Good morning from Bangkok, Thailand, where I’m visiting friends for a day as I make my way from Australia to Seoul, South Korea.

Today’s Kindle deals include a couple of interesting books.
(Yesterday on the blog: In a Distant Land)
Five Illustrations to Better Understand Emotions
Kevin provides a few illustrations meant to help you better understand emotions.
What Are Some Dangers of Neglecting Church History?
“We have much to learn from our brothers and sisters in the faith from around the globe, but we also have much to learn from our brothers and sisters—faithful disciples—who’ve come before from two millennia of church history.”
What is Theology?
Since God is the object of our knowledge, the source of our wisdom, and the fountain of our everlasting happiness, what greater endeavor could the Christian ever pursue than theology? Join Matthew Barrett for free to study the foundational elements of Christian Theology through For The Church Institute at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College. (Sponsored Link)
Christians Are Not Totally Depraved
“The phrase ‘total depravity’ refers to a person’s sinful condition outside of the mercy of Christ. So, after conversion, is a sinner still totally depraved?” Mitch Chase answers and clarifies.
What I’ve Learned from the Anglicans
This is a neat little series from 9Marks: What I’ve Learned from the Anglicans, What I’ve Learned from the Baptists, and What I’ve Learned from the Presbyterians.
The Days Are Long, But the Years Are Short
I enjoyed this “letter from grandpa.“
Being in the business of hanging out with our mates
I agree with this, though I think there are also times to formalize meetings. “It seems to me there is no reason not to just consider much of our pastoral ministry as the privilege of hanging out with our friends. Sometimes for serious and important reasons, sometimes just for the usual reasons you might ever want to keep up with a friend, and sometimes just for the sake of hanging out casually with people because they’re your friends.”
Flashback: Flowers Springing Up in the Rain
You and I are not too different from grass and flowers, for as God sees fit to have them grow through sun and rain, he sees fit to have us grow through joy and grief. As it is his will that they display their beauty through good weather and bad, it is his will that we display our beauty through easy times and difficult.

Be slow to believe an accusation against another! One false mouth can destroy the reputation won by a lifetime of worthy deeds! —J.R. Miller

The young woman entered her parent’s home for what she understood would be the final time. The funeral had been solemn but still sweet, for she knew that her father had at last joined her mother. It had been a good many years since death had parted them, but now they were together in the grave and together in heaven.

The door squeaked just a little as she opened it, but beyond it there was only silence—no familiar voice to greet her and no familiar arms to hug her. The house had already been packed up and most of her parent’s possessions already distributed. There remained just a few family treasures and meaningful knick-knacks that she wished to take as her inheritance and to keep as her own. Among them was a little chest that her father had indicated should go to her. Intrigued, she opened it and saw that it contained just one simple seed.
When she returned home she went straight to her garden and pressed the seed into the soil. She watered it diligently and ensured there was plenty of sun to warm the ground. And then she waited. She waited through the spring rains and summer’s first heat. The day came when she saw just the smallest hint of green breaking through the soil, then a shoot, and then the beginnings of a plant. Before long the seed had produced a lovely little shrub. And while it was pretty enough and brought joy to her heart, she knew the type and knew that it was capable of growing much better and taller and lusher. Yet no matter what she tried, she simply could not get it to reach its full potential.
Months turned into years and the day came when she was offered the opportunity to make a life for herself in a land far to the south. She embraced this opportunity, but could not bear to part with the plant her father had bequeathed to her. So she diligently loosened the soil around it, careful not to damage its roots. She lowered it into a pot and then ensured its safety through her long journey. When she reached her new home and got settled, she went out to her new garden and planted it in her new land.
She was amazed to see that almost immediately the shrub grew taller and wider. Almost immediately the shrub bloomed with a host of beautiful, fragrant blossoms. Almost immediately the shrub was utterly transformed. And as she stared in wonder, she understood that her plant had always been meant for the south more than the north, for her new land more than the old. In its old garden it could survive and grow, but merely to a certain degree. It was only in its new land, in its real home, that it could truly thrive, that it could display its true potential, that it could be all it was ever meant to be.
And so it is for those of us who have had the seed of the gospel planted in our hearts. It sprouts and grows and takes root. It blossoms and produces blooms that are truly beautiful. Yet all the while we know, we understand, and we grieve how sparse and few and paltry they are. Even as we make every effort we lament how poor our efforts are and even as we bear fruit we lament how little fruit we bear. Even as we rejoice in every one of God’s blessings and celebrate every evidence of his grace, still we long to be in that new land, that new home, that new place where we can—where we will—truly thrive, where we will display our fullest potential, where we will be all that God has made us to be.

