The New A.A. Information Releases of Dick B. for 2011

The NEW Resources Provided by Dick B. for 2011
to Help Those Who Want to Recover, and
to Assist Those Who Want to Help Others to Recover

By Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved

The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” (“IFCR”) class by Dick B. and Ken B. on four DVD's. This class comes in two (2) forms:

Form 1: The IFCR class for Groups and Organizations. This form includes:

Four (4) DVD’s. [Each DVD is about one (1) hour in length.]
The IFCR Class Guide for Students
The IFCR Class Instructor’s Guide
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B.

IFCR class for Groups & Organizations “license fee”: $199.95 + $11.50 Shipping (Total = $211.45)



Credit or Debit Card, or PayPal Accepted. (PayPal is the gateway BUT NO PAYPAL ACCOUNT IS REQUIRED.)

For more information on the IFCR class for Groups and Organizations, please Click Here.

Form 2: The IFCR class for Individuals. This form of the IFCR class includes:

Four (4) DVD’s. [Each DVD is about one (1) hour in length.]
The IFCR Class Guide for Students

** We strongly encourage you to purchase The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., together with the IFCR class for Individuals. The Guide provides extensive
documentation and supplementary information for the Class. $30.00.

IFCR class for Individuals “license fee”: $99.95 + Shipping: $11.45 (Total = $111.45); or
IFCR class for Individuals “license fee”: $99.95 + The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed.: $30.00 + Shipping: $11.45 (Total: $141.45)



Credit or Debit Card, or PayPal Accepted. (PayPal is the gateway BUT NO PAYPAL ACCOUNT IS REQUIRED.)

For more information on the IFCR class for Individuals, please Click Here.

The Complete, 29-Volume, “Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set”

How about a 57% Discount on the Set!

A lifetime treasure embodying Dick’s 20 years of research and writing. This one-of-a-
kind, early A.A. history reference set provides books to study at your leisure on nearly
every major A.A. history subject: From A.A.'s official cofounders—Bill W., and Dr. Bob—to Dr. Bob's wife Anne (whom Bill W. called the “mother of A.A.”), to others Bill
W. called “founders” of A.A. (such as Rev. Sam Shoemaker and William James), to Carl
Jung and Dr. William D. Silkworth, to the books and Quiet Time devotionals early A.A.
pioneers read, to the roles of organizations such as the Young People's Society of
Christian Endeavor (of which Dr. Bob was a member in his youth) and the Young Men's
Christian Association (of which Bill W. was the president at Burr and Burton Academy,
and of which Dr. Bob's father was the St. Johnsbury president much of the time Dr. Bob
attended the St. Johnsbury Academy just down the street from the St. Johnsbury YMCA).

For an alphabetical list of, and detailed information about the subjects covered in, the 29
titles, please Click Here.

The retail/list price of the 29 volumes purchased separately, with an average price of
$23.19 per book, is:

$672.55.

We are offering the entire, 29-volume, "Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set" for:

$289.00
(plus $30.00 Shipping & Handling)**

You save more than $383.00 dollars off the total retail/list price of $672.55 (if the 29
volumes were purchased separately).

** Please note: The $30.00 Shipping & Handling for the "Dick B. Reference Set" only applies within the continental United States. For Shipping & Handling for areas outside the continental U.S., please contact Dick B. via email at DickB@DickB.com for details.



Credit or Debit Card, or PayPal Accepted. (PayPal is the gateway, BUT NO PAYPAL ACCOUNT IS REQUIRED.)

FREE: Over 500 articles by Dick B.: www.DickB.com/Articles.shtml.

FREE: Over 175 recorded audio talks by Dick B.: DickB.com/Audio-talks.shtml.

FREE: Follow Dick B. on Facebook, on Twitter, and on the Dick B. Blog.

Ongoing announcements, comments, research items, notices, interchange

FREE: Join and participate in the International Christian Recovery Coalition

Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena who stress the role that God,
His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins of the recovery
movement; in the founding and original Akron “Christian fellowship” program of
A.A.; and can play in recovery today among those who want God’s help.

New! Become a “Christian Recovery Resource Center” for your local community and area.

The International Christian Recovery Coalition has just launched a new, worldwide effort to connect alcoholics, addicts, and others with life-controlling problems and self-destructive behavior, with Christian (and secular, when necessary) recovery resources in local areas as well as other locations throughout the world through “Christian Recovery Resource Centers.”

Our vision is for Christian groups and organizations, as well as Christian individuals, to establish a “Christian Recovery Resource Center” in their area of operation. These centers will enable those needing and wanting God's help in recovery, those who are searching for Christian-oriented recovery resources in their areas and elsewhere, and other Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, to find and make use of Christian recovery resources throughout the world.

A few of the Christian recovery resources provided to Christian groups, organizations, and individuals who become “Christian Recovery Resource Centers” include:

• The “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class by Dick B. & Ken B. on 4 DVD's, including The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed. (2010).
• The brand-new Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers (2011).
• A case of brand-new books by Dick B. for free distribution or sale to support your efforts.
• Frequent communications from Dick B., Executive Director of the International Christian Recovery Coalition, about Christian recovery efforts throughout the world.

How can you become a “Christian Recovery Resource Center” affiliated with the International Christian Recovery Coalition? Simple!

• Provide your contact and other relevant information to Dick B.; and
• Make a one-time donation of $500.00.

For more information, please check the International Christian Recovery Coalition web site. Or contact Dick B. at DickB@DickB.com; www.DickB.com; or (808) 874-4876.

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

The Gift of the Holy Spirit
and
Its Importance in A.A. Documented in Key Dick B. Titles

By Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

In Dick B., The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible, 2d ed., www.DickB.com/GoodBook.shtml:

http://tinyurl.com/2b6qnsf

In Dick B., Anne Smith’s Journal, 1933-1939: A.A.’s Principles of Success, 3rd ed.,
www.DickB.com/AnneSm.shtml. For example, Anne wrote:

What things in me make the Holy Spirit unwilling to use me? The Holy Spirit is
leader and dictator of this group. . . . The Holy Spirit is ready to dictate a perfect
plan . . . the guidance of the Holy Spirit . . . the power of the Holy Spirit, the direction
of the Holy Spirit. . . in touch with the Holy Spirit. . . . holy men spake as they
were moved by the Holy Ghost. [p. 91]

In Dick B., Turning Point: A History of Early A.A.’s Spiritual Roots and Successes,
www.DickB.com/Turning.shtml:

There are several important ideas that found favor in the Oxford Group concerning
“Fellowship” and which derived from . . . Bible verses: “There was a fellowship of
believing people which was empowered by the Holy Ghost. There was a communion
with the Holy Spirit. . . . There was a corporate experience where the Holy Spirit is
found through the group-experience of like-minded believers. God had a unique presence in the Group itself both by the fellowship tie of the spirit and by the Holy Spirit’s ability to guide the group itself whose individuals received the spirit of God through their new birth.” [pp. 416-17]

See also the Subject Index, page 727, for about 50 references and groups of references.

In Dick B., Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A.,
www.DickB.com/GoodMorn.shtml:

There will be a constant tendency to drop back from the full faith that God’s
Holy Spirit can guide, and to say that the Bible is enough, or prayer is
enough. [p. 64]

See also Subject Index, page 149, for about 16 references and groups of references.

In Dick B., New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A., 2d ed.,
www.Dickb.com/NewLight.shtml:
Through the leading of the Holy Spirit in the Quiet Time, one has learned
something of the difficult art of soul-surgery. [p. 166]

See also Subject Index, page 611, for about 50 references and groups of references.

In Dick B., The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works, 2d ed., www.DickB.com/Oxford.shtml:

In With the Holy Spirit and With Fire, Shoemaker spoke of what Jesus Christ actually accomplished and made available to mankind by reason of his crucifixion, death, being raised victorious from the dead, and ascending to heaven. The evidence, Shoemaker said, was in Acts 1 and 2. There Jesus promised baptism with the Holy Spirit and receipt of “power from on high.” And this actually occurred on the day of Pentecost when the Apostles were assembled and waiting as Jesus had instructed.

The Christian experience of the Holy Spirit, then, holds more than awesome power and
cleansing judgment. For the grace shown forth in the Cross restores and renews the life of man through the continuing work of the Spirit. . . . as “the Comforter.” . . . “His guidance” . . . the Spirit [that would] “convict the world of sin” . . . being used to bring faith in Christ to another. [pp. 216-17]


www.dickb.com; dickb@dickb.com; 808 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753

DickB_Maui Twitter for Daily Notices, News on A.A.

DickB_Maui is the new contact for our Twitter. Daily we post notices, short news briefs, and ongoing research on the origins, history, founding, Original Christian Fellowship Program of A.A., its astonishing successes, and the changes which have occurred.

For the full picture, we have:

Twitter: DickB_Maui

Facebook: Richard G. Burns (Dick B.)

Blog: The Real Power Behind Alcoholics Anonymous (Dick B.)

Titles, articles, audios, archives, links at Dick B. main website www.dickb.com.

Articles frequently posted on Goarticles.com, SearchWarp, ArticlesBase, cyberrecoveryforums, Christianrecoveryministries forums, aa sober living forums, Internet Recovery Fellowship forums, and a host of others such as aabibliography, silkworth.net, mentalhealthmatters, anonymousone.com, aa-history.com, www.drbob.info, www.dickb-blog.com, International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com, and more.

For accurate, thoroughly researched, frequently updated materials on the history of Alcoholics Anonymous, A.A. History, History of A.A., and Alcoholics Anonymous History, as well as the role played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the recovery movement and that can be played today for those who want God's help and seek Him.

