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
MaJdng the Nations Ghdst's Diseiples
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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