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Monday, July 15, 2013

"Angels in the Fire" (Dann Stadler)

TITLE: Angels in the Fire: The Dramatic True Story of an Impossible Rescue
AUTHOR: Dann Stadler
PUBLISHER: Bloomington, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2013, (208 pages).

Are there angels walking among us? For the Stadler family, the answer is a resounding YES! In fact, there are many yeses. Dann Stadler, husband and father of a Wisconsin family reveals how his faith in God was renewed over and over again, despite the most traumatic circumstances. It all began with a fatal crash. A drunk driver accidentally made a U-turn back on a one-way six lane highway. At 70 miles per hour against the flow of traffic, the car eventually crashed into the vehicle driven by Dann, with his wife Tracey as passenger. The drunk driver died instantly. The Stadlers survived but with multiple life-threatening injuries. Miraculously, they got pulled out from the burning carnage by an angel that passersby saw but could not trace. The miracles do not just end there. There was the presence of God-fearing Christians who happen to stop their cars on the highway in order to render assistance. There were hospital staff who gave their best medical assistance. Surviving the crash and the aftermath was even more miraculous.  Dann confesses from hindsight that "Life is a collective set of events, decisions, and circumstances that propel us where we are at any given moment in time." Though their lives were shattered from that one vehicle crash, it was God who used angels to help piece themselves back one by one. Tom, their dad became surrogate parent to their daughter Meghan. Physically, they started to heal, albeit with much pain and several surgeries. One of their biggest blessings are the people who had gone the extra mile to help them. This book is a testimony of how God had sustained them and encouraged them in the light of terrible happenings.

This book has taken the Stadlers many years to write. The accident occurred in September 1989. The book is published only in 2013. Along the way, the author shared about the many incidences of how angels have protected them.  In fact, angels do not just whisper or do things quietly. Tracey even shared about a moment where she heard a shout, which led to an escape from two men stalking her; or how their car narrowly missed a deer. Amid the many bad news coming off the press, this book is a welcome relief to provide us a few glimpses of hope, that God still works and walks among us today. God can turn the most traumatic and difficult circumstances around, using people in our midst not just to aid our physical recovery, but also give much hope, faith, and joy. With great confidence, Dann states:

"Keep your eyes and ears open at all times - watch and listen with a faithful heart. God is with you always and working wonders and miracles, for you alone, on an almost daily basis. Be ready and open to his works and He will reveal himself in ways great and small." (200)

If you are feeling down and out, discouraged or disillusioned, this book can shine a ray of hope to remind you that God is still walking among us, and if necessary, He will use angels to reach out to us. Watch for God.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

This book is provided to me free by Bethany House Publishers without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

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