God Bless, Dick B. www.dickb.com
DickB_Maui

Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide Begin January 1 2011

The International Christian Recovery Coalition project to launch the establishment of Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide begins formally January 1, 2011.

For details see the International Christian Recovery Coalition website www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

Also, on January 1, 2011, Dick B.'s 42nd book - Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers will be available to those who establish Centers, and later to those who seek their help. It explains the purpose, resources, and importance of such centers

God Bless, Dick B.
Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition
dickb@dickb.com
www.dickb.com

Hallelujah [Courtesy of My son Ken B.]

“Hallelujah”

A Very Important Word!


The word “Hallelujah”—or “Alleluia,” as it appears in the King James Version (“KJV”)—is a very important and revealing word in the Bible. It occurs four times in the KJV—all four times in chapter 19 of the Book of Revelation:

Rev 19:1:
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Rev 19:3:
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Rev 19:4:
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

Rev 19:6:
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

One of the keys to unlocking the important meaning in this word is to recognize that “Hallelujah” is derived from two Hebrew words:

הָלַל [Strong's number (H) 1984—pronounced hä•lal'], a Hebrew verb which occurs 165 times in the Hebrew text underlying the KJV. Of those occurrences, it is translated “praise” 114 times. (http://tinyurl.com/37b2358) Here is an example of how this Hebrew word is used:

1 Chron 16:25 (KJV):
“For great is the LORD [Strong's # 3068], and greatly to be praised [Strong's # 1984]: he also is to be feared above all gods.”

יָהּ [Strong's number (H) 3050—written “Yah” and pronounced yä], a “Hebrew proper noun [i.e., it is a proper name] with reference to deity,” which occurs 49 times in the Hebrew text underlying the KJV. Of those occurrences, it is represented as “(the) LORD” 48 times and once as “Yah” in Psa 68:4 (http://tinyurl.com/27cveod). “Yah” is an abbreviated, shortened, contracted form of the “Hebrew proper noun with reference to deity,” “Yahweh” [Strong's number (H) 3068—and (H) 3069, which is actually the same Hebrew proper noun with different Hebrew vowel points (http://tinyurl.com/2clv87m).]

Psa 68:4 (Holy Bible, Amended King James Version):
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name YAH, and rejoice before him.

Although these two Hebrew words are not translated or otherwise represented in English in the KJV Old Testament as “Alleluia” or “Hallelujah,”they are actually used together a number of times in the same verse (http://tinyurl.com/2czudcg). The second of those occurrences where the two Hebrew words halal and Yah occur together in the same verse reflects the meaning of the word “Alleluia” or “Hallelujah.”

Psa 104:35 (Holy Bible, Amended King James Version):
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou Yah [Hebrew actually is “Yahweh”], O my soul. Praise ye Yah.

The form of the Hebrew verb halal used in Psa 104:35 is halalu. The last letter u shows that the verb form is second person plural—which is represented in the KJV as “ye” in this verse. (In Modern English, we have replaced this form with “you,” which means a person can no longer tell in English if we are talking about “you singular” or “you plural.”)

So the meaning of the English word “Hallelujah” is actually:

“Praise ye Yah(weh)” or

“All you people, praise Yah(weh).”

For more information, please see: www.FellowshipWithGOD.com

Ken B.
Email: kcb00799@gmail.com

A.A.'s Dr. Bob, the Bible, and God's Availability to Help

There has been a long lost copy of the interview of Dr. Bob of A.A. in 1939 that was published in the Your Faith Magazine. Recently, to my delight, it surfaced.

The final thought A.A. Cofounder Dr. Bob left with the interviewer was as follows:

"I have found that no one can be permanently happy unless he lives in harmony with the rules set down in the Good Book

"Try it some time! You don't need to wait till you're down and out before you ask for help. There's help waiting for you right now, if you just ask God to help you."

The exciting fact is that by the time Dr. Bob gave this interview, each one of the first three AAs had gotten sober and stayed sober by same means Dr. Bob described. Bill W., Dr. Bob, and A.A. Number Three Bill Dotson were all Christians. They had all studied the Bible. And they had all turned to God for help at their lowest point--and been cured.

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010; www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml

A.A. Origin Events, People, Names to Remember

The Dick B. Handbook
On
The Role Played by God, His Son Jesus Christ in A.A. and Recovery

Helpful Names for You to Remember

Dick B.
© Anonymous. All rights reserved

Varied lenses through which A.A. and Christian Recovery can be viewed

Look at the Real Origins of A.A. and 12-Step ideas

The Seven Christian Organizations and People Preceding A.A.
The Christian Upbringing and Beliefs of A.A.’s Two Cofounders
The Early Entry of Oxford Group Influences
The Conversions of Rowland Hazard, Ebby Thacher, Bill Wilson
How the First Three AAs Got Sober
The Akron Christian Fellowship Founded in 1935 by Bill W. and Dr. Bob
The Six “Word of Mouth” Ideas and The Varied Ways Described
Hunkering down with and learning from Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.
The Big Book Manuscripts, the Christian Materials, and the Trashing of
Biblical and Christian materials learned from churches and missions

Look at the Periods in which the ideas were framed in A.A. itself

The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, Russell Firestone, James
Newton, Sam Shoemaker, Frank Buchman.
The Correlative Events in New York involving Rowland Hazard, Ebby
Thacher, Calvary Mission, Sam Shoemaker
The Original Akron A.A. Christian Program, Principles, and Practices
The Success Inventory in 1937-1938 by Bill W., Dr. Bob, Frank Amos
The Money-raising efforts – Rockefeller, Works Publishing, loans
The Drafting of the Big Book
The Battles over Christian content in the manuscripts
The Strange Ending—Compromising to placate atheists and agnostics

Look at the Major Influential Groups and People who set the stage

The Oxford Group Teachers: Rowland Hazard, Shepard Cornell, Ebby
Thacher.
Remote Controllers: The William James and Carl Jung stories
Dr. William D. Silkworth and Rev. Sam Shoemaker, Jr.
The Frank Buchman Part
The Akron Catalysts: Russell Firestone, James Newton, Rev. Walter
Tunks, Rev. Sam Shoemaker, Frank Buchman
The Akron Organizers; Henrietta Seiberling, T. Henry and Clarace
Williams, Dr. Bob, Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Ripley Smith. Bill Dotson
The Rockefeller Group Backers – Chipman, Richardson, Amos,
Rockefeller
Emmet Fox
Sam Shoemaker, Irving Harris, Julia Harris

Remembering others deserving mention, but out of the main loop

Cebra Graves—one of the three who rescued Ebby from incarceration
Victor Kitchen—Oxford Group friend of Shoemaker and Bill W.
John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo—the Christian protagonist
Henry Parkhurst—the book sales protagonist
Jim Burwell—the atheist protagonist
Clarence Snyder—ally of Dr. Bob, founder of Cleveland A.A.
Dorothy Snyder—wife of Clarence, participant in Big Book printing

The International Christian Recovery Coalition

International Christian Recovery Coalition
“We Christians in the Recovery Arena Are Not Alone”
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Who We Are

An informal, worldwide fellowship of Christians who care about carrying an accurate, effective, message about the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, history, founding, original program, and astonishing successes of the early Alcoholics Anonymous “Christian fellowship” founded in Akron in 1935. And who also inform others about the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible can play today among those who want God’s help in overcoming, and reducing the impact of, alcoholism, addictions, and other life-controlling problems—and who are willing to go to any length to believe, seek, receive, and pass along the long-held good news about the power and love of Almighty God. Telling others the words that Peter spoke:

Acts 10:38-39a (KJV):
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things which he did . . .

Acts 4:9, 10, 12 (KJV):
If we this day be examined of the good deed done unto the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Where We Are

In many parts of the world.

What Does It Cost to Be Listed as a Participant

$0.00. It's free. No charge!

How To Join

Send your name and regular mail address (and affiliation or ministry, if desired) to:

Dick B.
PO Box 837
Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Or call Dick B., the Executive Director of the Coalition at (808) 874-4876
Or send Dick B. an email message at DickB@DickB.com

This Is Your Invitation to Participate!

In His Service,

Richard G. Burns, J.D., CDAAC
Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition
Main Office: Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
U.S. mainland office: Huntington Beach, California

A.A. History Shortie: Oxford Group, AA, Four Absolutes

Once again, I remind the reader that I've written extensively on every aspect of the Oxford Group and its relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous. See www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml - "The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works."

I've also published many articles on the Oxford Group Four Absolutes. These were highly favored in early Akron and Cleveland A.A. and by A.A. Co-founder Dr. Bob.

Nonetheless, people have had a field day trying to describe the sources and meaning of the Four Absolutes. Some have claimed they came from Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. But they didn't. Some have written pamphlets on what they thought the Four Absolutes should mean. And a few recognized that they came from the teachings of Robert Speer in his book "The Principles of Jesus." Which they did. Some have added Bible verses and private interpretations which shed little light on the origin and purpose of these "moral standards" as they were called by the Oxford Groupers and by Dr. Bob's wife Anne in her journal www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml.

What I found recently on re-reading the highly popular Oxford Group book published just before early A.A. was founded in 1935 is very very helpful.

A.J. Russell published "For Sinners Only" (NY: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1932). He did a great job of describing the Oxford Group principles and practices as they were understood by the Oxford Group activists and writers of the 1930's, by Rev. Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr.--who wrote about them also, and by the many AAs who gobbled up the pages of Russell's "For Sinners Only."

And the pioneer AAs were able to read a thorough exposition of what Absolute Honesty, Absolute Purity, Absolute Love, and Absolute Unselfishnes seemed to mean to the people who popularized these four "moral standards" which Dr. Bob called the "yardsticks" for moral behavior in early A.A.

