Mount Bethel Church

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Mount Bethel Church

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Worship service is now at 10:00 am. We will continue online posts/ streaming as well. In our care and service for one another, we reflect his love for us.

A note from the pastor-

I am so glad to be part of what God is doing here at Mt Bethel. Life is complex, but as we follow Jesus and study his word, we become more of who he made us to be. I invite you to explore your faith, ask the hard questions, and do what God has made you to do. Doing so will bring him glory and joy, and will fill your soul with hope! Join us for church this weekend- you'll find the welcome of Christ among us. Hope to see you soon! Pastor O

10/22/2026

Orange Season

Depending on your generation, you may remember that fall and winter were the season that the oranges and tangerines were plentiful. It was something to do with the growing seasons. Now of course we have year-round farming techniques, and citrus fruit are available all the time.

But it is also orange season for another reason. If you are a hunter, you know that too- deer season just started (for gun hunters). Orange is the safety color so you don’t accidentally become a mistaken deer trophy!

When someone talks about orange season, it helps to understand the context and culture of the place you are in- is it about citrus, or about hunting? As Christians we are called to be students of the culture we live in, so that we might be able to make connections to Christ using the imagery of current life and experiences. It’s a way of living out what 1 Corinthians 9 says;

“…I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.” (1 Cor 9:22b-23)

Do you know what is happening in the world around you- life, music, issues? If you have kids or grandkids, you may already realize how important it is to know what they are in to these days. But nit just for our own curiosity, but it is so that we can more intelligently relate the truth of God to the issues people face.

So do the work, listen to the (shock) regular radio once in a while, look at the news from the “other” side, and pay attention to what is important to to others. And maybe, we too will be able to see that “I do all this that I for the sake of the gospel, so that I may [see it’s fruit in the lives of others]” - (my paraphrase)!

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Olaf

10/15/2026

What’s your goal?

it’s a good question to ask ourselves periodically. For a student, it may be graduating, for a worker, it may be that next role or promotion. A goal is something that we are working towards, and is not accomplished until the set time and requirements have been met- the new title, the degree, the certificate.

But what is our goal in our overall life? I would suggest that it should be graduation, rather than retirement. Because while our working obligations may be completed over time, our course of growth in the Lord is not completed until the day we see him face to face. Even in retirement, we are still in the coursework of Christ, learning to follow him in all situations.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

That goal is woven throughout all we do and the places we go- oh, the places!

If we are in a course, we have work, we have study, and we have practical application. So whatever you do this work, remember it is part of your coursework of becoming like Jesus, and graduation into his presence at the end!

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Olaf

10/08/2026

Sticky Notes

You know, the office worker’s secret passion- those pastel, neon or funny shaped bits of paper with just the right amount of ‘sticky’ to them…

It’s amazing how this little thing has been the best tool to remind themselves of important things, leave notes for a co-worker, family member or delivery person. And I have seen many people use them for little scripture reminders stuck in places where they will see them.

Because keeping focus on Jesus and faith in the midst of a busy life takes intentional effort. But it is not impossible, as something as simple as a sticky note can be a reminder of Jesus, of a verse to focus on, and that He is important to me or you. In any small way, keep Jesus in front of you to remind you of the way to follow.

As Paul wrote,

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Phil 2:11-13)

To work out just means to keep at it, to see our journey of acting and thinking like Jesus is not over, and the best is still to come.

So put up a sticky note, or work-out your faith in some other way today!

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Olaf

10/01/2026

It’s October, Y’all

It’s that time of Hallow-Thanks-Mas decorations all blending together in the stores, acorns making the driveway slippery like marbles, and in a remarkable discovery, any pumpkin spice drink can be used as fuel in your electric car- it’s true! (at least to fuel the driver anyway)

The change in seasons is a reminder of one inevitable thing- time moves on. As one season follows the other, we also move through our life. Sometimes it seems that life is just so busy it will never be different- and yet, we have limited years.

In Hebrews 3 we read this important reminder.

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” (Heb 3:12-14)

We all think we are too clever to get scammed- but sinful desires can be very convincing and deceitful in promising the world for just a little rebellion. But we have the Spirit of God that gives us strength to resist, to humbly ask for his help to recognize our temptations, and not become resistant to the call of Christ.

Today is important in your faith, because it is one of only a limited number of days in this walk of life. Time marches on, make today count for your faith in Christ.

I’m praying for you today!

Pastor Olaf

09/25/2026

Reactions

So, how many social media videos do you watch that are just people reacting to what other people already have done? There is a huge genre of people who post themselves reacting to music, to people, other videos, etc. I guess the appeal is that it’s what we often do with our friends irl (which means, “in real life”). You heard a new song, you play it for your friends, you tried a new food, you got someone else to try it too- especially if it’s weird or yucky!

And maybe it’s not so strange, since we really do want to share with others things we find interesting, wild or moving. And it’s why Christians want to share what we have discovered in Jesus with others as well. Because when you have come alive in faith, you suddenly see things differently, and the truth hits different. And that is something worth sharing, and watching to see other people’s reactions when they finally get who Jesus is.

Jesus said it plainly,

“I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

The way, the truth, the life- not ‘a’, but ‘the’, which means that there is no other place to discover any deeper, better or real-er truth, life or way to meet God- none. And when someone finally realizes that Jesus is living and real, the change is amazing.

Those are reactions I wish I could watch more of every day.

I’m praying for you today!

