January 6th, 2026

Dear Friends,

On July 7, 1902, Theodor Herzl, the founder of political Zionism, giving evidence before a Royal Commission while in London, was asked why Jewish immigration to other host countries was not as important as immigration to Palestine, especially since Jewish philanthropists were providing significant financial backing for establishing settlements across the Atlantic. Herzl replied that the plan had been a failure ‘because when you want a great settlement, you must have a flag and an idea. You cannot make those things only with money.’ He then expressed the essence of Zionism when he told the commissioners, ‘With money you cannot make a general movement of a great mass of people. You must give them an ideal. You must put into them the belief in their future, and then you will be able to take out of them the devotion to the hardest labour imaginable.’ (Israel: A History; Martin Gilbert; 21)

Like all great leaders, Herzl understood that conviction and hope drive commitment and sacrifice. When people have a clear vision of a certain future, they will do what is necessary to stay on the road that leads to that future.

So, in this first letter of 2026, let me ask you, what is the future towards which you are journeying? How certain are you of it? Are you certain enough that your certainty is translating to action in your life each day?

Yesterday, I picked up my grandson, Reuben, for BDQ (Birthday Dairy Queen), a practice I’ve set up with each of my grandkids to celebrate their birthday. We go to Dairy Queen and they can choose whatever treat they want and then we visit. When I picked up Reuben, he brought along a ziplock bag that contained numerous pieces of a working “Pop can” robot that he had purchased. He didn’t ask if we could do it. He just assumed that we could because Grandpa is always building something and loves to do it. So, while enjoying ice cream treats, we built a robot at my kitchen peninsula.

Reuben illustrates what Herzl was talking about. He was so certain of my willingness to help him that he thought asking was unnecessary (and it was — I was delighted to help him). He simply acted in a way consistent with what he was convinced was true.

As we begin this new year, what are the convictions that are actually shaping the way you live? Do you believe that we are to be witnesses? Are you bearing good witness (we all bear witness to something every moment of our lives but it may not be what we claim to believe) or at least learning to do so? Do you believe that people are lost forever if they die without saving faith? Are you praying for lost people around you? Are you building relationships with lost people?

Yes, this requires effort — maybe even sacrifice. But, if the vision is clear and you are convinced …

Blessings!

Doug