"A New Song" May 2026
“THE EYES OF THE LORD”
Dear Friend in Ministry:
From the writings of Pastor Salem:
I want to share this verse with you:
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
---Proverbs 15:3
v GOD SEES US WHEN WE SERVE HIM. That service may be preaching from a pulpit or witnessing from a sick bed. We all can serve the Lord in one way or another. The little widow woman who “threw in two mites, which make a farthing” honored God throughout the world for all time! (Mark 12:41-44). When we give our service to God, we never know how far it will go! Our service will always bear fruit. (Isaiah 55:11; Psalm 126:6).
v GOD SEES US WHEN WE CRY. Sometimes tears come running down our cheeks while the heart nearly breaks. Maybe a loved one is taken, or sorrows stack up before us, no matter what, God sees and knows all about it. We may be like the Children of Israel in Egypt, they thought God had forgotten them, but not so, He knew their sorrows. (Exodus 3:7). Hagar, in sorrow said, “Thou God seest me.” (Genesis 16:13; Psalm 139:7-12).
v GOD SEES US WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED. We all have our temptations, and Satan never gives up on us--even King Solomon, in his old age, was tempted, and failed! So Jesus prays for us when the devil wants to get us to fall. He is a wonderful High Priest “set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.” (Hebrews 8:1). When we fail, Jesus freely forgives us. (I John 1:9). God’s grace goes beyond all of our sins, past, present & future! (Romans 5:20).
v GOD SEES US WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED. Some of these super-duper Christians say we must never become discouraged, yet some of the greatest believers in all the world became discouraged. The mighty prophet Elijah was so discouraged he wanted to die out in the wilderness under a juniper tree! (I Kings 10:4-8). God sees us when we become downhearted and whispers to us, “be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Jesus is always there to help us! (Matthew 28:20).
v GOD SEES US WHEN WE ARE LONELY. The Psalmist felt that way until he began to realize that God saw everyone, everywhere, and that included him---and you and me as well. The Psalmist goes to great length to talk about God’s presence being with him no matter what! (Psalm 139:1-24). And if that isn’t good enough, read Hebrews 13:5. God always keeps His Word and if He says something, you can count on it, big time!
v GOD SEES US WHEN WE COME TO DIE. There comes a time for all of us when we have to say ‘good-bye’ to everyone—everyone that is, except Jesus because He never leaves us or forsakes us. David spoke of that when he said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: FOR THOU ART WITH ME.” (Psalm 23:4). So, if Jesus is with us, it is never a bad day. As a matter of fact, death will be a wonderful experience. St. Paul said, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is GAIN.” (Philippians 1:21). God assures us that, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord.” (Revelation 14:13). Yes, indeed, “the eyes for the Lord are in every place.” Praise God!
We have a wonderful hope in Jesus. But how about the multitudes on the broad road that leads to destruction—they do not know Christ! So the ministry and the message, the one message alone, is that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and rose again so that the world can come to Him if they want. Our responsibility is to get the good news of the gospel out---their responsibility is to believe.
In our Savior’s love,
Pastor Salem
In Loving Memory of…
ALL MY LOVED ONES, by BETTY MUENCHOW, SD, $50
AMBER MCCRACKEN, my daughter, by ALBERTA MCCRACKEN, AK, $200
BARBARA HAYS CRANFORD, my sister, by NELL HAYS, LA, $100
CANDACE HECKER, by DAVID STOCKIE, MT, $25
CAROLIN COUGHENOUR, my wife, by MICHAEL COUGHENOUR, PA, $25
CAROLYN KNIGHT, my loving sister, by RUSSELL GROFF, PA, $120
