Brody James Edwards thought the worst thing that could happen to him was to lose his dream of playing major league baseball, because of surgery on his pitching arm. He drops out of college and joins the Marine Corps. In Afghanistan the horrors of war proved even worse than his previous experiences. He witnesses Ali Baba (military slang for bad guy) holding his fellow marines head aloft while screaming Allah Akbar Spurring him into action that resulted in his nomination for the Congressional Medal of Honor, and unfortunately to his own serious injury. Come take a ride with Brody as he deals with the ups and downs of life: nightmares of being beheaded by Ali Baba, a brain injury that leaves him hearing and responding to voices, getting psychiatric help, dealing with hate, post-traumatic stress disorder, medical retirement from the Marine Corps, going home, finding love, a new career, etc. You will be awed as you see the hand of God working through it all to bring Brody to belief and trust in Christ. On top of the world again, POTUS declines to approve his Congressional Medal of Honor award; that news creates a backlash of public opinion that even Al Jazeera picks up on. Ali Baba obtains Brody's identity and comes to America, seeking revenge on the one who injured him and killed his comrades. Seeing the sun cast a shadow of the cross onto the parking lot in front of Brody's church, Ali Baba exclaims, "Aha, a perfect spot for your beheading, beneath the shadow of the cross." That same scene causes Brody to pray, "God, I could use another miracle right about now " Don't miss this thriller of an ending. You might guess the outcome, but I am confident you will be surprised and amazed at how it is accomplished.


Geoffrey Cratch was born and raised in Beaufort County, North Carolina, where he graduated from Chocowinity High School in 1953. He attended Chowan Junior College from 1953 to 1954 and enlisted in the US Air Force in January, 1955 where he served until December, 1959. He entered the Civil Service in January 1960 and retired as a member of the Senior Executive Service in August 1992. He and his father were investors in real estate and together owned and operated the Sterling Park Dry Cleaners from 1970 to 1982. During his career in the Pentagon he served under thirteen Secretaries of Defense. As the Director of Budget and Finance for the Office of the Secretary of Defense he appeared before House and Senate Appropriations Committees on many occasions in support of important defense programs. He continued his education while working, earning a Master of Public Administration Degree from The American University in 1979. In 1989 he was awarded the Secretary of Defense Medal for Meritorious Civilian Service. He married Betsy Roebuck Cratch in 1961, and they raised three daughters while living in Sterling, Virginia. Now, 55 years later, they are proud grandparents of 23 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. In addition to his government career, he served as a Deacon and an Elder in his church and was an active member of the Gideon Ministry for many years.