May 3, 2025 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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RELIGION 4• SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2025 The Elk City News PRUNING YOUR BRAIN ro-circuit in your brain, sentment), how desperate the stronger that circuit our finances seem (hope- becomes. For example, the lessness), or how stupid more you practice piano the whole world is (cyni- or speaking a language, the cism), we fertilize poisonous stronger these circuits be- “weed-thoughts,” helping come. To learn something them grow strong in our new, even more important brains and making our bod- than practicing, is the abil- ies sick. We cannot control ity to unlearn—or break every circumstance, but we down—the old circuits. This can determine the impact is called “synaptic pruning.” of every circumstance on our lives, by choosing how we Your brain is like a garden, think about what’s happen- Dixie Yoder but instead of flowers or veg- ing. The Bible calls it renew- If a brain-meter exist- etables, you grow synaptic ing the mind. ed able to measure the connections between neu- Area Church Directory fear-trust-quotient in each rons. Neurotransmitters like Let’s determine to exact- thought, what would your dopamine and serotonin ly reverse the amount of Sunday School 9:15, Worship 10:30 travel across these connec- time spent thinking weedy Assembly of God Wed Prairie View Troops 3:30 580-225-2266 score be? It might surprise tions. Microglial cells are the thoughts, and the time we Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 you that we actually do have Assembly of God Seventh-Day Adventist a way to measure fear and brain’s gardener and waste invest in thinking about life 115 W. 5th St., Erick Seventh-Day Adventist Pastor: Gary Griffin Retrop Baptist Church trust levels in our thought removers: pulling “weeds”, from God’s perspective. We Intersection Hwy 6 and 55 11375 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City life. It’s our physical health! killing “pests”, raking up must know what the Bible 580-303-0791 580-472-3472 Assembly of God Service times: “dead leaves”. The synaptic says! In agreement with 7th and Locust St., Sayre Catholic 2:00 pm Bible Study Numerous ongoing stud- connections that get used God’s Word; setting our fo- 580-928-4296 2:50 pm Church Service less are marked by a protein. cus, thoughts and conver- Jimmy Blanken, Min. Queen of All Saints ies show a direct correlation 914 N. 5th St., Sayre between chronic worry and When the microglial cells sation on Life rather than 580-928-2385 Methodist sense the protein, they bond death, our God-designed First Assembly of God gastrointestinal problems, 2701 S. Randall , Elk City Rev. Danny Grover to it to “prune” the synapse; “brain gardener” microglial United Methodist headaches, respiratory ill- 580-225-1167 702 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk making physical space avail- cells will cut the “wrong- St. Mathews Catholic nesses and heart disease, just Kevin Akins, Min. 3001 E. Hwy 66, Elk City City to name a few. The Bible able to build new learning thought-weeds” down. 580-225-0262 Grandview Assembly of God 580-225-0066 shows a clear connection be- and information. This permits strong Godly Rev. Danny Grover Scott Rodgers, Rev. thoughts to mature and pro- Pioneer and Country Club, Elk City tween wrong thinking and 580-225-7742 Christian As you sleep, your brain duce the abundant harvest United Methodist poor bone health (Proverbs Bryan Herrick 320 S. Magnoliea St., Erick cells shrink by 60% to make of joy, good physical health Antioch Christian 3:7-8; 4:20-22; 16:24-25; 3200 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-526-3949 17:22). room for the microglial cells and emotional freedom! Baptist 580-243-0066 to work. Even a 10-20 min- Jeff McDowell United Methodist ute nap gives your “garden- 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19; Great Plains Baptist Assn. 802 N. 4th St., Sayre • 580-928-2146 We’ve all experienced the 