DAD, MOM, BROTHER and NIECE, by FLORENCE MERKEL, ND, $200
DEBBIE ANDERSON, my dear sister, by BEVERLY SCHLETZ, WI, $100
DEBORAH PRESZLER, my loving wife, by RONALD PRESZLER, ID, $100
DEREK C. VALENTINE, my beloved son of 32 years, by JEFFREY DEREK VALENTINE, FL, $20
DICK & DOLORES DREESEN, our parents, by JACK & JEANE LESLIE, MN, $100
DORA RUBY LEDBETTER GILLIAM SMUTEK, our wonderful mother, by RICHARD GILLIAM, MI, $100
DORIS CARLSON, my dear mother, by LYNN CARLSON, ND, $100
DR. DANA MARSH, my mentor, friend and teacher, by ANTONIO DECRESCENTIS, NY, $45
EDIEED AAS, my friend, by BARB WESTURBUR, SD, $20
ELIAS & MARIE BJORK, my grandparents, by DONOWAN LARSON, SD, $100
ETHEL DIERCKS, by JANET HOLMES, SD, $150
FELICISIMA CUNANAN, our beloved mother, by EDWARD & ROLAND CUNANAN, CA, $100
FRANK, SUI YIN and CLIFFORD, by WINSTON LOW, CA, $100
GEORGE & DOROTHY HOFFMANN, my mom & dad, by DAN HOFFMANN, AZ, $100
HELEN DICKES, by RITA LESTER, SD, $400
HELMUTH & LYDIA EHRESMANN, my father & mother, and HARLEY EHRESMANN, my brother, by MILTON & MARY ELLEN EHRESMANN, SD, $100
JANET BUHMANN, my beloved wife of 40 years, by LARRY BUHMANN, MN, $100
JERRI and LORI HECKLER, infant twin sisters, by ANONYMOUS, ND, $5
JERRY, my husband, ROSS & IRENE, my parents, CHARLES and WAYNE, my brothers, and RITA and MAXINE, my sisters, by THELMA J. COLE, MT, $100
JOEL SCHULTZ, by JOHN & KELLY CLARK, SD, $50
JOEL SCHULTZ, by MARY & DALE SHEARER, SD, $50
JOHN & RUTH WILKERSON, by DOTTY THORNTON, MS, $263
LARRY ROBERTS, our brother, by RONALD ROBERTS, WY, $100
LOIS ELLIOTT, my sister, by NORMA BAIRD, MN, $100
LOUIS CAPLOVITZ, my husband, GENEVA SHANNON, my mother, and ETTA MAY AMIS, my aunt, by PHYLISS CAPLOVITZ, WA, $25
LUCILLE & KEVIN WOODSON, by JERRY & ELIZABETH BROWN, MO, $20
MARIA PIRES, by CARLOS PIRES, MA, $50
MARSHA SOVAK, my loving wife, by EUGENE SOVAK, PA, $100
MARTY, my brother, by BETH A. BROWN, IL, $360
MARY, my very beloved sister, by JOHN & JANE VAN HAAFTEN, IA, $25
MATTHEW, our son, by DAVID & DEBORAH STOCK, MN, $50
MY DADDY, by JOANNE WENDT, TX, $10
MY MOTHER, by EDISON BLOEM, SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA, $100
PASTOR HAROLD & BEULAH SALEM, by LLOYD & ARLES WINTER, IA, $100
PASTOR KEN & MARTHA, who have both gone to be with the Lord, by DARIN & TAMI VANBECK, MT, $35
PASTOR SALEM:
ALFRED ZUEHLKE, IA, $100
BARBARA CUMMINS, MO, $20
BENNIE SOUTHWORTH, FL, $60
JUDY FELLERS, OK, $30
KELLSEY MINOR, CA, $25
LELAND SKOG, WI, $500
MARY E. SMITH, NE, $25
MICHAEL CROUCHER, MN, $50
SANDI ANTHONY, MO, $50
SYLVIA OKERSTROM, MN, $25
PATRICIA TAFF, our beloved mother and grandmother, by DENNIS TAFF, AR, $50
PEARL, my mother, by RICK DEYO, MN, $100
PETER & FLORA SEIDEL, my parents, by JANE LARSON, SD, $100
PHILIP ALAN GREEN, my cousin & friend, by DAVID P. GREEN, LA, $25
PHYLLIS WOLFE, my wife of 70 years, by RICHARD WOLFE, MO, $15
ROBERT & LORETTA JONES and MARTIN & JENATTE KRAMER, by DARMON & JANICE JONES, MN, $50
ROBERT & MARIA BETZ, GEORGE & MARY BETZ, PABLO & MARIA BARRANTES, JEREMY HULSHOFF and PASTOR SALEM, by DEBBIE BETZ, PA, $200
ROGER D. BISHOP, my dad, by GLENDA PETERSON, AR, $10
RON COATES, my dear ‘ol dad, by SANDY BUSHNELL, MT, $50
RUBY LANGE, my wife, by JERRY LANGE, MN, $100
SAMUEL & TINA GRIFFITHS, our son & daughter, by WILLIAM & MARIA GRIFFITHS, SD, $200
SANDY, my wife, by KEN HASSLER, ND, $100
SELVA NICKELS, my wife, by ROBERT F. NICKELS, FL, $200
STEVEN “LEE” HUSET, by GLYNN, MIKE and TERRI, his siblings, MT, $600
TODD RACHELS, my son, and LESTER & VALDINE RACHELS, my parents, by GAYLORD RACHELS, MN, $100
VIRGIL MOORE, by JANE & JERRY MERDIAN, IL, $50
Any Memorials & Dedications after 4/9/2026 will be listed in the June New Song
In Honor of…
BETTY & HAROLD MCCAMMON SR., my parents, by MICHAEL MCCAMMON, IN, $25
BRITTNEY, my daughter, celebrating her Birthday, by JANICE SACK, MT, $100
CWH, by KERRY COOK, WI, $25
CWH, thank you for carrying on Pastor Salem’s messages, by BENNIE SOUTHWORTH, FL, $70
