Review of Hope Through the Truth

Post by **Melisa Jane** » 05 Feb 2022, 08:15

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Hope Through the Truth" by Stanley Holstein.]

3 out of 4 stars

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Have you ever asked yourself what the reason for your existence is? What exactly is our purpose in this world? If you've asked yourself these questions, and you were fortunate to get your answers, have you ever drifted away from this purpose? Hope Through the Truth: Standing in the Gap in America by Stanley Holstein is a non-fictional self-help book that answers some of these questions using biblical references and the author's life stories.

This book has one hundred and ninety-two pages. It is divided into fourteen chapters. While these chapters talk about independent topics, the author also shares some random life experiences throughout the book. These experiences are meant to either support or prove his points. In this review, I'll only summarize the first two chapters.

In the first chapter, A Blessed Life, the author talks about his journey and how he came to be where he is today. He was the second born and lived in West Virginia with his Christian parents. Although his dad, a Baptist preacher, wasn't formally educated, the Holy Spirit rewarded him with a solid understanding of Scripture. His parents' love for God and other people was the foundation of his faith in God. The second chapter, Our Purpose, talks about our purpose in life. The author also talks about his life as a teenager and how he drifted away from what he thought was his purpose in life. He also talks about how he strived to correct his mistakes. He even joined the navy because he felt guilty about failing his GPA. The author points out that, after being discharged from the navy, he realized that something was missing in the USA. He explains that, instead of worshipping God, most people worship wealth. The chapter ends with the author providing a precise answer to the question, "what is God's single purpose for your life?"

I loved several things about this book. First, the author supports his points with several biblical verses. Sometimes, I even questioned some of his claims. Fortunately, I had my Bible with me, and he made very valid points. Second, the author provides several sources towards the end of the book. These sources validate his writings and prove that the author did extensive research before writing the book. Since I didn't find any grammatical errors while reading, this book was exceptionally edited.

Although this is a brilliant book, there are two things I didn't like about it. First, the author says that Islam extremists attack Christians because of their faith. He lists different countries where most Christians have been killed. By doing this, he's subtly attacking Islam as a religion. I don't think this will be received well by Muslims. Second, after the author's dad was diagnosed with cancer, he refused to get chemotherapy and, instead, decided to die in his house. The author seems to applaud this decision, stating that his dad was brave and determined to join his mom in heaven. I don't think faith should prevent anyone from getting medical attention when sick.

In conclusion, I enjoyed reading this book. However, some things didn't impress me. I, therefore, rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I deducted one star because of the aforementioned flaws. I recommend it to Christians who want to determine God's single purpose for their lives.

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Hope Through the Truth
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Walter R · Post by **Walter R** » 07 Feb 2022, 09:51

Answering critical questions through Biblical evidence is always a great aspect in a book. Great review.

Post by **Vivian Stones** » 08 Feb 2022, 00:45

I love how the author used his personal life experiences to teach in this book. Amazing review.

Joseph Kasapo · Post by **Joseph Kasapo** » 09 Feb 2022, 03:40

I am a fun of non-fiction books and this is one of the book I would like to read and learn from. Thanks for the review.

Swathi A 1 · Post by **Swathi A 1** » 09 Feb 2022, 13:15

I love reading non-fiction books especially when author shares life stories and experiences throughout the book.Great review.

Korie Ifeoma Chisomaga · Post by **Korie Ifeoma Chisomaga** » 13 Feb 2022, 06:50

As always, we build on foundations laid by our progenitors. As in this case, it is only fair that we become better versions of what our parents were, especially in faith.