Last night Pastor preached on Ephesians 5 and the actions we take as we grow closer to Jesus and become more like him.

I had just read a news article on the traits of emotionally healthy people and even tried to share it here, but it was Apple News and I could not do that. I saw huge similarities between what some experts in the world call emotionally healthy and what happens as the Holy Spirit makes us more like Jesus.

I decided to try to translate these traits. There are nine.

1. The world calls it "listening to different perspectives without arguing." We call it listening to people without interrupting or correcting them. Jeff Musgrave told us during The Exchange training course that it is important to ask people about their spiritual beliefs and then listen, without interrupting or correcting them. That teaches respect between people so they will listen without interrupting when we present the gospel.

2. The world calls it "having healthy boundaries." We call it having standards we will not violate.

3. The world calls it "admitting when you are wrong." So do we.

4. The world calls it "having core values and beliefs." So do we.

5. The world calls it "expressing negative emotions respectfully." So do we.

6. The world calls it "being able to take criticism from others." So do we.

7. The world calls it "continually striving to change and grow." So do we, only we realize the Holy Spirit leads us in this growth.

8. The world calls it "not reacting impulsively." So do we, but we give the Holy Spirit credit for helping us stop being impulsive.

9. The world calls it "trusting that you will be okay no matter what challenges come your way." We know God has promised this to Christians but we also know He has not promised it to non-Christians. They die of alcohol poisoning and drug abuse and suicide all the time. Their families break up due to selfishness (and ours can, too, if we do not follow as the Holy Spirit leads). They go to prison because they harmed someone in a wicked outburst of anger. In fact, the only way to know "all things work together for good" is to be in Christ and following the Holy Soirit into sanctification.

Thanks for the sermon last night, Pastor!