Topic: Prayer

Fumbling the Football

By Rev. Charles Moreland | May 13, 2009 |

Football ignites the headlines already. The season starts well before baseball season is over – it’s already a headline catcher.  Football coaches at every level of the sport, whether high school or professional, are being reminded that there is a restriction on religious activities that coaches can promote with the team. The Supreme Court stated that a “school district has a constitutional right to protect students from religious coercion…” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Commentary, News, Opinion, Spirituality, Sports | No Comments

The Upper Room: The things we leave behind

By Rev. Charles Moreland | December 3, 2008 |

I anticipate my daily time in meditation, deliberation and reflection as a spiritual aid in my goal of strengthening and realizing my spiritual resources. I find the devotional, The Upper Room, both valuable and enriching.

On the morning following Black Friday, I read a devotional that benefited and motivated me. I share these reflective comments in their entirety from The Upper Room (12.1.08)., as written by William David Willis of Australia. «Read the rest of this article»

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

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

Shelbyville’s Tyson Food plant shifts holidays; trades Labor Day for Ramadan

August 3, 2008 |

SHELBYVILLE, TN: Tyson Foods in Shelbyville is rocking the boat for approximately 500 workers accustomed to the traditional Labor Day holiday on the first Saturday of September.

In its new five-year contract, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union has opted to ditch the familiar paid holiday in favor of a change that will please the plants 700 Muslim workers: Eid-al-Fitr, which occurs at the end of Ramadan. The contract contains the same number of paid holidays as before; the holidays have simply changed. Eid al-Fitr, which this year happens on Oct. 1, ends the Muslim faith’s month of fasting. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Business, News, Spirituality | 4 Comments

A Prayer for Obama gains national notice

By Rev. Charles Moreland | July 6, 2008 |

There are benefits in developing our spiritual traits that we hold within. One way to blossom spiritually is through prayer and meditation. A ritual for me is to have a time of spiritual renewal in the morning before leaving for the athletic club. This habit developed in my first parish at Craig, Missouri, after seminary. I still do it 50 years later.

The subject of prayer and meditation was brought to my consciousness through a devotional in The Upper Room, and an article in Newsweek Magazine (1/9/08). In the latter, reference was made to James 5:1, “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months and he prayed again and the heaven gave him rain and the earth produced its fruit.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Politics, Spirituality | 1 Comment »

Unlit Eternal Flame dishonors all veterans

By Bill Larson | March 16, 2008 |

Saturday was the fifth anniversary of the launch of the invasion of Iraq. Since the 2003 invasion America has suffered the grievous loss of some of it’s best, brightest, and most patriotic citizens. As I noted just a few days ago, the casualties of this war had reached 3987; 84 of those were from Tennessee, 4 from Clarksville.

As many of you know, I have in the past written articles strongly disagreeing with the Iraq war. I still oppose it and will continue to protest until it is finally ended, and the last American soldier has safely returned home. Now that we have made that clear, I must make something else clear.

 I have nothing but the highest respect for the dedication and the totality of the sacrifices that the soldiers serving our country make. As someone who has served in the military I understand that those who serve in our military are not granted the privilege of being able to cast a moral judgment about the legitimacy of the wars they are ordered to fight, and they share none of the blame so richly deserved by those who intentionally lied us into this conflict.

So on Saturday around dusk I went to Public Square in downtown Clarksville Tennessee in order to conduct what amounted to a one person vigil honoring those lives which have been lost in this unjust and immoral war in Iraq. I said my silent prayers for the souls of those no longer with us, and my continuing prayer for the safe return of those who are still in harms way.

After I was finished, I went for my camera. It is frequently said that a picture speaks a thousand words, so I will let the picture I took speak loud and clear, “Someone has a lot to answer for!” Fuel the flame; honor our soldiers.

Sections: Opinion, Politics | 1 Comment »

Three cheers for Peanut Butter

By Rev. Charles Moreland | November 4, 2007 |

Loaves and Fishes is seeking donations of peanut butter and large cans of vegetables to help sustain their efforts to provide meals to the needy in our community.

As a child, peanut butter mixed with honey was a much anticipated treat. Even now my mouth waters as I think of that delicious treat. Today, peanut butter is found in ice cream and candy, and remains a popular snack.

Our granddaughter, Madeline, invited us to be her guests at a grandparents day rally at her school in Evansville, IN. Our visit included a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a red apple.

In a food basket prepared for some friends in need, I made sure there was an abundant supply of peanut butter; apart from being just plain good, it’s nutritional, economical and healthy. Packets of this “foods of the gods” is even found in the MREs (meals ready to eat) provided to our soldiers. «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: News, Opinion | No Comments

‘The Upper Room’ — a spiritual vitamin

By Rev. Charles Moreland | October 21, 2007 |

Our spirituality requires nourishment to bloom and to be an asset or resource for our daily lives. The nutrients, the “vitamins and minerals” that enable our spiritual resources to radiate, are at hand.

On such vitamin for me is the devotional book The Upper Room. Over the miles of my spiritual journey it has been a steady companion, strengthening me wherever I went. In Vietnam, Korea, and Germany, stateside in Fort Bliss and Fort Hood, and now here in Clarksville, The Upper Room provided me with the sustenance required to develop and sustain spiritual stamina.

Some of the titles and prayers I favor are listed for September, but favored and appropriate for any time. Each devotional is listed with the following components: date, title, scripture narrative, prayer, thought for the day and “prayer focus.” «Read the rest of this article»

Sections: Opinion, Spirituality | No Comments

© 2009 Clarksville, TN Online is owned and operated by residents of Clarksville Tennessee.
» We are Hosted by Compu-Net Enterprises; In Partnership with Discover Clarksville and Discover Paris