Review: Angels and Heroes

Policemen, firefighters, and paramedics put their lives on the line every day. In Angels and Heroes: True Stories from the Front Line (Harvest House Publishers, 2011), Robert Lesslie tells true accounts of heroes-ranging from a collection of humorous anecdotes and heart-wrenching tragedies to dramatic rescues. He shows the challenges they face and how God is at work even in the darkest moments.

Lesslie, a physician, uses his insider perspective to convey the sacrifices these men and women make daily. The more difficult stories-such as the account of one policeman who was unable to prevent his partner's murder-are a poignant example of the brevity of life and a reminder to live each day to the glory of God. In one chapter a civilian stops to help a policeman who is injured. In another, several paramedics struggle to deal with that fact that they are unable to help an abused woman. These stories and others open the reader's eyes to a world typically unseen.

Angels and Heroes is a compelling read, but the sometimes-abrupt switch from humorous stories to tragic accidents can be jarring. Overall, the book displays how God uses ordinary men and women to save lives and serves as a reminder of how we are not to take life for granted.