October 4, 2025 Issue, Page 4 of 12

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RELIGION 4• SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2025 The Elk City News THE RIGHT KIND OF FEAR is repeated. You’re so focused on that sound, it commands A solar eclipse occurs when your entire attention and the moon passes between the drives your imagination into sun and the earth. While the high gear. The escalating fear is moon “covers” the sun, only the result of your focus on the the halo of the sun’s corona can noise and your imagination. be seen around the edges of the In reality, the noise is only a moon’s darkness. Compared branch tapping the window. to the sun, the moon is tiny, but because it’s much closer to When we focus our extreme earth, it appears as big as the Area Church Directory attention and regard on… sun during the eclipse. People Sunday School 9:15, Worship 10:30 Politics Wrongly believing our prob- Assembly of God Wed Prairie View Troops 3:30 580-225-2266 Persecution lems are closer than God is, Assembly of God Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 Seventh-Day Adventist Dixie Yoder problems we’ll focus so entirely on the 115 W. 5th St., Erick A question I often hear is, Retrop Baptist Church Seventh-Day Adventist positions problem that we’ll only see a Pastor: Gary Griffin 11375 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City “Dr. Dixie, the Bible tells us Intersection Hwy 6 and 55 possessions dim “corona” of God around 580-472-3472 Assembly of God 580-303-0791 that we are to fear God, but on power the dark edges of our problem. Service times: the other hand, not to be anx- possibilities God tells us to focus our ex- 7th and Locust St., Sayre Catholic 2:00 pm Bible Study ious. How can I not feel anx- 580-928-4296 2:50 pm Church Service treme attention and regard on Jimmy Blanken, Min. Queen of All Saints ious when the world is in such …we are standing in awe Him. When we set the trouble 914 N. 5th St., Sayre a mess of violence and turmoil? of these things and fear turns “beside” God instead of be- First Assembly of God 580-928-2385 Methodist Does God even care? How can into panic, dread, anxiety, wor- tween ourselves and Him, the 2701 S. Randall , Elk City Rev. Danny Grover United Methodist I be both God-fearing and not ry, fretting and afraid-ness. problem shrinks in compari- 580-225-1167 702 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk Kevin Akins, Min. St. Mathews Catholic fearful?” There are many English words son to God’s almighty power 3001 E. Hwy 66, Elk City City intended to describe an emo- and tender, infinite love. 580-225-0066 580-225-0262 Throughout Scripture, the Grandview Assembly of God Scott Rodgers, Rev. tion, but they actually identify Pioneer and Country Club, Elk City Rev. Danny Grover terms “fearing” and “not fear- a wrong focus. “For God did not give us 580-225-7742 Christian ing” always indicate reverence, United Methodist a spirit of timidity, coward- Bryan Herrick 320 S. Magnoliea St., Erick and include a sense of dread(- When we stand in awe of ice…of cringing and fawning Antioch Christian 3200 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-526-3949 fulness) or terrible(ness). what we think people think fear, but a spirit of power, of Baptist 580-243-0066 These commands to “fear” and of our choices, we become love and of calm and well-bal- Jeff McDowell United Methodist “not fear” sound contradictory. Great Plains Baptist Assn. 802 N. 4th St., Sayre • 580-928-2146 timid. Standing in awe of our anced mind and discipline and 1902 Watts St., Sayre Sun School: 9:30 AM/Worship:10:45 However, if we understand fear supposed position of pow- self-control.” (2 Timothy
Christian Church 580-928-2585 correctly, we see that it’s pos- er makes us controlling or 1 S. Walnut, Erick Nazarene sible to obey both commands abusive. When we’re in awe In this union…with Christ, Bible Baptist Church 580-526-3284 First Church of The Nazarene with no inconsistency. A sim- of someone else’s power, we love is brought to comple- 1018 W. B Avenue, Elk City 816 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-225-5344 First Christian Church ple acrostic explains fear: cringe and grovel emotionally. tion…so that we may have 580-225-2026 (Diciples of Christ) Standing in awe of money or confidence…with assurance 1500 N. Randall, Elk City Rev. Andrew Dages F-ocus Central Missionary Baptist possessions creates misers and and boldness to face Him, be- 1205 W. B Avenue, Elk City 580-225-7801 E-xtreme hoarders, and standing in awe cause as He is, so are we in this 580-225-0212 Pentecostal A-ttention of “what if ” possibilities pro- world. There is no fear in love… First Christian 1601 N. 4th St., Sayre Grace Temple R-egard duces anxiety, uncertainty and because (God’s) complete, per- Eastside Baptist 580-928-3639 601 W. 20th St, Elk City depression. fect love…expels every trace of 421 N. Booth Avenue, Elk City Lindell & Nequita Brown, Pastors To fear means to “revere” terror! Fear brings with it the 580-225-0742 Church of Christ or “stand in awe”. Either con- God tells us to focus our thought of punishment, and Chase Brower, Min. Iglesia Evangelica Cristo Es La Church of Christ structive or destructive fear attention and regard on Him. [so] he who is afraid has not yet 216 N. Adams Ave., Elk City Pena Fairview Baptist 600 W. Main, Elk City arises when we focus extreme Standing in awe of God results grown into love’s complete per- 312 S. Lusk Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0718 attention or regard on some- Gantt Carter, Min. Pastor, Jose Reyes in the clean, pure, beneficial fection. 1 John 4:17-18 (AMP) 580-225-0203 580-799-2964 thing to the exclusion of any- fear described in Proverbs 1:7: 301 S. Magnolia Ave, Erick thing else. For example, you’re “The reverent, worshipful fear Knowing and receiving First Baptist Douglas Holland, Minister Presbyterian home alone when you hear an of the Lord is the starting point God’s love will set you free 1600 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-225-7951 816-726-6988 unfamiliar noise. Everything and essence of knowledge… from destructive fear. To learn Bible Study 10am Sunday First Presbyterian else fades away as you strain to and the choice part of wisdom.” more, visit infinitegrace.com or Worship 11am Sunday 217 N. Washington Ave., Elk City First Baptist 580-225-3130 hear—over the blood pound- This constructive fear produces call 580-774-2884. 400 S. Sheb Wooley, Erick Ladies Bible Study 10am Wednes- ing in your ears—if the sound confidence and boldness. 580-526-3375 day Jason Klechner, Min. Evening Open Bible Study 7pm Non-Denominational 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