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Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?
Learn how God often does his best work in our most hopeless situations. What do you do when a shattered dream or an unmet expectation causes you to turn to Plan B? Pastor and author Pete Wilson uses real life stories of disappointments and tragedy along with biblical stories such as David, Joseph, and Ruth to help readers face their own overwhelming situations and through them to learn God is working to help them surrender their plans to receive his. He identifies our common responses to difficulties and offers hope, helping us
Understand what God might be up toSee how surrender helps us to receive God's planEmbrace the community of believersReconcile a God of love with a life of tragedy and suffering.Wilson points readers to the cross as not just the starting line but the centerpiece of our stories with God where we turn in our Plan B and find the undeniable relationship between crisis and true spiritual transformation.
Understand what God might be up toSee how surrender helps us to receive God's planEmbrace the community of believersReconcile a God of love with a life of tragedy and suffering.Wilson points readers to the cross as not just the starting line but the centerpiece of our stories with God where we turn in our Plan B and find the undeniable relationship between crisis and true spiritual transformation.
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First published May 4, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
November 2, 2010
What a profound book! Every Christian should read this book - we all have times, where we just feel like God has left us to flounder in our circumstances. This book reminds us that God is always with us, even if we don't 'feel' like He is. He always loves us, even if we don't 'feel' it right now. Do bad things happen to good people? Yes. Why? He admits he does not know - but I liked that - he didn't claim to have all the answers - he just pointed us back to where we need to be. Believe in God -trust in God and know that He never leaves us and never stops loving us! I saw that my plans can become idols in a way. I work and try and push and shove and if things don't go the way I want them to, I am upset with God. (Well, those were never God's plans to begin with - they were mine..) I saw that my feelings about what I want God to do are just that - my short sighted feelings.
God is God and I am not. (I know that, but it is always good when I am reminded!!)
I also appreciated that Pastor Wilson didn't use the usual - trust God and everything will work out "perfectly." He didn't give 'three easy steps to healing.' He didn't give us 'five better ways to live your life.' He was straight forward and REAL - trust God and see what God does (even with the bad stuff) He may save your child or He may give you comfort about your child's death. He may save your marriage or He may give you strength and peace about being divorced. (It doesn't have to be something that major - it could be losing a job or not getting the house you wanted or even just disappointment with some aspect in your life or....) We will experience hurt and bad times. We live in a sinful, imperfect world and trusting God does not mean we will live a pain free, wonderful life. What matters is if we turn to God during those times and trust Him, no matter what.
God is God and I am not. (I know that, but it is always good when I am reminded!!)
I also appreciated that Pastor Wilson didn't use the usual - trust God and everything will work out "perfectly." He didn't give 'three easy steps to healing.' He didn't give us 'five better ways to live your life.' He was straight forward and REAL - trust God and see what God does (even with the bad stuff) He may save your child or He may give you comfort about your child's death. He may save your marriage or He may give you strength and peace about being divorced. (It doesn't have to be something that major - it could be losing a job or not getting the house you wanted or even just disappointment with some aspect in your life or....) We will experience hurt and bad times. We live in a sinful, imperfect world and trusting God does not mean we will live a pain free, wonderful life. What matters is if we turn to God during those times and trust Him, no matter what.
July 19, 2019
This book gives you a definite Biblical perspective on the things that enter our life that we never wanted to be there.
Pete asked a woman if she ever questioned where God was in the middle of her awful situation. She answered "No, I really don't even ask that question. The question I ask is "Where am I?' God's ben here with bme the whole time. If I feel distant from him, it's not because he left. It's because I drifted."( p. 166)
A quote I really appreciated from this book was on page 188 [God] "is not interested in our having a good life. He's interested in an intimate relationship with us... in our spiritual transformation... which ... takes place while we are waiting."
Pete asked a woman if she ever questioned where God was in the middle of her awful situation. She answered "No, I really don't even ask that question. The question I ask is "Where am I?' God's ben here with bme the whole time. If I feel distant from him, it's not because he left. It's because I drifted."( p. 166)
A quote I really appreciated from this book was on page 188 [God] "is not interested in our having a good life. He's interested in an intimate relationship with us... in our spiritual transformation... which ... takes place while we are waiting."
January 27, 2011
What do you do when life doesn't take the turns you expected, when God doesn't work things together according to your plans and you find yourself circling the wagons and re-calibrating your life? These types of situations are the focus of Pete Wilson's first book, Plan B. Wilson doesn't offer easy solutions (3 Steps to a Better Marriage, etc.) or empty theological platitudes. Instead, the book offers his honest reflections on life's difficulties, drawing heavily from his experience as a pastor.
The result is a book that has some weaker chapters (especially towards the beginning), but in the end points people the only place they should look: God's character and the cross.
Some of those earlier chapters honestly worried me a bit. Things were pretty surface level and the book seemed clearly targeted more towards new believers or even non-believers, which is great, but I was hoping for more. As the book went on, however, and as Wilson shared story after heartbreaking story of families facing difficulties while pointing to the cross, he mostly won me over.
I would still say this book would serve as a great resource for newer believers, but we can all use reminders that God is sovereign in our lives and in control, even in "Plan B" situations. Some seasoned believers might have a few issues here and there with Wilson's use of scripture (mostly eisegesis - where Wilson is reading his point into the text instead of gleaning meaning from the text), but his points are never un-biblical. There were just a few times where he really stretched the application of a story or over-simplified it.
