I've spent a lot of time on the road this summer. In fact, my friends and I have put about 10,000 miles on an RV, and we've got about 5,000 more to go. Driving the interstates of this country, it really does become evident how reliant we are on trucking and diesel fuel to fund our way of life.

Personally, I'm torn about our reliance on fossil fuels. I am very much in favor of weaning ourselves from these fuels, and I'm committed to ideas like wind energy and eating primarily local food. However, I also know that principles like these are almost exclusively the purview of the wealthy (and, globally speaking, I count myself in that crowd). The vast majority of the world's population is reliant upon ships from China piled high with containers of products and food.

So, what to do? Well, my friends and I decided to use a biodiesel mix in our RV this summer as a step in the right direction. It's not perfect, but it's a step in the right direction.

Honestly, one of the most hopeful signs of our tour this summer is how many churches are taking sustainability seriously. From the use of fair trade coffee and ceramic mugs to sermons about human rights and climate change, churches are working to change people's minds and habits. That, I think, is some of the best news of the summer.