Steven Allen Young - From Chains to Change: One Mans Journey from God-Hater to God-Follower

STEVEN ALLEN YOUNG

Youve read this book. You know Stevens story from childhood to the present. You also picked up on his poetic heart, birthed from lots of pain. He has blogged and shared extensively on social media. He spends hours each week on the streets and in the homeless camps of Nashville. Did you know he hopes to shed new hope and light on the things he has seen through a book of his collected poems?

Stevens story is not yet over. Like any great adventure, it will have more ups, downs, plot twists, and moments of glorious redemption.

ERIC WILSON

As a young boy, Eric lived overseas with his parents who smuggled Bibles into eastern Europe and worked with literature teams in India. His love of books grew during hundreds of hours on planes, trains, hovercrafts, boats, and trucks.

Eric got married in 1990, then graduated with a BA in Biblical Studies from Life Pacific College. In 2004, he published his first novel, Dark to Mortal Eyes . He has since published 5 supernatural thrillers, 6 mysteries, 5 film novelizations, and 4 nonfiction titles. His book, Fireproof , spent 3 months on the NY Times bestseller list and helped pay for his daughters braces.

Erics heart is for those on the fringes of faith, those burned by religion and church upbringings, and those curious but nervous about a life of following Jesus. He believes no subject is off-limits. If Jesus is the Answer, why be afraid of the questions?

Its the middle of the night, January 29, 2021. The sun is still hours away from rising, and as I sit in my office writing this, Im reminded of my early days in radio. You are my listeners and I hope Ive communicated with you in ways that have informed, encouraged, entertained, inspired, provided hope, and maybe, just maybe, helped some of you begin breaking your own chains and start healing.

I no longer hide behind my air name. Steven Michaels doesnt exist anymore. Im Steven Allen Young, and like so many, I am broken, fearful, imperfect, and still battling my demons. The dark of night could overwhelm the promise of morning, but I wont let it. I choose to put these things behind me and move forward. With every dawn of a new day comes hope, promise, and opportunity. Its up to us to take advantage.

Easy? No. Worth it? Yes!

We each have a chance to do our own radio show. You and I determine the soundtrack of our own lives.

I remember those boyhood nights in bed, the covers pulled over my head, listening through headphones to my little AM/FM transistor radio. I felt safe. The music and soothing voice of the DJ temporarily drowned out my guilt and pain. That soundtrack was only a dream, though. It had nothing to do with reality. It would be decades before that dream became my reality and the pain became a thing of the past.

If youre listening, maybe youre one of those who need to change the radio dial and the soundtrack of your life. I pray youve heard something here that will help you do just that. Like I said, it wont be easy. I struggle often. While I am no longer the person I used to be, who I was will always impact who I am. I was a thief, a con. I lied, cheated, and used people. I was abused and I abused. What counts now is how I handle those things in my past. When I was as far gone as I could get, ready to end my miserable existence in a seedy motel room, I found out we are never too far gone in Gods eyes.

He has no limits. He has no boundaries.

He is always there, always ready and waiting to help us change the radio dial. To rewrite the soundtracks of our lives.

Im living proof. This man behind the mic is a new man. Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and love. Thank You for Your grace, which grows even brighter in the darkest places. Thank You for removing my shame, breaking my chains, and healing my pain.

Thank You for helping me change that dial.

Wow, what a journey. When I contacted Eric a year and a half ago and said, Im ready, lets do this, it wasnt an easy decision. I knew old wounds would be reopened. Pain and heartache would be revisited. My old companions of doubt and fear would raise their ugly faces, and my demons would be lurking, ready to pounce. Those old chains would rattle again, forcing me to bear their weight, if only one more time.

No, the decision wasnt easy. But Im glad I made it.

I have a beautiful family now: Andy, both of her sons, my son, andheres the latesttwo grandkids on the way! Josh and his girlfriend are expecting, as are Andys son and his wife. Of course, I cant leave out Hondo and Mickey. Life wouldnt be the same without all of the chaos, joy, and love they bring.

I also have my family of friends on the streets. I love what I do and those we do it for.

Theres still work to do, lots of it, but for now Im going to sign off the air, kick back under our pergola by the fire, sip some coffee, have a smoke, and watch the suns rays break over the tree-line while I enjoy being home.

Home...

Oh, how I love that word!

Thank you for tuning in. Im truly humbled, honored, and blessed that you did. So long from Nashville. Be blessed and, as always, much love!

On May 20, 2018, I was cleaning and playing with Hondo, when out of the blue, Steven crossed my mind for the first time in quite a while. My laptop was fired up for work that Sunday afternoon, and without really expecting much, I thought Id just check to see if Steven was on Facebook. Lo and behold, there he was!

I read all his posts, which lead to Home Street Homes website and then to his blog at the time, Chains to Change. I was saddened that he spent so much of his life the way he did and for the reasons he did, but also astonished at what God was doing in and through him now. As Steven says in these pages, It is never too late and you are never too far gone...

That tug to reach out to Steven was strong, Holy-Spirit strong. I wanted to let him know I had found him and was oh, so delighted that God was now a driving force in his life. I somehow forgot that nearly forty years had passed and I forged right ahead. I didnt really have any expectations, but his response to my first message made me think, Gosh, after all hes been through, maybe he doesnt even know who I am. He did, though.

I had truly forgiven Steven years earlier, in obedience to my Father. Forgiveness, Ive realized, is not for the benefit of the person you forgive. It is for you. Until you take that action, you cant grow and embrace Gods love, mercy, and grace for you, let alone extend it to others. Still, if you had asked me on that day or any day prior, I would have said there was no way Steven and I would get back together. No way!

That Sunday afternoon, though, God was talking and moving, and His reasons soon became clear. HE is truly the reason this book has been written. Hopefully, it brings honor and glory to His kingdom!

Steven and I have been married two and half years now. Ninety-seven percent of the time, we laugh together, and every day is a good, sweet, blessed day. But its not always peaches and cream, if you get my drift. Some things have happened that admittedly hurt me deeply and gave me reason to pause. When confronted, Steven has at times gone into defensive mode and threatened to leave. See, he still to this day has his demons to deal withand likely always will. Under the circumstances, who wouldnt?

Of course, I have my own baggage as well. At times, Im no picnic to live with either. Ive had to pray and pray. Without God, I can tell you, I could not deal. I must daily seek Him and His will. If I do not, I end up doing things my own way and screwing up Gods way.