Is the despair apocalypse upon us? Dave and Joel talk about how things seem pretty dark. In Sydney, state-wide bushfires have turned the city into a scene from Blade Runner 2049. Our politics seems to be locked into the same old paradigms. Our churches and religious communities often appear silent or, worse, the empire that strikes back. Do we see signs of renewal or life? What is the role of hope in a world on fire? Merry Christmas!