Hastings Baptist Church

09/05/2026

A Word from the Word

Can you feel it? What is it? It's a tug, a constant tug? It's one of the many things that every day vie for your attention. There are plenty of things that fight for our affection, our time and our attention. What is the focus of your life? It's a good question, and we need to take a look, to evaluate where we are focusing our lives. In Joshua 24, Joshua calls the people of Israel to focus, "Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your ancestors worshiped...and worship the Lord" (Joshua 24:14). Then Joshua calls on the people to make a choice "But, if it doesn't please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship? - The gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship (serve) the Lord" (Joshua 24:15).

The nations around Israel worshiped idols; idols made of metal that were only the work of men's hands. "Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands" (Ps. 115:4). Those idols were completely powerless compared to our God. So, God's people were called on to find their security in God and not in other gods (which are not gods at all). Jesus, as He taught about the commandments said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart & with all your soul & with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37). So where is your focus? God is so worthy of our attention, our time & our affections. Let's reserve our worship for Him.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Ps. 103:1). We hope you'll join us a Hastings Baptist Church this Sunday as we praise and bless and worship our God. Please come be a part of Sunday School at 9:45 am and as we worship together at 11 am (No Sunday evening service this Sunday due to the Labor Day Weekend). Paul told the Thessalonian church, "Brethren, pray for us" (1 Thess. 5:25). Let's be faithful to pray for one another, and let's continue to pray for rain! Prayer matters!

God is good all the time!
blessings...bro phil

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08/30/2026

08/27/2026

Dear Church family - Sharon is out of surgery. All went well. Should be heading home later today. Thanks so much for your love and prayers! God is good all the time!!

08/26/2026

A Word from the Word

Acronyms are a part of our language. What's an acronym? A word or phrase or even sentence that is formed from the initial letter or letters of each of the successive parts or major part of a compound term. For example: SCUBA (we've made it a word): Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. During WWI & WWII, soldiers would put the acronym SWAK on their home to their sweetheart - Sealed With a Kiss. One of my favorites is - PPDBSLEPGMG. What is it? Postman, Postman, Don't Be Slow, Like Elvis Presley, Go Man Go!
We're familiar with: WWDJ - What Would Jesus Do, FROG - Fully Rely on God. And a great word to us is GRACE - God's Riches at Christ's Expense.

But this past week, I saw on a T-shirt what has become my new favorite acronym. It took me a minute to figure out but it speaks of God's great love for us and what Christ has done. Ok, here it is -

FGSLTWTHGHOBSTWBIHSNPBHEL
Have you got it figured out? You know it! And what a word it is!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

What a great acronym and word for all of us. Thank God for His great love for us that He sent Jesus to die for our sins. He took our place on the cross. He died so we might live. Today, would you trust Him and receive His free gift of eternal life. Let me leave you with one last acronym: GIGATTAATTGIG! God is good all the time and all the time God is good!

I'm so glad I get to come to church! I hope you feel the same way, and that you'll join us this Sunday at 9:45 am & as we worship at 11 am & 6 pm. This Sunday at 6 pm will be our Fifth Sunday Sing. We hope to see you with a song in your heart as we sing and worship together; there will be fellowship time after the service. "Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day" (Ps. 96:2).

blessings...bro phil

08/21/2026

A Word from the Word

Years ago there was a TV show that was known by this phrase: "Smile, you're on Candid Camera!" It was a very popular show, where ordinary people were put in interesting situations, that sometimes made them wonder what was going on, sometimes it would upset people, but in the end, someone would come out and say "Smile, you're on Candid Camera!" The people involved had no idea that someone was watching them.

Believe it or not, someone is watching. With security and doorbell cameras being so popular today, it's easy to be seen and watched. Does that bother you knowing someone may be watching? The Bible tells us that God knows 'my sitting down and my rising up' (Ps. 139:2). There's no getting away from the Lord. it's so important that we realize what we do alone matters as much as what we do in public. Know that wherever you are, yes, God sees and knows, but so do others. How we walk and talk matters. There was a song a few years ago that said, "If not in you, I wonder where will they ever see the One who really cares? If not from you, how will they find there's One who heals the broken heart and gives sight to the blind? 'Cause you're the only Jesus that some will ever see, and you're the only book of life some will ever read. So let them see in you the One in whom is all they'll ever need, 'cause you're the only Jesus some will ever see." A good, but somewhat convicting question to ask ourselves comes from the old hymn title, "Do others see Jesus in you?" Jesus reminds us, 'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven' (Matt.5:16). Child of God, people see a lot of things. Do they see Jesus in you?

We're looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at Hastings Baptist Church. Please join us for Sunday School at 9:45 am, and as we worship at 11 am & 6 pm. And, please come join us next Sunday, August 30th at 6 pm for our Fifth Sunday Sing! Come be a part as we worship together in song, and please join us for a fellowship after the service. "Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things..." (Ps. 98:1).

God is good all the time!
blessings...bro phil

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08/13/2026

A Word from the Word

What's your favorite kind of music? There are so many choices. In my years of radio, I played several types of music, some I liked more than others. People like rock music, rap, pop, country music (& even country AND western music), classical, jazz, southern gospel, praise music and there are plenty more choices for a favorite kind of music.

But have you thought about what God's favorite kind of music is? Is it country, or maybe it's southern gospel, or traditional hymns or is it classical music? What IS God's favorite kind of music? The Bible shows us what God's favorite kind of music is. In Zephaniah 3:17, the Bible says, "The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." So what is God's favorite kind of music? It's the song of rejoicing He sings over you. And that's quite a song! Let's make sure we hear the song He sings over us, that comes from the Mighty One who saves, the One who rejoices over you. Stay in tune with Him...look deeply into His Word, take time to be alone with Him, and Paul reminds us to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph. 5:19-20). Sing songs of praise and thanksgiving to Him but take time to hear His song of rejoicing over you. You are so loved by God!

Sunday is almost here, and we're looking forward to seeing you at Hastings Baptist Church. Maybe it's been a while since you've been to church. It really is time to come back. Please join us this Sunday for Sunday School at 9:45 am & as we worship at 11 am & 6 pm. How great it is to worship together. "I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord" (Ps. 122:1). Amen. See you Sunday.

God is good all the time!
blessings...bro phil

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08/07/2026

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