Empty Promises by Pete Wilson
Acknowledge God daily not just at Sunday services.
In Empty Promises Pastor Wilson gives his take on how and why many of us go around feeling empty and lost while seeking ways to fill that void through approval from others, money, religion, goals, idols and so much more.
One important point Wilson does make is that religion lets people down by making them think that their beliefs in God will take away that longing or emptiness they feel. Which I find total truth in I feel this is one major reason why many turn away from religion or avoid it after feeling like they have been let down by the institution and those empty promises. Religion can make people believe if they just give their heart and soul completely to God they will experience great miracles or super natural sensations. Which can be discouraging when nothing really miraculous happens and may not ever happen. God is just not like this. When miracles do happen sometimes it is God given that person a wake up call or a sign to strengthen their belief but in reality we have no idea what God's agenda is or why things happen as they do.
In totality I came away slightly disappointed as I thought Wilson would have more advice then he provided in this book. But the ironic thing is that this is what he actually talks about in the book. Don't count on others to fulfil that emptiness you may be feeling or you will be disappointed. I was counting on him to teach me something that he himself may suffer from on daily basis. How silly am I?The main point of this book is how we are basically in a war with ourselves as we struggle to fit in, look good, feel accepted, loved and how we use anything we can get our hands on to accomplish this goal which is really us trying to fill this emptiness inside. With God we can find peace and some solace from these feeling but God should not be only looked upon when those other things don't fill that void. God should always be in your life and all it takes is acknowledging him as you go about your daily life and not just at Sunday services.
In closing Wilson does have a point when he talks about those feelings of longing or emptiness because we are not truly home while here on earth, home is not this realm. We all feel that way like someone who is homesick and then try to fill that void with money, fame, the newest electronics, even a Facebook moment. I whole heartily agree with him on this one as I have felt these feeling and have recognized them. In fact those feelings have been really strong for me when I have come across atrocities others have committed that I hear about. When I read or watch on the news how someone killed or committed a really heinous crime I feel I don't want to be part of this human race anymore. I always then have a conversation with God telling him I want to come home and I am tired of living in this hell. It is the weirdest feeling and It happens to me all the time. I don't attribute it to empathy, depression or feelings of suicide. I can only explain it a feeling of desperation, restlessness for wanting to be off this earth that passes me by instantly and is gone within a few minutes. When this happens to me I don't feel any feelings of sadness for even leaving my family behind as if internally I know we are connected in a sense but we each have our own work to do here on this planet.
Summary:
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.Every human experiences an inner emptiness of the soul, that gnawing feeling and unquenchable longing that often drives us to sacrifice everything we have and everything we are so we become more beautiful, more successful, and more powerful. We are by design a worshiping people, giving our lives and our devotion to something to pursue and adore, somebody to idolize. What drives this futile attempt for something more is the heart's true desire for significance, worth, and value-a desire that can be met only in the person and worship of Jesus Christ.Join Pastor Pete Wilson in his exploration of the empty promises of the "good life" that includes the:
- seduction of achievement
- addiction to approval
- attraction of wealth
- perils of power
- idolatry of religion
- obsession of beauty
- chasing of a dream
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Release Date: April 3, 2012
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, releases in spring 2012. Pete earned his Bachelors degree in Communications from Western Kentucky University and attended seminary at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. Pete enjoys the outdoors, fly fishing, and Titans football.
Purchase a Copy:
Empty Promises is available for purchase online on amazon (Kindle), Barnes and Noble, Books a Million as well as many fine book retailers near you.
I have not received any monetary compensation for this review. I have received a complimentary copy of Empty Promises and any opinions expressed above are solely my own. A thank you goes out to Book Sneeze for allowing me the opportunity to review this title. This blog post is the sole property and copyright of @autumnbluesreviews. Please do not copy without my permission. Thank you.
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