Young boys are more likely to believe in themselves if they know that there’s someone, somewhere, who shares that belief. To carry the burden of belief alone is too much for most young shoulders.

Boredom in teenage boys is a powerful motivation to create chaos.

After my time working for the government as a soldier, I reacquainted myself with the possibilities of government as a force for good beyond its awesome capacity as a force in war and security.

I’m not a warmonger – like many who have worn the uniform, I am particularly averse to war. I’m also not someone who believes in empire building or imperialistic or paternalistic attitudes about the world outside of America. But our passion, influence, and responsibility as humans can never end at our borders.

I sat back, allowing Wes’s words to sink in. Then I responded, “I guess it’s hard sometimes to distinguish between second chances and last chances.

One thing I began to realize in my travels was that everyone I met who was truly successful – whether in business, in philanthropic work, in human rights, in government, or in raising a family – shared one common trait: they were fanatically passionate about the work they did.

I want to live an interesting life.

What need can I best help address?

Abdullah explained to me the man had not understood the significance of the image on the flag, so Abdullah told him it was a picture of Afghanistan – a picture of his country. At that, the man had shrugged and walked away. That’s when I started to understand that our goal of establishing loyalty to a national government was possibly in trouble.

When our passion for the Great Commission, becomes our search for the Great Politician, we know we’re lost.