are a bunch of kids when it comes to humor...and here's one that brings us to giggle like high school kids. (COPY AND PASTE INTO YOUR BROWSER ADDRESS BAR)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZoSfKxmMLos&mode=related&search=