Overall, I think this could be a valuable book for many Christians today. With the economy, unemployment, and other issues making life difficult (not to mention the flooding in Nashville where Wilson pastors - talk about an ironic Plan B for the release of the book), people need to be reminded that God's goodness and love for us isn't dependent upon circumstances working out like we want; it's based on the very character of God and the hope of the cross. Wilson meets struggling people where they are and gives them both in this book.
The result is a book that has some weaker chapters (especially towards the beginning), but in the end points people the only place they should look: God's character and the cross.
Some of those earlier chapters honestly worried me a bit. Things were pretty surface level and the book seemed clearly targeted more towards new believers or even non-believers, which is great, but I was hoping for more. As the book went on, however, and as Wilson shared story after heartbreaking story of families facing difficulties while pointing to the cross, he mostly won me over.
I would still say this book would serve as a great resource for newer believers, but we can all use reminders that God is sovereign in our lives and in control, even in "Plan B" situations. Some seasoned believers might have a few issues here and there with Wilson's use of scripture (mostly eisegesis - where Wilson is reading his point into the text instead of gleaning meaning from the text), but his points are never un-biblical. There were just a few times where he really stretched the application of a story or over-simplified it.
Overall, I think this could be a valuable book for many Christians today. With the economy, unemployment, and other issues making life difficult (not to mention the flooding in Nashville where Wilson pastors - talk about an ironic Plan B for the release of the book), people need to be reminded that God's goodness and love for us isn't dependent upon circumstances working out like we want; it's based on the very character of God and the hope of the cross. Wilson meets struggling people where they are and gives them both in this book.
January 5, 2011
In my experience the biggest problem we have as Christians & as Christian church families is getting stuck in what the author Pete Wilson calls the pervasive lie that says "If you do good, God will bless you with good, and if you do bad, God will allow bad to happen to you." This is simply not true. It was nice to have a Christian book tackle this lie and bring to the forefront of our spiritual lives. Unlike other Christian books I've read Plan B, didn't pretend to know all the answers like, "Why are bad things happening?" or "Will God end this soon?" Pete Wilson honestly answers that he "doesn't know" to trust God and keep your faith regardless. He ends by asking that we trust God who loves us, and be confident that God will finish the good that he started in us.
I thought that Plan B was written in a very easy to follow friendly conversational style. I really felt like author Pete Wilson was sitting next to me, having coffee and ready to answer my questions with biblical evidence. I also liked the way the author used problems of biblical people and other real people to demonstrate how God uses even the bad to get us to where he wants us to be.
If you're at a stage in your Christian life where things are not going the way you've planned or you are confused as to where to turn next I'd definitely recommend this book. I think it would also be a great book for a church's Bible study group, especially if you find your congregation focusing on "deeds" or if you are starting to believe "If you do good, God will bless you with good, and if you do bad, God will allow bad to happen to you.
I thought that Plan B was written in a very easy to follow friendly conversational style. I really felt like author Pete Wilson was sitting next to me, having coffee and ready to answer my questions with biblical evidence. I also liked the way the author used problems of biblical people and other real people to demonstrate how God uses even the bad to get us to where he wants us to be.
If you're at a stage in your Christian life where things are not going the way you've planned or you are confused as to where to turn next I'd definitely recommend this book. I think it would also be a great book for a church's Bible study group, especially if you find your congregation focusing on "deeds" or if you are starting to believe "If you do good, God will bless you with good, and if you do bad, God will allow bad to happen to you.
July 12, 2020
When life doesn't go to plan, what are the real spiritual issues? This is the question that Pete Wilson tackles in this insightful, encouraging and occasionally very funny book. I loved the stories Pete told about his kids and himself: especially the son who wants the superhero power of never having to pee and having to point out that busting in to save the girl and announcing, 'Stand back, folks! I don't have to pee,' is really not going to cut it in the dramatic stakes. Actually, there are a few stories about the sons and peeing that are sprinkled throughout the book.
But there are also many beautiful and sometimes poignant stories of many of Pete's friends and church family and how they have reacted to crises and tragedies. He points out that the oft-repeated phrase, "God will never give you more than you can handle," is unbiblical and untruthful. In fact, life is full of situations that we're too weak to handle - but God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. And that's our hope. But it needs to be real hope, a hope based in Someone, not a fake hope based in something.
But there are also many beautiful and sometimes poignant stories of many of Pete's friends and church family and how they have reacted to crises and tragedies. He points out that the oft-repeated phrase, "God will never give you more than you can handle," is unbiblical and untruthful. In fact, life is full of situations that we're too weak to handle - but God's strength is made perfect in our weakness. And that's our hope. But it needs to be real hope, a hope based in Someone, not a fake hope based in something.
September 9, 2010
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
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
May 1, 2013
I was skeptical about reviewing "Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?" for Thomas Nelson Publishers. Its author is Pete Wilson, of megachurch fame. If you've read here long, you know that I'm not a fan of the emergent, "seeker sensitive," touchy-feely, Willow Creek, Rob Bell/Velvet Elvis, call-it-what-you-will form of Christianity. Yet, that appears to be the type of church Wilson pastors. So I approached this book with the proverbial grain of salt nearby.
However, the premise was irresistible: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would? I think each of us can relate to that question in some way or another. All of us have faced (and many of us face on a daily basis) disappointment with at least some aspect of our lives. Wilson asserts: If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?
Within the first few chapters, my suspicions were confirmed: the book reads like a new-age church sermon, with lots of phrases like homeboy, screw this, and dude. Wilson compares himself with singer Keith Urban, and uses a lot family-friendly amateur night at the comedy club humor: "Plan Bs - or is that Plans B?" (drumroll, please!)
