Do You Love the Truth? ….

TRUTH is a huge subject. How can it be found? What are the criteria? What hurdles and obstacles might keep one from finding it? What aids are at our disposal that can help us to discover and test it?

Love the Truth? What does that mean?

Throughout my childhood, my father made a strong impression on me regarding truth. For him, truth was the most important thing and somehow, I believe, I inherited his love for it.

When we love something, we are willing to invest in it and sometimes even make sacrifices for it. Could the truth be so important that one might sacrifice his or her life for it?

To what degree are truth and love connected? Is there such a thing as love without truth or truth without love? A fascinating question. Truth is factual and tightly bound to reality, while love is a relational quality. Perhaps we could say that when love is based on truth, its quality is genuine (?). Honesty, faithfulness and integrity are all connected to truth.

Definition

Wikipedia: Truth is most often used to mean being in accord with fact or reality, or fidelity to an original or standard. Truth is also sometimes defined in modern contexts as an idea of "truth to self", or authenticity.

Truth is the process of recognizing original correlations.

“The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” So the saying goes. How has the flood of fake news in the media influenced our relationship to truth? Where have all the truth lovers gone? Can they survive in this post-modern world?

Truth affects many areas of life.

What areas are affected? For example: my relationship to myself, the environment, my daily reality, my and our past, present and future as human beings. Does truth have anything to do with the meaning of life?

Let’s begin with the “simplest” of truths, the truth about myself.

The Truth About Me

When I look in the mirror, I can clearly see what I look like at that moment. Well, there are often good reasons to make changes, right? Our reflection in the mirror is, so to speak, the naked truth. While it is true that we can influence our looks from the inside, the signs of age are nearly impossible to hide. However, this is the strategy many people use to try to solve the problem.

The solution is make-up. Who of us wants to be the person who can get along without any make-up and still feel okay? That’s a huge challenge for women, because we men have a tendency to reward the use of make-up.

From the Outside to the Inside

Who am I? In my counseling sessions, I have met some people who don’t know themselves and would rather not get to know themselves better. In our society, we have learned to be afraid of ourselves, or of the truth about ourselves. Although there are many reasons to love ourselves, we run away and try to make do with lesser substitutes.

Every person is of inestimable value. When we observe nature, we can see that we as humans are the crown of creation. No other creature is as intelligent and autonomous as we are. We hold the whole earth in our hands and could even destroy it at will! Unfortunately we have made quite a bit of progress in that direction.

We can self-destruct. We have a free will and the ability to choose between good and evil.

Do you know yourself? I do tests with young people who would like to learn more about themselves. Among the tests we do are some that explore the individual’s temperament and the characteristics that define their temperament, their emotional intelligence, their strength of will and ability to manage conflicts, their social needs and their level of sensitivity.

Young people love these tests, because they help them see deeper inside themselves. Recently a young man commented on how surprised he was over his own complexity and the complexity of life. He had discovered more truth about himself, and loved it.

Who am I? What am I supposed to do as a human being in the context of the universe? What is life all about? What’s the point?

The Truth About Others

The more a person knows about him- or herself, the easier he or she can understand the truth about others. It’s amazing how complex we are! Because of our diversity and complexity, we need never get bored in our quest to understand each other.

As a matter of fact, I have noticed that everywhere where God has left His mark of His designership on His creation, there is an unfathomable depth of information and beauty to be explored. Consider biology, physics, astronomy, chemistry or mathematics. The more we know about these things, the more we know that we don’t know anything!! Dimensions in the macro and microcosms suddenly open up before our eyes. More on that later.

If we want to know the truth about a person, let’s say our partner, we have to get to know his or her family background. This is where he or she was “programmed”. What important determining factors molded his or her character in childhood? How involved were parents and grandparents? One might be tempted to ask, “Whose fault was it?”

We are a product of our past. In order to understand the present and, to a certain degree, accurately foretell the future, information from the past is of vital importance.

The Truth About Our Past

Suddenly our family story becomes interesting and valuable. How did my mother grow up? How was my father disciplined as a boy? Why are my grandparents so reclusive and solitary?

The earth has a story too. Do we know it? What can we learn from it?

People who are willing to take an honest look at their pasts will have an interesting experience

The Truth Makes You Free

Many people who recognize and deal with the inadequacies of their early training and find out the causes for them, discover that their deficits are subsequently easier to correct.

