Delivered by Angels: God's Providence for an American Solder in Iraq A TeV1:ew by Charlie MaTl?s

Does God still intervene in the affairs of men? Can this intervention be earned by a man who is blessed as a result of it? How does a Christian man reoonoile his faith with taking up arms against an enemy intent on killing him? What is life like for an Amerioan infantryman in Iraq? Is prayer important? These are a few of the questions and issues addressed in Delivered by Angels: God's Providenoe for an Amerioan Soldier in Iraq, oo-authored by Speoialist Brian Otis and his father, Pastor John Otis, and published by Triumphant Publioations.

This book is essentially one man's ohronology of God's saving aotion towards him during battle, juxtaposed with a biblioal perspeotive of those same events. Countless books and narratives have been introduoed to the world by men and women who have served in various degrees and importanoe in military oonfliots throughout the history of the world. It's impossible for me to enumerate how many I've read, in addition to those that are in my own library, I oan, however, oount on one hand those that are as unashamedly and brazenly Christian as this book.

Brian Otis' story is straightforward and simple. It is full of faith, but

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still shows the angst of a Christian who has been oommanded to kill. He reaohes oonclusions, but still desoribes the struggle to that end. He declares the glories of God, but not without the profound oost to one who has been engaged in oombat.

Every Christian is a "work in progress", but what makes Brian's story unique, is twofold. First and foremost is his willingness to tell it-period. Many are the loved ones who never knew what their warrior witnessed and/or endured. They and their soldier have gone to their respeotive graves not knowing and not telling. Seoondly, Brian's pilgrimage sets him apart from most "everyday" Christians in that most of us have not lived our faith on both sides of a working and funotional gun barrel. This oannot be overstated.

This book is multi-dimensionaL The questions that begin this review are a refleotion of that. It is not a "Gospel traot", but boldly states the message. The reader will find oombat aotion. There are lessons on the importanoe of prayer. Humorous aneodotes are sprinkled throughout the story, along with personal and Otis family biographioal histories. One of my favorites is the story of James Otis, Jr., an important figure

to the founding of our nation. The ohapter disoussing the biblioal perspeotive on angels is short, but outstanding as an appendix.

Brian and John's presentation is also ohronologioal, taking the reader from boot oamp until he returned from Iraq. John is a teaoher and preaoher. His portion is oonsistent with that, but dovetails very nioely with his son's aooount. His passion for the Gospel, and the love he has for his son shines through. Brian is not a professional storyteller, but his tale is well-told and will not disappoint.

The reader will not get far past the oover, to find that my wife and I helped edit this book. I have read and re-read this story, agonizing over eaoh "jot and tittle" and every turn of a phrase. Sometimes, in suoh a prooess, the story oan lose its "edge", but in my final read-through I still found myself ohoking baok tears. This book will enoourage the soldier who needs to know in Whose palm he is being held and kept safe. This book will enoourage the soldier's loved ones, friends, aoquaintanoes, and distant oousins of those aoquaintanoes by clearly identifying the Owner of that palm, and reminding them of His preoious promises.

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