We commend to you our Light Magazine article written by myself and my daughter-in-law Ruthie Esther Hird. Few people realize that before the tragic Davin Report, many indigenous children attended day schools and lived with their parents.
Canon Dr Chris Sugden’s book review of Blue Sky:
“An intriguing and complex case study of family relationships explored through a fast-moving narrative of danger, tragedy and disappointment interwoven with prayer and Christian witness. The story sets up a series of discussion questions related to Family Systems Theory which will provide fertile ground for church home groups to wrestle with the need and guidelines for forgiveness. It will make those little grey cells work overtime. “
Canon Dr Chris Sugden, Co-Dean. Mission Studies and Ethics Read a graduate of Oxford in classics and theology, is married to Elaine, a retired cancer consultant. They have three married children and eight grandchildren. After six years in India, with his senior colleague, Canon Dr Vinay Samuel, he helped establish the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies from 1983. He has been an elected member of General Synod of the Church of England and was conference director for the 2008 Jerusalem Conference of GAFCON. His postgraduate research has covered Liberation Theology, Christianity and Violence, and Christian Social Ministries in India and Indonesia. He holds canonries in Nigeria and Ghana. He is co-dean of the OCRPL Graduate Programmes with Stellenbosch and Pretoria Universities.
Faculty
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.
Heather Anne Kendall gave a great Amazon book review about our novel Blue Sky.
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.
“The recently published novel, Blue Sky communicates powerfully on at least five levels. Unlike many books, this novel set in Spokane, Washington, grows on you after reading it, somewhat like curry after a fine Indian meal.
First, The novel narrates the activities of an almost typical Christian family in the USA. Mother and father, three teens and a younger child, work their way through about five months of the school year. At each turn of the page, the drama grows. However, unlike most families, the suffering grows worse. Thankfully, the family members grow closer together.
Second, the unifying theme centers around forgiveness. There’s lots to forgive in this novel and not everyone ends up acting the way you as the reader might expect.
Third, prayer is a powerful, unseen force for good and the reader reluctantly puts the book down wondering if prayer could be a greater reality in his/her life.
Fourth, various family roles are played out with unexpected consequences. Different kinds of families display differing degrees of love, hatred, indifference and rejection. The book doesn’t end the way you might expect. You as a reader want to replay the story as you answer several very usual questions about family dynamics.
And amazingly, the novel even enters eternity, if ever so briefly. The authors have a great love for the spiritual nature of a person undergoing suffering, even to the point of hearing Jesus Christ speaking peace into the life of a person struggling through deep issues.
I read the book at one sitting, taking my Saturday afternoon to delve into the life of a family who will stay with me a long time. I encourage you to do the same thing. Read this book. Appreciate the care with which the authors share what must be a summary of many years of pastoral care. And wish, along with me, for a sequel to complete the unfinished stories that still stick in your mind.”
David Phillips
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.A book review by author Francis Etheredge
“Blue Sky” by Ed and Janice Hird is an unexpectedly good read. On beginning the book, it very quickly brings in the practice of prayer and, I have to say, almost produced a groan. However, the story itself rapidly captivated me to the point where, completing it in a day, it is a read that I am happy to recommend to all: the person who prays frequently or the person who has never prayed – but perhaps especially to parents and their children!
Instead, then, of the story unfolding in predictable ways, it twists and turns and, as it were, drills deep into the question of suffering, particularly the suffering of those who serve the suffering servant, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; but not as if their suffering is in isolation to that of others and, therefore, this story place a pastor and his wife and family in the midst of many lives. As regards the habit of prayer, I realized very quickly that the pattern of almost praying constantly in front of all the daily and extraordinary difficulties of life is, actually, very true to life; and, I am glad to say, the authors brought me to tears at times, making me think that this book is based on more than an imaginative scenario but has some real experience of life behind it. Indeed, there are enough “stories” still to be told to encourage the authors to write a sequel!
For those of us who are Catholic, which the book mentions importantly, but peripherally, or those who are more obviously of an evangelical background, there is a real sense of the married couple at the heart of the book really being discovered more and more deeply in the mystery of God’s reconciling love in their marriage; and, therefore, I recommend this book to all who need, like me, encouragement to persevere in prayer through all the ordinary and extraordinary difficulties of life. In the widest and best sense, then, this book draws on the development of a relationship to Jesus Christ and His Church which, without being in any way stereotypical, shows the ever rippling benefit of a love that expresses the unique love of the enemy. Read it!
Francis Etheredge of Gloucester, England, is married with 11 children, 3 of whom are in heaven; he is the author of numerous book including The Prayerful Kiss, The Family on Pilgrimage: God Leads Through Dead Ends and the forthcoming, also from En Route Books and Media, Mary and Bioethics: An Exploration.
He has earned a BA Div (Hons), MA in Catholic Theology, PGC in Biblical Studies, PGC in Higher Education, and an MA in Marriage and Family (Distinction). He is a co-founder of the Donum Vitae Institute.
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.
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.
Michael Donahoe: I am happily married with five adult children, thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. I am retired after 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic for the Columbus, Ohio Division of Fire. My wife is also happily retired.
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.
Dr Albert Zehr:
Born Amish-Mennonite, taught elementary and high school, pastored, doctor of nutrition, lecturer, now world travel minstry and pastor at Church of Zion, Vancouver. writer and teacher -married 60+ yrs to Janet
https://albertjzehr.wordpress.com/booklets-files/
If you’re a fan of Karen Kingsbury, then you’ll love Blue Sky. Get your copy today.
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.
“How can two people write a novel?” The introductory chapters didn’t answer the “How”, but they did the “Why.” it was amazing to see the male and female viewpoints so fully intertwined to clearly set the scene for the dynamic action of the rest of the book. The “How” will only come by having been a fly on the wall as they discussed the intricacies of the plot in the preparatory stages.
I saw a “punographic” statement recently. “I read a book on antigravity. I couldn’t put it down.” I didn’t put this book down until I finished it. Having read Ed’s and Janice’s previous works, I can attest to the detailed research that goes into their books. It shows through in spades here as we are very familiar with Spokane. Loved the Blue Sky on the cover.
The Welsh in me felt the “hiraeth” or longing of the setting. Knowing the context of Pastor Ed’s doctoral thesis, the discussion questions opened up a vista of meaning in the main plot of the crimes and consequences. The mystery aspect of the plot burst in with a nothing less than “Vancouver Symphony of Fire” effect. Don’t miss this opportunity to see the glove of the Hirds’ story come to life with the insertion of practical-prayer-warfare hand of the Lord.”
John Cann, former Vancouver FGBMI leader
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.a supportive and encouraging community that helps equip and develop one another to write for God's glory
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