Pete Wilson - Empty Promises: The Truth About You, Your Desires, and the Lies Youre Believing

PRAISE FOR EMPTY PROMISES

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 bookbut rather a message which is compellingly real and relevant. Get your highlighter ready, this book is a game changer.

Jack Graham
Pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church

If youve ever gotten to the end of yourselffinancially, physically, emotionally and realized that you dont have all that you need to do all that God has called you to do, then youve come face-to-face with the empty promises of idolatry. Pete Wilsons book can help you. Through his integrity as a man of God, and his experience leading a high-impact, fast-paced church, he 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

I once heard it said that if nothing in this world can permanently satisfy us, then maybe we were created for something other than this world. I am so glad that Pete has decided to attack the idea of if I have blank then I will be happy, because it doesnt work and in fact has left a trail of broken lives and disappointed people. Reality is that Jesus calls us away from certain things not because he is a cosmic killjoy but rather because he knows that nothing on this planet can bring permanent peace and satisfaction. This book isnt for those who want to be comfortable; it will attack some of the messages we are bombarded with every day in our culture. However, 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

Our human nature continually drives us to wanting more out of life. Yet the journey to finding more can often lead us down winding roads filled with distraction and, ultimately, destruction. Pastor Pete Wilson addresses these very issues in his new book, and I believe it will be a great encouragement to those who have found themselves on a pathway filled with empty promises. Petes desire to see people flourish in their relationship with Christ is evident as he shares personal stories and lessons learned on his own journey of faith.

Brian Houston
Senior Pastor, Hillsong Church

Empty Promises gives hope to those who need a jolt. Its a powerful reminder that God alone can fill your inner emptiness. 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 Gods best for us. Gods first commandment to us regarding idols is brought to life in a practical way. A wake up call to our generation!

Brad Lomenick
Executive Director, Catalyst

Todays world is full of disappointed and discouraged people whove been chasing after all the wrong things. In Empty Promises , Pete points people toward their deepest longings of worth, significance, and love.

Jud Wilhite
Senior Pastor, Central Christian Church
Author, Torn

One of the first lessons I learned in my marketing career was this: Everybodys insecure. To leverage this, the suggested strategy in Marketing 101 was to position your product as a solution to your customers insecurities. For decades now, this has proven to be a successful strategy. I would suggest theres a phrase for this approach. Its called empty promises . No wonder people in our society feel depleted, exhausted, and cheated.

Thats the bad news. The good news is that my friend Pete Wilson offers a different approach. Sure, were all still insecure, but we dont have to fall for the same old lies and gimmicks. As Pete points out, we dont have to keep chasing more because more never satisfies. Instead, theres a different road that leads to promises fulfilled. Pete helps lead us there through his authenticity, sharp writing, and wisdom. I highly encourage you to not only read Empty Promises but to also use it as small group curriculum. Its perfect for both.

Pete Wilson is one of my favorite people. My prediction is that this will be one of your new favorite books. And thats no empty promise.

Jeff Henderson
Lead Pastor, Gwinnett Church

Every human heart is looking for significance, worth, and value. In this book Pete Wilson helps us move beyond our endless pursuits of empty promises and helps us all discover and fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts.

Chris Hodges
Pastor, Church of the Highlands

EMPTY
PROMISES

The Truth About You, Your Desires,
and the Lies Youre Believing

Pete Wilson

2012 Pete Wilson.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or otherexcept for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Pete Wilson is represented by The A Group, a full service marketing, technology and brand development company in Brentwood, Tennessee. Learn more at www.AGroup.com .

Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail SpecialMarkets@ThomasNelson.com.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV . 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are from THE NEW KING JAMES VERSION . 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NLT are from Holy Bible , New Living Translation. 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Wilson, Pete.
Empty promises : the truth about you, your desires, and the lies youre believing / Pete Wilson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-0-8499-4651-6 (trade paper)
1. Christian life. 2. Truthfulness and falsehoodReligious aspectsChristianity.
3. Common fallacies. I. Title.
BV4501.3.W55625 2012
248.4dc23

2011053187

Printed in the United States of America

12 13 14 15 16 QG 5 4 3 2 1

To my three boys: J-man, Pooh Bear, and Boo-Boo,
three of the most amazing young men Ive ever met.

I pray that one day this book might
serve as a road map for you.

When youre seduced by the empty promises of this world
as we all are sometimesI pray you live out Proverbs 24:16:

The godly may trip seven times,
but they will get up again. (NLT )

May you always understand that Jesus offers you
what none of these counterfeit gods ever could.

He alone can fill your inner emptiness.

And he alone has the power to bring you, one
day, home where you belongwith him.

I love you with all my heart.

CONTENTS

To Brandi... thanks for your constant love, friendship, and patience. Your belief in me allows me to chase after my dreams. I cant imagine sharing this journey with anyone but you!

To my Cross Point Church family... thank you for allowing me to serve you. Together were creating an environment where its okay to not be okay. Its sometimes messy, often not what we expected, and always more than we can do on our own. I love doing church and life with you guys.