March 15, 2025 Issue, Page 4 of 12

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RELIGION 4• SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2025 The Elk City News INFINITE GOD AND SUFFERING clearly that because of the is where we find freedom love of God, Jesus came to from bondages to things redeem us from that fall- like sex, porn, chemicals enness. (Isaiah 53) How- or money. In Christ, we ever, we are not promised are not victims. We don’t that salvation guarantees have to “smell” like our no struggle or pain of any circumstances because in kind on earth. Reading the Christ, we are more than history of the great men conquerors. and women of faith in He- brews 11 shows us that life Only all-knowing God Area Church Directory is often very difficult for is in the position to de- those who love God. termine what is or is not Assembly of God Sunday School 9:15, Worship 10:30 Wed Prairie View Troops 3:30 580-225-2266 pointless. God promises Dixie Yoder Wed Prayer Meeting 6:30 Our lifestyle can greatly to always produce good Assembly of God Seventh-Day Adventist affect suffering. When we from each difficulty (Ro- 115 W. 5th St., Erick “Dr. Dixie, since God Pastor: Gary Griffin Retrop Baptist Church Seventh-Day Adventist is infinite and if He really think in accordance with mans 8:28), but we often Intersection Hwy 6 and 55 11375 N. 1990 Rd., Elk City God’s Word, our decisions cannot see what the good 580-303-0791 580-472-3472 loves humankind as deep- Assembly of God Service times: ly and tenderly as you say, minimize the suffering is in the midst of suffering. 7th and Locust St., Sayre Catholic 2:00 pm Bible Study why is there so much evil from personal sin and we Indeed, the good may not 580-928-4296 Queen of All Saints 2:50 pm Church Service are able to reach out and even become evident in Jimmy Blanken, Min. and suffering in the world? 914 N. 5th St., Sayre Suffering seems so point- ease the suffering of oth- our lifetime! First Assembly of God 580-928-2385 Methodist less—it appears that God ers. We are Jesus’ healing, 2701 S. Randall , Elk City Rev. Danny Grover United Methodist either doesn’t care, or can’t comforting hands on this To accurately label any 580-225-1167 702 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk St. Mathews Catholic figure out how to stop it.” earth (John 14:12). suffering as “pointless”, we Kevin Akins, Min. 3001 E. Hwy 66, Elk City City would have to be able to see 580-225-0066 580-225-0262 Grandview Assembly of God Scott Rodgers, Rev. Attempting to the find God’s children have the clearly that it has no cur- Pioneer and Country Club, Elk City Rev. Danny Grover answers to the “whys” of privilege of confidently rent, future or eternal pur- 580-225-7742 Christian United Methodist suffering or measuring asking God for what we pose whatsoever. Because Bryan Herrick 320 S. Magnoliea St., Erick Antioch Christian God’s goodness by our need. But asking God to our perspective is so limit- 3200 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City 580-526-3949 own circumstances always remove all adversity is the ed, it is impossible for us to Baptist 580-243-0066 results in confusion and equivalent of asking Him make that assessment. Not Jeff McDowell United Methodist Great Plains Baptist Assn. 802 N. 4th St., Sayre • 580-928-2146 doubt. A “wide angle” to give us a bloated ego only do we see only a tiny 1902 Watts St., Sayre Christian Church Sun School: 9:30 AM/Worship:10:45 view of human history and spiritual apathy. In piece of the “puzzle”, unless 580-928-2585 1 S. Walnut, Erick Nazarene makes it more possible to the same way that our chil- we seek God’s perspective, 580-526-3284 dren need firm, consistent what little we do know is Bible Baptist Church accept the truth that God is 1018 W. B Avenue, Elk City First Church of The Nazarene unfailingly good and cares discipline—which is often often distorted. First Christian Church 816 W. 6th St., Elk City 580-225-5344 580-225-2026 deeply for His human chil- painful—to eliminate self- (Diciples of Christ) 1500 N. Randall, Elk City Rev. Andrew Dages dren. We can believe this ishness, so God’s children “Faith living” chooses Central Missionary Baptist 580-225-7801 even when in very difficult need the discipline that to believe God’s appraisal 1205 W. B Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0212 Pentecostal personal situations. often comes through pain- of Himself and the eternal First Christian ful circumstances, caused value of every moment of 1601 N. 4th St., Sayre Grace Temple Eastside Baptist 601 W. 20th St, Elk City SIN is the overall reason by sin, to eliminate our our lives, no matter how 421 N. Booth Avenue, Elk City 580-928-3639 Lindell & Nequita Brown, Pastors that suffering is an integral selfish demand that God our circumstances appear. 580-225-0742 Church of Christ part of the human expe- and other people make us Chase Brower, Min. Church of Christ Iglesia Evangelica Cristo Es La rience. Sometimes the constantly comfortable Infinite Grace Ministries 216 N. Adams Ave., Elk City Pena Fairview Baptist 600 W. Main, Elk City sin is individual wrong and happy. Daniel’s three teaches that thinking in 312 S. Lusk Avenue, Elk City 580-225-0718 friends were tossed bound agreement with God will Gantt Carter, Min. Pastor, Jose Reyes choices—for example, un- 580-225-0203 580-799-2964 faithfulness in marriage, into the fire, but the fire change our life experience. 301 S. Magnolia Ave, Erick abortion, murder, drunk burned the ropes off their If you or someone you First Baptist Douglas Holland, Minister Presbyterian hands and feet. They came know struggles with anx- 1600 W. Country Club Blvd, Elk City driving, greed or gossip. 580-225-7951 816-726-6988 Certainly the underlying through the fire and didn’t iety and worry, call 580- Bible Study 10am Sunday First Presbyterian even smell like smoke 774-2884 to learn how the Worship 11am Sunday 217 N. Washington Ave., Elk City cause of all suffering is First Baptist 580-225-3130 (Daniel 3:19-27). Often, love and mercy of God can Ladies Bible Study 10am Wednes- First Adam’s sinful choice 400 S. Sheb Wooley, Erick day in Eden. The Bible tells us the furnace of affliction set you free. 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