Mount Bethel Church

05/31/2026

Celebrating our High School graduates!!

05/28/2026

A tale of 2 notebooks

We come to a time where many families are cross the bumpy threshold from school life to summer. For some, it’s graduation, and a bigger moment of change from school life to college or career.

Two notebooks get carried home on the last day of school. The first is the notebook that is closed, done, finished, with a sigh of relief or joy. For some graduates, its the final closing of the years of learning. It may get stored or recycles - it may get even lit on fire - it’s done.

The second notebook still has room, still has pages that need to be filled. It is put aside only temporarily, because the learning isn’t over, it’s just moved to a new season and place.

Psalm 32:8 says,

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”

We are never done learning in life, if we are wise. God is our teacher, who leads us to live in his ways and life. But it is the choice of each of us, graduating or long past, to continue to seek His guidance in our lives.

The notebook still has pages, at least as long as we walk on this side of heaven. Keep it open for what the Lord wants to teach you today.

I’m praying for you today!

Pastor Olaf

05/21/2026

Did you know…

that summer is a gift created by God? Maybe you never thought of it, but God created the patterns of seasons as part of his amazing creative plan.

Memorial Day weekend is the “unofficial start of summer”. With end of school coming up, it’s good to pause and realize the gift God has given us in that change of pace, that time for family and focus on rest that we need regularly.

James puts it this way,

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadows.” James 1:17 (NLT)

So receive the gift of summer as a blessing that God has given, for our rest, joy and renewal in Him, and with each other.

I’m praying for you today!

Pastor Olaf

05/17/2026

More than a second.

When you talk to someone, and they immediately say “yeah, yeah, I will”, how much does that seem like they are really listening? Or what about that friend that calls, talks fast and then has to go? We feel like we really didn’t get anything out of that connection.

So often, that describes how we pray. A brief burst of requests or complaint to the heaven, and then we hang-up. Like checking our text at the stop light, quick, before the light turns.

But if we really want to honor our Lord and Savior, then prayer should be more than a few seconds. If we want to let the Spirit work in us and answer our prayers, then we need to be open to listen.

The situations in our lives, our families, the world situations - these are in need of sincere prayer before God. James reminds us,

“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:2b-3)

Pray for the things that matter to God, and that are on our hearts, so that we will see his answers and people will be changed.

I’m praying with you!

Pastor Olaf

05/04/2026

Welcome to our church family!!!!

05/01/2026

Window-prayers

I remember long care rides when I was a child. Back then… well, there weren’t phones and tablets to keep us occupied, if you remember. So one of the pass-times was just looking out the window at the passing cars and trucks and landscape, maybe play a bit of “I spy” if you had someone else in the car that would play. Or maybe on a rainy day you spent time looking out the window at home, just watching the world go by. What did you think about?

As you get older and start driving, you look out the car window to drive, and also to comment on the other drivers (maybe that’s just me). And a long time ago I heard a Christian say that when someone cut them off, or drove badly, that instead of yelling, cursing or getting mad, they tried to pray for that person. That thought stayed with me, even though I don’t always remember that before I get judgy - but it has helped open my eyes to grace for others, and the grace I get from others without even realizing it. But the idea that started there has drifted into a broader awareness, that when I find myself looking out of the car or office window, I say a small prayer for the cars driving by. God knows their story, what is on their mind, how their day is going - and I get to send a stealth-prayer for them which they will never know. It’s kind of fun.

Jesus taught us to pray for others, even those we don’t like or are even hostile towards us. He said this,

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:43-45)

Take the opportunity to lift someone up to God in a stealth-prayer, and be part of the covert work of God in another person’s life - it may inspire you to pray even more.

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Olaf

04/24/2026

INTERVENTION

No, not for you (unless you need it…...do you? We are here for you!)

What does it mean to care enough about someone to do something as personal as an intervention? Maybe you’ve seen them on TV, or maybe even participated in one. Interventions are by nature only successful if the person being confronted is surrounded by people who genuinely care, and have invested real time, love and thought into how to help them.

And there are real risks. The person being intervened may get upset, angry or reject you and the others. They may become even more resistant to change and help. You could lose a friend for good.

But for the friends and family who participate, they are willing to risk it all for the sake of helping the person they care about and who is headed for their own destruction.

Paul described the heart of a believer who understands what is at stake for those who haven’t heard the Gospel of Jesus -

“Though I am free, and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible…I have become all things to all people, so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Cor. 9:19-23)

Do our hearts break for those who haven’t heard, who don;t realize the direction their eternity is heading? People need a spiritual intervention, but only those who care with the heart of Christ will be willing to invest in the process.

We have the opportunity to share the good news, and it is worth every risk for the sake of another’s soul.

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Olaf

04/16/2026

No-one cares

about your eternity except people who are convinced that there is a life after this one. An old sitcom once named this reality in a funny scene, where one character asked the other “don’t you care that I’m going to hell?!” “Why would I,” was the reply, “I’m not the one going there.”

It’s worth dwelling on that for a moment. Chances are that you are around a majority of people who believe that what happens to you is your issue. But that is not the heart of God.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

There is one place where people are concerned for your eternity, and those of all who are lost, and that is in the fellowship of believers, the church. We know we’re not perfect, but we know the Perfect One who died for us- and for all who are lost in their sins. Stay connected to the one place where you know others are concerned for your faith journey and your eternity, because Jesus has changed our eternity as well.

See you on Sunday!

Pastor Olaf

04/01/2026

02/26/2026

Russel has a problem

Russel is the name we gave the little robot vacuum cleaner that cleans the sanctuary each week. But Russel has a problem - his battery won’t charge anymore. I know, p**p little guy! The light blinks and blinks, the power is connected, but the battery never goes over 1%.

Now, before you worry- no, this is not a ‘help pastor O trouble shoot the vacuum’ post - I am sure the warranty will take care of that! But what came to mind as I was fussing about with Russel is how this is a little picture of what it’s like when we don’t apply God’s Word an guidance to our lives.

Jesus made reference to this when he was explaining to his disciples why he used parables;

“This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:" ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving....’ (Matthew 13:13-15)

And James rephrased it for his readers this way;

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it — not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it — they will be blessed in what they do.” (James 1:21-25)

As Christians, we can sit in church like Russel on his charging station: connected to the power, in the right place, at the right time - but not letting the God fill our inner life. We look like we’re ready to go, but when the Lord says '“go”, we don’t respond.

So, during this season of Lent, check your battery (your heart). Are you letting God’s Word in? Are you filled with his presence so that you can move out into this world for the mission he has prepared for you?

Let Christ be your motivator for all you do.

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Olaf