"A New Song" September 2026

“A NEW SONG” Psalm 40:3

Dear Friend in Ministry:

“There is a Friend who sticketh closer than a brother.”

Proverbs 18:24b

From the writings of Pastor Salem:

Here Solomon is writing about a Friend—and you know what? I know that Friend! Personally and intimately, throughout my life. He is the One who said, “No longer do I call you servants…I have called you friends.”  (John 15:15). Let me tell you about my Friend:

v MY FRIEND LOVES ME. Can you imagine it? He loves me so much He gave His life for me on a cruel, Roman cross. I have had a lot of friends, but none that loved me that much. There are a lot of things in the Bible that surprise me, but the one that surprises me the most, is that Jesus loves me! In spite of all my sins and waywardness, He loves me. He is my friend! (John 3:16; Romans 5:10).

 

v MY FRIEND IS FAITHFUL TO ME. After all these years, He has never failed me a single time. Oh, sad to say, I have failed over and over, but my wonderful Friend never fails me. I can always count on Him, lean on Him, depend on Him. Sometimes when I wonder if He hears my prayers or knows how deeply I hurt—well, I don’t wonder long because in my heart of hearts I know He is beside me, better yet, within me. What a faithful Friend He is! (Hebrews 13:5).

 

v MY FRIEND IS ALWAYS TRUE TO ME. Many friends just tell me what I want to hear—but not my Friend, He tells me like it is. If there is something I want to do, and I know it is wrong—my Friend tells me right out, it is not pleasing to Him. And, you know something else, He keeps telling me that, keeps convicting me, until I change my way. He is honest and true to me. And something else, when I listen to Him, He quietly says, “Well done.” (Acts 9:5; Matthew 25:23).

 

v MY FRIEND IS EVER SO TENDER. He cares for me and never allows more into my life than He will help me bear through His strength. Sometimes it seems I can hear Him whisper, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”  (John 16:12). Oh, He allows me to have some burdens and trials and sorrows, but He never gives me too many! He knows me better than I know myself, so He gives me the strength I need for every burden He allows. Tenderly, He adjusts my load, so it is just right. (Matthew 11:28-30).

 

v MY FRIEND IS STRONG. You know what? He is stronger than Satan! And Satan is strong, believe you me, but Satan is no match for my Friend Jesus! My Friend said, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18). Jesus is going to demonstrate that power when He casts Satan into the lake of fire and brimstone! (Revelation 20:10). Today it looks like the devil is in the saddle, but fear not, my Friend is going to have the last word! (Revelation 20:7-9).

 

v MY FRIEND IS GENEROUS! He gives me all that I need, and much, much more—more than I deserve! He shares with me ALL of His riches in glory, that is, the unsearchable riches in Christ reserved for us in heaven. (I Peter 1:4,5). Generous? I should say so. (Ephesians 1:3; Philippians 4:19).

I wonder if you know this Friend of mine. Not just knowing about Him but know Him personally through your own experience with Him. If not, simply tell Him you are a sinner and ask Him to come into your heart and life—and He will. (Revelation 3:20). There is no greater Friend you will ever have than the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

In our Savior’s love,

        Pastor Salem   

                          

                               This A New Song devotional letter is in the words and writings of Pastor Salem.

                                      ~Bible study may not correspond with A New Song mentioned in the broadcast. ~                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

In Loving Memory of…

ALL OF MY FAMILY, by ARLENE STONEFIELD, SD, $100

BENSIAM D. & SUSIE P. FITZWATER and BONNIE R. & SIDNEY HOLLIS, our parents, by DAVID & BETTY HOLLIS, FL, $400

BETTY & HAROLD MCCAMMON, my parents, by MICHAEL MCCAMMON, IN, $25

BONNIE L. JOHNSON, by THE WARREN NELSON FAMILY, SD, $100

BUD & LORRAINE ANDERSON, my parents, by BARBARA KYROLA, MN, $50

CANDACE HECKER, by DAVID STOCKIE, MT, $25

CHRISTINE COLVIN, my niece, by AUNT LINDA KOOYER, MN, $50

CLINT EASTBURN, my son, by GARY EASTBURN, DE, $70

DARREN CAMPBELL, by KELLI CAMPBELL, FL, $25

DEBORAH PRESZLER, my loving wife, by RONALD PRESZLER, ID, $100

DELORES KRACHT, my mom, by JUDY KECK, NE, $100

DEREK C. VALENTINE, my beloved son of 32 years, by JEFFREY DEREK VALENTINE, FL, $20

DORA RUBY LEDBETTER GILLIAM SMUTEK, our precious mother, by RICHARD GILLIAM, MI, $100

DR. DANA MARSH, by ANTONIO DECRESCENTIS, NY, $35

GERRIT BOS, my husband, and SHIRLEY LUPKES, my daughter, by SYLVIA BOS, MN, $100

GLADYS PAULSON, by CATHRYN FLYGER, SD, $25

GLENN & PAT HENRY, my neighbors, now with the Lord in Heaven, by RUSSELL GROFF, PA, $120