Coming to Terms with the Past

In most cases, people need help to do this. Counselors or the parents themselves can help. Photos and other documents can help reveal traces of the past. Too many people carry heavy burdens from their past, never thinking it might be possible to get rid of them. How sad!

Carrying these burdens consumes a lot of strength and energy.

For this reason, it would be well worth the effort to work them out.

When we ask serious questions about the reasons for our past experiences, we eventually arrive at deep, existential questions, like the origin, meaning and purpose of our existence. Is evolution true? Or is creation more probable?

There are said to be an infinite number of stars and constellations. Imagine what would happen if they were all just coincidently and haphazardly flying through space. Think of all the accidents! It would be reminiscent of a destruction derby. Our little earth would be in grave danger. Thank God we are in His hands.

Creation or Evolution?

When a food or pharmaceutical industry produces a study on healthy nutrition, many people question the objectivity of the results presented. This is also the case when dealing with the question of truth. It is always a good idea to get both sides of the story. I have personally benefited greatly from presentations by a university professor from South Africa, who used to teach evolution. After going through some dramatic, life-changing experiences, he discovered some cracks in his theory. As a result, he carefully investigated creationism and subsequently changed his mind and quit his job. LINK

The question of creation or evolution naturally raises another ancient question: Does God exist or not? Many people are afraid of the possible consequences of answering the question in the affirmative. They would rather go with the general flow. After all, so many people couldn’t be wrong! The majority rules. That’s what democracy is all about. But is the majority always right?

The Truth About Our Present

Once I have seriously dealt with the question of my origin, it’s much easier to work on the present and the future, because by dealing with the past, I come closer to discovering the meaning of life, and thereby find meaning for my own life.

What is life really all about?

The discovery of causality in life can really wake us up out of the coma in which we find ourselves. There are reasons for everything that happens. Living within the boundaries of natural laws tends to make life simpler, while breaking them, for example the law of gravity, results automatically in negative consequences. If I am not careful and drop a glass or my cell phone, it will break. It is also not a good idea to jump out off the Empire State Building.

What do you think life is all about? If I gave LOVE as a possible answer, would you agree?

Causality

Asking “WHY?” can take us deeper and deeper into reality – let’s call it the truth – of our lives****. Why is my health not the best? Why is my partner so depressed? Why does my son have difficulties learning in school?

These are important questions and deserve our attention. The answers could help us to master the present. The following blogs give answers, or suggestions of answers, to some such questions:

• Emotional Intelligence – Beneficial for children, marriage and on the job?

• Conditional and Unconditional Love – How do they influence my love tank?

• Toxic Thoughts and Feelings – How do they influence our health?

• How do I deal with Difficult People?

• The Five Love Languages – How do they influence my quality of life?

• The Four Temperaments - Cholerics, Phlegmatics, Sanguines, Melancholies

• The Influece of Social Media on our children.

• Are you an HSP too?

Life is multifaceted. “WHY?” is a good question that can be asked in almost any situation. In doing so, we gain interesting new insights about reality, the truth. When couples travel this path together, their relationship can be strengthened and enriched. Discussing important issues, trying to understand each other’s point of view and drawing conclusions together are all activities that help two individuals become good team players.

The Truth About Our Future

Once we have seriously worked through the past and the present, it won’t be too difficult to think about the future. When we look at what is going on behind the scenes in politics and finance, we don’t need much of an imagination to know we must expect uncomfortable developments in the future.

The Bible - the Basis of Truth

Many people have lost their confidence in the Bible for a variety of reasons; their image of God has been shipwrecked, or they feel there is no room for absolute truth in our post-modern world, or they are sick and tired of endless theological discussions, or they just don’t like the lifestyle portrayed therein. However, with a little patience and perseverance, seemingly insurmountable contradictions suddenly disappear. When truth is highly valued, even LOVED, the Bible turns out to be a treasure chest of practical wisdom for the wise. It can provide us with the guidelines we need to successfully navigate the waters of life.  

When we LOVE THE TRUTH, even when it may be unpopular or cause personal pain, then we will want to study the Bible and the prophecies contained therein. When we see how its predictions were always fulfilled, or “came” TRUE, we can be confident that its claims about the future are just as true and will also be fulfilled.

Many Christian believers who are somewhat acquainted with the Bible realize the events portrayed there indicate a progression of disasters, culminating in the second coming of Jesus.