Good morning. Grace and peace to you.

Today’s Kindle deals include a selection from Crossway.
(Yesterday on the blog: I Am Under the Unerring Care of God)
United States of Abortion: A Grave History in Five Threads
Marvin Olasky traces the history of abortion in the US and explains how it requires the answers to five questions.
Advice from a Retiring Minister
There is such great advice here from a retiring minister. He speaks with the voice of love and long experience.
Distinguishing Judgment from Godly Reproof
“It is difficult to think of a verse more misused than ‘Do not Judge’ (Matt. 7:1). The number of times it has been used to censure Godly reproof would be impossible to count. If you are in the habit of reading the Word of God and upholding Godly standards, then you have most likely had this verse thrown your way while commenting on some behavior or trend of which God disapproves.”
Where Would I Be?
This is a sweet one from Mary Nolte. “Sometimes we forget who we are. Where we have been. Where we would be. It takes a moment to remember, a moment to grasp the reality of just how low sin had taken us, how far the reaches of fallenness go, how deeply the brokenness had shattered our souls. Sometimes we are privileged to be reminded. The other night, I had a stark reminder.”
Social
Kristin considers how good it is to be fully present in an age of distraction.
Ethical Photography as a Global Citizen
These are very good things to think about. “Sharing photos of your work and life is important. As a world traveler, your responsibility is to share photos ethically by respecting the people and culture of your host country. It can be tempting, especially if your project or salary is underfunded, to share compromising photos of the people in your host country in an effort to validate your need for being there.”
Flashback: Parents: To Join Social Media Is To Witness Death
I didn’t want to see that man die, I didn’t need to see that man die, but I did see that man die. And since that day I’ve seen many others die, almost always through social media.

The exposition of a passage of Scripture is not intended to be a popular-level commentary in spoken form but an encounter with the God who speaks. —Sinclair Ferguson

Whatever circumstances we may encounter in life, whatever difficulties may befall us, whatever suffering we may have to pass through, we can have the highest confidence that none of it has come apart from the knowledge and the will of God. As the Catechism says, God “watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.” This truth must have been on De Witt Talmage’s mind when he preached these precious words many years ago…

You may ask me a hundred questions I cannot answer, but I shall until the day of my death believe that I am under the unerring care of God.
The heavens may fall and the world may burn and the judgment may thunder and eternal ages may roll, but not a hair shall fall from my head, not a shadow shall drop on my path, not a sorrow shall transfix my heart without being divinely arranged—arranged by a loving, sympathetic Father.
He bottles our tears, he catches our sorrows. To the orphan he will be a father and to the widow he will be a husband and to the outcast he will be a home and to the most miserable wretch who crawls up out of the ditch in his abomination crying for mercy, he will be an all-pardoning God.
The rocks shall turn gray with age and the forests shall be unmoored in the last hurricane, and the sun shall shut its fiery eyelid and the stars shall drop like blasted figs and the continents shall go down like anchors in the deep and the ocean shall heave its last groan and lash itself with expiring agony and the world shall wrap itself in winding sheets of flame and leap on the funeral pyre of the Judgment Day…
…but God’s love shall not die. It will kindle its suns after all other lights have gone out. It will be a billowing sea after the last ocean has wept itself away. It will warm itself by the fire of a consuming world. It will sing while the archangel’s trumpet is pealing forth and the air is filled with the crash of broken sepulchres and the rush of the wings of the rising dead!

My thanks goes to Reformation Heritage Books for sponsoring the blog this week. Their book Taming the Fingers is an important one for our times!