Russell's Chapter Twenty-Two ("What Sin Is") has been discussed in my previous article on "self" and A.A. But now I point to the extended explanation by Russell of each of the Four Absolutes.

Beginning on page 269, Russell says: "Christianity has a moral backbone. And let us take for convenience four of the simple moral standards that we see in Christ's own life--honesty, purity, unselfishness and love. Those standards are absolute. No one has ever yet proved He compromised on any one of those four. Let us take them one by one and see how we measure up to His standard."

Note that they were regarded as "yardsticks," "standards on which Christ did not compromise," and a "moral test" (as Dr. Bob's wife put it) that was originally used as the basis for what became Step Four--a moral inventory.

To get the picture as Russell, the Oxford Group, and AAs were seeing it in the 1930's, I'd suggest you download the Russell book and look here:

Honesty - Pages 269-271

Purity - Page 271

Love - Pages 272-273

Unselfishness - Pages 273-277

Bill Wilson waffled in his embrace of the Four Absolutes. He made fun of them. He said they demanded too much of drunks. He even inserted a "spiritual progress, but not spiritual perfection" loophole. He later said he had incorporated the ideas in Steps Six and Seven. And he demonstrated, beyond a doubt, that he really didn't understand them, like them, or even adhere to them in his own shenanigans in sobriety.

As readers know, I emphasize the Bible roots of early A.A. (www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml). So, quite clearly, did Dr. Bob. I point out that the real Oxford Group approach is to be found in the compromised program established by Wilson in his 1939 Big Book (www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml; and www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml).

Regrettably, most AAs today don't have before them the Bible verses that Robert Speer quoted to establish what he believed were the uncompromising "principles" of Jesus. Nor do they have before them the topical Oxford Group writings of authors like A.J. Russell. But if they want a real view of how those "standards," "yardsticks," "tests," and "lists" were viewed at the time they became popular in A.A., Russell's book is the place to look.

www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml; dickb@dickb.com

Gloria Deo

AA History Shortie: The Oxford Group and A.A.

For the most authoritative study of the Oxford Group and its relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous, I recommend "The Oxford Group & Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works" 2d ed. (www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml).

As many know, I take the position that the Bible was the main source for early A.A ideas and program. It dominated the origins, history, founding, original program, and successes of the Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship founded in 1935 (www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml).

On the other hand, when you shift to the major source for Bill Wilson's new program--embodied in the Big Book, codified in his 12 Steps, and published in 1939, the focus must be on the Oxford Group and the teachings of Bill Wilson by an American Oxford Group leader, Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.

In fact, Rev. Shoemaker thought so highly of the following book that he sent a copy of it to every Episcopal Bishop in the United States. And, if you will take the time to read it, you will see from the contents the relationship between the later--the Big Book--A.A. and the Oxford Group. Here's the book, and it was owned by Dr. Bob, mentioned in A.A. Conference-approved literature, and very very popular in Alcoholics Anonymous:

The book is A.J. Russell, "For Sinners Only" (NY: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1932).

In Chapter Twenty-Two, Russell's subject was "What Sin Is" (p. 267).

Russell discusses the "Four Absolutes" which we will cover in our next article. He discusses "sin" with the famous phrases which even Lois Wilson included in her notes I found at Stepping Stones when I researched there. The phrases are: "Sin does four things to us. First of all, it blinds. . . . Secondly, sin binds. . . . Thirdly, sin multiplies. . . . Fourthly, sin deadens and deafens" (p. 268).

Then, in discussing the Four Absolutes, Russell uses a barrel of language that wound up on the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. He includes the following language in his discussion of "Unselfishness" (page 273):

"Self--Let us make a list of the different forms in which self operates in our lives. . . self-interest. . . self-seeking. . . self-indulgence. . . self-centeredness. . . self-will. . . self-sufficiency. . . Christ-centered and Christ-controlled life" (pp. 273-276).

As you read, you will be reminded of Bill's remarks about "Selfishness, self-centeredness. That, we think is the root of our troubles." And he goes on to use words like those Russell used above.

www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml; dickb@dickb.com

A.A. and Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, and the Book of James

For the holidays and to start 2011 in your reading, here are two winners for Christians who are members of 12 Step Fellowships. Most would like to know the real Christian roots of the early A.A. program founded in June of 1935.

The most immediate sources of those roots were spelled out by A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob when he stated that the oldtimers felt the answers to their problems could be found in the Good Book--the Bible.

Then Dr. Bob went on to say that the parts of the Bible which A.A. oldtimers considered "absolutely essential" were

Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, Chapters 5, 6, and 7)

1 Corinthians 13

The entire Book of James

You can do no better in starting your A.A. and 12 Step year than to pick up a Bible and actually read these three parts of the Bible.

Next, if you want to see a line-by-line, verse-by-verse study of A.A.'s Big Book and the Bible to see the real biblical influence, you can do no better than to study these books by Dick B.:

"The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible" www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml

"The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials" www.dickb.com/JamesClub.shtml.

Good reading, and have a wonderful New Year in 2011. Dick B. dickb@dickb.com

A.A. and Christian Recovery Resources

A.A. and Christian Recovery Resources

100 Years of Stories about Drunkards, Conversions, and Jesus Christ

Dick B.
© 2010. Anonymous. All rights reserved

An Account of Exciting Quest over the Past Two Years

My son Ken and I have just finished a draft of the First Edition of our new title, The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide.

This new work grew out of several major undertakings in the last two years. The first was convening The First Nationwide Conference of Christian Recovery Leaders at Mariner’s Church in Irvine, California. There, men and women from all over the United States and Canada gathered to share their concerns about how to deal with the seeming opposition among some in the anonymous and Twelve Step fellowships to God, His Son Jesus Christ, the Bible, Church, and religion—as well as to those who expressed themselves on such subjects.

As a result, we met, and there was interchange and enthusiasm among, all kinds of folks in the Christian recovery arena.

The next phase was to gather and publish as much material as we could to help inform and arm these leaders and the public with information about the real Christian origins and history and program of the early A.A. Christian Fellowship founded in 1935 at Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron, Ohio.

The result, after many meetings and conferences, was the publication of two resources: (1) “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery”—a class with four DVD’s and a Class Instructor’s Guide and Class Guide for Students—www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. This visual presentation is now in wide use. (2) The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010—www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml. This resource is not only in wide use. It accompanies the Class, and it has been distributed at many of the conferences that followed its publication.

The final phase involved a series of 17 individual meetings, seminars, and conferences around the State of California and the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. And these showed the dramatic interest that has arisen in restoring Christian recovery, its history, variety of resources, and successes to the 12-Step, church, and recovery arena for those who really want God’s help.

With that, we began work on the idea of Christian Recovery Resource Centers—all over the world. And the first step was to roll up our sleeves and study. We studied the need. We studied the existing facilities, approaches, and programs. We studied the gaps in information. We studied the potential demand for more. And we began reviewing the resources that Christian leaders and workers in recovery could and should be making available, in their own work and in company with others carrying on the same type or even different and supplemental types of Christian recovery elements.

The facts, results, and conclusions will shortly be published in the forthcoming The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Resource Recovery Centers Worldwide.

A Brief Story of the Exciting Conversion Resources We Found

A.A. Cofounders Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith both were born and raised in a Vermont atmosphere of Christian conversions. The conversions existed in the work of evangelists like Dwight Moody, F. B. Meyer, and Billy Sunday. They existed in the huge revival meetings convened by YMCA lay workers. They were a dramatic part of St. Johnsbury history because of The Great Awakening of 1875. They were present in the Gospel rescue missions. They were present in the Salvation Army. They were present in the Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor in which Dr. Bob was active. To a degree, they were much discussed and applied in the later Oxford Group and Rev. Samuel Shoemaker teachings and practices that impacted directly on A.A. itself. And they were part of the family, church, Sunday school, and Academy teachings in which Bill and Bob were both involved. See Dick B., Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous www.dickb.com/drbobofaa.shtml; and The Conversion of Bill W. www.dickb.com/conversion.shtml.

But personal conversion to God through Jesus Christ was also very much a part of the dramatic events in Bill Wilson’s life when he made a decision for Jesus Christ at the altar at Calvary Mission, and when he decided to seek the help of the Great Physician as he made his way to Towns Hospital and had his “white light” experience in the hospital room and never drank again.

This element of Christian recovery became a “must” in the early A.A. program in Akron. And it became a common element in the testimony of the early AAs who went through the “real surrender” process at the Akron City Hospital, the home of T. Henry and Clarace Williams, and/or Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron.

But in preparing our Handbook, we decided to review for ourselves the testimonies—not the commentaries of psychologists—as to the thousands delivered from alcoholism by deciding to make Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior and, in some cases, having the same type of “white light” experiences that Bill Wilson and his grandfather before him reported having when they were cured of alcoholism.

The Bibliography that Can Whip Up Your Enthusiasm

We studied the following books which are listed, cited, and/or discussed in our new Handbook:

Jeremiah (“Jerry”) McAuley, Transformed; Or, The History of a River Thief, Briefly Told (Published by Himself, 1876).

Samuel Hopkins Hadley, Down In Water Street: A Story of Sixteen Years Life and Work in Water Street Mission: A Sequel to the Life of Jerry McAuley, Memorial ed. (NY: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1903).

J. Wilbur Chapman, S. H. Hadley of Water Street: A Miracle of Grace (NY: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1906).

William T. Ellis, Billy Sunday: The Man and His Message (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1959)

Irving Harris, He Touched Me: Conversion Stories of Norman Vincent Peale, Bruce Larson, Ernest Gordon, Bill Wilson, & Others (Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 1985)

Gordon Lindsay in Collaboration with William Branham, William Branham: A Man Sent from God (Jeffersonville, IN: William Branham Evangelistic Association, 1950).