HEATH ALLEN, my beloved son, by MAMA MARY, IA, $59

JAMES SWANK, my dear husband, by IRENE SWANK, CA, $100

JANICE IMBERI ARBACH, our sister/sister-in-law, by ANNE & ARLEN MOKE, SD, $20

JERRI and LORI HECKLER, infant twin sisters, by ANONYMOUS, $5

JERRY SAXTON, my brother, by NORMA JEAN BAIRD, MN, $100

JOANNE L. SKOG, my wife, by LELAND SKOG, WI, $500

JOHN S. JACK, my loving husband, by LILLIAN JACK, FL, $20

LANA NELSON, by ORRIN OLSON, MN, $50

LAWRENCE, my husband of 51 years, by NANCY KAY WHEELER, FL, $10

LENNY, my brother of 66 years who I miss very much, by BARB ARENS, ND, $400

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

MAGGIE KOST, our mother, by WANDA WAHL, KEITH KOST and RHONDA MAHOWALD, ND, $330

MARIA PIRES, by CARLOS PIRES, MA, $50

MARSHA SOVAK, my loving wife, by EUGENE SOVAK, PA, $100

MELINDA JOY BARAGAR, my beloved daughter, by LYLE KLASSEN, MAKWA, SK, CAN, $50

MIKE MITCHELL, my husband, by JUDY MITCHELL, MN, $220

PASTOR SALEM & BEULAH, by MARK HUDDLESTON, IA, $20

PASTOR SALEM:

AL & DARNESIA CARTER, AR, $150

ALFRED ZUEHLKE, IA, $100

APRECINIA MCCOMB, CA, $100

BARBARA CUMMINS, MO, $20

DEREK EDWARDS, AZ, $10

MICHAEL CROUCHER, MN, $50

PAMELA AMANS, WI, $100

REBECCA BUCH, MN, $3

RON BOWEN, IA, $70

SANDI ANTHONY, MO, $50

SHIRLEE RICHARDSON, SD, $50

SYLVIA OKERSTROM, MN, $25

PAT, we miss him so much, by PATRICIA WICKHAM and FAMILY, IL, $50

PHYLLIS KILCHERMAN, my wife, by JOHN KILCHERMAN, MI, $500

RAY, my husband, and STEPHANIE, my sister, both are in heaven, by GERI EGGERT, MO, $1,000

REV. ISAAC R. FOX, by DAVID A. FOX, MT, $600

ROBERT & MARIA BETZ, JEREMY HULSHOFF, GEORGE & MARY BETZ, PABLO & MARIA BARRANTES and PASTOR SALEM, by DEBORAH BETZ, PA, $300

RON DROOG, our brother, by PRESTON & DIANE DROOG, SD, $50

SAMUEL & TINA GRIFFITHS, our son & daughter, by WILLIAM & MARIA GRIFFITHS, SD, $400

SELVA J. NICKELS, my wife, by ROBERT F. NICKELS, FL, $200

SHIRLEY PEDERSON, MARIAN BJERKE and JUNE SANDA, by MARSHA HOLWEGER, ND, $150

Any Memorials or Dedications after 8/6/2026 will be listed in the October New Song

In Honor of…

DANIEL CAFFEJIAN, by SAMANTHA CLARK, NV, $20

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

HARRIET, DEAN, LUANN and JOEL, by CASEY WRIGHT, NE, $20

KAY BANNISTER, Happy Anniversary, by JEFFREY SUNDBACK, HI, $100

MY FAMILY, by LEONA GUSTAFSON, MN, $200

MY FAMILY, for their salvation, and DALE, blessings in health and joy, by ANN OSHITA, NE, $25

MY MOTHER, by DOLORES GONZALVES, NV, $250

MYLA, KYNLIE, RYKER, JACE, KAMRYN and BRIAHNNA, our grandchildren, by PAUL GULLICKS, MN, $25

PRECIOUS HEAVENLY FATHER, JESUS CHRIST & HOLY SPIRIT, by MARY, IA, $195

STEVE, JIM, TOM, LARRY and DEE, my children, by LUANNE COX, MO, $250

SUE TAFF, my wife, celebrating her Birthday, by DENNIS TAFF, AR, $25

WESLEY L. FRITZ, by CARLENE FRITZ, TX, $100

Any Memorials or Dedications after 8/6/2026 will be listed in the October New Song

60 Minute Services

SEPTEMBER 06   A CHECKLIST FOR GODLINESS — ROMANS 12:14-21

SEPTEMBER 13   WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES — JOHN 21:9-17

SEPTEMBER 20   WHEN ISAIAH SAID “YES” TO GOD — ISAIAH 6:1-8

SEPTEMBER 27   THE UNPARDONABLE SIN — MATTHEW 12:22-32

30 Minute Services

SEPTEMBER 06   A CHECKLIST FOR GODLINESS — ROMANS 12:14-21

SEPTEMBER 13   WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES — JOHN 21:9-17

SEPTEMBER 20   WHEN ISAIAH SAID “YES” TO GOD — ISAIAH 6:1-8

SEPTEMBER 27   THE UNPARDONABLE SIN — MATTHEW 12:22-32

Why do we call our newsletter, “A New Song?” A “new song” is the song we receive when we come to Jesus. He gives us new life, new purpose, and a new direction. As our hearts are changed, our lives become a testimony of praise to Him. David said in Psalm 40:3: “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”