Today’s Kindle deals include several newer books and a few older ones as well.
(Yesterday on the blog: Missionary, Explorer, Abolitionist)
How Were the Books of the Bible “Chosen”?
As you may surmise from the quotation marks around the world “chosen,” that this doesn’t exactly describe what happened. “This particular framing of the question has a number of built-in assumptions that need to be recognized.”
Have We Misunderstood Paul on Homosexuality?
Wes Bredenhof shows how Mike Wittmer answers that question is in his excellent new book.
21 Ways God Is Sovereign Over the Environment
“It’s amazing how much time and energy is spent thinking and talking about environmental issues today. Sadly, most of it is done without any reference to God, who controls every aspect of it. Whether rain or snow, cold or heat, wind or stagnant air, the Lord is the one who continues to uphold it by the mighty power of His Son.” Paul Tautges explains.
Credo Magazine
There is a new issue of Credo magazine available to read. It’s free for the taking. “In this issue of Credo, contributors show that natural theology is a practice supported by Scripture and exemplified by the Reformed tradition, a tradition indebted to great thinkers like Augustine and Aquinas. With the Psalmist, readers can say with confidence, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.’”
Why we do not evangelise
Chopo Mwanza offers some thoughts on why we don’t evangelize.
Standing Strong in Affliction
“I have experienced seasons I thought would be the most uncomplicated or joyful of my life, but instead, they brought afflictions, problems, illness, or conflict. Some of those challenges even threatened my spiritual health and vitality. I did not bear much fruit in those seasons. And many of the issues seemed to come out of nowhere.“
Flashback: The Touch
As his fingers brushed against their bodies, they would be made whole—bones would be knit back together, ligaments would be strengthened, eyes would be opened, ears would be unstopped.

Every exposition of Scripture is an extended personal counseling session in which the Holy Spirit shows us the wonder and power of the gospel and also exposes the secrets of our hearts. —Sinclair Ferguson

There are some historical figures whose every sin seems to get overlooked and whose every virtue seems to get amplified. Conversely, there are other historical figures whose every virtue seems to get overlooked and whose every sin seems to get amplified. I would place the modern understanding of David Livingstone squarely in the latter category. Though he was most certainly a flawed individual, it seems that today he is known only for those flaws rather than for his many strengths. It’s for this reason that Vance Christie’s weighty new biography of Livingstone is so timely and so important.