F.F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell, 1973)

Smith Wigglesworth, Smith Wigglesworth on Healing (New Kensington, PA: Whitaker House, 1999).

C.S. Lovett, Jesus Wants You Well (Baldwin Park, CA: Personal Christianity,

E. W. Kenyon, Jesus the Healer: Multitudes Have Been Healed While Reading This Book (Lynnwood, WA: Kenyon’s Gospel Publishing Society, 2000)

Roberts Liardon, Compiler, John G. Lake: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings (Tulsa, OK: Albury Publishing, 1999)

T. L. Osborn, Believers in Action (Tulsa, OK: Osborn Publishers, 2000); T. L Osborn and Daisy Osborn, When Jesus Visited Our Home (Tulsa OK: Osborn Foundation, 1980); T. L. Osborn, Healing The Sick: A Living Classic (Tulsa, OK: Harrison House, Inc., 1992)

Frank Costantino, Holes In Time: Autobiography of a Gangster (Dallas, TX: Acclaimed Books, 1979)

Pastor Michael T., From the Pit. . . to the Pulpit: A Life Transformed by Grace (Palermo, CA: Jordan Crossing Ministries, n.d.).

dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com; www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com; 808 874 4876

Gloria Deo

International Christian Recovery Coalition Website and Resource Center Project Updated

The new plan to launch Christian Recovery Resource Centers worldwide is now the major project of the International Christian Recovery Coalition. Details posted at:(www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com).

The new plan and launch of the Christian Recovery Resource Centers is sponsored by the International Christian Recovery Coalition. Its website can be accessed through the URL: www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. It can also be accessed through the Dick B. A.A. History main website navigation bar www.dickb.com.

Here's what has been happening:

1. First, the need, idea, and solution emerged from our two years of travel throughout California and Oahu (over 25 meetings and conferences) seeing exactly what Christian Recovery Resources we could find and study. We found them in churches, Christian Recovery fellowships, Christian counseling work, Christian treatment centers, sober living facilities, bridge groups, study groups, James Clubs, even in A.A. groups and meetings. And we found them to be effective, attractive, enthusiastic, and definitely growing as to demand and as to appeal and as to membership and attendance. We also found them to be "Bible Friendly, Prayer Friendly, History Friendly, and A.A. Friendly"--a welcome situation amidst the growing idolatry emphasis among many recovery workers and fellowships today.

2. Second, as we prepared and circulated two items, we learned and published much more. The carefully researched and presented findings are:

(a) "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. This class presents four DVD's and an Instructor and Student Guide that show the real origins and development of the Christian Recovery Movement and A.A.

(b) "The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide," 3rd ed., 2010 www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml. This frequently revised and updated volume contains a very thorough study, with footnotes and bibliography, of the origins, history, founding, original program, successes, and changes in the Christian Recovery Movement that led up to and developed from Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. It is detailed. It is authoritative. It is now widely available. And it is now in widespread use among Christians and others in recovery.

3. Third, at the recent 2010 Annual Christian Addiction Professionals Conferencer November 19th to 21st at Palm Springs, California, staged by the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute, I was a major speaker on the topic of establishing Christian Recovery Resource Centers--particularly those which included and enhanced the role of licensed Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors. The idea of establishing Christian Recovery Resource Centers met with wide interest and approval among the large number of people attending.

4. Fourth, we returned to forumulate and launch the plan--primarily by sending out newsletters that covered the following:

(a) Five surveys which asked Christians and others in recovery what they were doing now; how they would respond to setting up a center; what counselors and chaplains would do; what their position was on important Bible concepts; and if they would support such centers.

(b) Then we formulated and published several different articles that covered what a Christian Recovery Resource Center is; What it can and should do; Who can serve--individual and entity--in this way; How to establish a center; Whether they would incorporate important biblical ideas and practices; and Whether they would include all of the services needed for newcomers--whether by way of assessment and referral, providing resource information, or actually engaging in counseling, treatment, fellowships, and so on.

(c) Now we are preparing "The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers Worldwide." It will incorporate all that is needed for an individual, a program, a center, or an agency to establish, maintain, and implement such a center.

(d) Accordingly, we have revised and updated the International Christian Recovery Coalition website www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com so that it gives a picture of what is involved, what can be accomplished, and who and how to do it.

(e) Newsletters, announcements on facebook, twitter, and our blog, as well as articles posted on websites, will continue to fill in the details--reporting the names and programs of those who jump on board.

5. How can you participate:

(a) Join the no cost International Christian Recovery Coalition by providing Dick B. (its Executive Director) with your name, ministry or outreach, city, and state; and you will be listed on the website as a participant.

(b) Provide us at no cost with some information about yourself: Name, contact person, address, Logo, literature, newsletters, email, URL, facebook, twitter, blogs, and statement of purpose and detailed material on what you do.

(c) Tell us exactly what Christian recovery resources you now provide; those you outsource; and those to which you need access and information.

(d) Agree to be a resource information provider to your own clients or patients or fellowship members, and the community at large as to how to proceed with a full and effective Christian recovery program--from initial assessment to life-long follow through.

(e) Agree to network with other Centers worldwide so that this information and these resources are widely available to Christians in recovery and others wanting God's help.

(f) Make a one-time donation of $500.00 to Dick B. to cover our expenses of establishing the resources, issuing information, publishing our class and books, and working with you.

(g) In exchange for the donation of $500.00, we will send you the class and guidebooks (www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml); The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide (www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml); the handbook in attachment form when it has been completed; and (if you add $20.00 for media mail cost) a box of Dick B. books for your library.

Any and all inquiries and payments can be made by mail, by phone, by email, by credit card, and by paypal. And here is what we need:

1. Your name, ministry or outreach, and mail address
2. A phone call to Ken B. at 808 276 4945 in which you provide the foregoing name and address, your credit card # and expiration date; or utilize paypal donation on www.dickb.com; or send a check to Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837.
3. For further information from Dick B., send email to dickb@dickb.com; or phone 808 874 4876; or mail to Dick B. PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837.

"God as We Understood Him"—The A.A. Story

"God as We Understood Him"—The A.A. Story
An Alleged Compromise That Opened the A.A. Door to Atheists and Agnostics
But How Did It Originate as a Phrase
By Dick B

My Own Experience

At my first A.A. meeting, I was delighted. Friendliness, laughter, concern, suggestions. All came pouring toward me at the "Wednesday Night What It’s Like Now" meeting, later to become my Home Group. At my second meeting, I made a speech about needing help with a pending court appearance. And a non-attorney offered to come with me; he said he had studied law in Brazil. By my third meeting, I was beginning to detox heavily. Yet I didn’t know what detoxing was, what was happening, or that I was becoming really sick. They told me to use orange juice and honey. I searched high and low for honey, bought a bag of oranges, put them in the microwave, and never saw them again. But I made another speech. This time, I stood at the door of the "Friday Nite Beginners’ Meeting," announced that I had been very frightened, said I had seen "God as we understood Him" on the wall of the A.A. meeting room, had prayed to God as I did understand Him, and had really found peace, for that night at least. Unquestionably, however, I was a little crazy as only A.A. newcomers can be. A few days later, I had three grand mal seizures at an A.A. meeting. I was trundled off in an ambulance to the Emergency Room and then Intensive Care. In a day or two, I checked in to a treatment center. But that’s another story. The point here is that I stuck, and have stuck, with A.A. I believed I could and would receive help because A.A. had seemed to recommend entrusting my life to the care of God as I understood Him. I’ve since found out that thousands have done the same thing in the more than seventy-five years since A.A.’s founding. They, like myself, have received help. Some are simply "dry"_still suffering from "untreated alcoholism." Some say they are "in recovery." Some of us say we have "recovered," Some of us, just as Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob, and A.A. Number Three (Bill Dotson) said, say we have been "cured." Some of us, who are believers, are very clear that we have been delivered

So, Was A.A. about God "as we understood Him"?

It didn’t take very long for me to get an answer to that question. Of course it was not! And how did I find out? Well, I’ve already covered the myriad of "higher power" and "power greater than ourselves" phrases that were floating around the rooms and in recent Twelve Step literature. No rational person could say these have anything whatever to do with our Creator. These "powers" seemed to mean just about anything to the confused crowd with which I hung out. Whether my new-found A.A. friends had been lawyers like myself, painters like my first sponsor, warehousemen like his sponsor, teachers like my room mate, or "consultants" (a handy A.A. word for unemployed, devastated, newcomers), all had different ideas about this "power greater than themselves."

My first sponsor did occasionally talk about God. His sponsor talked about a "higher power." My A.A. roommate talked about witchcraft. Others talked about a "rock," a "Big Dipper," and a "Group of Drunks" as their higher powers. Some even offered to "loan" out their own "higher power" until the newer person could find his own, which, they said, could be anything greater than himself. One authoritative sounding fellow assured those present at almost any and every Friday Nite Beginners’ Meeting, that his "higher power" was “Ralph.” Somehow, I was able to resist buying in to that one. However, his name for a “god” still rings loudly in my ear.
But, as my increasing period of sobriety droned forward, and my continued need for God’s help multiplied by leaps and bounds, I determined that there was no common agreement in the A.A. rooms where I was going daily. There clearly was no consensus as to "who" or "what" this so-called higher power was. In fact, many an older member has simply said in my presence that he couldn’t and didn’t need to understand "it." Rather, that he just needed to keep his "program" very very simple. All you had to keep in mind, these members proclaimed, was: "Just don’t drink. And go to meetings." I have had no trouble following that advice for years. But as one writer said, "Drinking’s not the problem." And I realized these keep-it-simple guys had rarely advanced to any understanding of God at all—no matter what they heard others calling their “higher power.”. Certainly not that they would admit to. Almost all had not read the Bible, gone to any church, or developed any interest whatever in "religion." They bragged about A.A.’s being "spiritual, but not religious" even though few had the slightest idea what that meant.

