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Friday, January 2, 2026

Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge
Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge in southern Lancaster County was first built in 1878 to cross the west branch of the Octoraro Creek. It's the only one in Lancaster County set at an angle to the water as it crosses the creek. Crossing it for the first time yesterday I have now crossed every covered bridge in Lancaster County which has the most covered bridges in Pennsylvania and ranks second in the nation with 29 covered bridges. Parke County, Indiana has the most covered bridges, with 31.
Click on photo to enlarge

"A Perspective On The Passing Years"

Message summary: The Psalmist presents a non-disputable truism. "I was young and now I am old". almist presents a non-disputable truism. "I was young and now I am old". 

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"I was young and now I am old" (Psalm 37:25). "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" (Isaiah 46:4).

I began life in January 1954. After spending some nine months, presumably cozy (although I can't remember), in my mother's womb I was born in October of that year. Everyone born in 1954, who is still living, will turn 72 sometime during 2026. That is an immutable fact! No fountain of youth or anti-aging drug can change the aging process.

This coming Sunday I will be teaching our Adult Bible Fellowship class, known as "Crossroads". The class is comprised of about 70 seniors who are mostly in their 60's and 70's. As we like to say at our age we are a "young old", still active and in reasonably good health. We joined the class in our mid-sixties and prior to that really didn't know any of them.

Most of our class attendees came of age in the 1970's and 1980's. We were young adults at that time, some still in school, others beginning our work years. Marriages and families were being established. We had a projected and hoped for long life ahead of us.

Now here we are some 50 years later and still going and seeking to keep our lights shining for the Lord! Most are involved in some type of ministry and/or volunteer role.

When we were young we never considered where we might be the first Sunday of 2026. Even the year 2000 seemed so, so far away. At that time we saw those in their 60's seemed old and beyond that age they were really old. But we stayed alive and here we are today, in 2026!

There are some among us who knew others in the class at that time. Perhaps in the same school, youth group or young adult class. Perhaps some knew each other from attending “Youth For Christ” which was very popular at that time.

But most of us have gotten to know each other only in recent years. I, at least, have wondered what others looked like in their younger years! So I will begin my PowerPoint slides on Sunday with images class members have sent me of those early years. In some cases I expect they will be hard to identify but in a few others you just can't miss it. Probably the most identifiable parts of the body are the eyes and nose which doesn't change a lot during the age processing.

One couple in the class gave me permission to share in this format. At this point they are in their late teens. For the men sideburns were the in thing (remember, that was the Elvis years). We chuckle but it sure seems a lot better than current trends like body piercings and multiple tattoos. When that trendy thing of your youth was no longer "cool" all you had to do was cut off the sideburns! Or how many remember when bell bottoms were the thing?

College photo

"I was young and now I am old". The Psalmist presents a non-disputable truism. If you were born around 1954 you will agree! Then find assurance in this passage: "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you" (Isaiah 46:4).


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Praying manDaily prayer: Father, how grateful we are that You who made us also guides and sustains us even to our old age and gray hairs. Years come and go, seasons pass, and the years accumulate, but we continue to live a full and useful life when we yield ourselves to You making the most of the opportunities You provide for every season of our life - during our childhood, youth, adulthood and right on up through our golden years. May we be counted among the faithful in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.


Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources

"Teach Us To Number Our Days"   Watch on YouTube  The Worship Initiative

Our last message we shared an update about our ministry.  If you care to read it see here and scroll down to below the Amish classroom photo.

Feedback like this is so encouraging to us. From a dedicated reader in Iowa:

Stephen and Brooksyne,

Happy New Year! 

I enjoyed reading your New Year’s Eve devotional and especially the details about your ministry at the end of the email. This is definitely a labor of love and demonstration of an enduring partnership. Your (Stephen’s) exhaustive research and implementation of the production aspects of mailings, website, and podcast are more fitting of a technically-trained specialist than an ordained minister.  

When I think of those who have faithfully persevered in ministry, you two are amongst the first to come to mind. I can’t comprehend how much you get done in a day as you minister in ways both large and small. The portfolio you’ve built of original, Spirit-inspired material is breathtaking. While many devotion writers have relied heavily on AI to simplify their writing efforts (with obvious clues of AI content to practiced readers), you’ve chosen to stay on the tried and true path.

Your photos and personal stories bring the devotionals to life.  Your location in the heart of Amish country lends a load of story material! Being an engineer, I especially enjoy the occasional technical illustrations such as the TPV on water heaters. (I had no idea how far a water heater could launch into the air without this device!) 

As we look forward to this new year, which will come with surprises good and bad as you’ve pointed out, may God bless you in your ministry.



View from inside Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge
The million dollar view from the inside of the Jackson's Sawmill Covered Bridge as you drive through.
Click on photo to enlarge

Amish youth on Spring wagon
On New Year's Day the Amish gather with their youth groups. My neighbor Isaac asked me to take him and a van load of friends down to Kirkwood in southern Lancaster County. We began early in the morning and the roads were a bit slippery but traffic was light. It was 24 degrees with a much lower windchill. Youth who are distant from the event use a driver like me to take them. Those closer come like this couple. Some seventy in their group spent the entire day together.
Click on photo to enlarge

Amish youth in covered wagon
This group arrived in style in a Conestoga covered wagon! I was told this can be rented for special occasions sort of like we English (as Amish call us) might rent a limousine.
Click on photo to enlarge

Amish youth in covered wagon
When I passed them Isaac rolled down the window and challenged them to a drag race but I had a lot more horsepower and it was no contest. FYI the Conestoga wagon (for those who enjoyed such TV shows as Rawhide, Bonanza, and other western themed shows or movies) was invented here in Lancaster County.

Amish youth in covered wagon
I picked up the same youth last night to take them home and saw the covered wagon was also departing. There's 10+ youth in the wagon so they probably kept warm and had a lot of fun being snuggled together!
Click on photo to enlarge

Octoraro Water Company Water Tower
It was beautiful driving through the country yesterday morning and I passed the Octoraro Water Company Water Tower. This unique stone water tower in the second Gothic style was built in 1903.

Our New Year's Eve meal
We gathered with friends at our place on New Year's Eve for a big meal.
Click on photo to enlarge

Pets on New Years Eve
Ester saw that our two Maltipoos, Falcon and Rosie, got into the excitement of New Year's Eve (although think they could look a little more excited!)

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