Overall, the book was a letdown to me, which was disappointing, but not really unexpected I suppose. I can sum it up this way: open your Bible and read the stories of David, Moses, Job, Ruth and Joseph. They are Bible characters who lived a long, long time ago. They faced changes in plans - how did they deal with it? Trust God. Don't give up. God has a plan. He wins in the end.
There! I've saved you $14.99.
I would recommend this book to new Christians or more seasoned believers who would enjoy reading a written discussion about the problems of suffering and disappointment.
However, the premise was irresistible: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would? I think each of us can relate to that question in some way or another. All of us have faced (and many of us face on a daily basis) disappointment with at least some aspect of our lives. Wilson asserts: If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?
Within the first few chapters, my suspicions were confirmed: the book reads like a new-age church sermon, with lots of phrases like homeboy, screw this, and dude. Wilson compares himself with singer Keith Urban, and uses a lot family-friendly amateur night at the comedy club humor: "Plan Bs - or is that Plans B?" (drumroll, please!)
Overall, the book was a letdown to me, which was disappointing, but not really unexpected I suppose. I can sum it up this way: open your Bible and read the stories of David, Moses, Job, Ruth and Joseph. They are Bible characters who lived a long, long time ago. They faced changes in plans - how did they deal with it? Trust God. Don't give up. God has a plan. He wins in the end.
There! I've saved you $14.99.
I would recommend this book to new Christians or more seasoned believers who would enjoy reading a written discussion about the problems of suffering and disappointment.
August 21, 2018
This book is great in many ways. What I loved the most was the honesty in how people feel during their hard to handle circumstances. He didn’t do the typical Christianese (that’s not a word but it should be) thing. The honesty was comforting. The lessons were easier to digest because I felt like he understood where I was at.
WONDERFUL BOOK!
WONDERFUL BOOK!
April 14, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. It was at just the right timing in my life (during my largest and most significant Plan B). I also read it the week before Easter, which is an excellent timing. I might read this every year as a reminder to myself. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is having their own 'Plan B' moment, a life altering, traumatic, troubling time in your life.
May 5, 2018
What a wonderful book that encourages to live with out bitter with the way our life turned out. We need to embrace the life we already got. We need to trust God fully and realize He understands our suffering.
October 12, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. A quick read that talks about how to navigate life when it feels like life isn’t going the way you hoped or expected. I like that it doesn’t give any specific answers because there are no one size fits all answers to hardships people are going through.
November 29, 2018
"Our faith must rest on His identity, not necessarily His activity."
February 27, 2019
Plan B
Me encanto! Describe perfectamente cómo me siento en este momento. Se lo recomiendo a todos aquellos que estén pasando por un mal momento en sus vidas y necesitan esperanza!
Me encanto! Describe perfectamente cómo me siento en este momento. Se lo recomiendo a todos aquellos que estén pasando por un mal momento en sus vidas y necesitan esperanza!
Read
May 21, 2020Thought provoking and personal
Readies you for life’s curve balls
Readies you for life’s curve balls
January 14, 2022
Fantastic book at following God through the ups and downs of life.
October 7, 2022
Book gave me a better understanding of What God is doing behind the scenes when life is just not going my way.
March 16, 2017
It started out a bit slow, but by the end there were some really good points. Pete Wilson definitely speaks truth and speaks the hard truth. He is a not a "feel good" guy. I heard him speak at Women of Faith conference and he talked about God's plan being Plan A and never Plan B. So I thought this book would be about this. Sadly it was not, so that was my only disappointment.
October 9, 2016
When I first started reading this book, after the first few chapters, I didn't really like this book. I felt Pete Wilson was imposing a lot of his own personal views on Scripture, making it say/imply things that are totally not supported by Scripture itself! It was frustrating and I just wasn't enjoying the book. Then I got to chapter 5 and my opinion changed. This is a fabulous book and definitely worth reading! No, I obviously don't agree with everything he has written but it is a REALLY good book, great to remind us that God is always faithful even if things don't seem to be going according to plan.
December 10, 2012
Plan B
Author: Pete Wilson
Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 2010
Number of pages: 226
Tweet from Pete Wilson: Hey @crosspoint_tv!!!! We need your help today. Can you take the day off and join us. http://bit.ly/9Qumk6
Another tweet: http://twitvid.com/UYKMM - Part of the boat tour I took this afternoon. This is not normally a river...
More: Thanks to @dinorizzo for all of his help in our flood relief. Love partnering with other churches!! #servolution http://bit.ly/doyQ9y
If you're headed to @crosspoint_tv Bellevue bring hammers, trashbags and brooms. Thanks!!
Yesterday Plan B, Pete Wilson's first book, was released. It hit shelves in bookstores nationwide while its author Pete Wilson lead pastor at Crosspoint Church in Nashville was coordinating relief efforts in the wake of the most devastating rains to hit Tennessee in decades.
This is the perfect illustration of the premise of Plan B. What do you do when life doesn't go the we you hoped it would? You watch Plan A get scrapped and you're forced to implement Plan B. That's what happened in Nashville over the weekend and Wilson put his money where his mouth is. He put feet to his faith. His church became a command center and a place for churches across the country to bring relief to friends and neighbors whose lives were just wrecked by a horrific line of storms.
Throughout the book, Wilson tells stories about people who've faced "Plan B" situations and their lives and watched God transform their lives through them. They've watched God transform their unrealistic expectations of him. God gave their relationships and understanding of him a makeover.
Wilson wrote this book to give readers a different perspective.
