In his famous essay, “Isaiah’s Job”, Albert J. Nock made an important distinction. He told us a nation’s “masses” are not some homogenous bunch comprised of the poor, or uneducated. They are those citizens of any demographic who have neither the intellectual will to learn civilized decencies, nor the values to adhere to them.

After first reading Nock's jolting definition, I naturally did what any Christian gentleman would do: panicked and frantically analyzed myself for characteristics of masses-hood.  No symptoms here, currently.  Though I'm sure it will be a lifelong battle to stave off that disease.

And in the way it spreads, being a member of Nock's masses certainly is a just that - a disease.  Much the same way the rot of an apple extends to the bunch, apathy toward the most important subjects of life - social, political, and religious - extends stupidity over large swaths of any population. 

Without doubt, we know a majority of the modern American citizenry is miseducated at best regarding these subjects, and fully ignorant of them at worst.  Why?  How did the Land of the Free - so politically literate at one point that it staved off tyranny better than any other nation in human history - lose that knowledge, as well as the will to obtain it?  How did a nation of fierce individualists spawn so many of Nock's masses? 

If we can liken that trend of degeneration to the disease of AIDS, then clearly "Cultural Marxism" was its HIV precursor...

Born in a German city of the same name, "the Frankfurt School" housed no little boys or girls for decent education.  No teachers inspired future greatness there.  No professors, doctors, or students solved the mysteries of existence, made important discoveries, or added any value to life.  Indeed, it was no such "school" of any education at all.  Its aim was to provide quite the opposite. 

The early 20th century Marxist Revolution in communist Russia failed to garner military and governmental control over Europe and America as its creators had hoped.  Realizing the futility of openly vying for such control, they then turned to a more covert method.  Tyranny would now be achieved via slow and steady subversion of European and American values, not through government force as before, but with a secret manipulation of culture.  Through that poison the West would be made to bow, desensitized so thoroughly to the nature of their slavery they wouldn't even realize once they wore its shackles. 

One of several original conspirators, Georg Lukacs, said:

“I saw the revolutionary destruction of society as the one and only solution to the cultural contradictions of the epoch.... Such a worldwide overturning of values cannot take place without the annihilation of the old values and the creation of new ones by the revolutionaries.”
It was through such wordy intellectualizing that the Frankfurt School dressed its brainwash in presentable terms.  By labeling its' deviant machinations the  academic-sounding "Critical Theory" and employing other such highbrow jargon, the less educated public didn't realize the emporer had no clothes, nor that his aim was to strip them as well.  The "new" values which Lukacs schemed for would be those directly necessary for the implementation of communism/socialism - in short, full government control. 

Another quite telling line to come from the school (its originator is currently disputed) regards the destructive plan for Marxism's "long march through the institutions" - institutions like the family, education, and Christianity.  One "student" of the school described its body of academic work as the

"destructive criticism of all the main elements of Western culture, including Christianity, capitalism, authority, the family, patriarchy, hierarchy, morality, tradition, sexual restraint, loyalty, patriotism, nationalism, heredity, ethnocentrism, convention, and conservatism."
The Frankfurt School moved from its European base to New York City in 1935.  It was welcomed with open arms by the politically left-leaning Ivey League college system and stationed at Columbia University.  As that cluster of universities still remains today, its place at the top of American education ensured that the Frankfurt School's plans for subversion of family, religion, and traditional values would reach a level of influence only dreampt of previously.  Other universities of lesser standing would emulate its new "approach" to culture, while its own studentry - the nation's most powerful and influential future citizens - would be awash in the Frankfurt School's hidden Marxism.


Today, "Critical Theory" has seeped into the veins of the entire American educational establishment.  It "plays a major role in ideological reproduction, and in enculturating individuals into the dominant system of needs, thought, and behavior," as told from the horse's mouth in the form of Prof. Douglas Kellner, Frankfurt School adherent and UCLA's chair "in the Philosophy of Education in the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies." 


Kellner reiterates:

"The critical theorists have deeply influenced contemporary social theory, philosophy, communications theory and research, cultural theory, and other disciplines for six decades. The dream of a interdisciplinary social theory continues to animate the sociological imagination. In recent decades there have been many different attempts to articulate the connections between the economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions of contemporary society in the spirit of critical theory."
The degree to which Kellner says the Frankfurt School influences American thought is staggering.  I surmise that the Frankfurt School ignited latent fires awaiting in the darkest desires of America's political and industrial Establishment.  They now had the Critical Theory's camouflage of false intellectual, academic justification with which they could gouge the power-restraining, freedom-conducive institutions from the mind of the West - primarily, traditional, familial, and Christian values.