DANIEL CAFFEJIAN, by SAMANTHA CLARK, NV, $20
DECKLAN C. ROUSE, celebrating his Birthday, by SANDRA ARCHER, NC, $25
EDNA BLYTHE YOUDERIAN BURR, my mother who showed me who God is, by LAURA HAZELL, MO, $25
EVA STEPHANIE BATEZ WASHINGTON, CHRISTOPHER WULF, CARLOS SANTIAGO, LIZBETH COULTER, KELLY MATSUI, EUGENE MATSUDA and MICHAEL VALACH, by TERRY WASHINGTON, IL, $20
GOD, by CHASE MURPHY, KS, $200
HARRIET, DEAN, LUANN and JOEL, by CASEY WRIGHT, NE, $20
JOLENE and JOYCE, my sisters, by CYNDE STURMAN, FL, $25
LLOYD & ARLES WINTER, celebrating our 73rd Wedding Anniversary, IA, $50
MOM, celebrating her Birthday, by BRENDA SHORT, KS, $25
MY MOTHER, by DOLORES GONZALVES, NV, $400
MYLA, KYNLIE, RYKER, JACE, KAMRYN and BRIAHNNA, our grandchildren, by PAUL GULLICKS, MN, $25
OUR GRANDDAUGHTER and SISTER-IN-LAW, celebrating their Birthdays and OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, celebrating Anniversaries and Birthdays, by KEVIN & BECKY DALLMANN, ND, $200
OUR LORD & SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, by THADDEUS STEGMAN, MI, $100
OUR MILITARY, by RHONDA OREM, MO, $100
WESLEY L. FRITZ, by CARLENE FRITZ, TX, $100
Any Memorials & Dedications after 4/9/2026 will be listed in the June New Song
60 Minute Services
MAY 03 ”THE UPLIFTING CHRIST” --- JOHN 12:23-33
MAY 10 “A WOMAN WHOM JESUS PRAISED” --- MARK 12:41-44
MAY 17 “A SERMON TO SHUT-INS” --- PSALM 23
MAY 24 “WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATER” --- ISAIAH 43:1-7
MAY 31 “THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” --- JOHN 16:7-15
30 Minute Services
MAY 03 ”THE UPLIFTING CHRIST” --- JOHN 12:23-33
MAY 10 “A WOMAN WHOM JESUS PRAISED” --- MARK 12:41-44
MAY 17 “A SERMON TO SHUT-INS” --- PSALM 23
MAY 24 “WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATER” --- ISAIAH 43:1-7
MAY 31 “THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT” --- JOHN 16:7-15
“JESUS IS WITH ME”
Time moves along so quickly. Days turn into months, and months into years, and we often wonder what lies ahead. Jesus told us there would be wars and rumors of wars (Matthew 24:6), and that conditions in this world would grow worse, not better. (II Timothy 3:13).
So, what do we do? We do the only thing we can do—we go to God’s eternal Word—and there we find the answer:
“Lo, I am with you…always!” (Matthew 28:20) “Be not afraid…for I am with thee.” (Acts 18:9–10)
JESUS IS WITH ME EVERY DAY…AS MY SAVIOR.
He saved me by shedding His precious blood and rising from the dead, so that my sins are gone forever (Isaiah 1:18). Because of His great love, I have a Savior by my side all my life—and when I come to die, He will be closer than ever. “I will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4). I do not fear what lies ahead, for I am ready for heaven. Praise God!
JESUS IS WITH ME EVERY DAY…AS MY SHEPHERD.
Sheep are not very smart—we know that. And God says we are like sheep who go astray (Isaiah 53:6). But we have the Good Shepherd who loves us, understands us, and leads us safely through life. What a gift—Jesus is our Shepherd. (John 10:27–29).
JESUS IS WITH ME EVERY DAY…AS MY PRIEST.
I need God’s help every day. It is so easy to sin in thought, word, and deed. But when I do, I have a wonderful High Priest—Jesus—who intercedes for me and represents me before the Father. (Romans 8:26).
JESUS IS WITH ME EVERY DAY…AS MY FRIEND.
I live alone now; my dear Beulah is in heaven. Especially in the evenings, I feel that difference. But many of us who live alone can testify: the presence of Jesus in our home makes all the difference. He gives courage and strength because He is always there. (Hebrews 13:5).
JESUS IS WITH ME EVERY DAY…I WILL NOT BE AFRAID.
He tells us to “fear not” and to “cast all our care upon Him.” (I Peter 5:7). No matter what may come, Jesus is with us—helping us through both the hard times and the good.
IS JESUS YOUR FRIEND?
He wants to be!