Gordon Rogers – författare

My Heavens! charts the progress of the author’s own substantial observatory (with additional material from amateur constructors of large observatories elsewhere) from conception, through design, planning and construction, to using an observatory of the kind that all amateur astronomers would aspire to own.

This book tells the “warts and all” story of small beginnings in amateur astronomy, leading to the construction of a “top of the range” observatory at a house on the edge of a country village between Oxford and London. The author is a qualified building surveyor, and looks at building the observatory from his own professional perspective. There were of course many errors, problems, technical and organizational difficulties along the way, and the author never shies away from admitting his mistakes – and in doing so he reduces the chances of others falling into the same traps. Comparisons are made with similar large projects in the USA, taking a look at the differences and similarities in planning and building regulations, and in construction methods on both sides of the Atlantic.

Eventually an observatory materialized, set up to facilitate the taking of very high quality images of the deep sky on those special days of best seeing.

The story doesn’t end with the construction of the observatory, but goes on to describe the author’s choice of equipment, setting it up, and his own techniques for obtaining superb astronomical images like the ones he shows in his book.

It is easy sometimes to push the Lord out of our minds. He is so holy, pristine and powerful; how could Jesus ever be interested in me you think? You have made mistakes. We all have made mistakes. Perhaps you were in trouble with the law. You bounced some checks accidently. You havent prayed for a long time. You lost your job because you lost your temper. Again, you may say, why would God ever want me? All of us have had these thoughts in our most difficult moments.

The Lord created humankind. He is an authority, an expert on humanity. God declares that he loves you with a mighty, magnificent and marvelous love. The topics in this book are very important for us. They come to us from the lips of Jesus.

Jesus teaches us about gratitude, grace, giving, trust, positive influence, helping others, humility, forgiveness and action. God teaches us the value of each of these traits. When we incorporate these actions or traits into our lives, we are blessed.

Some of Jesuss teachings are radical. He tells us to love our enemies, to forgive the unforgivable, to not think of ourselves as great masters but to be lowly servants. He declares that all people are very important. You may say some of his teachings are crazy but they are crazy good. If we can be filled with gratitude, grace, trust, generosity, humility, ministering to those in need and having a pure mind and heart. It is then that we find Gods peace and grace.