The plethora of cultural upheavals in the 1960s presented a prime opportunity for Frankfurt School theorists.  Anger at the Vietnam war draft turned many young people against older groups keen on military action.  They opened their minds in rebellion to many varieties of new and foreign ideas.  Frankfurt-influenced universities, as well as Frankfurt-influenced individuals in prominent positions and the arts and entertainment industry, went to work tearing down time-tested, proven traditions. 

The federal government, likely under the influence of its many Ivey-Leaguers, certainly acted in the spirit of the Frankfurt School by beginning its program of expanding single parenthood with  tempting welfare offers for such families, despite the almost nonexistent need.  By the end of the next decade, the black family unit was all but decimated. 

The demonizing of the traditional American way of life, coupled with the simultaneous promotion of fringe groups - women, black militants, gays, Marxist college graduates, immigrants - seemed an obviously calculated attempt to create a new political class - the "alienated" and similar "victims" - to replace the old Soviet "proletariat" in the coming Communist/Socialist/Marxist revolution.  Antonio Gramsci, who is perhaps the father of this entire movement, began to see his idea for "cultural hegemony" come to life - that is, the concept that a diverse society in continuous cultural disruption is most conducive to rule by an elite class.

We see this same plan still holding strong in the modern day "Democratic Party."  Fringe groups are herded together every four years to form the Democratic voting block.  All of society's outskirts are gleaned for any potential voters.  Propaganda reigns supreme as it is blasted from the rooftops in effort to unite the victims "rejected" or "hurt" by traditional American value-holders.  Any effort to disprove their "oppression" is quickly demonized as the flawed product
of traditionalist, racist, misogynist, or homophobic thought, currently known as "privilege."

Reverberations of this effect cruise through the culture of its adherents and their minds.  Lewd music lyrics become defended as "art".  Displays of once-private or even detested behaviors become publicized.  Critics become "oppressors."  Desensitization to all explicities grows exponentially.  Those who are taken in by this scheme become distracted, dumbed down, and, for all political purposes enslaved by their most base, animalistic desires.  Hence the need for explicit sex scenes and explosions in movies, drugs and alcohol at social functions, violent and sexual lyrics in music, "twerking" in dance clubs and entertainment videos, and of course, nonchalance toward and distraction from the use of violence at home and abroad by the government. 

There are reasons why your grandparents' generation largely didn't partake in such things, but you and yours do, and it wasn't because they were less free.  It was because they were more free.

Although the most fitting name for this most unfortunate phenomena is "Cultural Marxism", today it is commonly known as "political correctness."

William S. Lind, head of the Free Congress Foundation's Center for Cultural Conservatism, tells us:

"Political Correctness is cultural Marxism. It is Marxism translated from economic into cultural terms. It is an effort that goes back not to the 1960s and the hippies and the peace movement, but back to World War I. If we compare the basic tenets of Political Correctness with classical Marxism the parallels are very obvious."
Lind argues that political correctness has resulted in Americans becoming "afraid of using the wrong word, a word denounced as offensive or insensitive, or racist, sexist, or homophobic" and that that fear can be attributed to cultural Marxism as peddled by the Frankfurt School's Critical Theory influences.

DiscoveringTheNetworks.org says the following regarding political correctness/cultural Marxism:

"When addressing the general public, contemporary advocates of Political Correctness – or Cultural Marxism, as it might just as easily be called – present their beliefs with appealing simplicity as merely a commitment to being “sensitive” to other people and embracing values such as “tolerance” and “diversity"...  The reality is different. Political Correctness is the use of culture as a sharp weapon to enforce new norms and to stigmatize those who dissent from the new dispensation; to stigmatize those who insist on values that will impede the new "PC" regime: free speech and free and objective intellectual inquiry."
Today, culturally marxist, left wing influence is a threat to Christendom's very existence. Government-driven mass immigration dilutes the influence of freedom-minded people by replacing them with socialists, communists, and theocratic third worlders. Public education is producing children unable to evaluate and execute successful life choices. The welfare state has devastated the poor. Politically correct speech imperatives prevent scientific inquiry into key population demographics. Feminism, gender fluidity, and abortion continue to injure the prominence of the family unit, which has always been the cornerstone of a free society.  Wild and frenzied accusations of racism threaten to reduce race relations greater than ever before, with current race relations at a twenty year low.

