Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies You're Believing [Paperback]

Pete Wilson (Author), Rick Warren (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 10, 2012

We all long for more of something in our lives. In our endless pursuit to feel worth and acceptance we find ourselves sacrificing everything for the promise to be a little more beautiful, a little richer, a little more powerful and successful, a little more loved.

How do we break free from these empty pursuits and start chasing the only Promise that will ever satisfy? How do we uncover the hidden idols that are driving us and turn our devotion toward the one true God?

Join Pastor and best-selling author Pete Wilson in discovering the joy and freedom that comes with seeking after God with your whole life. Learn how to replace, and not just relinquish, life's empty promises by turning your focus and worship toward Him. It is the only thing that will set you absolutely free from the endless pursuit of everything else.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Pete Wilson is one of my favorite people and authors. If he writes it, I read it. Be prepared to think more deeply and live more authentically. This is not your average book-but rather a message which is compellingly real and relevant. Get your highlighter ready, this book is a game changer."
Jack Graham
Pastor, Prestonwood Baptist Church

"Pete has unlocked some practical and challenging insights that will lead you to a deeper relationship with Christ."
Steven Furtick
Lead Pastor, Elevation Church
Author, Sun Stand Still

"By digging into what Pete shows us the Scripture says about life, we can break free of the pursuit of meaningless things and focus our efforts on something that really does make an eternal impact."
Perry Noble
Senior Pastor, NewSpring Church

"A great encouragement to those who have found themselves on a pathway filled with empty promises."
Brian Houston
Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church

"Pete Wilson is the real deal. And this book is an essential tool for understanding the real you. We all long for something more in our lives. Empty Promises provides the framework to uncover God's best for us. A wake up call to our generation!"
Brad Lomenick
Executive Director, Catalyst

From the Back Cover

Pete Wilson is the founding and senior pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee.  Pete desires to see churches become radically devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to one another, and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside of God's family.  Pete and his wife, Brandi, have three boys.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849946514
• ISBN-13: 978-0849946516
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (179 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #332,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Pete Wilson is the founding and senior pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, Tennessee, a committed church community that he and his wife, Brandi, planted in 2003. Over the course of 9 years, Cross Point has grown to reach more than 5,000 people each weekend through its five campuses located around the Nashville area, and online. As one of the fastest growing churches in America, Pete's ministry--an outreach focused on helping people become devoted to Christ, irrevocably committed to each other, and relentlessly dedicated to reaching those outside of God's family with the Gospel--has made Pete a frequent speaker at national and international church conferences.

Pete gained national attention in 2010 when Thomas Nelson published his best-selling book, Plan B, a title that has been printed in five languages and launched Putting Plan B into Action, a 6-week DVD curriculum that serves as a study companion to the book. Empty Promises, Pete's much-anticipated second book, released in April 2012.

Pete earned his Bachelors degree in Communications from Kentucky Western University an attended seminary at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Pete is also an avid blogger (www.PeteWilson.tv); he enjoys the outdoors, hunting, gardening, watching football, and spending time with his wife and their 3 boys.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Empty Promises is full of promise April 7, 2012

By ChristianDroid

Format:Paperback

"You see, the question we're dealing with in this book is not `Do you have idols?' We've already determined that the heart is an idol factory. The real question for any of us is this: Which idol is God's biggest rival in your life?" This quote from Empty Promises, a new book by Pete Wilson gives us an idea of what this book is all about. According to Wilson, we all have idols in our lives. Anything that we try to use to seek the things that only God can give us is an idol. We as humans are programmed to seek something better in our lives, we must learn to rely on God to supply those things and not look to the world for them.

Upon opening the book I was immediately captured by the ideas that Wilson presents in his book. I recognize that I have many idols in my life, there are many things that I look to provide me with satisfaction, but sadly none of them can give what only God can provide. We all do, whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not.

Wilson does not write this book in order to provide the reader with great theological theories and topics. Instead he has written a practical book for the everyday person to read and understand that we place to much emphasis on those things that are of this world. As humans we think that we can be fulfilled through power, money, prestige, or inanimate objects; but as children of God, we can only be fulfilled through a relationship with Him.

