It’s Thursday, which can mean only one thing. My friend the slightly humorous Funny Man Dan has posted his weekly thoughts on his blog. To celebrate one year of the Thursday Blog I have written a moving tribute to the man and the myth, so jump on over there and check it out.

I am putting the finishing touches on my message for the Napkin Conference in Las Vegas next week!! Now it’s a big investment for Justyn to get me all the way over there, so he has asekd me to guarantee certain things during my message; 1. a minimum of 16 chuckles and 4 big laughs. 2. At least 2 moments of clarity and revelation and 3. A minimum of 30% of the conference in tears (more than that and I will just be overdoing it).

(okay he hasn’t really).

(if you thought he had, you should get out more)

(To LAS VEGAS and the Napkin Conference!)

(Ha).

Speaking of conferences, we are almost at our annual Colour Conference here at Hillsong, and Rob just announced their Planet Shakers kids conference coming in April.

Let me tell you about my new son! Orlando Wakerley is the MAN. He is now 6 days old and lovin’ life. One child is great, but let me tell you I am really working on a family here. And our 4 year old Brooklyn is just the most delightful boy to ever be born. When your kids are healthy and happy you honestly feel like you can take on the world! God’s grace has covered us is the only way I can describe it. ESPECIALLY when you work with so many families facing sickness and issues — never take it for granted!

And that’s what hot!

Yes, my rather slow moving plan to populate the world with people genetically related to me has taken another giant step forward! You’ve read it on Twitter, seen him on facebook, well here he is on a blog! My new son Orlando Stephen Wakerley. Born on the 12th February at 2.09pm EST.

This is adding to my first child the oft-mentioned Brooklyn Justice Wakerley.

I am truly blessed in more ways than this short and humorous blog post can convey. A trouble free birth and a healthy progeny!

Why the name? Well calling a boy Betty would have just been silly.

Orlando… we like the sound of it, and it’s nice to keep naming our children with places found in various states littered around the USA.

Stephen… my fathers name. A man crazy enough to follow a dream and see miracles happen as a result.

Wakerley… kinda had to use that one (btw if you’re ever in England, you simply must visit my wood… Wakerley Wood).

Gifts may be dropped off at our estate located somewhere within that ancient forest, just follow the hounds and the sound of tea being brewed.

In 2001 my Dad began his first journey to India that would set in motion the journey towards establishing the Children’s Home in Bhachau…

On January 26, 2001, a large earthquake, registering 7.9 on the Richter Scale, devastated the area of Gujarat, northwest India. Five year old Rukshana emerged from the rubble an orphan. Her mother had been killed a week before in an electrical accident; her father was crushed in the rubble of their house. A photo of Rukshana, with a bandage over one eye, featured in the March edition of World Vision’s Impact magazine last year. Her image haunted many New Zealanders, among them Steve Wakerley of Christchurch… [Read On]

It has been a massive journey for my parents… as their three boys (me being one of them), left for parts uncharted (to Australia), they both have found that better late than never is the theme of the second half of their lives!

When I was growing up I remember conversations/discussion/prayers about Bali, which I imagined an exotic paradise filled with wild natives (any one who has grown up hearing about missionaries will know exactly what I mean). In some parallel universe it seemed I could have grown up a missionary kid, instead of playing left wing in my local Southbridge Rugby team in country New Zealand.

Now I may be completely off course and remember things through the filter of memory but Bali could have been an opportunity that never eventuated for whatever reason for us.

Now that their life has taken them to this incredibly challenging, frustrating, totally out-of-depth, but eternally significant experience I am in awe at their tenacity and faithfulness to the call of God in their lives.

They are making steady progress toward the finishing of a fantastic facility to eventually be used for::

• An orphanage for local children
• A free medical facility for those who can’t afford any kind of health-care
• A vocational training centre.

The people that will benefit from this ministry will be the poorest of the poor – children and adults who haven’t the means to bring up their children, eg. widows, orphans and the disabled.

So anyway, check out the site at: bhachau.org for more info.

As you may know I am holding a domain auction with the (however small or large) proceeds going directly to them, have look here.

I’m proud of you Mum and Dad!

Little family update here — you may wish to avoid unless you like cute pictures…

Brooklyn NYE in Sydney 2008