The nation's young people, in particular the elites and Ivy-League types, exhibit religious and maniacal adherence to the above mentioned problems, championing them not only as good, but as deserving expansion.  They will eventually leave their coddling universities and become senators, presidents, governors, congressmen and industrial leaders. They will take their idiocies with them.

The promotion of their destructive behavior as virtuous is ceaselessly promoted by Big Government through law, speech, and Hollywood film subsidies.  When leftists assert claims of “racism”, “sexism”, or “homophobia”, they are aiding in the growth of government.  It matters very little whether they explicitly request for government to repsond. They are spreading State "anti-discrimination" propaganda, the hidden aim of which being to drum up the fear and discontent necessary to outlaw virtually all criticism, which has long served as a natural deterrent to degenerate behavior and societal decline.

They promote rampant hedonism, irresponsibility, and reality detachment, because this destabilizes a society and encourages it to readily acquiesce to new laws, even beg for them. If a woman can become a man, or if a caucasian like Shaun King can deem himself black, then the idea that reality and nature are concrete becomes disempowered. Silly politically correct beliefs and federal diktats can take the place of obvious truths, and once a people may no longer declare plain truths without persecution, a New Tyranny becomes ripe.  And of course, if reality is fluid, then so are economic laws, which can then be decided by the almighty Marxist State.

Albert Nock's definition of the "masses", was, again, those people of any demographic who are unwilling to learn civilized decencies and do not have the values to adhere to them anyway. After that group the rest, Nock said, can be likened to the faithful “remnant” that our dear Yehovah commanded Isaiah to save from destruction.  Let us pray that God would show us how to see through the machinations of Marxism in this troubled time, that we may survive it as well as rescue our friends and countrymen.

Long live the remnant!

​          All across our country churches meet weekly. While church is great and our participation is even greater, there are some important areas we are neglecting in the body of Christ. In this post I would like to point out the strengths and weaknesses of the various branches of ministry that I have witnessed during my experience in the field. Many of us will agree, while some of us will not. The main point is simply to bring awareness to both the positives and negatives since many seminaries tend to focus on their methods without producing the “why” in what they do. I’d like to first list all the awesome things we are doing for our youth in the church today, followed by the issues we can improve on. Lastly, to offer some possible solutions to the issues we face and their causes. Before you disregard this post as irrelevant to yourself due to your lack of work in the field of youth ministry, know that everyone in the church has a tremendous impact on our youth even if all you do is attend the worship service (Matthew 5:13, Deuteronomy 6:4-9).
            The church as a body seems to be as active as ever in the lives of our young people across America. Much of this ministry is happening in areas where churches are concentrated and located, making large areas of less densely populated regions in more need. Fortunately, more churches and youth ministries are planted daily which will help fill that need. There are more programs available then there ever has been and sometimes there are most likely too many. These programs allow our young people to participate in the learning process and build on their fellowshipping skills. Some ministries focus more on youth participation in active worship allowing them to develop a more mature relationship with Christ and the discipleship that goes along with it (Matthew 21:15-16). There are many churches out there that have also developed in the area of evangelism. They actively participate in and train the young people how to be true “fishers of men”. Generous giving by the church has allowed for the building of physical resources needed in the line of youth ministry and frequent attendance of events such as worship concerts. This allows young people to see that worshipping God can be fun and enjoyable, while also showing how much the church body cares about their spiritual well-being. Investing in the youth is investing in the future Kingdom of God and the church (2 Timothy 2:1-2). A good example is how Paul invested in the ministry of Timothy, which surely helped the church become what it is today. Without the investment in youth like Timothy, we would have been many decades farther behind in the church.

