Star Chronicles: A Bible-Based Study Of The Stars
Bible-Based Study Of The Stars
How many times have you searched for an Astronomy study only to find out that just about every single one is secular and not Creation or Bible based? I know I have been there before! Recently I was asked to be on the review team for Dawnita Fogleman’s new book. I was thrilled when I learned this book had the best of both worlds – astronomy and Christ centered!!! This was going to be exciting!
When I began reading the book, I was NOT disappointed! Dawnita has poured her heart and soul and many hours of research into this book.
My oldest loves science. When he’s not reading one of his assigned books, I can find him reading a science book. He was excited to dive into this because he knows the struggle in finding books on the stars to study. He went through the whole book and asked, “Mommy, when can we get started?” :). As we dove into the lesson, he was excited to learn what the Bible says about astronomy and the linkage with the stars and the Word of God. I have to admit that as I went through this book with him, I learned a lot also. I did not have a passion for science when I was in school, but with three boys now, science is surely becoming a subject I really enjoy.
While studying the stars can be somewhat controversial in some Christian circles, Dawnita did this study with her own children. She did it because she wanted to learn the truth according to God’s word. Please be forewarned that Star Chronicles is NOT a book of the zodiac, astrology or horoscopes. So rest easy in knowing that Dawnita illustrates God’s word about the stars.
This study has been a lot of fun for us. Although we haven’t completed the lessons in the book yet, we have thoroughly enjoyed it thus far. Dawnita makes it really engaging. She includes scripture, pictures, note booking pages and coloring pages. I highly recommend you check out this amazing resource. I can’t wait to finish this with my oldest and will for sure do it again with my younger two.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
“This is a unit study on the constellations and Bible prophecy. When I did this study with my own children it was out of a desire to get to bottom of the stars. …no, that doesn’t sound right… I wanted to get to the truth. I started with Dr. E.W. Bullinger’s book “The Witness of the Stars.” To tell you the truth, while the book fascinated me, I thought a lot of it seemed a bit far-fetched. So, the study began and in order to excuse the time spent, I involved the children and counted it as school! We literally scrap-booked our way through the stars. If you have read Bullinger’s book, you may find little here that truly coincides. I used his basic format for the partners he places with each main constellation in his book. I list only the stars I found confirmation for in wikipedia. Sometimes I did have to dig through some mythologies and zodiac rubbish in order to get the information that seemed relevant for the purpose of this book. Some Bible references are merely what the star names or star-picture reminded me of. I’ve tried to make this engaging and fun, rather than overly scientific or theological. What this book is NOT: It is NOT a book of zodiac, astrology, or horoscopes. You will find NOTHING of the kind in these page. There are references to myths and legends and they are clearly stated as such for historical purposes only.”
Here is a bit about Dawnita…..
Author Interview Questions
1. When writing a book, how do you go about planning for it? Do you have a method you use?
I probably use them all. I’m a nutty writer. Sometimes I wake in the middle of the night and just write and write pages and pages. Sometimes I make methodical outlines and lists. Once I started puting this book together, I found myself going back and forth and doing a lot more research during the actual process than what I had done before in preparation.
2. Do you have a certain writing space, somewhere you go *just* to write your books? An office, a lake cabin, a hotel? What do you love about that space? How does it inspire you?
Everywhere! Sometimes I spread out all over the floor. This book was mostly done at the kitchen table. I took up almost 1/2 the 8 foot table for about 6 weeks! Inpiring? Not really, just handy. Anyone want to donate a log cabin? Sound great!
3. What would you say to a young person who aspires to be a writer? What advice would you give? Also, what would you tell his/her parents in order to help them be supportive in their child’s efforts to pursue writing as a career?
Write, write, write, write. …and read, read, read. With relunctant writers, I encourage them to tell me the stories of their imagination or to audio record them. We have one child who writes novels. When she told me as a preteen that she wanted to be a writer, I just encouraged her to write. The nearest thing to a formal English program we ever did was Wordsmith Apprentice and Learn to Write a Novel Way. I constantly encourage creativity in our children. They get very, very little time on the computer until they are about 16 years old. I’d rather them read, write, draw, & play outside!
4. What is your goal with writing?
Simple; to Glorify God.
5. What other projects will you be working on in the near future?
More unit studies. I’d like to do something with Shakespeare, Art, and of course more on the Stars. There is enough of God’s Universe to keep me busy for a long time.
6. What is one lesson you learned from writing this book?
By the time you finish the last page of a book, you are sick and tired of it and ready to hand it over to the editor! This was almost like having a baby! I was ready to give birth and lay it down for a nap for a while, then just admire it from over the cradle! LOL (Pregnancy always seemed like the longest 9 months of my life.)
7. What books have most influenced you?
The Bible and the classics. I LOVE OLD books!
8. Who is your favorite author?
Louisa May Alcott & Corrie ten Boom
9. Is there an author that you would especially like to meet?
Alive today? Rush Limbaugh. From history? Moses or Paul of the Bible.
10. Is there anything you find particularly challenging about writing a book?
Yes! The overwhelming desire to eat too much chocolate, drink too much coffee, and stay up all night long.
11. What inspired you to write this book?
Questions like this put me in a state of, “uhhhhhhh.” Everything. I’ve always loved the stars and science, but I guess the real motivational factor was friends really pushing me to do it. I needed to be hounded.
12. Did you always have a talent for writing, or is it something you wanted and needed to work harder to achieve?
I didn’t really read or write untill I was about 12 years old. My grandmother was tired of trying to decifer my scribbles and spent a summer teaching handwriting & encouraging me to read more. She sent me novels & I wanted so much to please her that I read whatever she sent me. Within a few years, my mother had to start grounding me from books! I was addicted. I began writing for school essay contests and keeping a journal. Now I have to write, it’s just part of me.
13. With all of the duties that you juggle, when do you fit in the time to write?
Well, honestly, I neglect other things. I only fold laundry and make a mad cleaning dash through the house once a week. The children are old enough now that they do most of the cooking & cleaning. I also make the children part of my writing. What I write about is usually what we are learning as a family. This book is a classic example of that.
14. Is your writing style different now than it was when you first began? In what ways have you grown in your writing?
Wow. Yes. I am much more careful what I write now. My thoughts are less confused and jumpled; I have more purpose. God has done amazing things in my life. It definitely comes out in my writing. I write more for Him now than for myself.
15. Is there anything else that you would like readers to know?
All closets have bones. All lives have a past. Let God play the tones. And the music of your life will last. (Is that corney? LOL)
16. Where did you find the information linking the Sphyinx to Prophecy and Astronomy?
Great Question! A few places actually. I have “put together” information from several sources I list in the back of the book. Many people might consider this speculation; part of the reason that introduction is so short. It’s an interesting study. Internet searches can lead to a miriad of rabbit trails. The lining up of the Sphinx at Gaza with the pyramids has lead many to believe it was an astrological setting. The fact that the Virgin is at the begining and Leo the lion is at the end (litterally on the Sphinx) also point in this direction. We know the Virgin and the Lion are prime points of Biblical Prophecy. Rather than believing the “aliens” did it, I choose to imagine the Great Flood generations had a real purpose. 🙂
AUTHOR BIO:
Dawnita Fogleman is a fifth generation Oklahoma Panhandle Pioneer. She and her husband, Paul, have six amazing children. They have homeschooled from the start and now have two graduated and starting their own businesses. With the family business and their little farm every day is a surprise.
You can buy Star Chronicles at amazon by clicking my affiliate link below 🙂
In Christ,
Laura
*** I received a copy of Star Chronicles for an honest and fair review***