Wilson does a phenomenal job of drawing the reader into the stories he tells. If the intention was for me to compare my situation to those in the book, Wilson achieved the goal. I constantly asked myself, "What would I do in their shoes?" and "Would I respond with that kind of faith?" The book challenged the way I look at circumstances and my thoughts toward God. My attitude of entitlement was confronted. My lack of gratitude was exposed. I noticed that courage and faith both needed a refill. Plan B motivated me to go to the source of all that is good to start stocking back up.
This week, Wilson and the church he leads will put the principles in this book to work. They'll teach its lessons on Nashville's water logged streets. While they're doing that why don't you make your way to your favorite book seller or website? Have the book delivered to your house to get these lessons up and running in your own life. The book is well worth the read. When you're done, hand it off to a friend and work through the study guide together. It's time for a new attitude.
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2010/0...
Author: Pete Wilson
Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 2010
Number of pages: 226
Tweet from Pete Wilson: Hey @crosspoint_tv!!!! We need your help today. Can you take the day off and join us. http://bit.ly/9Qumk6
Another tweet: http://twitvid.com/UYKMM - Part of the boat tour I took this afternoon. This is not normally a river...
More: Thanks to @dinorizzo for all of his help in our flood relief. Love partnering with other churches!! #servolution http://bit.ly/doyQ9y
If you're headed to @crosspoint_tv Bellevue bring hammers, trashbags and brooms. Thanks!!
Yesterday Plan B, Pete Wilson's first book, was released. It hit shelves in bookstores nationwide while its author Pete Wilson lead pastor at Crosspoint Church in Nashville was coordinating relief efforts in the wake of the most devastating rains to hit Tennessee in decades.
This is the perfect illustration of the premise of Plan B. What do you do when life doesn't go the we you hoped it would? You watch Plan A get scrapped and you're forced to implement Plan B. That's what happened in Nashville over the weekend and Wilson put his money where his mouth is. He put feet to his faith. His church became a command center and a place for churches across the country to bring relief to friends and neighbors whose lives were just wrecked by a horrific line of storms.
Throughout the book, Wilson tells stories about people who've faced "Plan B" situations and their lives and watched God transform their lives through them. They've watched God transform their unrealistic expectations of him. God gave their relationships and understanding of him a makeover.
Wilson wrote this book to give readers a different perspective.
Wilson does a phenomenal job of drawing the reader into the stories he tells. If the intention was for me to compare my situation to those in the book, Wilson achieved the goal. I constantly asked myself, "What would I do in their shoes?" and "Would I respond with that kind of faith?" The book challenged the way I look at circumstances and my thoughts toward God. My attitude of entitlement was confronted. My lack of gratitude was exposed. I noticed that courage and faith both needed a refill. Plan B motivated me to go to the source of all that is good to start stocking back up.
This week, Wilson and the church he leads will put the principles in this book to work. They'll teach its lessons on Nashville's water logged streets. While they're doing that why don't you make your way to your favorite book seller or website? Have the book delivered to your house to get these lessons up and running in your own life. The book is well worth the read. When you're done, hand it off to a friend and work through the study guide together. It's time for a new attitude.
http://mondokblog.blogspot.com/2010/0...
August 11, 2010
MY REVIEW:
Everyone has been talking about this book, and while this review is on the tale end of the big buzz, I was excited to get the opportunity to read and review it. Plan B is a fresh look at life as it really is - changing, heart-wrenching, un-plan-able.
Pete Wilson, lead Pastor at Cross Point Church, shares from the heart and from the Word of God about the Plan B's in our life and how we know that God is still in control. I appreciate his very honest approach and tone through out this book even as he shares personally.
I can't say that I agree with Pete's point of view 100%, but I still found the book easy to read and highly encouraging. It was like sitting down with a close friend and having a heart-to-heart chat about life. Some people - specifically the more conservative Baptists - may think this book a bit casual, but I think most anyone can read this book and glean a wealth of refreshment and find it to be a loving support in their own life.
This book includes a study guide with some very thought provoking questions for discussion if using it with a friend or group. You can also access some great resources through the website www.planbbook.com.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
What do you do with a shattered dream? Or an unmet expectation? What do you do when your life isn't turning out the way you thought it would? What do you do when you have to turn to Plan B?
In Plan B pastor and author Pete Wilson uses real life stories of disappointments and hurts along with the biblical stories of men and women like David, Joseph, and Ruth to help readers come to grips with the truth that they will face situations that in themselves they are completely unable to handle but that in them God is simply trying to get them to surrender their plans so that they can receive His. He identifies our common responses to difficulties and offers hope, helping us to
* Understand what God might be up to
* See how surrender helps us to receive God's plan
* Embrace the community of believers
* Reconcile a God of love with a life of tragedy and suffering
Wilson points readers to the cross as not just the starting line but the centerpiece of our story with God and shares that it is there we turn in our Plan B and find the undeniable relationship between crisis and our hope followed by true spiritual transformation. "God wants to live inside the questions" says Wilson and then reminds us that "the cross is proof that He does not always change the circumstance but that He always has a purpose in every circumstance. He will never let go of us. He will hold us and His cross will be an anchor for us."
* * * * *
This book was provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson but the opinions expressed are my own.
Everyone has been talking about this book, and while this review is on the tale end of the big buzz, I was excited to get the opportunity to read and review it. Plan B is a fresh look at life as it really is - changing, heart-wrenching, un-plan-able.
Pete Wilson, lead Pastor at Cross Point Church, shares from the heart and from the Word of God about the Plan B's in our life and how we know that God is still in control. I appreciate his very honest approach and tone through out this book even as he shares personally.
I can't say that I agree with Pete's point of view 100%, but I still found the book easy to read and highly encouraging. It was like sitting down with a close friend and having a heart-to-heart chat about life. Some people - specifically the more conservative Baptists - may think this book a bit casual, but I think most anyone can read this book and glean a wealth of refreshment and find it to be a loving support in their own life.
