Five on Friday: **Star Struck**

No, I have not been visiting Hollywood, or Broadway, or any entertainment spots and thus bumped into any entertainment giants.  Nor have I been hired by anyone to type this, but I want to tell you five things about a good book I just finished reading as I join with thanks to Amy at her Love Made My Home Blog for her Five on Friday Link Up.

One:
When my dad was in his early teens in the 1920's he bought a ticket to the moon from a comic book. As an adult he was a keen observer of the Space Race to get a man to walk on the moon and his interest fueled mine.  My mom encouraged my interest in the stars as well when she made a Martian costume [including springy antennas] for me for Halloween when I was in second grade. Little did I know that my younger cousin living far from my home in Missouri was developing an even keener interest in astronomy.  From the time he was eight years old, my cousin, David Bradstreet, in Brockton, Massachusetts, was peering through telescopes studying the stars.

Two:
According to his book "Star Struck: Seeing the Creator in the Wonders of Our Cosmos" book cover, David "is an award-winning professor, author, and astronomy "rock star" who has been teaching students about the heavens since 1976 at Eastern University, where he serves as professor and chair of the Astronomy and Physics department and as director of the David H. Bradstreet Observatory and Julia Fowler Planetarium."

Three:
"Dave earned an MS and a PhD in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Pennsylvania and has worked with NASA, the National Science Foundation, and the International Astronomical Union.  He authored the Binary Maker 3.0 software program that helps astronomical researchers calculate the orbits of binary stars."

Four:
In his book, communicating as a Christian in a complex scientific field of study, David, succeeds in sharing the history of astronomy in an engaging way with the assistance of writer Steve Rabey. From scientists accused of heresy to contemporary examples of science fiction lore, including Mr. Spock and E.T., David thoughtfully reflects how science has not threatened his faith in Christ, but rather enhanced his appreciation of God through God's amazing creation.

Five:
David especially finds binary stars incredibly beautiful.  He wrote, " A distant relative of mine praised pairs centuries ago in her most famous poem.  Anne Bradstreet was born in England in 1612 and sailed to America on a ship with fellow Puritans.  By the time she died at age sixty, she was being hailed as one of the New World's top poets, and her "To My Dear and Loving Husband" was one of her most popular poems."

"I sometimes think of her opening line when I'm studying a pair of close binaries: "If ever two were one, then surely we."


As I read David's latest book and how he recorded the struggles of scientists in the past to explore greater understanding of the world only to find their lives threatened by those afraid of their theories, I felt encouraged to look at the big picture of life the authors presented.  Conflict and cruelty happen, but sometimes apology and forgiveness happen afterward; and in the midst of this cycle of exploration, rejection and acceptance, the beauty of the Creator in His creation can still draw one to feel love and appreciation as one observes as the Psalmist,
          How clearly the sky reveals God's glory!
              How plainly it shows what He has done!
          Each day announces it to the following day;
              each night repeats it to the next.
          No speech or words are used;
              no sound is heard.
          Yet their message goes out to all the world
              and is heard to the ends of the earth.   Psalm 19:1-4 GNT

Are you star struck?

Gracie xx