Interesting, isn’t it? The Bible speaks of a first and second resurrection (Revelation 20). At the first one, when Jesus comes back, all those will be raised who loved the truth and chose to follow Him in this life. He will take them to heaven where they will spend the next 1000 years.

After this millennium, according to the Bible, there will be another resurrection. This second resurrection will be for all those who did NOT LOVE the truth, but were contented with half-truths or lies, for which reason Jesus could not save them. Check it out in 2 Thessalonians 2:10.  At that time they will be confronted with their decisions in the final judgment. Because they had rejected the truth about Jesus’ offer to pay the penalty for their sins, they will have to carry the consequences themselves.

Endtime Statements in the Bible

Various passages in the Bible describe the characteristics of the time of the end and give us a view of what is to come. If you have a Bible, I would recommend you look up the following texts:

Isaiah 25:9    Matthew 24:27    John 14:1-3    Acts 1:9-11     1 Thessalonians 4:16-17   Revelation 1:7

»I believe in God like a blind man believes in the sun; not because he sees it, but because he feels it.«  Phil Bosmans

Once you have discovered the length and breadth and height and depth of the love of God in the Bible, you will never want to stop drinking from His fountain of love and being a blessing to others. It’s just amazing!!

The Truth About Our Destiny

If the Bible is true, we can choose a bright future and look forward to: a glorious life in heaven!! 

On the other hand, those who chose door number two will suffer a moment of sad comprehension before forfeiting their lives forever. Life is a gift from God; it can only be lived as such. Because God respects our freedom of choice, He takes our decisions seriously and accepts them. If we are not interested in His way of life and don’t want to live with Him, He pulls away. God’s love is based on freedom. He would never force anyone to live with Him in heaven!!

Suggestion

Dear Reader, If the subject of eternity is of interest to you, I would recommend a closer look at what the Bible has to say about it. When you find information on the subject, test it by the Bible. If your findings can be confirmed in God’s Word, you can be sure it’s the truth. If you will pray as you go through this process, you will be amazed how God will guide you to the truth. That is His greatest wish for you, because HE IS THE TRUTH!!! (John 14:6)

Many people are unaware that Jesus promised to come again. He said He would come and take all His children with Him. I want to be there too! And you?

Our Family Story – Better and Better - 2

The Philippines have changed and improved our lives. Much has changed since then. We all got a real life mission and a real meaning of life.

A New Life Begins

Ernst: The seed had been sown and new life was germinating in our hearts: When we stopped watching TV, we started developing our minds by reading more good books again and discovering more about real life. Then came the invitation. Our youth pastor invited the youth to go on a mission trip to the Philippines. Our children, Jenny, Jesse and Jeremy were very interested. They were 21, 19 and 17 at the time. We had always enjoyed doing everything as a family, so Terri asked if we older folks could go along too. Since there was space, they let us join them. It was to be a life changing experience. We were suddenly all evangelists!

Jesse, “the evangelist” preaching his first sermon – isn’t he sweet?

Philippines changing our lives

Terri: We all stayed at the same hotel and prepared our sermons together every morning but split up in the afternoon and preached in different venues. Every evening we’d share our experiences and thank God for His help. Jesse and Jeremy had never preached before. They had had many Bible studies before, but in this setting it began to come alive for them. As they preached, they discovered the beauty of the Bible and prophecy, and when the time came to invite their listeners to dedicate their lives to God in baptism, they decided they wanted to be baptized too!

Seventy-six baptisms at the end of our two-week campaign

The icy cold waters of the Lake of Constance could not deter Jesse and Jeremy from getting baptised the following January!

Our trip to the Philippines was a paradigm shift. We found true meaning in life and after that, our lives would never be the same.

Ernst: When I got back, my regular job in Switzerland was no longer satisfying. After experiencing the power of God and His miracles in my life and seeing Him use me to help others and do something of value for eternity, programming and filling in those endless Excel sheets lost its charm. It was boring and void of meaning. I had experienced something better. I decided to quit my job and do something meaningful. But what?

Decisions – Search for Meaning

Terri: It was thrilling to see the changes in our family. It was a wonderful adventure. Ernst was talking about quitting his regular job and starting his own business. He wanted to do holistic health counseling. It sounded good to me! Of course, we had a lot to learn before we could teach, but we decided to do whatever it took to prepare ourselves for whatever God had in mind.