Where Did This A.A. Phrase “God as we understood Him” Originate?

I won’t quote or cite the circulating accounts about where this "as we understood Him" phrase came from. Many are wrong. Most are conflicting. In fact, until my research was under way, I had found no one that even mentioned the phrase in the same breath with A.A. The story tellers had simply ignored the very probable, real source. That source was the Reverend Samuel Moor Shoemaker, Jr., Rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in New York.

Shoemaker had been a vibrant leader of the Oxford Group in America. He had long been a friend and supporter of Oxford Group Founder Frank Buchman. He even provided housing for the virtual American headquarters of the Oxford Group in Calvary House, next to his Calvary Church. He allowed Dr. Buchman to live there when he was in the New York area. And Shoemaker wrote dozens of Oxford Group books, pamphlets, and articles until he split with its founder in 1941.

Actually, you can find many words and phrases in Sam Shoemaker’s books that seem to have been incorporated almost verbatim in Bill Wilson’s Big Book, talks, and writings. Bill often sang the praises of Reverend Shoemaker, dubbed Sam a "Co-founder" of A.A., said Sam had been a well-spring of its ideas, exchanged lots of correspondence with Sam, and had him speak at two A.A. International Conventions. Sam was also invited to, and did, write several articles for A.A.’s "house organ," the Grapevine. Bill had many a talk with Sam Shoemaker before he (Bill) drafted A.A.’s basic text. Bill submitted a draft manuscript to Shoemaker for review prior to publication in 1939. And Bill had asked Sam Shoemaker to write the Twelve Steps. However, Shoemaker declined, saying the Steps should be written by an alcoholic, namely, Bill.

Shoemaker was the closest thing to a spiritual mentor that Bill Wilson had, prior to his completion and publication of A.A.’s Big Book in the Spring of 1939. Bill had never belonged to a church. But he certainly had attended many church and Sunday school services as a youngster in Vermont (www.dickb.com/conversion.shtml). He had at one period in his later and drinking life (by his own acknowledgment) been a "conservative atheist." Bill has been reported, by his wife and by A.A.’s first archivist, to have read practically no religious literature. Bill himself said he knew nothing about the Bible until he moved in with Dr. Bob and Anne Smith in the summer of 1935--the period when A.A. was founded and nightly discussions of its principles and practices had been conducted by Bill and Dr. Bob. But we now know from our recent research that Bill had taken a four-year course in the Bible when he was a student at Burr and Burton Academy in Vermont. (www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml).

The foregoing facts about Bill, A.A., and Sam Shoemaker can be found specifically documented in a number of writings. I have covered them all in my book, New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A., 2d ed. (http://www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml).

I’ve also covered them in my books about the Oxford Group and Sam Shoemaker: The Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous: A Design for Living That Works, 2d ed. (http://www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml) and Good Morning!: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and A.A. (http://www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml). I’ve also discussed them in the Courage to Change (which I wrote with Bill Pittman) and in The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 2d ed. (http://www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml). Bill himself discussed most of these facts. They are recorded, here and there, in Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, The Language of the Heart, Pass It On, and the Best of the Grapevine volumes (all being "Conference- approved" literature of Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.).

Specific Examples in Shoemaker Writings of the "God as we understand Him" Idea
Surrender to God

Sam wrote much about the importance of surrender. Surrender to God! Among his papers at the Episcopal Church Archives in Austin, Texas, I found the following:
There was nothing actually new to be learned from the experience when related. "I just gave my life over to God" or "I surrender to Christ" (Dick B., New Light on Alcoholism, 2d ed., p. 92;

Other Examples of Sam’s Surrender Language
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. . . . A man is born again when the control of his life, its center and its direction pass from himself to God (Shoemaker, National Awakening, p. 57).

One may say that the whole development of Christianity in inwardness has consisted in little more than the greater and greater emphasis attached to this crisis of self_surrender (Shoemaker, Realizing Religion, p. 30).

Surrender is not conversion, we cannot convert ourselves; but it is the first step in the process (Shoemaker, Confident Faith, p. 41).

Sam on the Act of Surrender--a Decision
Decision. . . . We must help people to make an act of self-surrender to Christ, which renounces all known sins, accepts Him as Saviour, and begins Christian life in earnest (Shoemaker, The Church Alive, p. 41).

He went into his room, knelt by his bed, and gave his life in surrender to God (Shoemaker, Children of the Second Birth, p. 175).

She surrendered to God her groundless fears, and with them turned over her life for His direction (Shoemaker, Children of the Second Birth, p. 82).

That night I decided to "launch out into the deep:" and with the decision to cast my will and my life on God, there came an indescribable sense of relief, of burdens dropping away (Shoemaker, Twice-Born Ministers, p. 134).

And Then, Surrender As Much of Yourself As You Can to As Much of God As You Understand

So they prayed together, opening their minds to as much of God as he understood. . . (Shoemaker, Children of the Second Birth, p. 47, italics added).

So he said that he would "surrender as much of himself as he could, to as much of Christ as he understood" (Shoemaker, Children of the Second Birth, p. 25, italics added. See also, and compare "In Memoriam" Princeton, The Graduate Council, June 10, 1956, pp. 2_3; and Shoemaker, How to Become a Christian, p. 72).

The finding of God, moreover, is a progressive discovery; and there is so much more for all of us to learn about him. (Shoemaker, How to Find God, p. 1).

Begin honestly where you are. Horace Bushnell once said, "Pray to the dim God, confessing the dimness for honesty’s sake." I was with a man who prayed his first real prayer in these words: "O God, if there be a God, help me now because I need it." God sent him help. He found faith. He found God. . . God will come through to you and make Himself known (Shoemaker, How to Find God, p. 6. See and compare: Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd ed., p. 37: "But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him. When we drew near to Him. He disclosed Himself to us!" See also the Bible book so popular with the pioneers--James: "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you," James 4:8).

[A]ny honest person can begin the spiritual experiment by surrendering "as much of himself as he can, to as much of Christ as he understands" (Shoemaker, Extraordinary Living for Ordinary Men, p. 76, italics added).

There was no talk at all about surrendering to as much of Ralph or to as much of a lightbulb or to as much of a tree as you understand! A.A.’s Big Book implored: May you find God--not just some A.A. group! A.A. Groups are found in meeting schedules, not the Bible.

Said Sam in substance: You simply start where you are in your understanding. You surrender as much of yourself as you can. To as much of God as you understand. Then, added Sam, God will come through to you, make Himself known, and enable you to understand more. You will come to believe. You will find God, said Sam. God will make Himself known. God will not be making known a tree, a coke bottle, or a radiator. He will make known Himself--God, our Creator!

Similar Ideas and Words in Other Oxford Group Writings

Stephen Foot was one of the most popular Oxford Group writers of the early 1930's. Foot used a slightly different form of expression. It presented the same idea of initial, limited understanding. It spoke instead of initial, limited knowledge of God (surrendering all that you know of self to all that you know of God). Foot’s language was also used by Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith in her journal, and by long-time Oxford Group activist James D. Newton in his biographical Uncommon Friends title. These stalwart Oxford Group admirers were also readers of, and thoroughly acquainted with, the works of Rev. Sam Shoemaker. Respectively, they wrote:

Life began for me with a surrender of all that I know of self to all that I knew of God (Foot, Life Began Yesterday, pp. 12_13, italics added. See also James D. Newton, Uncommon Friends, p. 154).

Are you prepared to do his will, let the cost be what it may? That is surrender of all one knows of self to all one knows of God (Foot, Life Began Yesterday, p. 175, italics added).

[In her journal, Dr. Bob’s wife Anne Smith twice wrote the following idea:] Try to bring a person to a decision to "surrender as much of himself as he knows to as much of God as he knows." Stay with him until he makes a decision and says it aloud (Dick B., Anne Smith’s Journal, 3rd ed, pp. 25, 97, italics added; .

Look at What Bill Wilson Said before the "Atheism" Compromise

Before he scratched out "God" in favor of his "as we understood Him" compromise language, Bill was telling the story far more differently, far more accurately, and far more consistently in terms of what he had learned from his sponsor Ebby Thacher, from Anne Smith and her journal, and from Shoemaker and Oxford Group writings and talks. See The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010 (www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml). Bill wrote:

This is what my friend [Ebby Thacher] suggested I do: Turn my face to God as I understand Him [italics added] and say to Him with earnestness, complete honesty and abandon; that I henceforth place my life at His disposal and Direction forever (Bill Wilson’s Original Story, a thirty-four page document I found at Bill’s home at Stepping Stones, p. 30, lines 989-992).

[Ebby Thacher said to Bill:] So, call on God as you understand God. Try prayer (W.W., "The Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous," Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol. Yale University, 1945, p. 463, italics added).

[Reciting in A.A.’s own basic text, precisely how he had followed Ebby Thacher’s instructions, Bill wrote:] There I humbly offered myself to God, as I then understood Him, to do with me as He would. I placed myself unreservedly under His care and direction (Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd ed., p. 13, italics added).

Bill did not turn his face to, or call on, or humbly offer himself to, a radiator, a tree, a lightbulb, a Group of Drunks, or any other blatantly idolatrous symbol. He turned to God as he (Bill Wilson) did then and there understand God. That is a piece of ignored A.A. history that should be blazoned on the desk of everyone who tries to sell snake oil to an unwary A.A. newcomer. As an aside, I would point out that in my first visit to Bill's home at Stepping Stones, I only found two Oxford Group books. One was "The Fool Hath Said." This is from the quote in Psalm 14:1: "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works: there is none that doeth good."