1902 Watts St., Sayre ers” the opportunity to come Colossians 4:2-3: See that Christian Church Sun School: 9:30 AM/Worship:10:45 tension that causes head- 580-928-2585 in and clear away trash. It’s no one repays another with 1 S. Walnut, Erick Nazarene aches, diarrhea and heart 580-526-3284 palpitations. We’re also fa- like running a defragmenta- evil for evil, but always seek Bible Baptist Church First Church of The Nazarene tion on your computer. that which is good…for all 1018 W. B Avenue, Elk City miliar with the commercials 580-225-5344 First Christian Church 816 W. 6th St., Elk City that encourage us to ask people. Rejoice always; pray (Diciples of Christ) 580-225-2026 If you’re fighting with without ceasing; in every- 1500 N. Randall, Elk City Rev. Andrew Dages for any number of drugs. Central Missionary Baptist someone at work, and de- thing give thanks; for this is 580-225-7801 But what if, instead of big 1205 W. B Avenue, Elk City medical bills that intensify vote your time to thinking God’s will for you in Christ 580-225-0212 Pentecostal First Christian the worry, and dangerous about how to get even with Jesus…devote yourselves 1601 N. 4th St., Sayre Grace Temple them, and not about your to prayer, keeping alert in it Eastside Baptist 601 W. 20th St, Elk City chemicals with their myriad 421 N. Booth Avenue, Elk City 580-928-3639 big project, you’re going to with an attitude of thanksgiv- Lindell & Nequita Brown, Pastors of miserable side effects that 580-225-0742 Church of Christ simply soothe some of the wind up a synaptic superstar ing… Chase Brower, Min. Iglesia Evangelica Cristo Es La at revenge plots, but a poor Church of Christ symptoms, we could take 216 N. Adams Ave., Elk City Pena innovator. You literally craft Infinite Grace Ministries Fairview Baptist care of the root of the prob- 312 S. Lusk Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0718 600 W. Main, Elk City lem at home? your own mind by choosing trains individuals and fam- Gantt Carter, Min. Pastor, Jose Reyes 580-225-0203 580-799-2964 your focus. ilies torn by abuse, divorce and disappointment to live 301 S. Magnolia Ave, Erick Following are excerpts First Baptist Douglas Holland, Minister Presbyterian from an insightful article by When we spend time in forgiveness and hope 1600 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-225-7951 816-726-6988 Judah Pollack, Your Brain thinking repeatedly about through one-on-one Bibli- Bible Study 10am Sunday First Presbyterian Has A Delete Button: the angry words someone cal Guidance ministry. Call Worship 11am Sunday 217 N. Washington Ave., Elk City First Baptist 580-225-3130 spoke (bitterness); what our 580-774-2884 to schedule 400 S. Sheb Wooley, Erick Ladies Bible Study 10am Wednes- spouse didn’t do “right” (re- your appointment today! day The more you run a neu- 580-526-3375 Evening Open Bible Study 7pm Non-Denominational Jason Klechner, Min. Wednesday The Way Church First Baptist 201 S. Jefferson Ave., Elk City 504 N. 4th St., Sayre Church of Christ Elk City 580-928-5518 Meets at Pioneer & Bell 580-225-5295 Elk City Community 120 S. Randall Ave., Elk City First Hispanic Baptist 580-225-1184 919 W. 8th St., Elk City Northeast Church of Christ 580-225-7901 616 N. Locust Avenue 580-225-4395 Gateway 4227 W. 3rd St., Elk City Main Street Baptist 580-225-1184 1101 N. Main St., Elk City Westside Church of Christ 580-225-3052 Curtis Newton, Min. 580-225-2938 Church of God The Link Mt. Carmal Baptist 200 S. Main, Elk City 1801 W. A Avenue, Elk City 501 W. 1st, Elk City 580-225-2061 580-225-0227 Joe Thompson, Min. Trinity Fellowship Sayre One Church Jehovah’s Witnesses 580-928-2345 200 East Broadway, Elk City 580-210-8881 Jehovah’s Witnesses 402 E. Washington Ave., Sayre Christ Ministiries Kevin Brosius (pastor) 804 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-928-9330 580-243-9708 Prairie View Baptist Lutheran I-40 & S Hwy 34, Elk City Pastor Tod Thornton Christ Lutheran 1023 W. 2nd St., Elk City Call today to support the church page! 580-225-3000