If you're a Christian pastor, MAGA or anti-MAGA or in between, you really owe it to your congregation to read this: https://open.substack.com/pub/cassidysteeledale/p/how-i-made-an-easy-impossible-decision?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Did you know that 70-80% of US already understand that climate change is real and dangerous? Let's speak up. It's as simple as saying, every chance we get, "I don't know about you, but I see that climate change is real and dangerous, and I want our leaders to take action."

My friend Richard Flyer releases his important new book to the world today. I highly recommend it! https://www.richardflyer.com/p/its-live-birthing-the-symbiotic-age

Gifted documentary filmmaker Kristen Cesario Irving has invited me for a live online conversation: 14 January 2026 at 1 pm PT/4pm ET. Link here:
https://open.substack.com/live-stream/97188

The best list of best new books I've ever come across ... I'm honored to be on it, and can't wait to read the others: https://open.substack.com/pub/processthis/p/top-23-books-i-read-in-2025-and-cant?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

You can get a feel for what it's like to join an interfaith prayer vigil at Alligator Alcatraz here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=835376042642099&rdid=dkwlbwtFd5tX8cCI
When you bear witness to the shameful spectacle unfolding in real time in our country right now, it makes you more sensitive to how many of these ugly acts have occurred in our history. And it makes you determined to raise your voice against them ... praying and working for a better future. We don't have to live this way!

Where I'll be tomorrow and how you can join us in person or virtually: https://brianmclaren.net/where-ill-be-tomorrow-sunday-14-december-at-4-pm-et-and-why-and-how-you-can-join-us-live-or-virtually/

The mindset of hope is the opposite of optimistic complacency and despondent resignation. When our problems are bigger than our solutions, the hopeful heart doesn't pretend everything will magically turn out OK, nor does it give up in self-fulfilling defeat: it looks for new creative possibilities beyond on our current repertoire of solutions. It seeks new possibilities currently deemed impossible. (For more, see Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart.)

Hi, friends - I wanted to be sure you know about Southern Lights, January 23-25, 2026, on the beautiful Georgia coast. It's an amazing time of fellowship, amazing speakers, and gifted artists (this year, a world-class poet and musicians). Links here:
https://brianmclaren.net/are-you-carrying-some-mixture-of-grief-anger-and-fear-and-not-sure-what-to-do-with-it/

It's giving Tuesday. If you have a generous impulse today, I hope you'll consider joining me in supporting a project that is focused on young people. You can learn more here: https://www.zoeoncampus.com/donate