Using language very similar to that used by Sam Shoemaker in his book Confident Faith, Bill wrote quite eloquently:

When we became alcoholics crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is, or He isn’t. What was our choice to be? (Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd ed., p. 53). See Hebrews 11:6 (. . . for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him); and Shoemaker, Confident Faith, pp. 20_21 (God is, or He isn’t. You leap one way or the other.).

Bill did not assert that a radiator either is or it isn’t. He did not claim that a lightbulb either is or it isn’t. He didn’t declare that Santa Claus either is or he isn’t. Bill was not a fool (Psalm 14:1). Consistent with the words of Hebrews 11:6 in the Bible, and the reasoning of his friend Sam Shoemaker, Bill Wilson made the very simple and rational statement that God either is, or He isn’t. Then, following the instructions of the Oxford Group, Shoemaker, and his friend Ebby Thacher, Bill Wilson "surrendered as much of himself as he understood to as much of God as he (Bill) then understood."

You Start with Shoemaker, the Oxford Group, and Dr. Bob’s Wife

That’s it, folks. The story of how the "God as we understood Him" phrase came to be inserted in the Big Book and Twelve Steps seems to have been much distorted by the claim of an A.A. old-timer Jim B. that he (Jim) was responsible for this phrase "as we understood Him." We thoroughly explored that claim, just as far as we were able; and we found that Bill Wilson had never acknowledged Jim’s claim. As we researched Shoemaker’s writings, Oxford Group books, and Anne Smith’s journal, we saw a far different history that suggested a far different origin of the phrase. For one thing, we saw that Jim B. had not been sober until long after Stephen Foot, Sam Shoemaker, Jim Newton, and Anne Smith had tendered the commonly used expression that you surrender to as much of God as you understand! (See Dick B., Turning Point, pp. 172_181 http://www.dickb.com/Turning.shtml; Anne Smith’s Journal, 3rd ed., p.26, n.10 http://www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml) You don’t start with an avowed atheist (Jim B.) who apparently was neither sober nor present when the phrase "as we understood Him" was suggested and substituted in Step Three and Step Eleven. You start with the Bible students (Sam Shoemaker and Anne Smith, Dr. Bob’s wife) who were close to Bill Wilson in the pre-publication years and who had been expressing, for beginners, this idea five to ten years before A.A.’s Big Book was first published. They had an understanding of God. They felt others could gain an understanding and knowledge by starting with whatever understanding they had at the time of their "surrender" to God. Quite clearly, Bill and his friends were talking about God, our Creator, Yahweh!

END

©Dick B.

Gloria Deo

Bill Wilson’s So-Called “Six Steps”

Bill Wilson’s So-Called “Six Steps”
Word of Mouth Ideas He Claimed Were in Use Before 1939
Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved/
For a long time in my research, I kept hearing that there had been six steps before there were Twelve. In one way or another, Bill Wilson suggested this. In another way, Lois Wilson suggested it by quoting “six” Oxford Group tenets—tenets which very clearly did not exist in the history or annals of the Oxford Group. My tendency, therefore, was to point to these facts and reject Bill’s “six” steps as bogus.

But I nonetheless encountered them in several different ways, phrased in several different forms, and emanating from several different alleged sources. The first phraseology appeared on a piece of paper handed to me in New York by Bill’s secretary, Nell Wing. It was scribbled in Bill’s handwriting; and it appeared to contain material identical to that which Bill had placed in an A.A. Grapevine article. Bill stated there, as “we commenced to form a Society separate from the Oxford Group, we began to state our principles something like this:
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol.
We got honest with ourselves.
We got honest with another person, in confidence.
We made amends for harms done others.
We worked with other alcoholics without demand for prestige or money.
We prayed to God to help us do these things as best we could”
(See Dick B., The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, 3rd ed., 1998, pp. 256-257. www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml). Identical language—specifying “we prayed to God” can be found elsewhere. Not “a” god. Not God as you understand Him. Not whatever kind of God you thought there was. See Bill W., The Language of the Heart. NY: The AA Grapevine, Inc. 1988, p. 200; William L. White, Slaying the Dragon. IL: Chestnut Health Systems, 1998, p. 132)

Time marched on. Bill shifted gears, seemingly bent on putting still more distance between “God,” the Akron program about God, and Bill’s delegated responsibility to report the original facts in the new text he proposed. And Bill still talked about a “word-of-mouth” program of six steps to achieve and maintain sobriety. But Bill listed a new and rephrased “six steps” as follows; and the dutiful revisionist historians of A.A. followed suit:
We admitted that we were licked, that we were powerless over alcohol.
We made a moral inventory of our defects or sins.
We confessed or shared our shortcomings with another person in confidence.
We made restitution to all those we had harmed by our drinking.
We tried to help other alcoholics, with no thought of reward in money or prestige.
We prayed to whatever God we thought there was for power to practice these precepts.
(See Dick B., The Akron Genesis, p. 256; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 160 www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml; Pass It On., p. 197; Ernest Kurtz, Not-God. MN: Hazelden, 1991, p. 69. Note the prayer to “whatever God we thought there was”).

The newly invented six steps were not left alone, however. Others were tinkering with them. This even though there was absolutely no evidence that the Oxford Group had any steps at all – not two, nor four, nor six, nor twelve. But Bill’s wife Lois declared that there were “the Oxford Group precepts”—six in number—as follows::
Surrender your life to God.
Take a moral inventory.
Confess your sins to God and another human being.
Make restitution.
Give of yourself to others with no demand for return.
Pray to God for help to carry out these principles.
(See Dick B., The Akron Genesis, p. 257; Lois Remembers. NY: Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, 1987, p. 92. Note the language “surrender to God” and “Pray to God”).

And then, after Dr. Bob was dead, came the following unsupported insertion in the Big Book. It alleged that Dr. Bob had used “six steps.” In language hardly resembling any ever used by Dr. Bob (who had also said there were no steps at all when A.A. began), the Big Book writer attributed the following words to Bob (words containing no mention of God):
Complete deflation.
Dependence and guidance from a Higher Power.
Moral inventory.
Confession.
Restitution.
Continued to work with alcoholics.
(See Dick B., The Akron Genesis, p. 258; Alcoholics Anonymous, 2d ed., p. 292; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pp. 22-23; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, p. 131).
dickb@dickb.com/

Christian Recovery Movement Growing In Service

There are many Christian recovery treatment programs, Christian recovery fellowships, Christian recovery websites, Christian recovery counseling groups, Christian sober living houses, and now a new and important Christian recovery resource--the worldwide movement of International Christian Recovery Coalition to establish Christian Recovery Resource Centers throughout the world.

It is the initial contact with the newcomer that poses the problem. How do you qualify him as an alcoholic or addict? How do you make sure he wants to quit permanently rather than merely escape his current disaster? How can you persuade him that he must go to any lengths to refrain from drinking or using drugs, resist temptation, stay away from slippery places and slippery people, and establish a new kind of life that doesn't require alcohol or addictive drugs for recovery, victory, a successful life, peace, escape from shame or guilt, enable him to decide what he should do and where he should go?

In the 1800's, things got off to a good start. The rescue missions, evangelists and their revivals, YMCA lay people, and Salvation Army workers were able to deal with derelicts, drunks, despondent homeless, and criminals and lead them to Jesus Christ and salvation and a new status as a child of the living and true God. The tools were simple. There was usually a lay person who went straight to the streets or the pools of despair. There was the offer of salvation through making Jesus Christ Lord and Savior. There were endless accounts of those who accepted Christ, gave up their drinking and old lives for God, and lived useful Christian lives thereafter.

A.A.'s cofounders both grew up in Vermont. They both had a Christian upbringing. They both were exposed to the Christian revivals, conversions, victories, and healing. They both dug into the Bible for spiritual understanding and growth. And they both remembered the resources when their lives became the worst of the worst.
And they both returned to God, to Jesus Christ, and to the Bible; prayed for help; and received full cures. And that was the beginning of the unique approach of the Alcoholics Anonymous they founded in 1935 as a Christian Fellowship. In fact, for a decade, perhaps, the simple Christian formula continued in the Midwest and survived--permanent abstinence, surrender to God, obedience to His will, growth through Bible and prayer and guidance, and helping others. That was a prototype of the victorious efforts they saw in their Vermont youth.

Then Alcoholics Anonymous itself changed. It opened its doors to atheists and agnostics, people who were not of the Christian faith, and later people who began to invent their own nonsense gods and call them higher powers. The Christians were still there in large numbers, but the meetings and literature began to tout the idea of choosing one's own conception of a god; becoming "spiritual, but not religious;" and reframing the Society so that even its Twelve Steps were changed to eliminate Almighty God. The Christians were still there, but there was criticism of them if they spoke of God, Jesus, the Bible, or religion. There were even attempts to ostracize them if they studied the Bible or Christian literature--even though the early AAs had done exactly that.

But perhaps a decade and a half ago, a new wind began blowing. It blew once again in the direction of God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. It was almost a grass roots movement where Alcoholics Anonymous members themselves began to regain their backbones. Some formed non-Alcoholics Anonymous Christian groups. Some formed such groups but called them "bridge groups." Some turned to Christian fellowships developed in or with their churches. "Recovery" Bibles became the rage. Churches began having recovery pastors and pastoral recovery leaders. Large organizations like YWAM, Teen Challenge, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Alcoholics Victorious, and others attracted alcoholics and addicts to Christian recovery with or without the Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve Steps. There was a rebirth of Christian intervention, counseling, treatment programs, rehabs, fellowships, church groups, and sober living.

