"Hard Knocks and Consequences" is a series of vignettes taken from the life of a man who, by all rights probably shouldn't be here. As Mr. Venable said, "The Good Lord must have something special in store for Freddy, 'cause the devil is sure ''nuff trying to kill him.' As you read each chapter, we hope you will see God's greater plan for us all. Every life has meaning. Finding that meaning and purpose is a major part of living. Cry with me, laugh with me, learn with me without having to attend the School of Hard Knocks -- or suffer the consequences. Like my dad said, "You can learn from my mistakes or your mistakes." Which is less painful? I often wished I had learned more from his.