Pastor Olaf

09/17/2026

How to accept the truth

Have you heard the phrase “common sense is longer common”? It’s not new, but it’s just become a description of the age we are in. Even the idea of truth has become even more vague than it has ever been, and the idea that everyone just has “their truth” seems to be used as justification for any number of ridiculous things.

The problem this raises is that salvation relies on a person acknowledging that their truth is not the definition of right or true- it is God’s Truth that is the only Truth- and every other perspective must come from that root alone. In other words, a person must submit (shudder!) to God’s truth over their own.

in Psalm 51:16-17 it says,

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.”

A “broken and contrite heart”- it means a person who acknowledges that they are broken, that they are sinful and a sinner, and that they deserve wrath, and need mercy. Receiving Christ requires us to acknowledge the hardest truth of all- no mater what our ego has tried to tell us, we are not enough. In fact, we are wrong.

That is such a hard ask in our world, that is seems like asking a camel to crawl through the eye of a needle! But as Jesus said in just such a circumstance,

“With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mk 10:27)

Only God can break the stubborn heart of stone and convert it to the contrite heart that receives mercy.

Pray for the heart of people you know who need Jesus, because with God even the most stubborn person can be saved.

I’m praying for you ;)

Pastor Olaf

09/10/2026

Adventures into the unknown-

It is fascinating to me how many things are discovered every year that we never knew existed. Whether it is a new variation of animal, insect or fish, things cosmic or in the realm of the microscopic, there is something new being discovered. Often these discoveries change how we understand the world in some way.

So much of what governs our daily lives is in the realm of the unseen- gravity, physics, biological processes, they are happening and yet we don’t realize it.

How much more then is there a case to be made for the reality of the spiritual world, that is also unseen? Faith is belief in the Truth of God, even though He is unseen- but the effect of that faith can be seen and felt in the lives of all who believe.

Jesus said this;

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

Though unseen, the Spirit of God is as real as the unseen cells at work in your body even right now. His plans are good, his ministry of care, counsel and guidance leads us in our real life and real choices. And just like new discoveries which are found when the search finally is able to spot them, when we follow Jesus, we will one day see the great reality of the Spirit in the Kingdom of God, more real than anything else.

I’m praying for you,

Pastor Olaf

08/21/2026

To persevere, to persist,

to keep doing what is right even if we don’t see the results- that is what builds character and the quality of faithfulness.

The hard thing about many moral and ethical choices in life is that we don’t often see the impact. You treat someone with grace even when they don’t deserve it, and years later they may tell that moment as a story of someone who changed their perspective. You may share your faith with someone who brushes it off, but perhaps years later they tell it as one of the conversations that lead them to Jesus at a later point.

The challenge for a follower of Jesus is to persevere in concern and love for neighbor, even though we often never see the impact. But if we remain faithful, it is the legacy that the Lord will reveal when we stand face to face, and he points out how what we did was part of a larger plan, and made an impact in someone else’s eternity.

The writer (Solomon) of Ecclesiastes wrote this as an encouragement not to give up after just a few steps, but to continue because we don;t know what will bear fruit in the long run.

“Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.” (Eccl. 11:6)

Let’s stay the course, let’s be the witness, let’s keep caring for our neighbors- because we never know which seed will sprout to the fruit of faith in the long run.

I’m praying for you today!

Pastor Olaf

08/13/2026

One Day Only!

The marketing trick to drive people to get the deal today they may not see again. But it’s usually not the case, and that “one day only” price seems to come back around pretty often.

But there is a truth in the title- we really only live one day. We don’t live our yesterday, and we don’t live our tomorrow- we just live today. The now is now, the future is uncertain.

This truth really can help to focus us on things that matter, because tomorrow may never come. It’s not a over-hyped urgency, just a way to refocus on what matters, and letting the other things find out if tomorrow dawns after today.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul wrote it this way,

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says,

“In the time of my favor I heard you,
and in the day of salvation I helped you.”

I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

We have today to be part of God’s kingdom, his work, his salvation life. The invitation to a cookout to build a friendship, the invitation to church, a conversation to build bridges, these are precious parts of life that get lost when the moment’s pass or we let them cool.

There are things that matter today- so while it’s today, make those the first things on the list. And if tomorrow dawns, it’s another opportunity to put the Kingdom of God first- and to see the work of Christ happening in our lives.

I am praying for you today (from Canada!)

Pastor Olaf

08/06/2026

Live Forecast: Hot, humid and irritable

Ah, August. If nothing else, August is the test whether NC is for you. It’s like Wisconsin in February. The rest of the year, you can kind of get a false sense of what it’s like- but it’s in the middle of it that you really discover what you want to tolerate!

But, we do live here, we endure, we even find ways to enjoy it- maybe a pool, a trip to the beach, or just buckets of ice water and sweet tea. And that’s really what makes a person able to live in August- not losing your ability to be human.

Paul encourages us in his letter to the Philippians,

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Phil 2:3-4

When it’s hot and humid, the temptation is to get short, to get selfish, to look for an ice bath. But what the Spirit of Christ enables us to do is to not just deal with ourselves, but to keep our eyes open to the others around us. If it’s hot, everyone needs a little grace and patience- not just me.

And going deeper into this verses gives us something worth pondering as we sit in the shade with a cool tea- how do we consider the others around us as valued, precious and in some real way, worth our time and encouragement?

I am praying for you today!

Pastor Olaf

Address

8130 NC Highway 65
Summerfield, NC
27358

Telephone

(336) 298-7464

Website

https://www.mtbethel.life/

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