July 7, 2021 Issue, Page 5 of 8

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July 7, 2021 5 Call today to support the church page! Devotional 580-225-3000 The American Way Bigstockphoto/profood T homas Jefferson and countless others like him fathered our great nation in freedom. We have inherited a precious legacy that we must protect for future generations. God has also given us a freedom… free will. We are free to act, free to speak, and free to live and worship as we choose. On Independence Day, celebrate freedom. Worship regularly and celebrate God’s gift of free will, too. Daily Scripture Readings Jeremiah Jeremiah Psalm Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews 31:23-40 33:1-26 31 6:13-7:14 7:15-28 8:1-13 9:1-22 To fear or not to fear Scriptures Selected by the American Bible Society z Daily Devotional at DailyBible.AmericanBible.org ©2021 Keister-Williams Newspaper Services, P.O. Box 8187, Charlottesville, VA 22906, www.kwnews.com Everything else fades away beneficial fear described in as you strain to hear—over Proverbs 1:7: “The reverent, Area Church Directory the blood pounding in your worshipful fear of the Lord ears—if the sound is repeat- is the starting point and es- Assembly of God First Baptist Church Seventh-Day Adventist ed. You’re so focused on that sence of knowledge…and the Canute Seventh-Day Adventist Assembly of God sound, it commands your choice part of wisdom.” This 115 W. 5th St., Erick 580-471-3688 11375 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City entire attention and drives constructive fear produces Pastor: Gary Griffin Pastor Martin Brown 580-472-3472 your imagination into high confidence and boldness. Pastor Wes Via Retrop Baptist Church gear. The escalating fear is A solar eclipse occurs when Assembly of God Intersection Hwy 6 and 55 Methodist 7th and Locust St., Sayre the result of your focus on the moon passes between 580-303-0791 Canute United Methodist 580-928-4296 the noise—which is noth- the sun and the earth. While Jimmy Blanken, Min. Quenn of All Saints Mains St. and Harton Ave, Canute ing but a branch tapping the the moon “covers” the sun, 914 N. 5th St., Sayre 580-225-5080 580-928-2385 Timothy Israel, Min. window. only the halo of the sun’s co- First Assembly of God 2701 S. Randall , Elk City Rev. Danny Grover Dixie Yoder rona can be seen around the United Methodist 580-225-1167 When we focus our extreme edges of the moon’s dark- St. Mathews Catholic 702 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk Kevin Akins, Min. Dr. Dixie, the Bible tells us attention and regard on… ness. Compared to the sun, 3001 E. Hwy 66, Elk City City people the moon is tiny, but because Grandview Assembly of God 580-225-0066 580-225-0262 that we are to fear God, but Rev. Danny Grover past it’s much closer to earth, it Pioneer and Country Club, Elk City Scott Rodgers, Rev. on the other hand, not to be anxious. I often feel anxious Present appears as big as the sun 580-225-7742 Christian Mark Little, Min. United Methodist when I think about God, so problems during the eclipse. Antioch Christian 320 S. Magnoliea St., Erick positions Wrongly believing our prob- Baptist 3200 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-526-3949 how can I be both fearful and possessions lems are closer than God is, 580-243-0066 not fearful? Confused about Jeff McDowell United Methodist power we’ll focus so entirely on Great Plains Baptist Assn. Fear 1902 Watts St., Sayre 802 N. 4th St., Sayre possibilities the problem that we’ll only Christian Church 580-928-2146 580-928-2585 Dear Confused: Throughout see a dim “corona” of God 1 S. Walnut, Erick …we are standing in awe around the dark edges of our 580-526-3284 Nazarene Scripture, the terms “fear- Bible Baptist Church of these things and right problem. God tells us to fo- 1018 W. B Avenue, Elk City First Church of The Nazarene ing” and “not fearing” always First Christian Church 816 W. 6th St., Elk City fear turns into panic, dread, cus