And that is exactly what we see today. That also is exactly what the International Christian Recovery Coalition is spawning. It encourages A.A. Friendly, Bible Friendly, Prayer Friendly, History Friendly conferences, seminars, study groups, fellowships, and meetings. And they are growing--rapidly.

This has been one of the major reasons for the establishment of the new program of Christian Recovery Resource Centers which can help the addict or alcoholic from the very beginning of his recovery effort to seek, find, and join Christian recovery programs. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

God Bless, Dick B. dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com

Services a Christian Recovery Resource Outreach Center Can Provide

Services a Christian Recovery Resource Outreach Center Can Provide
Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Interviewing the Alcoholic, Drug Addict, Codependent, and/or Concerned Others

Assessment Interview:

Qualifying the newcomer: Admission, Determined to quit, Go to any lengths
Determine the need for detox or medical help
Summarize Christian recovery origins, history, AA founding, Program, Successes
Belief in God, Acceptance of Christ, Receptive to Bible, Importance of prayer

Intervention:

Licensed Christian interventionist conducts
Acquaint newcomer with differences between early A.A. and present 12-Step
Ideas
Prepare him for idolatry, anti-A.A., anti-religious, secular detours today.
Prepare him for new birth, Bible study, prayer, healing, seeking guidance
Prepare him to meet religious objections and need for tolerance and service
Prepare him for 24/7 efforts, Christian fellowship, communication, witness
Summarize available Christian recovery options
Conclude with referral to Christian recovery resource

Detoxification, Medical Assistance, Hospitalization

Treating, counseling, informing alcoholics, addicts, codependents

Licensed Chrstian Alcohol and Addiction counseling – covering full Christian tool kit

Christian treatment program

Complete abstinence from alcohol and drug use
Christian counseling, chaplain, or recovery pastor
Individual and group Christian therapy
Emphasis on belief in God, decision for Christ, reliance upon, obedience to God
Introduction to Christian recovery origins, history, founding, original program,
changes through 12 Step programs, adaptability today
Extensive Bible teaching and study
Review of essentials in Book of James, 1 Cor 13, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
Extensive individual and group prayer and renewed mind for thanksgiving, praise,
healing, forgiveness, guidance, walking by the spirit, meeting of needs of
self and others, resisting the Adversary, adherence to principles of love,
protection, prosperity
Emphasis on communicating with God, His Son, and other believers
Daily Quiet Time: Prayer, Bible, Guidance, texting, use of Christian devotionals
Explanation of Big Book, Twelve Steps, and how to “take” the Steps
Nature of alcoholism and addiction, and problems of denial, dishonesty, fear
Helpful Christian recovery literature
Christian relapse prevention
Family education and counseling
Exercise, nutrition, recreation
Attendance and AA/NA open meetings
Attendance at Overcomers Outreach, Celebrate Recovery, Alcoholics for
Christ, Alcoholics for Christ meetings.
Aligning with a Christian recovery fellowship
Using church services, attendance, and sessions
Christian aftercare
Sober Living
Pointing to long-term goals: Prayer, Bible study, Quiet Time, Christian
Fellowship, Witness, Sponsorship and/or Discipleship
Relocating to counseling, churches, Christian fellowships, sober living,
sober homes-centers-clubs, churches, Bible and prayer fellowships,
social agencies, veterans-military-financial-health-care assistance,
vocational and educational training, job or volunteer work.
Establish, maintain, and operation a Christian Recovery Resource Center
outsource, inform, and supplement what you do not provide.

Christian Track Program (see above)

Christian Residential treatment program (see above)

Christian sober houses, retirement homes

Christian Fellowships:

Christian Recovery Fellowships

Christian Recovery Resource Centers which are informational and bridge in nature.

Bible study fellowships

Churches, Recovery pastors, Pastoral counselors, service beyond church “walls”

Christian chaplaincies for prisons, jails, hospitals, rehabilitation, police, fire, emergency
workers,

Prayer fellowships

Christian speaker meetings.

Christian seminaries, colleges, schools, youth centers, sports groups

Discipleship training and activity

Christian music, entertainment, conferences, seminars, plays, movies, actors, TV
And radio producers, personalities, and shows

12-Step Organizations

Alcoholics Anonymous—Narcotics Anonymous meetings that are A.A. Friendly, Bible
Friendly, Prayer friendly, History Friendly; instructive as to the origins and taking
Of Steps

James Clubs, Big Book Study Groups, History Study Groups, Big Book-Bible Groups

Sponsorship and Big Book training and activity

Medical, Psychiatric, Psychological, Therapy, and Research Centers

Community Service Agencies

What a Christian Recovery Resource Center Needs to Do and Be

What a Christian Recovery Resource Center Needs to Do and Be

A participant, at no cost, in the International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

A voluntary, listed Christian Recovery Resource Center of the International Christian Recovery Coalition.

Furnish our International Christian Recovery Coalition office in Maui with the following:

Your full name as an individual or as an entity.

Your mailing address; and, if different, your Center's street address, city, state, and zip.

Your phone number; and—if you have one—your email, website, and Facebook page.

Your primary area of Christian recovery interest and service

The Christian recovery services you provide now—taken from our list, including
Assessment and Qualification of newcomers; Interview; Intervention; Detox, and medical help; medical supervision; Christian counseling; Christian treatment; Christian Track treatment; Christian residential treatment; family issues; Christian after-care; Christian sober living; Christian recovery fellowships; Chaplain-Recovery Pastor-Licensed Christian counselors; individual and group Christian counseling and therapy; Bible teaching and study; individual and group prayer sessions, and Quiet Time; alcoholism and addiction education; orientation to the origins, history, founding, original program, successes, and later changes in the A.A.-12 Step movement; the original Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program and 14 practices of the A.A. pioneers in Akron; Instruction in the Big Book and how to “take” the 12 Steps; a Christian recovery Library; Training in discipleship and sponsorship; A.A./N.A. meeting attendance; Christian and Christ-Centered group attendance; Christian recovery speaker meetings; relapse Prevention; music and singing; medical aspects of alcoholism and addiction; exercise, nutrition, and wholesome recreation; fellowship with like-minded believers; witnessing and carrying the Christian recovery message; routing the alcoholic and addict to health, job, housing, financial, veteran-military benefits and care, vocational and educational training, and social agencies and services in the community and area; church services, sermons, pastoral and recovery help, religious convocations, seminars, conferences, church fellowships and study groups and membership activities; Follow-up help with continuing communication, Christian centers, youth centers, retirement centers, rehabs, athletic activity, volunteer work, sober clubs, sober centers, sober activities, athletic and fitness work, new hobbies and interests; wholesome dances, picnics, camp-outs, beach activities, sports events, movies and plays, musical events and concerts, winter sports and activities, golf, tennis, football, baseball, soccer, rugby, basketball; fishing and hunting; travel and sight-seeing activities; participating in community services through the YMCA, Scouts, Big Brothers, Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Toys for Tots, Little League, service clubs, food distribution; continuing and adult education; continuing job training and education; and organizations like Future Farmers, bands and choruses and orchestras, hiking clubs, hobby clubs, surfing and canoe clubs, horseback riding, swim clubs, marathons, racing, bicycling and motorcycle
clubs.

Literature, flyers, brochures, tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, newsletters, program information

Names of Christian recovery resources in your community and area or organization
to whom you will refer newcomers and families

Charges, fees, costs and expenses to others in connection with your services

Other centers, agencies, programs, leaders, facilities, and people we should contact or
whom you will contact to help us expand the network of resource centers.

Be a message-carrier in and to your community and area, disseminating information about Christian recovery, Christian recovery resources, Christian counseling, and Christian Recovery Resource Centers, notifying:

Schools and colleges; prisons and jails; hospitals and mental institutions; churches and clergy; charitable agencies (like the American Red Cross), the local office of the American Medical Association, nursing associations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the United Way, the YMCA, athletic teams, clinics, newspapers, radio shows, TV shows, columnists, producers, reporters, editors, visitors bureaus, service clubs, womens clubs, trade associations, unions, business and professional associations, bar associations, chaplains, the Salvation Army, health organizations, religious associations, government offices, legislators, government health agencies, police, fire departments, suicide prevention, visitor centers, educators, scientists, researchers, speaker groups, local offices of other national organizations, dentists, and psychologists and psychiatrists.

Who Can Serve as a Christian Recovery Resource Center

Who Can Serve as a Christian Recovery Resource Center
Both Individuals and Organizations

Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Your ability to organize, implement, and maintain a Christian Recovery Resource Center is not limited to churches, buildings, centers, hospitals, treatment facilities, counseling headquarters,
or specific programs and agencies.

You can function as an effective Christian Recovery Resource Center if you do what you can as an individual or in your home or business or office or in a position where you touch the lives of others who, perhaps with their families and friends, are suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction, are receptive to God’s help, and don’t know where to turn to get it.

You can do this individually, in your home or office or workplace or business or school or church. You can do it if you have a status such as the others mentioned below. And you can do it in cooperation with others who share your like-minded desire to point alcoholics, drug addicts, and other affected persons to the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible have played for years in the Christian origins, history, founding, original program, and successes of those who wanted and sought God’s help in overcoming and being healed of their maladies.

You can gather and pass along information about Christian recovery people, programs, centers, locations, and approaches in any one or more of the following capacities—plus others you may think of and suggest to us for inclusion:

1. Chaplains—military, veterans, hospitals, educational institutions, Red Cross, sports, prisons, jails, courts, probation and parole officers, half-way houses, police, fire, hospice and grief support, suicide situations, motorcycle, legislatures, market place, retirement homes, and sports.

2. Clergy—churches, seminaries, recovery pastors, church school, Sunday school, deacons, elders, vestry, board members, and lay volunteers.

