About: Rev. Charles Moreland

Rev. Charles Moreland, retired, has lived in Clarksville for seven years and holds great pride in his adopted city and its people. His one objection in Tennessee is the Hall law of taxes on dividends and savings. Charles served in the U.S. Army Chaplaincy from 1966-1986, retiring to serve as a United Methodist pastor near Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He serves on the Boards of Directors for the ARP, Roxy Theater and MCDP. Though retired, he is a regular speaker at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. His five grandchildren, ages two to thirteen years, live in Evansville, Indiana. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in Germany and Korea while on active duty.


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Email: MLPmoreland@aol.com

Rev. Charles Moreland's Articles:

November: Start of the “giving” season

By Rev. Charles Moreland | November 16, 2008 |
 

November is the month that my lawn receives intense personal care. It’s the time for me to give its final mowing, to rake leaves, and trim the shrubbery and trees before putting it all to bed for the winter.

November also, for me,  a month for expressing thanks, gratitude and appreciation to the dozens of people who make life more convenient and pleasant. This the season to acknowledge services provided for us by our pet groomers, vets, sanitation workers, Wal-Mart Associates, and others who benefit our daily lives.

November is the special season identified as “Thanks and  Giving: A Season of Hope” sponsored by the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. November heralds the beginning of the holiday season, but also the start of a campaign that creates extraordinary awareness for the work of St. Jude. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Issues, Opinion | No Comments
 

Economy impacts financial planning for those retirement years

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 26, 2008 |
 

This is the second of three articles on the issues of retirement.

In the Ozarks of Missouri,my grandparents never got to retire, nor did I ever hear them discuss it. The dream of sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair with their dog at their feet was always a serene unrealized thought. Because of their hard-scrabbled living on a small farm, they never had enough money to retire. From sun-up to sundown they collected the eggs, milked the cows, worked for neighbors for 50 cents a day. washed their laundry by hand on a washboard, cooked, and did numerous other chores that occupied their time but brought little cash to show for that strenuous effort to survive.There was no retirement for them. «Read the rest of this article»

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Good health care, community involvement, enrich our senior years

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 19, 2008 |
 

In the United Methodist parishes I served near Fort Leonard Hood, Missouri, we had congregations of good people where the majority were over 65 years of age.



I still cherish and remember fondly these dedicated people. They included Luther and Beth, retired medical doctors from South Africa; and  Mary, the 30-year church treasurer and retired school teacher who chose to remain single but assisted nieces and nephews with college expenses. They include Ida, who lived in HUD housing and at the age of 80 passed on. She was a source of sunshine though “as poor as Job’s turkey.” Upon her demise, she deeded to the church her one source of passing the time: a record player and a set of 78 rpm records. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News | No Comments
 

Early voting schedule announced

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 14, 2008 |
 

Early voting for Montgomery County for the Presidential, State, General and City Election will begin on October 15 at the Montgomery County Election Commission, Montgomery Veterans Plaza, 350 Pageant Lane, Suite 404. The actual election day is November 4.

Here are the days and times when registered voters can go to the Election Commission office to cast their votes:

Early Voting: October 15 -30, 2008

Wednesday, October 15,Thursday, October 16, and Friday October 17: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, October 18: 8 a.m. to noon. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Events, Issues, News, Politics | No Comments
 

“What would the Apostles do?”

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 12, 2008 |
 

WWJD is sometimes singled out as a standard for measuring moral beliefs and moral decisions. Perhaps we can receive spiritual motivation, too, by asking “What would the Apostles of the New Testament do?”

One Friday morning during my solitary time in fellowship with God, I read a passage of Scripture that spoke to me from Acts 4: 32-37. Verse 34 summarizes the result of corporate and united action taken by the disciples: “There was not a needy person among them.” The context sheds light on the meaning of the verse. The disciples shared their time, skills and talents as in response to God’s call. They sold their houses and land and shared everything.

In analyzing this verse we see first a direct giving spirit. Their graciousness and personal sacrifice is a principle incorporated into our faith. All major faith groups expose this idea of sharing and giving to others. How can we practice this concept and integrate it into our own lives? As a spiritual people, we recognize the benefits of giving. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion, Spirituality | No Comments
 

Where are your donated dollars going?

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 5, 2008 |
 

I confess that I am uninformed about the bottom lines of some organizations, charities, and churches I support with monetary gifts; I am uninformed about their budgets, incomes, expenditures, salaries and employees. I am also dismayed by faith organizations that hire and reward paid positions to direct family members.

In my understanding of stewardship, I learned from my parents and my faith group to give a percentage of my income to helping organizations. I not only believe supporting selecting organizations, I make it my practice to support the St. Louis Zoo, St. Jude Research Medical Center, and World Vision. For some of these gifts I receive a tax deduction. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, Issues, Opinion, Spirituality | 1 Comment »
 

Our quest for spiritual nourishment

By Rev. Charles Moreland | September 28, 2008 |
 

For spiritual nourishment, I attend public worship services, view given religious programs, and read uplifting literature.

A few words about uplifting literature: In my spiritual pilgrimage I am discovering my faith rekindled through reading newspapers, magazines, books (fiction and non-fiction), and The Upper Room, a daily devotional guide published by the United Methodist Church.

Today, through prayer and thought the conclusion of the Upper Room devotional energized and encouraged my faith in our Lord.

The prayer is as follows:

“All caring God, we rejoice in being your children. Help us to feel your comfort, your love, your joy, your peace, and above all, your presence.  Amen.”

The thought for the day, inspired by Psalm 139:1-12, is: “God’s presence is a glorious and comforting gift.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Arts and Leisure, Education, Opinion, Spirituality | No Comments
 

California: same-sex marriage validated; churches can “opt out”

By Rev. Charles Moreland | September 21, 2008 |
 

California is a progressive state, the home of Hollywood and the creation of the cowboy movies and the stars I watched as a child. California is famous for its entertainment, education, and cultural and religious activities. Rev. Robert Schuller of the Crystal Cathedral and the Hour of Power, his version of Christianity, is located there.

Recently California made more news when the California Supreme Court authorized same-sex marriages. The ruling does not, however, require any church to violate its conscience, doctrine or beliefs. Americans United, a dedicated and conscientious organization for protecting constitutional rights, after an intense examination of the ruling, noted that “nothing in the decision requires houses of worship to perform or recognize these unions.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Issues, Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | No Comments
 

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