Ernst: When I thought about leaving my job, my income, my security, I felt like I was getting ready to jump out of an airplane from 10,000 feet. For someone like me, who is afraid of heights and has never been a risk taker, that was HUGE!

As our company was reorganizing and downsizing, people around me had been losing their jobs left and right. Secretly, I was hoping they would lay me off and save me the choice, but each time they moved me to different department and I “got” to stay. It took me a couple of years, but finally, in 2008 I asked my boss to let me go on the next cut.

As I rode the train home from Zurich that day, I felt like I was in a free fall, hoping and praying my parachute would open.

Terri: When I met him at the train that day, he had tears in his eyes. It was hard for me to comprehend the weight of the burden he was carrying. Now I understand better. As a melancholy, the head of our household and the chief breadwinner, it was really scary for him. It took a lot faith. We had been accustomed to a certain standard of living. He was thinking things like, What if my business fails? How will we pay our bills? How will our kids finish their education? We could even lose our house! I, on the other hand, am a very “Que sera sera” kind of a person and enjoyed every step like a new adventure.

Ernst: Over the last several years before I quit my job, Terri and I had been studying with the German Health Association (DVG). The more we learned, the more we wanted to share it with others. The holistic health approach embodied in the NEWSTART PLUS system made so much sense to me that I not only wanted to practice it in my own private life, but knew it would make a good basis for the rest of my professional life.

Terri: Since the day Ernst left his programming job, our life has been one continuous exercise in change management. Never a dull moment. Starting a business in 2008 was an uphill battle for Ernst. He wanted to do holistic health counseling for businesses, but the financial crisis that year discouraged every potential client. I was amazed at his perseverance and the hundreds of phone calls he made trying to get his new business off the ground.  He worked hard and honed his skills by giving private seminars and personal counseling.

Right about this time, Jenny and her boyfriend, Remo, Jeremy and I all went to various schools* in Europe and the USA to get training in the same cutting-edge natural health system. The younger set went for a whole year, but Ernst didn’t want me to go away that long. My one-month course in Austria plus the three-week internship in the Ukraine was enough to set my heart on fire for life! After that year, we immediately started a mini medical missionary training school in our home. It was fun working together as a family.

Ernst teaching health evangelism in our backyard

Jenny

Terri: Jenny and Remo got married in 2009 after their year of training and took over the leadership of Sonnmatt Health Center. They helped us when we had courses at our house and we helped them however we could. The more we worked, the more we grew and learned, and the more useful we became. Now, in one way or another, we are all involved in teaching people how to get and stay healthy and happy using simple, natural remedies and expanding emotional intelligence (LINK). 

Jenny and Remo’s special day: Sept. 25, 2009

Jesse

Ernst: At some point in our development, I realized how ignorant I had been when Jesse had wanted to get this training back in 2005. I had refused to support him, declaring it to be a waste of time. After all, he would receive no diploma or degree that would help him earn a living. How wrong I was! I totally underestimated the value of that education. Oh, how I wish I had gotten the same training forty years ago! How much faster and easier could I have learned! How much healthier and more useful I could have been and could now be! Now I recommend it to everyone!

As it was, after his year in Norway, Jesse decided to study theology. That was more pleasing to me, but when at the age of 21 he left school (for who knew how long?) and answered a call to help his just-as-young friends start a ministry in Honduras, I had big question marks in my mind. He had been there working hard for two years before we actually visited and really started helping him. Once we got involved with VIDA Internacional, we fell in love with it and returned several times. That’s one place where you can really experience that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Left to right: Three pioneers of VIDA - Eli, Jesse and Jose

Jeremy

Jeremy as a student leader at Matteson with students and staff in 2009

In the summer 2009, Jeremy and his friend Joakim helped start the youth movement IMPACT Norway**

Jeremy as director of Matteson with students and staff in 2011

More Challenges on the Horizon

Terri: The subjects taught in these schools are so deep and wide and multifaceted that it takes a year to get the basics. Since Ernst did not have the opportunity of studying at such a school and I had only attended for one month, we needed, and received, special training. Jesse and Jeremy tutored us at every opportunity. However, they both knew the best way for us to understand their work and calling would be to get involved and teach it ourselves. Whatever we had to teach, we would have to study. So it wasn’t long before we were teaching in their respective schools/ministries in Honduras*, Wildwood*, and Matteson*.