David Livingstone was one of the towering figures of his age, and this despite living the great majority of his life far from the centers of power and despite never seeking nor even desiring the limelight. He dedicated most of his career to a particular form of mission work—the work of exploration. He did this not because of a sense of wanderlust or a desire to make a great name for himself, but out of a desire to bring an end to a terrible evil.
European powers had long been involved in the slave trade and had created outposts from one edge of the continent to the other. And while they were eager to receive slaves, they tended not to venture too far into the interior. By the middle decades of the nineteenth century, Europeans knew a great deal about coastal Africa, but little of what lay beyond. Livingstone was convinced that to end the slave trade, someone would need to explore—to chart navigable rivers, discover resources, and build an economy that would create wealth greater than the slave trade could provide. Thus his drive to explore was motivated by a love for people and a desire to quench slavery.
Christie’s biography, which weighs in at nearly 800 pages, tells his life in great detail, relying foremost on primary sources such as Livingstone’s journals and correspondence. It tells of his childhood in Scotland and his coming to faith in Jesus Christ. It tells of his conviction that the Lord had called him to missions and of his preparation by training to be a medical doctor. It tells of his early years as a missionary in what is now known as South Africa and of his marriage to Mary Moffat, the daughter of one of the area’s pioneering missionaries.
The majority of the book tells of Livingstone’s travels and expeditions. These often lasted for several years—years in which his location and even knowledge of whether he was dead or alive would be almost entirely unknown. It was in these years that he would be separated from his wife and children and often from any other Europeans. But then he would eventually emerge, return to Europe, and write a book about his travels. He would emerge to a level of acclaim that he did not seek, but chose to use to further his cause. And then he would do it all over again.
There is a good deal that we can justly critique about Livingstone. He could be harsh in his interactions with people, especially through the written word. He was more independent than he ought to have been—independent even of the local church for most of his life. And then he was so driven by his missionary calling that he effectively abandoned his family calling as a husband and a father; his children were as unknown to him as he was to them and his wife deeply grieved his long absences.
There are other critiques that are not entirely fair. Some of these are related to him being a man of his time and in these ways it may not be just to judge him as if he lived in the twenty-first century as we do. What matters more is how he acted compared to other people in his own time, and here he often proved himself much superior—“the Doctor was far ahead of his times in terms of the dignity, respect, worth, trust, and affection” he afforded to Africans. And then “he endured all variety of hardships and made deep sacrifices in devoting his entire career to seeking to advance their temporal and eternal welfare.” If only each of us was as devoted to the good of others as was Livingstone.
David Livingstone will probably always be a polarizing figure, but I’m thankful that Christie has provided this thorough new work that seeks to describe him not as we’ve imagined him or want him to be, but as he actually was. It describes him as neither a hero nor a villain, but as a man who was both sinful and sanctified, both tragically flawed and full-out committed to the highest of all causes. It’s a valuable contribution to understanding the man, his accomplishments, and the time in which he lived.
I think it’s fitting to give the final word to Conrad Mbewe, a son of one of the countries Livingstone explored and a son of the land in which he died and was (partially) buried. In his endorsement he writes, “I thank God for this fresh biography of David Livingstone, the pioneering missionary explorer of central Africa. He died in 1873 and his heart was buried in Zambia. On the centenary of his death, Zambians held commemorative events in several stadia in honour of this man. Also, the only town in Zambia that remains with a foreign name after its political independence from Great Britain is Livingstone. If you want to understand why a people who were once steeped in spiritual darkness should honour a Christian missionary in this way, read this definitive biography!”
Buy from Amazon

Good morning from beautiful Sydney, Australia where I’m beginning to film another episode of Worship Round the World.

Mind Your Platform
“I fear that we may have begun adopting these tools with little scrutiny. We marvel at the fact that things ‘can be done’ and skip over the question of ‘should they be done?’ How are we to think about our relationship to the platforms available to us? While our engagement with social media and platforms will vary greatly depending on our calling and our context, there are a few patterns I’ve noticed that I think we should be wary of.”
Actively waiting for Jesus
“The Bible describes the Christian life as waiting for Jesus to come back…” But this isn’t a sitting-around kind of waiting.
The Illusion of Anonymity 
While social media has many benefits, it has often served as a breeding ground for divisiveness and hostility. Hidden behind our screens, we are often tempted to type things we would never say aloud. In Taming the Fingers, Jeff Johnson encourages us to use our social media Coram Deo— before the face of God. (Sponsored Link)
Is the History of the Bible Important?
“Unlike any other of the religions of the world, Christianity is uniquely and entirely dependent upon the historical veracity of its holy book, the Bible. … Sadly, secular critics have realized this fact more readily and more eagerly than many Christians, which has encouraged them for hundreds of years to seek ways to weaken the entirety of the Christian religion by casting doubt on the validity of its historical claims.”
How Many Israelites Exited Egypt?
Philip Ryken: “The Bible describes the exodus in careful detail. Nevertheless, it has often been challenged on historical grounds. One standard objection concerning information given in Exodus 12 is the size of the exodus. It deserves a response.”
The Roots of Legalism
Stephen Nichols writes about the roots of legalism. “One of Martin Luther’s many contributions concerns the Latin word incurvitas. This sounds like something a dentist might say to you as he pokes and prods in the molars. But it’s not.”
8 Reasons We Should Evangelize
Perhaps you could use a little refresher on why we should evangelize the lost.
Flashback: Have You Tasted Heaven?
I have seen the most hardened of men become the most gentle, the most cruel of women become kind, the most wayward of children follow their Father. This all has the savor of a place that must be entirely unlike this one.

Whether our lot seems humble or exalted, let us work with all our heart, for the Lord knows and rewards all faithful labor. —Daniel Doriani

Good morning from somewhere far out over the Pacific as I make my way from Canada to Australia to press on with my Worship Round the World journey. (We continue to fundraise for this project—give here if interested.)

