Mention the New Age movement and you're likely to get amused condescension:  "Oh yes, crystals."  "Oh yes, astrology."  To many people, the New Age movement means trendy gimmicks and silly superstitions.  That should concern us.  For the New Age movement is more than a matter of this technique or that gimmick. What underlies all these surface phenomena is a way of looking at life, a philosophy, a world view, a faith.  And it is a faith hostile to Christian faith.

I can think of no better way to explain the New Age world view than by quoting extensively from a children's book I just read.  A classic, I might add. (And you thought you could trust the classics to be harmless?) It's entitled The Secret Garden, by Francis Hodgson Burnett.

Most of you who have children will probably recognize the title.  But how many of you noticed that about two-thirds of the way through the book, the author launches into a straightforward explication of Hindu pantheism? (Do you know what your children are reading?)

If you are new to faith in Jesus, or even if you've been a Christian for a long time, you may find it hard to pray; you're not sure you know the right words. But take heart. According to Jesus, prayer doesn't have to be fancy. When you pray, you are not performing to impress the judge of a speech contest; you are pouring out your heart to your Father. He understands you and knows what you need even before you ask him.

Think of words you learned as a child: "Daddy." "Wow!" "I'm sorry." "Please." "Thank you." "Ouch!" "Why?" "I love you." If you know these words, you can pray. Like a child saying "Daddy," talk to God as your dear Father (Matthew 6:9). Like a child exclaiming "Wow!" or "Awesome!", marvel at God and praise his wonders (Psalm 104). Like a child sobbing "I'm sorry," admit your sins to God and ask his forgiveness (Psalm 51). Like a child begging "Please," bring your requests to God urgently but respectfully, trusting him to give you what is best for you (Matthew 6:7). Like a child saying "Thank you," count your blessings and thank God for his answers to prayer (Psalm 107). Like a child screaming "Ouch!", tell God your pain and problems (Psalm 6). Like a child asking "Why?", bring your confusion to God and seek his wisdom (James 1:5). Like a child saying, "I love you," pour out your love to God, and rest in his love (Psalm 18:1).

There is no one more important in a child's life than the child's father.  The father is irreplaceable and critical to the child's all around well being.  Fathers have an amazing responsibility to train and shape their children.

It is the dream of many fathers for their children to succeed in sports, particularly boys, for many reasons including: overcoming both internal and external obstacles, benefits of physical exertion, character building, and learning how to work with others.

So fathers often pour themselves into their children's success as they repetitiously drill the fundamentals with their child until they reach an age appropriate perfection.  If a child asks the father to throw the ball, kick the ball,bounce the ball, swim, ski, surf, etc, the father often happily, or if not happily, willingly agrees.  Many fathers will coach the team, drive the child up and down the state, stay all day during the tournament or swim meet, all in an effort to encourage and support the success of their child.

In the Bible, having many children is a blessing from God. But in our society, if a couple has more than two children, people sneer, "Haven't they heard of birth control?" Babies are seen as a frightful invasion to be halted.

Babies are an invasion, all right. They are an invasion of love into our selfishness, an invasion of joy into our dullness, an invasion of mystery into our predictability, an invasion of purpose into our aimlessness, an invasion of wonder into our boredom, an invasion of life to carry on after we die. Babies are God's invasion of blessing, promise and future.