This book includes a study guide with some very thought provoking questions for discussion if using it with a friend or group. You can also access some great resources through the website www.planbbook.com.
BOOK OVERVIEW:
What do you do with a shattered dream? Or an unmet expectation? What do you do when your life isn't turning out the way you thought it would? What do you do when you have to turn to Plan B?
In Plan B pastor and author Pete Wilson uses real life stories of disappointments and hurts along with the biblical stories of men and women like David, Joseph, and Ruth to help readers come to grips with the truth that they will face situations that in themselves they are completely unable to handle but that in them God is simply trying to get them to surrender their plans so that they can receive His. He identifies our common responses to difficulties and offers hope, helping us to
* Understand what God might be up to
* See how surrender helps us to receive God's plan
* Embrace the community of believers
* Reconcile a God of love with a life of tragedy and suffering
Wilson points readers to the cross as not just the starting line but the centerpiece of our story with God and shares that it is there we turn in our Plan B and find the undeniable relationship between crisis and our hope followed by true spiritual transformation. "God wants to live inside the questions" says Wilson and then reminds us that "the cross is proof that He does not always change the circumstance but that He always has a purpose in every circumstance. He will never let go of us. He will hold us and His cross will be an anchor for us."
* * * * *
This book was provided courtesy of Thomas Nelson but the opinions expressed are my own.
May 4, 2010
I am not a Christian. But I am an open-minded and fair person. One of the first things I liked about this book was that in the beginning, the author addresses non-Christians in a nice and nonjudgmental way. But unfortunately, that is one of the only real good things I have to say about this book. I think that the author's style of writing is much more suited to books talking teenagers and young adults as opposed to adults dealing with life events. A casual writing style is fine for this style of book, but this author's writing style was a little too casual. It was easy for the message to get lost in the writing style. If I could make a suggestion to the author, it would be to write a book targeted at teens, because they would certainly be able to connect with him via his writing style very well. The weaving in of various bible stories as well as real-life stories did help make this book more enjoyable for myself, though I do wish some of them weren't left so open-ended. Also, I found this book to be fairly repetitive, which made it drag on a little bit.
But I have to say, when I reached page 131, I nearly put the book down in anger and abandoned it. The author, Pete Wilson, who had held my attention well enough so far, despite his shortcomings, for being a seemingly nonjudgmental, good person, made a comment/comparison that angered me quite a bit. Here is the quotation from the book:
"Seriously. Isn't that what we often do as Christians? We do it in groups too--pointing our collective fingers on one set of "bad" sins and choosing to overlook others.
In other words, it's okay to be prideful as long as you're not gay.
It's okay to be greedy as long as you don't think about having an abortion."
Not only is the author bringing in something that could've very easily been left out for the sake of the lack of necessity and relevance to the subject matter of the book, he compares it to something I feel is comparable to murder. Pete Wilson effectively says that being gay is on the same level as abortion. Did the "gay thing" need to be brought up at all? No. There are plenty of Christians in this world who don't view being gay as a sin. And this book was just the entirely wrong venue for any hint of that argument. As I said, I just about put down the book. And I would have, if it were not for the fact that I was reading it specifically for this review.
All in all, I didn't particularly enjoy this book, I would not personally recommend it to anyone, but I would not discourage anyone from reading it, either.
But I have to say, when I reached page 131, I nearly put the book down in anger and abandoned it. The author, Pete Wilson, who had held my attention well enough so far, despite his shortcomings, for being a seemingly nonjudgmental, good person, made a comment/comparison that angered me quite a bit. Here is the quotation from the book:
"Seriously. Isn't that what we often do as Christians? We do it in groups too--pointing our collective fingers on one set of "bad" sins and choosing to overlook others.
In other words, it's okay to be prideful as long as you're not gay.
It's okay to be greedy as long as you don't think about having an abortion."
Not only is the author bringing in something that could've very easily been left out for the sake of the lack of necessity and relevance to the subject matter of the book, he compares it to something I feel is comparable to murder. Pete Wilson effectively says that being gay is on the same level as abortion. Did the "gay thing" need to be brought up at all? No. There are plenty of Christians in this world who don't view being gay as a sin. And this book was just the entirely wrong venue for any hint of that argument. As I said, I just about put down the book. And I would have, if it were not for the fact that I was reading it specifically for this review.
All in all, I didn't particularly enjoy this book, I would not personally recommend it to anyone, but I would not discourage anyone from reading it, either.
September 22, 2010
I had the privilege of interviewing Pete Wilson, on our radio show "Kingdom Highlights", for his new book, "Plan B" What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would? published by Thomas Nelson.
Let me start out by saying that there are some books, not many, that need to be read many, many times so that the depth of what has been written gets into the depth of us. This book is one of them. Pete Wilson is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN and he has experienced much in his career so he knows about "PLAN A". Plan A is easy, that is our plan. We are going to have the perfect spouse, with the perfect kids, have the perfect job, lead the perfect ministry while living in the perfect house where we entertain our perfect friends. Then we experience the spouse who wants a divorce, children who take drugs and/or got o jail, we lose the job, our friends betray us and the house goes into foreclosure. Those experiences are what Pastor Wilson calls Plan B.
"Plan B" happens to all of us and we should not be shocked when it happens for how we react to the situation is what is going to define us. By using stories from the lives of David and Joseph and Joshua as well as others Pastor Wilson shows us how they reacted and what we could do to change our reactions. Most times when we are in a Plan B situation we get angry with God. In this book Pastor Wilson helps us draw closer to God. This book should be up there on the shelf next to our Bibles because we are going to refer to it often. I recommend it highly.
