My Testimony
by Danny W. Young
I came to know the Lord through the efforts of my mom. She would read me the Bible as a child, even though I had no clue as to what it meant. Whenever she asked me if I understood, I would just say yes to try and get her to stop reading to me. While I didn't really enjoy the reading, it planted an awareness of God in me at a very early age. I knew He was there, it just never crossed my mind that He wanted to know me-- and that I could know Him.And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death. Rev 12:11 My Testimony
by Danny W. Young
It wasn't until I was in the sixth grade (1964) that things started to happen. Things that would bring me to a personal and rewarding relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ.
My friend Tom Price invited me to go with him to a surf club meeting. What he neglected to say was that it was also a Bible study. It was the Disciples Surf Club, and it met in the home of a women named Barbara Plourd. The club members were surfer and non-surfer types from all walks of life who had committed their lives to Jesus. Every Saturday they departed from Thousand Oaks, Calif,(where I lived at the time) and went surfing in the Ventura County region. The surfing was a total blast! I went with Tom to several meetings, and for the most part thought that these people were a bunch of kooks. However, the surfing was fun, and I found myself compelled to go back for reasons that I could not fully explain at the time.
One night after Barbara finished her Bible presentation, she asked if there was anyone in the room who wanted to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. All heads were bowed in prayer, and I kept thinking, "These people are crazy!" -- yet my hand went up! Something inside my heart kept saying this was the right thing to do, but my mind was very confused. Someone saw my hand raised and came over to pray with me. That was the night I met Jesus. He came into my heart, and I have never been the same since.
No, I did not lead the perfect life. As a matter of fact, after the group was closed by Barbara (God spoke to her to do so), I did not live a Christian life at all for a time. During high school, I did many things that are opposed by Christianity. Yet, I knew that God was near and calling out to me to return to Him. I can even remember one time yelling out loud at God to leave me alone! (I am so thankful today that He did not listen!)
In my senior year at Thousand Oaks High School, around May of 1972, I clearly heard the Lord's voice speak to me. He said, " You have been messing around long enough, and I want you back. You need to decide what you're going to do." I didn't fall on my knees and have some dramatic repentance experience. I spent the next two weeks thinking about my life and what I wanted to do with it. The inescapable reality was that I wanted to know God. All the things that I had been involved with had led me to heartache and pain. My parents had divorced, and my family now consisted of just me and my dad. Loneliness is so overwhelming, yet God in His great love for us is always there. I knew this and needed it.
So one night in my bedroom, I rededicated my life to Jesus. His Spirit filled my room with His presence, and that was when my life was completely and forever changed. It has been a long process of change , but it has been more than worth it. The Lord has given me a wonderful life. I have three terrific children. I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Colorado. I can stand on the deck of my house and see the Rocky Mountains.
There
have had plenty of trials too. I have been unemployed as an electrician
and
have been in and out of the ministry (I have
never
been immoral). The church that we started here in Castle Rock
went
belly up four years later. All of my Pastor friends left me when
I had to close the church. My son almost died when he was 3 years
old. I am now divorced.
There have been times when I wondered if life could ever be "good" again. This thing I have found true. The Lord will never leave us , or forsake us. He has always been there in my times of trouble.
This one
thing
is clear,Jesus is always faithful - even when we are not. When
all
others fail, Jesus is still there. It is not my intention to claim that
since I met Jesus I have had no problems or that my life is always a
breeze.
Neither do I intend to say that my life has been awful. The point of
this
message is to communicate that my life is just like yours -- and you,
too,
can find the peace of God that has so enriched my life. God is so good!
May you find the joy of the Lord. Let His joy be your strength as you
walk
down your path of life.
May God's richest blessings be yours,
Danny W. Young
http://www.ChristianMartialArtist.com/home.html Danny Young's personal testimony
Danny's-Martial Arts Background
Danny's Ministry Background
Calendar of Seminars and Events
Shape Up
Making the transition from techniques to principles
For every negative ... God has a positive!
The conquest of one's soul is the greatest journey of all.
General Colin Powell Quotes and Comments
What Happened to Innocence
Bob Orlando's personal testimony
Bob Orlando
Photos
Recommended Books and Videos
Links to other sites12/21/06