our extreme attention 580-225-5344 indicate reverence, and in- (Diciples of Christ) 580-225-2026 anxiety, worry, fretting and and regard on Him. When 1500 N. Randall, Elk City Robert Barkely, Pastor clude a sense of dread(ful- Central Missionary Baptist afraid-ness. There are many we set the trouble “beside” 580-225-7801 ness) or terrible(ness). These 1205 W. B Avenue, Elk City Pentecostal English words intended to God instead of between our- 580-225-0212 commands to “fear” and “not First Christian Grace Temple describe an emotion, but ac- selves and Him, the problem fear” sound contradictory. Eastside Baptist 1601 N. 4th St., Sayre 601 W. 20th St, Elk City tually identify a wrong focus. shrinks in comparison to However, if we understand 421 N. Booth Avenue, Elk City 580-928-3639 Lindell & Nequita Brown, Pastors When we stand in awe of God’s almighty power and fear differently, we see that what we think people think tender, infinite love. 580-225-0742 Church of Christ Chris Carlisle, Min. Iglesia Evangelica Cristo Es La it’s possible to obey both of our choices, we become In this union…with Christ, Church of Christ Pena commands with no inconsis- timid. Standing in awe of our love is brought to comple- 216 N. Adams Ave., Elk City 600 W. Main, Elk City Fairview Baptist tency. A simple acrostic ex- 312 S. Lusk Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0718 Pastor, Jose Reyes supposed position of pow- tion…so that we may have Gantt Carter, Min. plains fear: 580-225-0203 580-799-2964 er makes us controlling or confidence…with assurance F-ocus abusive. When we’re in awe and boldness to face Him, Church of Christ Presbyterian E-xtreme First Baptist of someone else’s power, we because as He is, so are we 1600 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City Erick First Presbyterian A-ttention cringe and grovel emotional- in this world. There is no fear 580-225-7951 580-526-3397 217 N. Washington Ave., Elk City R-egard ly. Standing in awe of money in love. Dread does not ex- 580-225-3130 First Baptist Church of Christ Elk City To fear means to “revere” or or possessions creates misers ist because (God’s) complete, 400 S. Sheb Wooley, Erick Meets at Pioneer & Bell Non-Denominational “stand in awe”. Either con- and hoarders, and standing perfect love…expels every 580-225-5295 580-526-3375 structive or destructive fear in awe of “what if” possibili- trace of terror! Fear brings Jason Klechner, Min. The Way Church arises when we focus ex- ties produces anxiety, uncer- with it the thought of pun- Northeast Church of Christ 201 S. Jefferson Ave., Elk City treme attention or regard on First Baptist 616 N. Locust Avenue tainty and depression. ishment, and [so] he who is 580-225-4395 504 N. 4th St., Sayre Elk City Community something to the exclusion God tells us to focus our at- afraid has not yet grown into 120 S. Randall Ave., Elk City 580-928-5518 of anything else. For exam- tention and regard on Him. love’s complete perfection. 1 Westside Church of Christ 580-225-1184 ple, you’re home alone when Standing in awe of God John 4:17-18 (AMP) First Hispanic Baptist 580-225-3052 you hear an unfamiliar noise. results in the clean, pure, Receiving and growing in un- 919 W. 8th St., Elk City Church of God Gateway 580-225-7901 4227 W. 3rd St., Elk City Church of God 580-225-1184 Main Street Baptist 501 W. 1st, Elk City Curtis Newton, Min. 1101 N. Main St., Elk City 580-225-0227 580-225-2938 Joe Thompson, Min. The Link Jehovah’s Witnesses 200 S. Main, Elk City Mt. Carmal Baptist 1801 W. A Avenue, Elk City Jehovah’s Witnesses Trinity Fellowship 580-225-2061 402 E. Washington Ave., Sayre Sayre 580-928-9330 580-928-2345 One Church 120 N. Main, Elk City Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Christ Ministiries 580-210-8881 Witness 804 W. 6th St., Elk City Brannan Duncan, Min. 627 E. Benton Ave., Sayre 580-243-9708 Lutheran Prairie View Baptist I-40 S. Hwy. 34, Elk City Christ Lutheran 580-225-2844 1023 W. 2nd St., Elk City 580-225-2266