Ernst: Terri and I had actually wanted to start such a LIGHT school in Switzerland. Still, we were a bit overwhelmed when Jeremy asked me to be the director of Matteson and Terri to be the household manager. Me? The director? I hadn’t even attended one of those schools! Norway? No way! I’m really very much at home in Switzerland. Way too far out of my comfort zone! Surely a Scandinavian could do a better job than I!

Terri: Who? Me? Household manager? As an American in Switzerland, I had always felt inferior in the area of domestic engineering. Ernst’s mom was the perfect Swiss housekeeper. Like many young Swiss girls, she had spent a year as an apprentice learning how to run a household. I could have learned a lot from her, but I wasn’t humble enough for that. Besides, I remembered and lived by a plaque my mom had in her kitchen: My house is clean enough to be healthy and dirty enough to be happy. J I really preferred mowing the lawn to dusting and mopping.

And what about cooking? By the time we received the call to work at Matteson, I had cooked many meals. After 30+ years of married life, with three kids and many guests, I had had many opportunities to cook and generally felt good about the results, but it wasn’t my favorite thing and I almost never followed a recipe. Ernst was often perturbed when I had made something he liked especially well; he knew he would never taste the exact same thing again.

This all seemed fine to me in a personal household, but to be called to cook and keep house for a school, to be a model and to guide students in these arts would require a lot of discipline and development on my part. Should I accept that challenge?

To be continued

Fltr: Ernst, Terri, Jeremy with Talita, Jesse with Amina, Jenny with David and Remo. Missing Jesse’s wife Gabriela with their son David-Solomon.

* Matteson Mission School (Norway), Wildwood College of Health Evangelism (Georgia, USA), TGM – Country Life Institute for Health Training (Austria), VIDA Internacional (Honduras) – these schools are all LIGHT (Lay Institute for Global Health Training - USA) accredited.

** IMPACT Norway is a youth movement, which has since spread to many other countries and has chapters in Europe and is now going worldwide. The acronym stands for Inspiring Members to Proclaim the Advent of Christ – in this generation.

Our Family Story – Better and Worse - 1

Ernst: Our wedding was unforgettable. After five months in a cast, Terri was a little slow for me and it was an extremely hot day in Milo, Oregon. So I picked up my bride and carried her out of the church into the fresh air as quickly as possible.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage

Ernst: I found Terri in an Austrian school called Bogenhofen. I had gone there to play soccer and was told about a crazy American girl who had bought soccer shoes so she could play with the guys. Since I liked the idea of winning, I invited her to play on my team. That worked out well.

Terri: Eighteen months later, on May 8, 1980, we got married in the States. Our first four years flew by like a dream. We never had an argument, except maybe when we took that temperament test at a marriage seminar two years into the marriage. That test opened our eyes and we began to see who we really were. We argued about that.

Ernst: And then there was an aggression test. After being married to Terri for two years, I knew her test would come out high. I was right about that, but when I saw my own results, I thought there was something wrong with the test. I scored almost as high as she did. How was that possible? Returning home, it seemed we had more questions than answers.

Terri: Because we were both surprisingly high in aggression, Ernst bought a book on the subject. How smart! Intelligence was definitely one of the reasons I fell in love with him. Oh yeah, back to aggression. He discovered that the reason he thought his aggression level was lower than mine was because he didn’t let his show as overtly as I did. While he tended to keep it hidden inside, I was fairly easy to read. He also figured out that with all this extra energy, our life would never be boring. 

We needed to learn proper methods of communication. Over the years since then, we have experienced joy and more quality of life by learning to channel our energies into more emotionally intelligent behaviors.

Dann kommt Jenny im Kinderwagen!

Ernst: Wir hatten vier Jahre Eheglück - bis die Kinder ankamen. Terri hatte Deutsch, sogar Schweizerdeutsch, Kochen und Haushalt gelernt und war die perfekte Ehefrau. Ich fühlte mich wirklich wie ein König in meinem Schloss. Als unser erstes kleines Bündel (Jennifer Joy) ankam, änderte sich Terri radikal und ich musste mein Trikotnummer 1 gegen Nummer 2 eintauschen. Zwei Jahre später war es Nummer 3 (Jesse Solomon) und zwei Jahre später Nummer 4 (Jeremy David) . Als Grundschullehrer liebe ich Kinder, und ganz besonders meine eigenen. Aber ich bekam immer weniger Aufmerksamkeit und Beachtung, und wenn die Kinder nicht gewesen wären, wäre ich wahrscheinlich davongelaufen. Erst verwöhnt, dann plötzlich vernachlässigt. Dies war eine der größten Herausforderungen meines Lebens.