One of the things that I really appreciated in this book was the author's use of personal stories to illustrate his point. As you read the book you become aware of the fact that the author is experiencing the same things that the rest of us do on a daily basis. He is fighting the same battles with idols as you and I.... This allows the reader to connect with the author and in my opinion, makes his message that much more valuable. I was able to identify with many of the personal stories that were included and kept thinking throughout the book "I've been there, I recognize that place."

My favorite illustration used by Wilson is the illustration of his sons arguing over who is going to pray over the meal at the dinner table. After each one making excuses Wilson states that he must step in and assign the task. He writes, "The whole routine is not only funny, but quite ironic, because apparently it never crosses these boy's minds that maybe God can actually hear them arguing about not wanting to pray. But no adult would ever think that way. Right? Sure we would. We do it all the time."

I read many books through the course of a year, but there are very few that I read that I just can't get enough of. This is one of those books. Not only did I finish the book in less than two days, but I also highlighted about 40 or 50 different lines that I found particularly convicting or encouraging. I really do like the message that is presented in this book. This along with the easy to read and understand writing of the author gives this book 5 of 5 stars.

Empty Promises is a must read for Christians and non-Christians alike. It will change the way you look at your life, your wealth, and most importantly your relationship with God.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." Read more ›

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Empty Promises April 7, 2012

By TinaLouise

Format:Paperback

Good Morning,
Yet another great book!! I like the front cover and the fortune cookie, what it says, The truth about you, Your desires, and the lies you're believing...How true is that, lets face it everyday we all struggle with those things that we think define us.
Prestige, beauty, personality, and even our relationships. In his book Empty Promises Pete Wilson leads you to the only PROMISE that is needed and that is a relationship with JESUS!! The journey you will embark on in reading this book will set you free and truly capture the creation you are as a son and daughter of JESUS, Empty promises is a right now message for all of us no matter what area you are struggling in, trust by the end of this book you will see how unimportant it is!!
Many Blessings

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Shedding light on the lies we don't realize we are believing. May 8, 2012

By Christopher Walker

Format:Paperback

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for free through BookSneeze in exchange for this review.]

Pete Wilson has done a great job of shedding light on the lies that we don't realize we are believing. These lies are the empty promises that this world offers us that can never fulfill our every desire the way God can. He touches on the promises of approval, power, money, religion, beauty, and dream chasing. All of these things can be good things, but when we put our security in these things instead of God, they can be very unhealthy and lead to bad consequences. If anything, this book will make us aware of these lies and help us to see where they are trying to get a foothold in our lives.

This book challenged me to really take a look inside, and helped me to identify things that are competing with God for my heart. As Pete explained how each empty promise would try to deceive us, he also asked great questions to help me overcome the deception and see the truth in my actions and motives. I think that the hardest part is breaking through the deception. If you read this book and start thinking to yourself that these are not issues for you, that would tip me off that you may have a problem. My hope is that when you read this, that you would carefully consider the possibility that you are being fooled by these lies, even if only a little bit, and be on guard for when they try to invade your heart.

Thankfully this book does not stop with just identifying the deception in our lives. Pete also offers some practical strategies to help fight the ongoing battle for the territory of our hearts. He walks us through his practices of solitude, fasting, scripture, and prayer to show us how he keeps the truth in his heart and the deception out.... He says that we need to replace those Idols with God and through daily practices we can have "a living encounter with the living God to keep us living close to the truth." Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Empty Promises April 16, 2012

By Micah Hasty

Format:Paperback

Empty Promises is really a book about worship and idolatry. Pete opens with some quotes from Louie Giglio's book The Air I Breathe about how we all worship something. We all put things on the thrones of our lives. For some of us, that's God... sometimes.

Pete digs into idolatry on a very practical level, exposing some hidden idols in the forms of success, achievement, relationships, self-worth and the like. The book revolves around exposing these idols in our hearts and telling of the empty promises they lead us to believe.

This is an excellent book on worship and self evaluation. It causes me to look at the various idols and ask questions that dig to the core of where I really put them in my life. I highly recommend this book.