If you missed the interview for "Plan B" and would like to listen to it please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where it is available On Demand.
To listen to 24 Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. 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.”
Let me start out by saying that there are some books, not many, that need to be read many, many times so that the depth of what has been written gets into the depth of us. This book is one of them. Pete Wilson is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN and he has experienced much in his career so he knows about "PLAN A". Plan A is easy, that is our plan. We are going to have the perfect spouse, with the perfect kids, have the perfect job, lead the perfect ministry while living in the perfect house where we entertain our perfect friends. Then we experience the spouse who wants a divorce, children who take drugs and/or got o jail, we lose the job, our friends betray us and the house goes into foreclosure. Those experiences are what Pastor Wilson calls Plan B.
"Plan B" happens to all of us and we should not be shocked when it happens for how we react to the situation is what is going to define us. By using stories from the lives of David and Joseph and Joshua as well as others Pastor Wilson shows us how they reacted and what we could do to change our reactions. Most times when we are in a Plan B situation we get angry with God. In this book Pastor Wilson helps us draw closer to God. This book should be up there on the shelf next to our Bibles because we are going to refer to it often. I recommend it highly.
If you missed the interview for "Plan B" and would like to listen to it please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where it is available On Demand.
To listen to 24 Christian music please visit our internet radio station www.kingdomairwaves.org
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson. 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.”
September 21, 2011
This book has literally changed my life and my outlook on it. I cannot name the amount of times Pastor Wilson's words had me crying and laughing. With all the "health and wellness" books out there, it was refreshing to find a book on this subject that didn't say... "yes you're hurting, but if you would just do this God will play Santa and fix everything for you". Btw... if you attend a church like that... it's untrue heresy and you need to find another church that preaches the bible... not just what you might want to hear.
It really felt like Pete was crying and laughing with me, like he truly understood. I have never read a book that has had such a great impact upon my life. The language of the book is very smooth and flowing - he writes as if he is in the room with you. He explores the possibility that you are going through what you are in order to grow in your love for God. What touched me the most was how he illustrated that no matter what you are going through, God knows about it, He is in control, the problem might not be fixed right away - I still don't have a job, there are people out here still hurting from the tornadoes earlier in the year, I still ache from the loss of two infant cousins, and struggle with feelings of uselessness and extremely low self-esteem. But God is there with me. There is a song I am going to quote here. You might want to look it up. Here's the chorus.
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
I am His child, and I am calm within my God's arms.
song link
It really felt like Pete was crying and laughing with me, like he truly understood. I have never read a book that has had such a great impact upon my life. The language of the book is very smooth and flowing - he writes as if he is in the room with you. He explores the possibility that you are going through what you are in order to grow in your love for God. What touched me the most was how he illustrated that no matter what you are going through, God knows about it, He is in control, the problem might not be fixed right away - I still don't have a job, there are people out here still hurting from the tornadoes earlier in the year, I still ache from the loss of two infant cousins, and struggle with feelings of uselessness and extremely low self-esteem. But God is there with me. There is a song I am going to quote here. You might want to look it up. Here's the chorus.
Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm
And other times He calms His child
I am His child, and I am calm within my God's arms.
song link
February 22, 2017
I first became aware of Nashville superstar pastor Pete Wilson when he followed me on twitter. I popped over to his blog, and his wife's, and found him warm and likable. So I followed him back and have been watching him from afar for many months. I was intrigued by the book he was finishing up: Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? With a subtitle like that, who wouldn't be? When I had the opportunity to receive a copy for review, I jumped at the chance.
Suffering is a part of the christian life, and this question is one that I grapple with a lot. Pete's analysis is honest, Christ-centered and pastoral. If you want an academic discourse on the problem of suffering, look elsewhere. This book is surprisingly easy to read, something I appreciated considering the foggy haze suffering can bring. Knowing that there aren't any easy answers to the question, I appreciated the reinforcement of basic truths that Plan B provided.
Wilson uses stories from the Bible and the experiences of his friends to explain suffering from a Biblical perspective. I might have done it differently, and spent more time talking about how things will be different someday in the new heavens and the new earth. Explaining how Christ has started to redeem the world and make all things new. However, Plan B is a hopeful book, and a good one, and will be a good resource to the church in the years to come. (8.5/10)
**I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.**
Suffering is a part of the christian life, and this question is one that I grapple with a lot. Pete's analysis is honest, Christ-centered and pastoral. If you want an academic discourse on the problem of suffering, look elsewhere. This book is surprisingly easy to read, something I appreciated considering the foggy haze suffering can bring. Knowing that there aren't any easy answers to the question, I appreciated the reinforcement of basic truths that Plan B provided.
Wilson uses stories from the Bible and the experiences of his friends to explain suffering from a Biblical perspective. I might have done it differently, and spent more time talking about how things will be different someday in the new heavens and the new earth. Explaining how Christ has started to redeem the world and make all things new. However, Plan B is a hopeful book, and a good one, and will be a good resource to the church in the years to come. (8.5/10)
**I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.**
May 6, 2010
What Do You Do When God Doesn’?t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? This is the subtitle of Pete Wilson’s newest book Plan B. In a book pointing to the fact that God is in control of everything at the end of the day, Wilson attempts to point Christian believers to the fact that God’s way is rarely in line with the way our feeble minds may imagine. Through a depressing group of stories of loss in the modern world, Wilson intermingles Biblical stories to show that at the end of the day, trusting that God is going to take care of you is enough, even when it feels as if He is nowhere to be found.