." dann wären wir nicht in diese Herausforderung gekommen.

Ernst: Richtig. Anstatt mich an die neuen Bedürfnisse meiner Frau anzupassen, setzte ich meinen egoistischen Lebensstil fort. Schade. Ich verstand nicht, dass die Zeit gekommen war, durch meine Taten wahre Liebe zu zeigen, indem ich meiner total überarbeiteten Frau und Mutter meiner Kinder dringend Unterstützung und Aufmerksamkeit gab. Erst später wurde mir klar, dass sie mehr Zeit und Energie für mich gehabt hätte, wenn ich ihr mehr geholfen hätte. Im Nachhinein ist man halt immer gscheiter!

Terri: Es ist so schön zu hören, dass er das jetzt so sieht…

Ernst: Das Leben ging mehrere Jahre so weiter. Als wir unser drittes Kind erwarteten und Terri sich finanzielle Sorgen machte, wie wir mit unserem bescheidenen Budget als so großen Familie zu ihr nach Hause fliegen könnten, wechselte ich den Job und wurde Programmierer für die SWISSAIR. Es war für uns beide sehr befreiend. Terri war so glücklich. Sie konnte die Kinder mitnehmen und Familie oder Freunde ein- oder zweimal im Jahr besuchen. Ich bin nicht immer mit ihnen nach Oregon geflogen. Es gibt interessantere Orte auf der Welt… Aber es war schön, wieder eine glückliche Frau zu haben.

Terri: Als Ernst für SWISSAIR arbeitete, war ein weiterer Traum wahr geworden. Ich war in der Schweiz immer unzufriedener geworden, aber nicht, weil ich die Schweiz nicht mochte, sondern weil ich meine Familie und Freunde in den Staaten vermisste. Ich hatte immer gehofft, dass wir eines Tages in die Staaten umziehen könnten, zumindest für ein paar Jahre, um die Sprache (besonders Ernst) und Kultur als Familie zu lernen. Sein neuer Job war ein guter Kompromiss. Ich fühlte mich umsorgt.

Ernst: Ich gewöhnte mich immer mehr an meine Vaterrolle und liebte (fast) alles daran. Zusammen spielen, Zeit in der Natur verbringen, Geschichten lesen und Fußball spielen waren alles Aktivitäten, die wir zusammen sehr genossen haben.

Move to the Country

Ernst: We took the education of our children seriously and decided to follow the counsel we had read to move out of the city (Zurich) and raise our children in the country where they would be closer to nature and its Creator. We also wanted to live where we could have a dog, a cat and a garden. A small town with a population of less than 500 and a train station in eastern Switzerland was just what we needed. Ideal! The 75-minute train commute to Zurich didn’t bother me. I actually enjoyed the extra chill time. I could talk or relax or educate myself with interesting books.

Terri: Thanks to Ernst’s parents (and God), we were able to buy a house outside of town. At the risk of sounding redundant, I’m going to say it again: for me that house was another dream come true. As an American who grew up in the freedom of country living, renting was not a good option. It was important for me to have a house I could paint or renovate and trees I could fell at will. The house was Ernst’s last great effort to prove his love and make me happy living in Switzerland. And I have to say it worked! It was like he made the ultimate sacrifice – for me!

1996 – in front of our new home. Left to right: Jeremy (6), Terri, Jesse (8), Ernst, Jenny (10)

Renovation needed !

Ernst: It was an old house and required a lot of work and sweat in the renovation process. It was a family project. Working together on it had a unifying effect. We became a real team and family was our highest priority. We were thankful to God for His generosity with us and we invited Him to live with us and show us how to best use the house He had given us. Our house was always open for guests, friends and strangers.

Terri: One negative development in our new home was a TV. We had never had one till then. It sat in the living room for the first month, but I soon decided it was taking too much “space” in our lives and carried it up to the attic. That kept our consumption down to once a week for the first year, but when we renovated the attic and it became our bedroom, there was nowhere else to put it. Videos, DVDs and TV – watch till you drop. I didn’t know what to do.

