Empty Promises by Pete Wilson

Pete Wilson in Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You're Believing addresses head on the issue of idols in our lives.  Wilson notes that "idolatry is when I look to something that does not have God's power to give me what only God has the power and authority to give (Wilson, Empty Promises, 5).  He then goes on to explain that we, including those in the church, are practicing idolatry on a daily basis not allowing us to achieve our purposes.  Wilson then chronicles the common idols of our day, including the warning signs that we are worshiping at a false idol.  These idols include; power, success, money, beauty and religion.  Wilson notes that humans are inclined to worship and that only by worshiping God can we achieve our true purpose of reflecting Him.  Wilson finishes with practical tips for connecting with God and throwing off false ones. 

I have to be honest, I went into this read expecting generic Christian book and a continuation on the themes in Wilson's first book Plan B.  Instead, I found all new content that was challenging and to be honest things we need to be saying to each other.  Wilson is honest and calling us out in the church on our issues.  Chapters on pleasing others for their approval and religion for the glorification of self will make many uncomfortable.  There was plenty in this book that I found challenging!  Wilson identifies the sin of idolatry in the midst of God's people and then gives us the prescription for overcoming it.  The text itself is very well written, easy to read, and has a nice balance of personal stories, Biblical references and secondary supporting sources.  Overall Empty Promises is a very challenging book attacking issues that are often blind spots in the church. 


Review Copy Provided by Thomas Nelson

Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up in the Way You Thought He Would? by Pete Wilson

Pete Wilson in Plan B takes his readers through various stages of what happens when one’s plans fall apart, or as Wilson says what happens when God doesn’t show up the way you planned. As a pastor, Wilson lives and works among those experiencing personal tragedies and triumphs. Wilson sprinkles his book with stories of these folks and their Plan B experiences along with Biblical principals pulled from the lives of Biblical figures and the teachings of Jesus. In the end, Wilson admits he does not have easy answers for those facing a Plan B. He readily admits he has no Bow to tie his book together with easy to follow steps to walk one through a Plan B. However he does constantly turns us back to God. He reminds us that God does not change, that God keeps his promises, that God uses Plan B to strengthen our faith in him, and regardless of the resolution and our own perceptions of it, He will finish what he started. In the end, while there may not be easy answers, we do have God and his love for us.

I read this book in the middle of my own Plan B situation, in fact, maybe a few Plan Bs. So I found the book timely and encouraging. It was a long time ago since I wanted to be an astronaut and not that long ago my heart screamed to be in fulltime ministry. It has become clear throughout these experiences, Wilson is right. As rough as I may have felt the situation was at times, God clearly was with me. And I have had to constantly reconfigure my own view towards planning. I now find that when I am open to the movement of God, I am less likely to be shattered by plans that did not happen and also have greater rewards. I also appreciate Wilson’s frankness. He does not attempt to set up 7 easy steps towards success in my plan B. Instead he shows how Jesus, Joseph and others from the Bible faced their Plan Bs (both successfully and poorly). I honestly appreciate that he does not try to solve every problem with a Band-Aid of clichés. In the end, Wilson had crafted a nice resource for those facing challenges to their hopes and dreams.

Review Copy provided by Thomas Nelson