This blog space is sacred.

I mean, I spend hours pouring over exactly the wording and content of every single post just to make sure I honour the platform and influence that this little corner of the internet has given me.

37 readers, plus my Mum is not to be sneezed at.

So to use this blog to say a big Happy Birthday to someone should be considered an honour of such magnitude that it would make grown men weep, ladies swoon at the knees and grandfathers pin the medals of their youth on this blog post in gratitude and awe.

Happy Birthday Funny Man Dan.

He turns a year older today (not unusual an occurrence obviously), a year wiser (slightly more unusual) and a kilogram heavier (one can only assume upon imagining the food he will be consuming).

But to be serious for a moment:

• There is not a man on earth I would trust more to bring laughter to kids
• There is no greater writing partner of  scripts that connect with kids
• I have have seen no greater transformation from ‘crusty student bachelor man’ to responsible, loving husband/father
• He’s a man that goes above and beyond to ensure everyone feels included
• A man who’s revelation of Jesus guides everything he does
• A husband who makes the special celebrations very special (leaving approximately 3 days in the year that are normal)
• A father that puts the well being of his wife and kids (one still womb bound) a top priority

The media’s attention has moved on to Japan, but today in Christchurch (the town I grew up in) they held a memorial service in one of the beautiful city parks.

This is the video they played during the service.

Christchurch Earthquake 2011 – Central City

The central city is still off limits to everyone. And I know of numerous friends who have left town, some who have made the jump to Australia.

The future? God knows.

I grew up in Christchurch New Zealand.

It’s my home.

Growing up I loved the name… Christchurch. It was a statement that said a lot about it’s heritage, probably the most ‘English‘ city outside of England.

So it is with a heavy heart that I watch on Australian TV the horrific earthquake that has hit my town, a town I was in last week visiting my family. The second major quake that has hit New Zealand in the last six months.

The first one was a surprise and a little bit of a non event, no one killed and very little damage across the city. But this second big one was no joke.

Thanks to the grace of God, none of my direct family was affected but friends of my parents and relations are no longer here on earth.

I know one thing – I have hope. Because of the Church in Christchurch and the resilience of the people… I see a future stronger than it’s past.

Check out www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz which as of writing registers 4966 quakes since September 2010.

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 diflucan retail price target=”_blank”>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… diflucan purchase target=”_blank”>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.

Hey you need to do this!

I pasted some text from the Kiva website below, I love this concept!

============================>

I just made a loan to someone in Benin using a revolutionary new website called Kiva (www.kiva.org).

You can go to Kiva’s website and lend to someone across the globe who needs a loan for their business – like raising goats, selling vegetables at market or making bricks.  Each loan has a picture of the entrepreneur, a description of their business and how they plan to use the loan so you know exactly how your money is being spent – and you get updates letting you know how the entrepreneur is going.

The best part is, when the entrepreneur pays back their loan you deltasone online get your money back – and Kiva’s loans are managed by microfinance institutions on the ground who have a lot of experience doing this, so you can trust that your money is being handled responsibly.

I just made a loan to an entrepreneur named Cyriane in Benin.  They still need another $250.00 to complete their loan request of $475.00 (you can loan as little as $25.00!).  Help me get this entrepreneur off the ground by clicking on the link below to make a loan to Cyriane too:

http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=148474

It’s finally easy to actually do something about poverty – using Kiva I know exactly who my money is loaned to and what they’re using it for.  And most of all, I know that I’m helping them build a
sustainable business that will provide income to feed, clothe, house and educate their family long after my loan is paid back.

Join me in changing the world – one loan at a time.

Thanks!

———————————————————
What others are saying about www.Kiva.org:

‘Revolutionising how donors and lenders in the US are connecting with small entrepreneurs in developing countries.’
– BBC

‘If you’ve got 25 bucks, a PC and a PayPal account, you’ve now got the wherewithal to be an international financier.’
– CNN Money

‘Smaller investors can make loans of as little as $25 to specific individual entrepreneurs through a service launched last fall by Kiva.org.’
– The Wall Street Journal

‘An inexpensive feel-good investment opportunity…All loaned funds go directly to the applicants, and most loans are repaid in full.’
– Entrepreneur Magazine

Brooklyn will have a younger brother coming soon in Feb 09. Yay!

crestor generic size-full wp-image-903″ title=”New Baby Sonogram” src=”http://www.davidwakerley.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/baby2.jpg” alt=”New Baby Sonogram” width=”390″ height=”520″ />

Okay, um… how about what I just twittered.

Sometimes I wonder… “Why is that frisbee getting bigger?” …and then it hits me.

We got back from our Holiday last Monday and I completely cozaar going generic changed (with the help of Jetlag) my sleeping patterns. I have been getting up at 5/6am for the last week and getting to bed heaps early. Even on Monday, my day off, I got up at about 6:30am. Unheard of.

So I need to change my blogging time as well perhaps and make some early morning posts while I am up and about.

Our U.S.America three week experience was sensational! We had so much fun and packed so much in we needed a holiday from our holiday upon returning to Aus. Hollywood, Disneyland, Disneyworld, New York, Washington D.C. it all got seen, photographed and videoed for posterity.

Shout Outs to:

Jasmine Waring in L.A.

Dustin Aagaard and family in Orlando

Wendy and Doug Pinto and family in Maryland

Holly and Wladimir in NY

Mike.

You all (and so many others) made our adventure forgettable! Thanks so much!

I had read about this service in all the cozaar generic available cool blogs and now I get a chance to try it out. Wireless Internet in the air with a wi-fi enabled plane.

We are flying across the states right now on the way to a connecting flight in L.A. To finish our remarkable three week hoilday in USAmerica.

Remarkable as I will need a break just to recover from it all. With Disney and NY throwing us some serious mileage in the walking department.

And dropping some major coin at the feet of Spongebob, Mickey and Broadway my account looks like the stock market chart of a US bank right now. But what a sensational time we had.

So while I read responses to some tweets and facebook comments all while sitting 15,000 feet in the air, I ponder if I really want to be this connected when the last great excuse for not knowing what is happening in the world was ’sorry about that, I was on a flight’. Although I won’t miss the approximately $320 for 17 seconds of talk time on those in seat phones where you swiped your credit card and wiped your bank account (is it just me or am I funnier in the air), maybe it’s the sensational US medication I just took when feel like I do right now hoping that I can recover from some late nights in NY watching jazz in the places I had only previously heard about on the recordings I have listened to.

(example above of a way to long sentence without purpose)

I love America and her diversity.

I honestly think we should plant some more cities in Aus.

Peace.

I am sitting in the Mall at the Nickelodeon Hotel in Orlando Florida usin’ some free Wi-Fi too write this post. I haven’t blogged but have been twitterin’. Check out Twitter.com/kidinspiration

I love holidays and this is proving to be one of the best ever. Great people, fun times and my mind focussed not on work but on my family and fun.

This is the biggest holiday we have ever had in ten years of marriage and working so we are making the most of it.

So my prescription for a holiday is go far far away. I think it helps the mind to be in another time zone and hemisphere of the globe.

Anyway work hard and rest well, right now I am resting well… As much as you can rest in Disney World cozaar generic alt=”:)” />