Ernst: Terri was the first to notice we were in trouble. She started complaining about the situation, but I was happy. I was surprised and a bit shocked (but also proud of her) when she got rid of our entire collection of videos and DVDs. Although I was impressed, I was not strong enough to stop watching TV. But Terri had a smart idea.  

Terri: While I was desperately looking for ways to free our family from media addictions, God gave me a Bible verse to help me. It was Philippians 4:8. I wrote it on a piece of paper and hung it over the TV.

Ernst: Whenever I turned on the TV after that, I was confronted with these words: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things!“ I didn’t really like it there, but since I didn’t have the guts to take it down, I had to read it over and over again. When I evaluated what I was watching by those adjectives, not many programs passed the test and it didn’t take me long to decide to make more of my life. I recognized it was really a waste of my time and my life to sit in front of the TV and fill my head with useless and sometimes even harmful clutter.

Terri: From that time on, life got better and we never looked back! Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Our Story – Better and Better!”

Our new home. It took quite some renovation. But together we were strong. Each one of us was an important part of it.

For Everyone Who Is 40+

Life begins at 40+. Many are not aware of this at our age. What a potential there is in this age group !! Man, something good could be made of it !!

Life takes longer than you think

• Life begins at 40

• At 50 it means, now let's go

• At 60 you know what you can do

• at 70 it's still really good,

• at 80 it gets colorful again,

• at 90 nothing is too late

• at 100 you - maybe - retire.

• What comes after, who can say that

• you have to ask Heavenly Father.

Karl Pilsl - slightly adjusted

Dear 40+ readers

How are you? Are you still on it, motivated for important deeds or have you buried your dreams and only think about retirement or enjoying the evening of life? Where do we stand today as older generations?

Let us dwell on this thought.

We know it: the body reports with a little ailment. We think: "Aha, my age. I have to be more careful. Can't move so much and be adventurous."

And then it happened. We reduce ourselves! Just the wrong thing! We withdraw from our world of performance and think that we now have the right to cut back, to be OLD and to demand consideration. How nice. And with that we give ourselves the 'death sentence'. Our health is torpedoed with boredom and rest, until it can no longer and can be replaced with diseases of all kinds. That couldn't have been it! Is it?

How about a counter-proposal:

Let's do things that others don't do at our age, then we can make mistakes that others can't. We can learn from mistakes that others cannot. With what we have learned, we can do things and have experiences that otherwise would not have happened! Is that what?

That’s to say that at our age we don’t need to do everything the way it’s common everywhere. We can choose to STAY YOUNG inside.

If we decide to keep our dynamic from before, to see the positive, despite adverse circumstances or precisely because of it, then we have a great advantage:

• We already have a wealth of experience

• We know what is important in life

• We know our talents and gifts

• We are informed about our limits and our potential

• We learned that life is and belongs to learning

• We can easily see the needs of families and fellow men

Let's consider briefly:

The Five Phases of Life

1. 0-19 years

The following sub-phases can be mentioned:

1. Birth after 9 months of pregnancy (this time has the greatest impact on the child)

2. Years 1-3 (with 1st puberty - "I live, therefore I am" - realization; "NO" phase

3. Years 4-6 is pre-school, the most important time for EQ development

4. Years 7-12 are elementary school, define yourself in the school context

5. Years 13-19 is the 2nd puberty - when the young person defines himself in relation to the environment

At the age of 19 you have mostly oriented yourself professionally, have 'grown up' and try to weigh up your future prospects and arrange for them.

In this phase of life, a lot goes through your head. That can lead to overpressure and corresponding reactions, right? But it will be better if we don't give up. It is important that you can let off the steam somewhere !!

2. 20-39 years

These years are very challenging years. Professionally and socially. Many choose to start a family. The wedding should be the highlight. Then it is flittered and finally the youngsters register. Some things are unplanned and unintentional. It's the learning years. Around half of them are getting a divorce because they didn't really know each other and thus their partner. Expectations of the partner and oneself were not congruent.

As beautiful as the childhood years are, the challenges are constantly growing. The children are constantly changing. Parents have to constantly adapt and thus change. This phase is very intense. Who can draw wisdom from it, can win.

We are granted the privilege of creating and shaping human life. The responsibility is great, so is the challenge. This phase of constant change and self-education costs a lot of selflessness and devotion. Those who are not ready for this will fall by the wayside with their offspring. Whoever recognizes this is called upon to get help.