There are several new Kindle deals you may wish to consider today.
(Yesterday on the blog: A Selection of New Songs for Christians)
Penal Substitution Evidences the Godness of God
This is quite a long article that shows how one pastor is attempting to overthrow penal substitutionary atonement. It also shows why that doctrine is made clear in Scripture, present throughout church history, and essential to the gospel.
A good movie gets smeared
It would be a good use of one of your free articles at World Magazine to read Bethel McGrew’s take on the smearing of Sound of Freedom.
“We Need to Tame Our Fingers”—Tim Challies
“In this excellent little book, Jeff Johnson teaches us how to master modern-day challenges through words of ancient wisdom. He dives into the Proverbs to teach us that the great challenge of our day is not first one of technology but one of character. He shows that if we are to serve God’s purpose through all these amazing new apps and devices, we will need to carefully and prayerfully tame our fingers.”—Tim Challies (Sponsored Link)
What Does It Mean That All of Creation Groans?
“Amid the shouting and rejoicing of the heavens and the earth, you can hear another sound. Creation groans. Why does it groan? How does it? And when, if ever, will creation’s groaning end?”
Ten Reasons the Old Testament Matters for Christians
Does the Old Testament really matter for Christians? This article explains why it does.
Help for Family Devotions
Are you thinking about beginning family devotions? Or perhaps trying to get back into the habit? This one by Growing Fathers may be helpful.
What Can the Metropolitan Tabernacle Teach Us About Women’s Ministry?
“You have likely heard of the ‘Prince of Preachers,’ Charles Spurgeon. He ministered at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London during the second half of the nineteenth century. It’s less likely that you’ve heard of Lavinia Bartlett. She was a longstanding member and women’s ministry leader at the Tabernacle.”
Flashback: Seven Steps To a Good Breakup
Not every couple who begins dating ends up getting married. Neither should they. In fact, for a dating relationship to be healthy, there must be a way out. As Sam Andreades says, “If you are not able to end a dating relationship, you should never start one.”

Within the community of the family of God, we should not only seek to hold up the arms of others in their suffering; we should also be transparent about our weaknesses and let them hold our arms up for us. —Glenna Marshall

We are spoiled—spoiled by having so many talented Christian artists creating so many excellent songs. With 2023 now halfway in the books, I decided to make up a list of my favorites from the year so far. Hopefully there’s something here you’ll want to add to your own playlists…

