Customer Reviews

A Table in the Presence: The Dramatic Account of How a U.S. Marine Battalion Experienced God's Presence Amidst the Chaos of the War in Iraq

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Chaplain Cash brings home the horrors and fears of war, offset by the presence of Nature's God in the midst of it all. As a Bible teacher, I found poignant lessons for living in today's world as the Bible teaches. The Chaplain describes ordinary humans, their fears, concerns and their faith that can inspire people in all circumstances of life. If you ever doubted God's presence in our world, reading this book will definitely convince you otherwise. Kudos to Chaplain Cash and the brave men of 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment.

This stunningly inspiring book demonstrates God's willingness to intervene in human affairs. I felt moved, overwhelmed and grateful. But I balance this with a cautionary note: as a chaplain myself I am always reminded that God doesn't deny favour to anyone (including Muslim Iraqis) of a right heart and pure behaviour.

In the first and second world wars both sides, us and them, "good guys" and "bad guys", prayed to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob for protection, forgiveness and redemption. And God heard, and performed miracles to nurture and protect all men and women of righteousness -- regardless of the unrighteousness of the causes some were forced to serve.

German stories of God's intervention at Stalingrad are moving and doubtless just as authentic as those contained in Padre Cash's beautiful book. Yet we would never say that the German cause was just and Godly. On the contrary, God aided individual men and women of faith BECAUSE HE LOVED THEM.

So please, when you read this book, don't let God's great and mighty intervention in the lives of individual good men take you on a mental step into believing that God MUST therefore support the invasion of Iraq. Certainly don't slip into a sinful belief that Iraqis are less treasured in God's eyes than Americans.

Rejoice in this book, as I do, but remember to rejoice in God's love of all people, and his impartiality in the squabbles between nations. He's not interested in saving nations and their reputations, but in saving His individual sons and daughters from eternity without Him.

As an ordained Evangelical minister and pastor for 23 years, with a strong concern that we Americans may stray off track if we lose our humility, I read this book with a critical eye for its doctrinal and scriptural correctness. I found it basically fine, but perhaps guilty of what Carol Hamrin of the Institute for Global Engagement (a superb Christian think-tank) called "the hubris that God is on OUR side". I agree with that view, which was expressed by another padre (Chap. Boyd) below: that we must not fall into the sin of believing that Almighty God our Savior is an instrument of American foreign policy. This is actually a little dangerous and possibly blasphemous. We serve an unimaginably mysterious and righteous God, who is neither American nor Iraqi, neither Republican nor Democrat, neither Christian nor Islamic, neither militaristic nor pacifistic. He is spirit; pure, omnipotent and omniscient. I rejoice that our wonderful God guided and protected our servicemen and women in Iraq, but I also lament the fact that some readers are believing this is evidence that God must be supportive of the war and our intervention and actions. It is not. God's protective mantle was indeed spread over many Americans (praise Him) but also over many Iraqis (yes, Islamic Iraqis are God's created children too). I certainly don't mean to criticise Chaplain Cash's powerful book, but only to encourage readers to remember that the context is a world in which we must be on God's side, not one in which we try to get Him on our side.

I couldn't put the book down; it doesn't really delve a lot into politics or the controversy behind the U.S. in Iraq, as much as this is a story of God's grace, redemption & protection in the midst of the fears & horrors of war. War is not painted as a glorious thing to lightly enter into, but God is shown as a glorious Father with a heart of compassion for all peoples...whether U.S. Marines in the desert or Iraqis. Carey shows God's love by the dignity & respect that he uses to tell about others in this book...it is a "people" book & his heart as a father & chaplain clearly reflects the heart of the One Who called him to this work.

I couldn't put this book down until I finished it. This account of the Iraq war puts a very different slant on the news stories we hear every day. The personal stories of the Marines Chaplain Cash encountered were quite compelling, and the mighty presence of the Lord amongst them was truly a blessing to read. I bought this book as a Father's Day gift for my husband, but decided to read it myself as it looked so interesting. I'd highly recommend this book for everyone.

As a mother of a son who will enter the Marines next fall, I thought this book might help me to prepare myself for his possible deployment into a dangerous situation. It has truly brought me a sense of peace through Lt. Cash's accounts of this battalion as they venture into Iraq in the opening days of Enduring Freedom. In this chaotic world I am deeply touched that our government provides spiritual guidance for any soldier who seeks it. Lt. Cash tells his story in a way that makes it difficult to put this book down. This is not just another war story. It is an account by a man who has personally witnessed the strength and protection our Lord can give when any of us ask for these things in our prayers.

Chaplain Cash does an excellent job of describing the awe of being in God's presence even in the harshest environment imaginable. He also shows what a good Navy Chaplain can do to help a unit come to grips with its own spiritual needs. May our Lord Jesus be glorified by the witness this book provides.

This is an awesome book. It is so wonderful to here what the Lord is doing in our Armed Forces. Lieutenant Cash let's us see the mighty things the Lord has done for them, and gives God all of the glory.
This was one of the best books I've ever read and I encourage anyone, especially those in, have a loved one in the military, or have had the soldiers on their heart to read this book. It truely encouraged me to continue to pray for the brave men and women who serve our country. That those who know the Lord to be strengthened and encouraged in Him and to be a light to those that don't know Him.
I really like how Lieutenant Cash's encourages us in the Lord, about those that the Lord allows to "give their all" and those that come home.

Our God is still a God of miracles and love! May the Lord protect and bless all those who have given up so much for us!

As a wife of a former marine of First Battallion Fifth Marines who served during Operation Iraqi Freedom, I can speak from my heart and with complete assurance when I say that Chaplain Carey Cash is a true Godsend. He and his wonderful wife Charity are true blessings from God himself. Carey was not only able to minister to the marines and sailors of 1/5 during his tour with 1/5, but he is now able to further his ministry by reaching out even now through his book to touch even more lives.... as you read the book you may question or think the things he describes couldn't be possible, but all you'd have to do is ask any one of the approximate 1200 marines and sailors of First Battallion Fifth Marines who served in 2003 OIF and they'd be able to tell you of the many,many truly miraculous events that occurred where the hand of God himself was there protecting the men of 1/5. If you've ever questioned "is there a God?"... this book answers that question..thank you Carey

Carey Cash has done as materful job of telling the story of how he saw God working in the early days of Iraqi Freedom. The stories are true and compelling. The writing is clear and powerful. The photos are moving. And the evidence that God was, indeed, both present and in control of the operations in Iraq is overwhelming and convincing. The end result is a book that deserves to be a best-seller. I dare you to read it and not have your heart touched by the grace and omnipotence of God. Semper fi!