I personally did not enjoy this read. Often, Wilson comes off as that older guy we all know who is just not ready to grow up. I really wanted to take his writing serious but found myself drowning in his obvious desire to hold on to some sort of “coolness.” Sadly, much of the subject matter in this book is already so cold and heartbreaking that it needs no cooling down. Sadly, Wilson frequently points the reader inward for the answers to such questions as WHY DID MY BABY DIE? The answer is not on the inside though and Wilson seems to miss the Christian message entirely in how and where to look for God. Granted, I read this book quickly, but I currently cannot recall any discussion of sin. Further, the cross is avoided like the very plague of humanity and sadness that Wilson addresses. This book would provide little good to a new believer due to the lack of teaching Christ’s purpose. As many of the Christian books out today miss the point on Christian purpose, Wilson seems to have fallen into the same Purpose-Driven trapping.
I would not recommend this book.
This review may also be found on www.thispilgrimland.com
I personally did not enjoy this read. Often, Wilson comes off as that older guy we all know who is just not ready to grow up. I really wanted to take his writing serious but found myself drowning in his obvious desire to hold on to some sort of “coolness.” Sadly, much of the subject matter in this book is already so cold and heartbreaking that it needs no cooling down. Sadly, Wilson frequently points the reader inward for the answers to such questions as WHY DID MY BABY DIE? The answer is not on the inside though and Wilson seems to miss the Christian message entirely in how and where to look for God. Granted, I read this book quickly, but I currently cannot recall any discussion of sin. Further, the cross is avoided like the very plague of humanity and sadness that Wilson addresses. This book would provide little good to a new believer due to the lack of teaching Christ’s purpose. As many of the Christian books out today miss the point on Christian purpose, Wilson seems to have fallen into the same Purpose-Driven trapping.
I would not recommend this book.
This review may also be found on www.thispilgrimland.com
May 31, 2010
Plan B by Pete Wilson is a book that at some point or another, we are all going to need. the subtitle "what do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought he would?" pretty much sums up why. regardless of what the moment we are currently in holds, there will come a moment when something happens and it feels like all the air has been sucked out of life, and we are left wondering what on earth just happened.
a cancer diagnosis.
you spouse wants out.
your job ends without notice.
a loved one dies.
or any other of the myriad of ways that our daily lives can be instantly tossed into a blender and no longer seem recognizable.
Pete Wilson's book is preparation of sorts, for these times.
in each chapter, he uses not only personal examples, but also biblical ones of lives turned upside down and fully in need of a Plan B. Job, Joseph, even Jesus' mother Mary {among others} all have situations in their lives where what they had originally planned didn't work out, and a new reality was born. how they handled the change, the situation, and their response to God are the focus of these chapters, and help the reader understand how we, when faced with similar situations, need to respond.
as someone who has her own control issues, worries more than she wants, and is far more driven by fear than she would like, this book spoke to me on many levels.
trouble comes, on many levels, usually when you least expect it. of this we have no control. but what we can control are our actions and reactions when we need to abandon Plan A for what comes next. Plan B is excellent hope and wisdom to help us do just that.
a cancer diagnosis.
you spouse wants out.
your job ends without notice.
a loved one dies.
or any other of the myriad of ways that our daily lives can be instantly tossed into a blender and no longer seem recognizable.
Pete Wilson's book is preparation of sorts, for these times.
in each chapter, he uses not only personal examples, but also biblical ones of lives turned upside down and fully in need of a Plan B. Job, Joseph, even Jesus' mother Mary {among others} all have situations in their lives where what they had originally planned didn't work out, and a new reality was born. how they handled the change, the situation, and their response to God are the focus of these chapters, and help the reader understand how we, when faced with similar situations, need to respond.
as someone who has her own control issues, worries more than she wants, and is far more driven by fear than she would like, this book spoke to me on many levels.
trouble comes, on many levels, usually when you least expect it. of this we have no control. but what we can control are our actions and reactions when we need to abandon Plan A for what comes next. Plan B is excellent hope and wisdom to help us do just that.
May 10, 2010
What happens when life doesn’t or isn’t working out quite like you planned? You have to revert to Plan B. I just finished reading my friend Pete Wilson’s new book that reminds us that we all go through times when our dreams and plans are shattered. We feel let down, abandoned and even question why God would let this happen to us… after all, we are his followers. Why would he not rescue us from the pain and heartbreak we face? Through the pages of this book Pete helps us navigate through those questions and doesn’t necessarily give us answers… but He gives us something better– Jesus presence and the power of the cross.
I may be speaking too soon ( I don’t think I am), but I believe this book will become one of the most easily quoted and widely referenced of many of the books on the market today. I underlined, dog-eared and highlighted pages so much because Plan B was rooted in Scripture and illustrated with stories from Pete’s life and ministry. (I love the stories about his boys… especially the pee in the pool story… one of my favorites!) What makes this book work so well is that it takes readers on a journey from disappointment and questioning to a place where you can see and trust Jesus and trace His hand as He unfolds your story to reveal His great purpose for you… and it’s not what you might think. It’s not so much about how Jesus can give us green lights and smooth sailing as much as it is about how He uses Plan B circumstances to mold us and shape us into the people He desires us to be
I may be speaking too soon ( I don’t think I am), but I believe this book will become one of the most easily quoted and widely referenced of many of the books on the market today. I underlined, dog-eared and highlighted pages so much because Plan B was rooted in Scripture and illustrated with stories from Pete’s life and ministry. (I love the stories about his boys… especially the pee in the pool story… one of my favorites!) What makes this book work so well is that it takes readers on a journey from disappointment and questioning to a place where you can see and trust Jesus and trace His hand as He unfolds your story to reveal His great purpose for you… and it’s not what you might think. It’s not so much about how Jesus can give us green lights and smooth sailing as much as it is about how He uses Plan B circumstances to mold us and shape us into the people He desires us to be
May 4, 2010
We all have dreams and goals (Plan A), but things happen that interrupt our Plan A and we find ourselves in Plan B, not exactly what we dreamed of. This book, Plan B: What Do You Do When God Doesn't Show Up the Way You Thought He Would? by Pete Wilson shares stories of people from the Bible, along with current-day people's lives, that show how to continue to trust God in the Plan B scenario. It's a very readable book. I appreciated the down-to-earth style of writing, and I could definitely see how my own life's Plan A had been swapped for a Plan B which I wouldn't have chosen for myself. Yet, as Pete points out in his book, God's love for me through his Son, Jesus, gives me hope and sustains me in my life's Plan Bs.