He Calls Me Friend by CityAlight
As it happens, I am heading to Australia today to spend some time with CityAlight and their church. They have just released a couple of new tracks from their upcoming EP and both are wonderful. The first, “He Calls Me Friend,” rejoices in our friendship with Jesus.
I have a friend, a faithful friend / And Jesus is His name / I have a friend, a Saviour friend / And Jesus is His name / He will not leave, / He stands by me / My Shepherd He remains.
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My God is All I Need / My God is So Big by CityAlight
The second new track is “My God Is All I Need” which is a song of comfort.
He is my strength when I cannot go on / Peace when all my power is gone / Hope, although the night is long and deep / He is my song for He has rescued me / Joy now He has set me free Praise! / Praise to my Father be / My God is all I need.
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All My Boast Is in Jesus by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Keith & Kristyn Getty
Getty Music has also released a couple of new tracks, both of them from the partnership of Matt Boswell & Matt Papa.
All my boast is in Jesus / All my hope is His love / And I will glory forever / In what the cross has done.
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Our God Will Go Before Us by Matt Boswell, Matt Papa, Keith & Kristyn Getty
And then there is this song of comfort and encouragement which we introduced at Grace Fellowship Church last Sunday.
Our God will go before us / And guide us by his presence / What confidence this promise is / We will never walk alone.
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When We Pray [Acoustic] by Citizens
I don’t usually prefer acoustic versions of songs more than standard ones, but in this case I am glad to make an exception.
For the mothers and the fathers on their knees / For the sons and daughters trapped in slavery / For the anxious heart that’s fighting for some peace / In Jesus name, you are free / In Jesus name, amen / In Jesus name, amen / In Jesus name, there’s nothing He can’t / When we pray in Jesus name.
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Find Your People by Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors
I suppose there may be little that’s distinctly Christian about the lyrics to this one, but I like it as a celebration of the best kind of friendships.
In a world of strangers, you don’t know who to trust / All you see is danger, trying to find what you lost / You can’t go it alone, everybody needs help / You got to find your people then you’ll find yourself.
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New Creation [Live From Red Rocks] by Mac Powell
Mac Powell is best known as the former lead singer of Third Day. This song appeared on his last album, though this live version is new. I appreciate it as a celebration of God’s salvation.
You brought me blessings out of a tragedy / You turned my old song into a symphony / And with Your Spirit living inside of me / I’m a new creation.
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Make Your Own Mistakes by Wilder Woods
Wilder Woods is the stage name for Bear Rinehart, the lead singer of the band Needtobreathe. This song from his solo project is a call for the coming generation to avoid making the mistakes of the previous one.
‘Cause I don’t want you to follow me down those / Same crooked roads to the same old places / I just want you to / Go your own way / You don’t have to chase down the same dreams I did / A heart like yours is hard to break / So go and make your own mistakes.
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Running Home by Cochren & Co.
This is another salvation story.
It wasn’t where I thought we’d meet / Outside of a dorm room on Franklin Street / With tears in my eyes in the driver’s seat / That’s just the place God came for me.
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I’ll Fly Away [Live] by the Gray Havens
The Gray Havens have been releasing a series of covers. My favorite so far is this live version of “I’ll Fly Away.”
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Crossway has begun a multi-year project to publish the complete works of John Owen. If you want to get the series, it may be best to keep up rather than wait until they are all published. To that end, Westminster Books is offering the initial volumes at a good discount.

In Defense of Libraries
I’m an advocate of e-books, but hopefully that doesn’t mean I can’t also be an advocate of libraries. (Are you allowed to read e-books in a library?) This is a great article written in defense of libraries.
The Goal of Scripture Memorization is Not Recitation
“In my experience as a child growing up in a small Baptist church, I was taught to memorize verses in order to recite them at competitions with other churches. Bible Drill was the program that taught me to memorize, but without an understanding of what I was memorizing, I left the practice of Scripture memory somewhere around the fourth grade. If the goal of memorizing Scripture was to recite it for others, I wasn’t interested.”
5 Questions to Ask Before You Post on Social Media
In Taming the Fingers, Pastor Jeff Johnson offers five practical questions that can help us cultivate heavenly wisdom in our use of social media:  Am I controlled?  Am I calm?  Am I careful? Am I compassionate?  Am I conscientious? (Sponsored Link)
Can I Share a Little Secret About Speaking at Conferences?
Rory Shiner shares a secret about speaking at conferences. He’s absolutely right in what he says, too.
Stop Calling Them Names
If you’re prone to use name-calling with theological opponents, Sam Emadi wants you to consider some passages that address our unhealthy culture in evangelicalism of pejorative labeling.
How Are We Being Saved Right Now?
We know that we have been saved, but in what sense are we being saved right now? John Piper addresses a common question here.
The Local Church We All Need
Lara d’Entremont: “About three or four years ago, my family changed our stance on baptism. As we studied Scripture, listened to those who knew more than us, and read many books on the subject, we stepped away from the view of believer’s baptism and embraced Presbyterian infant baptism. This change came slowly and with much humility, especially to us two adults who had scoffed at the doctrine for years. Yet with this change came complications, the major one being that the closest Presbyterian church was a three hour drive away.” She explains how her own local church was made especially and unexpectedly precious in this time.
Flashback: Scepters, Crowns, Thrones
If there are scepters in God’s invisible kingdom, they are not grasped in clenched fists but joyfully surrendered to the true king. If there are crowns in God’s invisible kingdom, they are worn only so they can be removed to be thrown at his feet.

Sanctification is about becoming in practice what we are in reality. Sanctification is really the process of us catching up with our justification. —Matt Papa