You have heard the good, now it’s time for the bad and ugly. While there is nothing we can do to change the past of immense hurts the church has inflicted upon the people of God, we can put in under the blood of Christ and focus on improving the future of our children. Even though the church appears active in the ministry of the youth, the activity is part of its biggest downfall. Activity seems to have replaced true ministry for our youth. Softball games have been steadily replacing mid-week and Sunday night services, forcing those who really do desire to dive into God’s Word and worship to fade away (Hebrews 10:24-25). Fun time that was once reserved for rewards now dominates the entire worship service, teaching our youth that we don’t have to get serious about our faith and relationship with God. It is difficult to determine if a ministry that neglects its responsibility to seriously give proper Biblical instruction, serves a much greater purpose of not having a youth ministry at all. While it teaches fellowship, it also shows an improper balance of fellowship giving it priority over instruction and worship. Most “churched” areas receive a good coverage of youth ministry options for the kids in the area, while larger “unchurched” areas go without service to youth in the region.  Even regions with numerous youth ministries often show areas of weakness where certain demographic groups are not being evangelized. One of the largest under-served demographic groups is youth who are part of split parent homes. It is common to see one parent who emphasizes a relationship with Christ, while the other parent does not. Sometimes neither parent has a relationship with God themselves, making it all the more difficult to reach that child. Regardless of what we say, we can claim Jesus; but the youth are watching if we do or do not live out our faith. As youth ministers, church members, or parents; we have to show our children how to live not just say it.
            The positive things we do for our youth as a church shows them how much we care. Unfortunately, the negative has the opposite effect from my experience (Matthew 5:16). On one hand we support our young people by providing transportation for them to come in, teaching them Biblical principles and funding outside ministry ventures. On the other hand, we divide the adults from the youth by the things we do, say, and think. I could spend a whole separate post giving examples of these behaviors, but for the sake of time I will only give a couple. There have been many instances in which I have seen inner-city kids bussed in to a church only to find out there was a shortage of food, supplies, etc. You learn quickly in my part of the country that the fastest way to lose a child’s interest  is to not have the same privileges for one as another, or allow them to go hungry while preaching the Gospel to them. There was another instance where a kid was being personally instructed by an older (“wise”) church member on how stupid he thought it was for young boys to “sag” their pants while hanging out in the street. While he surely had good intentions for this coaching session, it was highly irrelevant for a young man who faces violence and street life daily (Ephesians 4:29). That youth’s time would be much better spent hearing the basics of the Gospel first and possibly being convicted of the Holy Spirit later on how to dress (2 Corinthians 5:17). An ignorant moment such as these examples really proves to the youth that we do not truly care, but instead have hidden agendas.
            There are many answers to the problems I have stated here, but we have to be willing to adopt a single loving mindset before any of them can be solved. That mindset is being in the mindset of Christ (Matthew 18:1-5). Jesus clearly tells us in scripture how important children are in the Kingdom of God. They are given priority over all others, which should give us some guidance as to how they should be prioritized in the church as well. Our best should always be given when it comes to the youth. Once a foundation is laid for them in faith, the Word is clear that if done properly they “will not depart from it”. As a church, we should provide the best resources possible towards our youth. Being over funded in ministry is practically impossible, but the reality for most of the churches is far from even being partly funded in the department youth ministry. Instead of gold plated china (yes this happens), we should probably prioritize our resources more responsibly by providing some paid passes to the next youth camp. Once we develop the mindset of Christ’s love, everything else will easily fall in line with God’s priorities. If a church board is not in line with God’s Word, there will be consequences in this life and the next. Priorities will be neglected, and the effectiveness of the ministry will be negatively impacted. As leaders of the church we should always be aware of the spiritual maturity and leadership of the individuals we place into important positions within the church. With the help of the Holy Ghost, we will be convicted of the right decisions and actions. I pray your local church can identify these issues and begin to address any problem areas as given here that you may be experiencing. As always, thank you for joining us and God Bless!
 
 
Matthew 5:13 (ESV)
13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
 
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (ESV)
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
 
Matthew 21:15-16 (KJV)
15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,
16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
 
2 Timothy 2:1-2 (ESV)
2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a] who will be able to teach others also.
 
Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
 
Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
 
Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
 
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
 
Matthew 18:1-5 (KJV)
18 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
 

            What an awesome time of the year! All around the country kids are headed back to school. Many parents are shouting and jumping for joy, while others are shedding tears of sadness that their little ones are now all grown up. It won’t be long before all this hustle and bustle of the new schedule becomes the dull routines of our seemingly eternal weeks. Remember that as God keeps track of all these activities and things going on in this world, He is never too busy for his child.  After the newness of this new schedule has faded and our days seem full of the same old crazy monotonous habits, don’t forget to keep God at the forefront of your day. As long as we incorporate God into our schedules, we are reminded that everything we do is for the glory of the one who created us in His own image. Keep your eyes on God while your hands complete the tasks necessary for the care of our families and the building up of His Kingdom.
         