Even when Plan B is/seems unfair, Pete reminded me that "God is God. He doesn't owe any of us anything. But He gives us everything, including himself....in his own magnificent, mysterious, maddeningly, unpredictable way...in his own time, which sometimes takes way longer than we think it should. He does it with the big picture in mind, with little regard to the way we think it should go. And so often, instead of giving us what we think we deserve, instead of taking away our pain and frustration and confusion in our Plan Bs, he offers us the promise of his presence....exactly the gift you need for what you're going through in any given moment."
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Even when Plan B is/seems unfair, Pete reminded me that "God is God. He doesn't owe any of us anything. But He gives us everything, including himself....in his own magnificent, mysterious, maddeningly, unpredictable way...in his own time, which sometimes takes way longer than we think it should. He does it with the big picture in mind, with little regard to the way we think it should go. And so often, instead of giving us what we think we deserve, instead of taking away our pain and frustration and confusion in our Plan Bs, he offers us the promise of his presence....exactly the gift you need for what you're going through in any given moment."
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
May 6, 2010
When I first signed up to review the book, Plan B: What do you do when God doesn't show up the way you thought he would? I didn't realize that I would actually be using the book to help review my own life. Never has a book captured my attention, convicted me, and caused me to change my line of thinking quite like Plan B. And that was all within the first 25 pages.
Combining personal stories with the Biblical stories of David, Joseph (of The Coat of Many Colors fame), Ruth, and Joshua, Pastor and Author Pete Wilson tells the story that is universal to all of us: We will all have a Plan B moment. That moment when our own plans don't turn out the way we thought they should and we have to start over on those plans or start a completely new plan altogether.
Central to the theme of the book is that while we sometimes associate our own plans succeeding as being in God's favor, that doesn't mean that because our plans fail that God has abandoned us. This was especially relevant to me as I continue to travel through my own Plan B moment. I understand the temptation to think that God has abandoned me when things seem to always go wrong ,and have given into that temptation more than once.
Plan B has helped me tremendously to understand that while I may not know what God has in store for me, I can always remember that he IS with me. Everyday, many people begin their own Plan B moments. I highly recommend this book for them.
*Note: Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free advanced copy of this book for review, however opinions expressed are mine entirely.
Combining personal stories with the Biblical stories of David, Joseph (of The Coat of Many Colors fame), Ruth, and Joshua, Pastor and Author Pete Wilson tells the story that is universal to all of us: We will all have a Plan B moment. That moment when our own plans don't turn out the way we thought they should and we have to start over on those plans or start a completely new plan altogether.
Central to the theme of the book is that while we sometimes associate our own plans succeeding as being in God's favor, that doesn't mean that because our plans fail that God has abandoned us. This was especially relevant to me as I continue to travel through my own Plan B moment. I understand the temptation to think that God has abandoned me when things seem to always go wrong ,and have given into that temptation more than once.
Plan B has helped me tremendously to understand that while I may not know what God has in store for me, I can always remember that he IS with me. Everyday, many people begin their own Plan B moments. I highly recommend this book for them.
*Note: Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a free advanced copy of this book for review, however opinions expressed are mine entirely.
May 20, 2010
Pete Wilson takes us through various plan B type situations, and, as the sub-title suggests, asks what we do when God doesn’t know up the way we thought he would. The clear and overall message of this book is everyone goes through plan b situations, and Wilson adds that if you haven’t yet, you will. It’s a harsh truth of the world, and Wilson is hoping to meet that truth head on with comforting, inspiration, or restorative truth that God is still there.
As someone who has struggled with churchianity, I was trying to be careful to read this book without a skeptical filter. There were a few times in the book that I could imagine a skeptic of Christianity, or simply someone who has been hurt by a church, think “That’s easy for your to say, Pete. You’re a pastor and have to say it.” But then I read a new chapter and felt Wilson was talking directly to me, very real, and as if he knew my exact situation. This is where Pete Wilson’s experience as a face-to-face pastor shines because the authenticity is clear and evident.
This is not a fast read because you will want to ponder and digest some chapters over others. I still have more to re-read digest myself.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
As someone who has struggled with churchianity, I was trying to be careful to read this book without a skeptical filter. There were a few times in the book that I could imagine a skeptic of Christianity, or simply someone who has been hurt by a church, think “That’s easy for your to say, Pete. You’re a pastor and have to say it.” But then I read a new chapter and felt Wilson was talking directly to me, very real, and as if he knew my exact situation. This is where Pete Wilson’s experience as a face-to-face pastor shines because the authenticity is clear and evident.
This is not a fast read because you will want to ponder and digest some chapters over others. I still have more to re-read digest myself.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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