3. 40-59 years

This is usually the best time in life when the midlife crisis (3rd puberty) has not hit too hard. The moment when the children leave the home and become independent often leaves a void that many do not know how to compensate for. Sense of life is required. Is it a sporty car, a new acquaintance, a change of job ...? Such questions can arise.

Men like women also change physiologically. Getting on the scales is avoided. The body no longer burns the same number of calories. Many men are proud of their new belly. Does not have to be. Those who do not only live in the moment, but with foresight, know how to react correctly and efficiently.

Once such challenges have been mastered, the sun moves into life. The experiences have a positive effect on social life.

• You no longer take unimportant things so seriously because you can classify them.

• You don't have to prove yourself anymore.

You see more clearly and are no longer so self-centered. This makes you more attractive and appealing. Such people are desired everywhere, are interesting. The ability to love can now really bear fruit.

Whoever has the privilege of being called 'grandpa' or 'grandmother' has received one of the greater human privileges. Although it is said that grandparents are allowed to spoil their grandchildren, it seems to me that the responsibility lies more in a balanced upbringing. Young parents can learn a lot from yourselves if they provide themselves as a sensible mentor.

4. 60-79 years

Many are already talking about old age. Does not have to be ! Shouldn't be, because the accumulated quality, life wisdom and experiences can now be turned into a social benefit.

Instead of withdrawing more and more, personalities can become involved in society and become a great blessing. Most fears have been dealt with in many ways, the most important values have been recognized and in some cases implemented, loneliness and egoism have largely been overcome, one has become emotionally more intelligent.

Dear Reader. This is the right time for you to come up with something. Pray for an enlightenment, a fruitful idea. Include your partner in this.

Feel and think for one another. How nice it can be to experience this phase of life happily together. Those who 'have to' do this alone are advised to deepen their relationship with God and ask for the balance from there. He is happy to give them.

5. 80-100 years

If you have lived according to the most important health rules, then this time will also be an interesting and beneficial time. You can read about these rules in the NEWSTART Plus blog.

Now they have become the MENTOR for many of your descendants. Although times have changed, your life points to a successful way to meet life's challenges and create something wise out of them. This will make them irreplaceable.

Your offspring will no longer leave you alone. The potential hidden in your personality is too big and interesting.

Because our life will now come to an end, you can seriously prepare for it. For some, there will be an eternity that will totally overshadow our lives here. Those are perspectives !! You sure want to take your family members there with you, don't you?

Using one's talents and gifts for one's friends and fellow human beings also meets one's own needs. Those who have taken important things out of life are happy to pass them on again.

Product => Industry => People

There are also "quantum leaps" within these 5 phases.

Most people first learn to be product specialists in their job. Everything about your product is learned, despite the fast moving time. It often happens that you move from product specialist to branch specialist because you have worked your way up and taken responsibility for a special area. Well, the quantum leap that is often missing is the one that leads to the human specialist.

Those who have not missed this jump increase their attractiveness. In other words, those who have worked on their emotional intelligence (see EQ Blogs) become real added value for the family as well as for society.

"At the age of 66, that's when life begins" Udo Jürgens had sung. The following shows whether this succeeds: If you celebrated your pension with many guests on the occasion of your 65th birthday, then you will not be alone at your 70th anniversary. By then you will have developed your social network well and your attractiveness means that you are simply loved to be seen and heard. You have become a kind person who has taken care of the concerns of your fellow human beings and still cares.

How many young people are looking for guidance and help? Are you ready to provide support in your community? That would be great!

The 50th year is the jubilee year

Bible connoisseurs are familiar with this expression. The 50th year in Old Testament times was always a special year, a year of freedom for slaves, a year when property was given back (one could not enrich oneself on the weaknesses of others), a year of new beginnings in different areas - just a jubilee year.

If you are on your way to the 50th year, we suggest: Think about how you want to approach this event. Think about how you could give something special to your family, friends, and those around you.

The 50th birthday party can be something special. You can also do something for the community from other birthdays.

The Sense of Life

Anyone who has developed into a human specialist has found the biblical meaning of life, namely to be there for fellow human beings, to give optimized help, to think, feel and act for others. Our Creator provides us with all the tools for this. Yes, HE supports us wherever HE is invited. Do that and you will have eternal happiness.

Outside, on a clear, starry night, thinking about your tree of life and the meaning of life and deciding to make any corrections can only be beneficial. Our life is extremely interesting, but also fragile. It is worthwhile to deal with it sensibly.