Free Articles Endless Free PLR

I recently had the opportunity to review Eric Kampmann’s latest book Trail Thoughts. It is a very reflective piece with biblically inspired thoughts for each day of the year. This is a book designed for the reader to sip and enjoy, rather than guzzle down like us reviewers are apt to do!

I had the opportunity to ask Eric about his book, and also about himself.

Can you tell us a little about yourself Erice

What is a Trail Thoughte To me it is what happens when you venture outside on a clear, cold winter night and gaze into the heavens. It happens when you stop to see millions of tiny stars speckle the dark expanse, lighting up the world in all its glory, beauty and mystery. It happens when we face the natural world straight on without the clutter of diverting gadgets. It happens when we hear the music of the spheres while others hear absolutely nothing. “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord….” (Psalm 98:8-9)

We often think of wisdom in the abstract - as if it represents a human philosophy, constructed by the hands of men, with only a theoretical application to everyday life. But according to scripture, wisdom pre-existed the creation of the world and comes from the heart of God. (Jeremiah 10:12) For us, therefore, living wisely means that we are living in harmony with the character of God.

In the preface to Trail Thoughts, I describe my early life of career building as a pursuit of the youthful dreams common in those times: “…I was drawn to Manhattan because of its magnetic energy, its endless promise and its aura of mystery.” But while the initial trajectory of my life there seemed to be rising to the upper reaches of success, the reality was just the reverse. For nineteen years after beginning my climb to the top, I found myself bankrupt in Bridgeport.

As a young man, I was drawn to Manhattan because of its magnetic energy, its endless promise and its aura of mystery. To me, Manhattan was an imaginary city of glittering majesty, the city described by Fitzgerald as a place that has all the “…wild promise of all the mystery and the beauty in the world.” I came to this city somewhat na

The news is not good. A Governor of a large state throws everything away for a few hours of hidden pleasure with an expensive prostitute. Common sense would suggest such behavior is insane, but is ite Or a presidential candidate spins a tall tale about her brush with sniper fire on an official trip to war torn Bosnia. But TV cameras had followed her to Bosnia and the footage reveals that she had made the whole story up. How could she believe that she would not be found oute

Our culture is obsessed with the acquisition of material goods and worldly status. However, in the race to attain these temporal things, people forget to pursue spiritual riches. When we spend the best days of our lives chasing after fame or wealth, then we are to be pitied, for in the end, nothing of lasting value will be ours. “Meaningless! Meaningless! Everything is meaningless.”(Ecclesiastes 1:2)

“We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.” (Nicene Creed 381 AD)

Who comes to mind when you hear the words “the king”e Some may think of Elvis or perhaps Henry VIII or King Arthur. Many kings have been egomaniac tyrants. King David was perhaps the greatest king who ever ruled. He was described as “a man after God’s own heart.”

God promised that through the linage of David would come one whose reign would be forever. Isaiah prophesied of this king - “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity” (Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT).

As in all of Hawthorne’s writings when one finishes reading his stories you come up with more questions than answers. No other writer makes you question like Hawthorne. The philosophical question of what is true perfection and can it be achieved through physical means or is it a state of the spirit is the heart of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story The Birth-Mark.