         It is really easy to feel small in such a large world. This can happen especially when we have millions of people simultaneously all shouting for attention all at the same time. It is easy to think how God must be overwhelmed not just with the wickedness of this world, but also at the rate at which we request (more like demand) His help. When the thought crosses my mind, I imagine a kindergarten teacher with 30 five year old kids all with questions at the same time. It makes me want to pull my hair out just thinking about it. The good news is, we don’t serve a flesh created God. We serve a master who isn’t controlled, but controls all things (Isaiah 41:10). He is only bound by His Word and He is the author of that Word. He doesn’t just hear and see, He sees and hears all things (Hebrews 4:13). Never feel like God is too busy to listen to your prayers, needs, and requests. God is good all the time, so God also cares all the time (1 John 5:14). God is always thrilled to hear from His people and like a parent, He encourages our communication with Him. Never allow the noise of the world to drown out your conviction to talk with the savior of the world. Speaking of drowning noise, this brings me to the subject of priorities. 

          Keeping God number one in your schedule is the key to managing your life. Balance is a vital key to spiritual health and the longevity of your relationship with God (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). With God as your number one priority, many of life’s basic needs are already in place (Matthew 6:33-34). God knows our needs and wouldn’t have us go without those basic needs (Matthew 10:29-31). I have a family member that has for most of their life, put alcohol first in their life. This includes taking priority over God, family, housing, food, protection, and anything else you can imagine. The consequences have been nothing short of frightening. Just in the last 12 years, this person has lost their family including a spouse and kids. They have managed to destroy a small business which at one time created a six figure income. Did I mention they also lost their home, their ability to work, and even drive? Sounds like they lacked some serious priorities in their life and were living a lifestyle of destruction. In contrast, I know countless couples who have made the conscious decision to put God first in their life. This includes putting God first over their spouses, children, homes, jobs, and anything else you could plug in that list. The consequences of this have also been nothing short of shocking. Most are flourishing at their jobs, their spouses love them dearly, their children are doing well, and they never go without somewhere to stay and food in their stomachs. Being a Christian will not in any way make your life perfect with no stress, but it does give you someone to turn to when it does get crazy (John 16:33). As the responsibilities pile up and the calculus homework can’t get any harder, remind your family who we are to worship. Remind the family that Jesus remains the number one priority in your life. I won’t forget that while I was in Seminary, our professors were always quick to let us know that we were allowed to do average in their classes. We were allowed to get B or C averages if we could maintain the priorities of God and family. If we had an “A” in attendance at church and home, we could afford to do average in the classrooms. This was an early lesson on maintaining balance in our lives both spiritually and professionally.
         
         No matter who you are or what you do for a living, you’re God’s child (Isaiah 43:1). It doesn’t matter to God if you’re the pastor, the choir leader, the person who doesn’t have time to even volunteer every week, a school teacher, or the nursery teacher; God still cares. It doesn’t matter how big you feel your job is or how small, all things done in the name of Christ are big (Colossians 3:17). The battle going on in the spiritual dimensions are one we will not understand until the coming of Christ. Even the small actions in this world creates ripple effects in the heavens (Ephesians 6:12 & Matthew 18:18-19). Yes, it matters how you build that little child’s image up by telling them God loves them. Yes, it matters how well you operate your local business because people can see Christ in you. Yes, it matters that Hillary Clinton lies about emails and Donald Trump speaks roughly about others. It matters to God that parents will take them to T-ball practice, but won’t take the time to teach them about their heavenly Father. I believe you get the idea that everything matters to God now, but remembering it in the moment is a hard task sometimes. It’s hard when the little one spits up on his school uniform as you’re running late already, the first voice mail you receive is from a teacher saying Johnny put gum in some girls hair today, and the daycare calls to tell you the youngest child can’t stay because he has a fever of 99F. I get it, life is a huge trial. Maybe you’ve passed the age of children and after work errands. Regardless, you have a place building the kingdom of God. You are never too old or young to be a light in a dark world (Proverbs 20:29 & Psalms 92:12-14). That kid at school that always seems down, the guy next to you at the gas pump, the business man coming out of the local bar, they all have the need of Jesus in common. We are all called to be a witness for Christ and can all make a difference daily impacting God’s Kingdom forever (Matthew 28:16-20).

​Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
10 fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
 
Hebrews 4:13 (KJV)
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
 
1 John 5:14 (KJV)
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
 
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)
3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
 
Matthew 6:33-34 (ESV)
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
 
Matthew 10:29-31 (ESV)
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?[a] And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
 
John 16:33 (ESV)
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
 
Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)
43 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
 
Colossians 3:17 (ESV)
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
 
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
 
Matthew 18:18-19 (KJV)
18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
 
Proverbs 20:29 (KJV)
29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
 
Psalm 92:12-14 (KJV)
12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;
 
 
Matthew 28:16-20 (KJV)
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.