We have heard it said that power corrupts. As far as history can tell, that saying holds true. No matter what form of government, corruption always finds its way into the heart of those who wield power. It was for this reason that our founding fathers instituted a republic with separation of powers, and checks and balances, that is subject to the will of the people. But over time, the power that we the people hold has been diverted to the bureaucracy. And the transparency and obedience that we expect from our elected officials has been all but forgotten. As frightening as it may be, it requires someone to stand up against it if it is ever going to get fixed. And in one very famous and specific example, we can see exactly what happens when one man decides to stand up against this kind of corruption.

Ambition, courage, and conviction are all noble attributes to possess. But any one of these values, if not sustained, can quickly lead to us burning out and leaving our passions and skills behind us. We need all three of these attributes if we are ever going to turn our passions and skills into anything worthwhile or profitable. But in order to count on all three, there is a fourth virtue that we must possess. A virtue which ensures the other three and holds them together like glue. Consistency. Consistency is the greatest superpower that anyone can have. Often times the difference between success and failure, isn’t talent or ability, but consistency. A man who can consistently do a good job, is more desirable than a man that can do a great job on an inconsistent basis. Sticking with our passions and skills is the great divider between those who really want it and those who don’t. If you can’t do something over a long period of time, you will never see the progress that you desire.

Having a high level intelligence is one of the most coveted attributes on the planet. Everyone wants to be considered smart. This is because being smart is naturally linked to a higher level of success. Of the most famous figures throughout history, there are very few, if any, that we would consider dumb. It is intelligence that increases your potential for success, and the intentional application of intelligence that allows you to achieve that success. I strongly believe that in today's society, we are seeing a decrease in average intelligence. You can blame the public school system, or lazy parents, but I personally would place the blame upon something much larger and much more important. The lack of truth, and subsequently, the absence of pursuit of truth. When a society is no longer provided with truth and the ambition to pursue it, idiocy prevails. 

Discrimination is a word that has been thrown around a lot throughout American history. Whether de facto or de jure, people widely agree upon the idea that discrimination is evil. But practicing discrimination isn’t always unjust. It is ignorance, hatred, and malice that pushes discrimination across the line towards injustice.

You are the bad guy. This phrase is one that nobody wants to hear. But thats what makes it so important. Every one of us needs a person in our life who is willing to tell us when we are in the wrong. Just like we need to be able to accept the fact that we can be wrong. And we also need to be willing to understand that some people will always think we are in the wrong, no matter what we say or do. For all of these reasons, we all need to get very comfortable with the idea that we are more than capable of being the villain. In fact, you are very likely already the villain in somebody else’s story. Or perhaps the villain in your own story. 

The physical world is only 1/3 of our being. Then why do we make it our entire focus? Especially when it is actually the least important aspect of our existence. It is this undue attention on the physical world that makes our life more difficult than it needs to be. There is more pleasure to be found in this life. But we will never find it in the physical. It can only be found beyond the five senses.

Chess is life. Its difficulty to master and satisfaction to win makes it both a frustrating and worthwhile endeavor. It can not be won easily. There is no cheating, no card counting, or rule bending that can tip the game in your favor. It’s all about what you do. Your ability to perceive the board around you and respond with the best possible move. Your ability to outwit your opponent, and beat them by sheer superiority of your actions. The game alone is a comparison for life. But the lessons that can be extracted from strategy and understanding the job of each piece on the board is what has made chess into the most important board game in history. 

The world is lonesome. I see it as no mistake that God would make us as individuals. Responsible for our own lives, and capable of making our own decision. There is a cruelty and a kindness to such a design. On the one hand, we are free. To speak, act, and think as we wish is the greatest kindness God could bestow on His creation. However it is this kindness that leads us in to trouble most often. Despite this fact, it would be a cruelty for God to take this ability from us. For us to give it to Him, however, is an entirely different concept. The freedom of man makes him lonely. But a man who gives this freedom to God, will find that God is willing to exchange it with something much greater. His presence in our life.

As the 2024 election season is ramping up, Babylon is roaring. But all of this chaos was designed, or at least allowed.

Winston Churchill's famous "Never let a good crisis go to waste" is the mantra of the Kingdom of Babylon. As the world descends into crisis, Babylon rises like a phoenix from the ashes. With 4 BILLION people going to the polls to decide their leadership this year, now is the perfect opportunity for Babylon to make its checkmate move to work its way into the drivers seat. How will we respond?

Leadership is a very crucial and coveted position. The ability to call the shots, make the decisions, and direct the outcomes. It’s all that anybody wants. It’s why people will spend their whole life trying to climb the corporate ladder, or risk it all to start their own business. The position of leadership, in and of itself, is an inspiration to those who admire it and a motivation to those who aspire for it. So then it stands to reason that a leader should be someone who is equally respectable as the position they hold. A person of great moral authority and responsibility. Someone who will not shirk from great challenges, but gladly welcome them. Who in the midst of their failures will humble themselves at the mercy of the people they serve, and accept their due consequence, without excuse or casting blame. And in the midst of their victories will step aside, and exalt all those who would otherwise get no recognition. We all know the quality of a leader when we see one. So why don’t we examine the leadership we have now?