Going Places With God: A Devotional Journey Through the Lands of the Bible [Hardcover]

Wayne Stiles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 4, 2007

Where does God want me to walk? What path do I take? These 90 devotional readings, each based on a specific biblical place, invite readers to embark on their own spiritual journey. As the spectacular backdrop of biblical lands unfolds, readers gain insights on how the lives of those in the Bible were shaped and influenced by the contours of the countries they lived in. Pertinent Scripture, historical quotes and a prayer for each day further help the reader apply the truths of the devotion to their own journey of faith. Quality maps lend context to each reading. Through visiting these holy places through the pages of this book, the reader is invited to reshape his or her own life. They will also discover anew how God teaches us to trust in His love, protection and provision for our lives.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Where does God want me to walk? What path do I take? These 90 devotional readings, each based on a specific biblical place, invite readers to embark on their own spiritual journey. As the spectacular backdrop of biblical lands unfolds, readers gain insights on how the lives of those in the Bible were shaped and influenced by the contours of the countries they lived in. Pertinent Scripture, historical quotes and a prayer for each day further help the reader apply the truths of the devotion to their own journey of faith. Quality maps lend context to each reading. Through visiting these holy places through the pages of this book, the reader is invited to reshape his or her own life. They will also discover anew how God teaches us to trust in His love, protection and provision for our lives.

About the Author

WAYNE STILES has never recovered from his journeys to the Holy Land. His enthusiasm to communicate the practical applications from the lands of the Bible permeates his life--and every page of this book. After serving in the pastorate for 14 years in the church he helped to plant, Wayne joined the staff at Insight for Living as a writer, vice president and currently serves as executive vice president. He received his Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Dallas Theological Ministry, doing extensive research on the benefits of understanding and experiencing the lands of the Bible. A conference speaker and ordained minister, Wayne is a full-time husband to Cathy, and father to their daughters, Sarah and Katie. They reside in Aubrey, Texas, with their Labrador Retriever, Ray-ah.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Regal (January 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830743162
• ISBN-13: 978-0830743162
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,848 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Wayne Stiles has never recovered from his journeys to the Holy Land. His enthusiasm to communicate the practical applications from the Bible and its lands permeates his life and every page of his book, Going Places with God.

After serving in the pastorate for fourteen years in the church he helped to plant, Wayne joined the staff at Insight for Living where he currently serves as an executive vice president.

Following his Bachelor of Music at the University of North Texas, Wayne received his Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary, having done extensive research on the benefits of understanding and experiencing the lands of the Bible.

A conference speaker, ordained minister, average guitarist, and woodworker wannabe, Wayne is a full-time husband to Cathy, and father to their two daughters. They reside in north Texas, with their Labrador Retriever, Ray-ah (Hebrew for 'companion').

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A One-of-a-kind Devotional, December 22, 2006

By 

Michael J. Svigel "Michael J. Svigel" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Going Places With God: A Devotional Journey Through the Lands of the Bible (Hardcover)

Daily devotionals come and go. The market seems to be flooded with them. So, rarely does a devotional book come along that catches my eye.

But Wayne Stiles' Going Places with God is not just another "daily devo." It's not a quick Scripture passage ripped out of context followed by a poem and a prayer. It's not some flowery writer's page full of rambling reflections. Nor is it an editor's repackaging of a dead saint's memoirs.

Going Placing with God: A Devotional Journey through the Lands of the Bible is like a spiritual adventure . . . a biblical quest that takes daily steps into the world of the Bible. Wayne Stiles has walked the land, saw beyond the tourist traps, cut through the competing traditions, and produced an informative, thought-provoking, deep, unique, and exciting devotional. The daily readings in this devotional will be more than just an opportunity to put a checkmark on your daily devo duties. You'll feel like you've learned something . . . like you've been somewhere.

The pages are filled with maps and photographs to help orient you to the land and to visualize the locations you explore through the devotions. A Scripture index and site/subject index make it easy to use in personal study or in leading devotionals.

I honestly wish I could have had this book with me during my trip to Israel last year. There are places I visited where the biblical and spiritual significance escaped me in the chaos of the packed schedule. Every tour guide, every traveler, every pilgrim to the Land of Promise should attach Going Places with God to their itineraries.

I do have one complaint, however. I wish Going Places with God came with a round trip ticket to the Holy Land! Oh well. No book is perfect. Maybe he'll include that in a second edition . . .

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transforming travelogue, January 17, 2007

By 

Robert K. Leahey (Frisco, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Going Places With God: A Devotional Journey Through the Lands of the Bible (Hardcover)

This devotional book is spectacular.
Believe it or not, I spent a week holding off on this review because I wanted precisely the appropriate word for that opening sentence. I gave up - "spectacular" will have to do.
Wayne has accomplished in his work what few teaching pastors do and what virtually no devotional books do: the merging, to great benefit, of times, histories, locations, backgrounds, scripture references, and personal insights that result in that rarest of blessings, that palpable communion with the Holy Spirit that usually only occurs when a believer is reading their Bible and the Spirit moves to reveal something new to the reader. There are only a few teachers who, for me, can trigger my spirit's communion with the Holy Spirit simply through their teaching (interestingly enough, Wayne Stiles is one of those few - I could never get enough of Wayne's teaching); what a tremendous blessing to us all that Wayne's willingness and availability to be used by the Spirit has been conferred to his writing.
This book is spectacular. I read it through when I first received it and am now reading it day-by day-by-page to my great benefit. I love being transported in time and space to the settings in the Bible and Wayne has done a very good job of taking us there.
Bravo, Wayne!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenging and Unique Devotional Book, January 6, 2007

By 

Todd Bolen (Plano, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Going Places With God: A Devotional Journey Through the Lands of the Bible (Hardcover)

The problem with studying the geography of Israel is that it can quickly become divorced from the life-changing truths of Scripture. After all, how do hills and valleys help you grow closer to God? Wayne Stiles has the answer to that in his new book. I am often asked what is the perfect follow-up to a trip to Israel. My typical answer ("read a Bible atlas") just got better: read and meditate on the truths of this devotional guide. What makes this book so good is that it takes "boring" details of Scripture and shows how they are profitable for life and godliness.

Here's an example: Stiles shows how the geography of Joseph's brothers tending their sheep brought Joseph to slavery in Egypt and ultimately Israel's deliverance from famine. Unless you understand the geography, you won't fully appreciate God's sovereignty. The author draws from that just how we should relate to our sometimes bewildering circumstances. In another story, Israel has to travel all the way around Edom, and Stiles explains that in God's plan, sometimes the long way is the best way.

I love too the way that Stiles draws beautiful word pictures. With him as guide, I picture myself one day walking along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and another day watching the sunrise from the Mount of Olives. A pastor for fourteen years, Stiles is a truly gifted communicator with a knowledge of where people are hurting today. One devotional will encourage you to increase your trust in the all-powerful God, and another devotional will challenge you to take heed lest you fall. Familiar lessons some, but brought to life from places in the Bible that you would never otherwise look.

I love the geographical nuggets contained in this book, but the reason that I am recommending it to all of my friends and former students is this: Going Places With God will challenge you to live a radical, Christ-centered life. The book came out a week ago: I encourage you to buy it, read it, and buy a couple for friends.