Dr. Gil Stieglitz at Thrive Summit 2020 https://youtu.be/zpZ7AvcYLmw
A great resource on spiritual warfare and how to greater love our spouses and families. Dr Gil Stieglitz was our Anglican Mission in Canada coach for over five years. He had a huge impact on my writing books and newspaper articles, and ultimately on my doing a doctorate on strengthening marriages.
Book Review by Violet Nesdoly of the Blue Sky novel.
“While Spokane, the setting of this contemporary Christian novel, may be known for its blue skies, Pastor Scott Brown and his family live through many stormy days under them. The challenges of raising their three teens ramps up for Scott and Sandy when troubled Billy Smith begins stalking their teenage daughter. As the situation becomes more tangled, the Smiths experience a roller coaster ride of fear, anger, guilt, confusion, even physical injury. Along the way, we see this real and often flawed family struggling, praying with and for each other, exercising spiritual gifts, and growing in maturity and unity.
The plot was compelling and the characters felt real. I enjoyed the story and appreciated the lessons it taught.
Discussion questions link this fictional work with principles explored in the Hirds’ earlier book about marriage and relationships, For Better, For Worse – Discovering the Keys to a Lasting Relationship.”
Violet Nesdoly lives in Langley with her husband Ernie. She is the mother of two adult children and works as a freelance writer, writing and blogging book reviews, articles, stories and poems. As a member of The Word Guild, she has won prizes for her poetry and has published the Destiny’s Hands book available on Amazon and two books of poetry.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
“Blue Sky by Ed and Janice Hird is a book that in its opening chapter has developed enough of an interesting plot to capture the reader’s attention.
Pastor Scott Brown and his wife Sandy, along with their four children ranging from ages 6 to 17, have just moved from Seattle to Spokane, Washington. In addition to the challenges that are customary for any pastor, Scott Brown and his wife Sandy also face family challenges of their own in adjusting to a new setting.
The above mentioned characters and their on-going activities, their relationship both among themselves and others of their social circles, are so vividly portrayed and with sufficient intrigue that it certainly held this reader’s interest.
As the older children, in particular, develop relationships with others not necessarily within the Christian community, it causes concern for Pastor and Mrs. Brown. At times, this is with justification.
Within the framework of the plot, happenings like accidents, sickness, adultery, theft and police intervention take place.
The themes of prayer, emotional trauma and forgiveness are prevalent throughout the on-going events of this story.
While the book does not necessarily end with everyone “living happily ever after,” it comes, nevertheless, to a satisfactory conclusion. In and through it all, it conveys the truth that, of ourselves we can only go so far, and then we must simply trust God and His divine providence in every situation.
Following the main text are “Discussion Questions.” These serve not only to give a skeletal review of the book, but also to make the events of the story and the lives of its characters relevant to every-day life in the here and now.”
Submitted by Dr. Les Johnson
Retired minister, Foursquare Gospel Church
Instructor at First Nations Bible College
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.To purchase any of our six books in paperback or ebook on Amazon, just click on this link.
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