3. Christian counselors—licensed Christian counselors, pastoral counselors, licensed Christian alcohol and drug counseling institutions, and recovery pastors.

4. Christian retirement homes, sober living facilities, homeless shelters, residential treatment centers, refuge shelters, youth programs, at-risk programs, and schools.

5. Individuals—on the streets, in their homes, at their employment, in their schools, in youth work, sports, coaching, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, therapists, counselors, intake personnel, in social agencies, reporters, columnists, writers, reviewers, authors, talk show hosts, TV and radio commentators, TV and movie producers, bloggers, tweeters, Facebook friends, U-Tube presenters, union representatives, businessmen, receptionists, technicians, salesmen, clerks, managers, legislators, factory workers, film makers, speakers, and actors.

6. Christian Bible study fellowships, Bible study groups, prayer groups, and crisis centers.

7. Christian detox facilities.

8. Christian Treatment and Rehab programs.

9. Christian Residential Treatment Programs.

10. Christian-Track Treatment Programs.

11. Christian Gospel and Rescue Missions.

12. Salvation Army Offices, ARC’s, outposts, headquarters locations.

13. Christian hospitals and clinics.

14. Christian Social Agencies and disaster relief agencies.

15. Christian Sober Living Homes.

16. Christian non-profit agencies.

17. Christian 12-Step leaders, speakers, sponsors, chairpersons, phone-answerers.

18. Christian study, Bible, prayer, Big Book, Step Study, and James Club groups

19. Christian “bridge” and other Christ-centered, recovery-oriented organizations—e.g., Overcomers Outreach, Inc.; Alcoholics Victorious; Overcomers, Footprints, Alcoholics for Christ, and Manna House Ministries

20. Christ-centered recovery organizations such as Teen Challenge, Celebrate Recovery,
NACR, Net Training Institute, and ISAAC.

20 Christian recovery ministries and fellowships such as Rock Recovery, Lifelines at The Crossing Church, Alive Again, Came to Believe Retreats, James Clubs, the Serenity Group at Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Turning Point Recovery Ministry at the Cornerstone Fellowship-Livermore Campus, Golden Hills Community Church, His Place Church, and Steppin' Out at the Church of the Open Door in Glendora.

21. CityTeam Ministries.

22. Charitable and business benefactors, donors, and community leaders.

23. Chambers of Commerce, Visitor Bureaus, EAP organizations, and Information centers.

Many of the foregoing are already offering and performing some of these services and dispensing some of the information about Christian recovery resources in their area.

What can integrate, assist, and coordinate their objectives is a coalition like the International Christian Recovery Coalition.

And what can make a difference is that each of the foregoing can become informed about,
report about, and build confidence in, pointing out to newcomers, families, friends, and others
listed above that: (1) There is a Christian Recovery Resource Center in their area. (2) There is a Christian resource that can meet their need. (3) Christian recovery is not a one-person, one-program, one-center, or one-approach matter. (4) Suffering Christians need the love, power, healing, redemption, forgiveness, guidance, mercy, and grace that can be made available to them as children of the living and true God, and ministered to them by loving, informed, qualified ministers, pastors, apostles, prophets, and teachers.

International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Dick B., Executive Director, DickB@DickB.com; (808) 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753

Christian Recovery Resource Centers - Explanation and Purpose

Christian Recovery Resource Centers
A Project of the International Christian Recovery Coalition
Dick B., Executive Director

Explanation and Purpose

Across the globe today, there are an estimated twenty million alcoholics and drug addicts who don’t know where to turn to get information about, find resources for, and overcome objections to, their seeking the help of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible.

There is no lack of Christian resources for recovery. The “depth” of the resources may be another matter entirely.

There is a relentless opposition to the seeking, mention of, and reliance upon such resources in the recovery arena today. Twelve Step Fellowship members frequently eschew mention of God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, church, and religion. Many among them have swallowed the idea that they can invent their own idea of a “power greater than themselves.” They tend to invent a self-made religion which claims to be “spiritual but not religious.” They frequently espouse the idea that there is a “higher power” that can help. They then go on to claim that this “higher power” can be a tree, a chair, a light bulb, a radiator, Santa Claus, the Great Pumpkin, Something, Somebody—any thing or “power” other than the Creator of the heavens and the earth. They leave their fellowships in droves—some relapsing, some turning to other alternatives, and some actually aligning themselves with some sort of Christian alternative. Even there, they often hear that any Twelve Step recovery effort is contrary to the Bible, dangerous for Christians, and ineffective in result.

Yet there are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Christian leaders, afflicted in recovery, and concerned others who want to stick with God. They don’t want to reject fellowships. They want to be healed, forgiven, delivered, loved, empowered, and assured of an everlasting life. They don’t want “manufactured” Christian programs with a spot of prayer, a spot of Bible, unlicensed Christian counselors, or lack of connections with vibrant church activities, dynamic Christian recovery fellowships, and skilled Christian Bible teachers, prayer leaders, and healing experts.

Mothers, brothers, spouses, grandparents, uncles, other relatives, and friends contact us almost daily with messages of bewilderment and despair. They say that they are dealing with an alcoholic or drug addict. They say that afflicted person does not want to quit. They say he is despondent and depressed. They say he gets into endless troubles—criminal, family, child-custody, tax, imprisonment, debt, divorce, and health, even suicide attempts. When asked if there is belief in God and a Christian affiliation, they may yes. But where can they find Christian help!

This plan attempts to provide an effective answer today. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Christian Recovery Resourc Centers - Launching Plan

Christian Recovery Resource Centers

Launching Plan Outline

Dick B.
© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

First: The plan to organize, sponsor, and implement the establishment of Christian Recovery Resource Centers worldwide is the plan and program of the International Christian Recovery Coalition with headquarters in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

Second: All those who wish to join us in establishing a Christian Recovery Resource Center as part of their recovery outreach must, unless they have already done so, become (at no cost) a participant in the International Christian Recovery Coalition. Contact Dick B. at dickb@dickb.com. We need your name, ministry, city, and state in order to list you as a participant.

Third: The mission statement of our Christian Recovery Resource Center program—a statement to which each Center subscribes—is identical to that on The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed. (http://DickB.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml):

“To glorify God by: (1) sharing accurate information with Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena about the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in early A.A.’s astonishing successes; and (2) showing those leaders and workers how they can substantially enhance their effectiveness by including in their Christian-oriented recovery efforts the lessons learned by the early A.A. Christian pioneers.”

Each Center, whether organized, maintained, and implemented by an individual, a program, a group, a church, a fellowship, or some agency or organization, is expected to pursue Christian recovery in whatever way meets their own Christian recovery effort or ministry. Each is also expected to help the alcoholic and addict who still suffers to learn all the Christian resources available to him for recovery, and—if not conducted by the Center—to provide information and referral (without charge) to centers and programs conducted by other Christian Recovery Resource Centers in the community, area, and outreach worldwide.

Fourth: In addition to continuing an existing effort, service, or ministry, each Center will be expected to learn, inventory, and provide the following resources:

Issue a specific statement to ICRC of what a Christian Recovery Resource Center does do
Preferably, the statement should be available by phone, media, advertisements,
listings, brochures, pamphlets, websites, facebook, and newsletters.

Circulate that information to other Centers, to media, and as widely as possible
to the public at large. Every possible recovery resource should know of the center and its
services—12 Step Fellowships, Study groups, Bridge organizations, churches, clergy, physicians, treatment professionals, treatment programs of all types, counselors and chaplains, hospitals and rehabs, military and veteran facilities, business-labor-information organizations, Christian recovery fellowships, United Way agencies, Chambers of Commerce and Business bureaus, and others we list.

Answer inquiries from alcoholics and addicts, concerned others, and the public as
what Christian recovery resources are available, which the Center provides, and where
other Christian recovery resources can be found by them.

Provide resources describing what 12 Step Fellowships do and don’t do; explaining the
Christian origins, history, founding, successes, and changes in the A.A. program; highlighting what today’s Christian recovery resources can do; urging those who want God’s help to seek a comprehensive, tolerant, effective, complete Christian recovery program.

Establish a library which explains what A.A. is and isn’t, what the history of Christian
Recovery and A.A. are, what the various Christian recovery resources say, and have on hand The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, “Introductory Foundations for Christian
Recovery” www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml; and make available free as many Dick B.
titles as they have, buy, or we send.

Become acquainted and familiar, and network with other Centers and leaders.

Donate to us $500.00 for help fund our work. We can arrange for tax deductibility.

Fifth: Read our summary of “Who can Serve”—both individuals and organizations, homes, offices, facilities, and online. See our attachment with the material previously circulated on this point.

Sixth: What you need to tell us about yourself (including any website and brochures):

Name of individual or organization
Contact person
Mail, email, and phone address; URL; Facebook
Your major activity
Those specific Christian and/or recovery activities in which you are engaged (we will list
possibilities)
Your willingness to establish, maintain, and implement a Center
Which of our Christian and/or recovery resource activities you will undertake
Which you are willing to outsource – and some specific examples
Your understanding that, once listed, you will be part of our worldwide information
network. This means: (1) An informative listing on the International Christian
Recovery Coalition website, Facebook, newsletters, audio talks, flyers, and basic
book. (2) Supplying us with resource information you need. (3) Telling us the areas and people to which you will actually refer people. (4) Contacting our other centers providing them with your details, capabilities, and needs. (5) Establishing a website, email, phone, Facebook page, and full mail address information. (6)
Establishing a Christian recovery resource Library which we will help furnish
with Christian recovery materials and which will give you material to draw on. (7) Circulating in your area, community, circle of contacts, and major organizations
your own status as a Christian Recovery Resource Center, what you do, and what
they can expect. (8) Contact by every convenient means the churches, clergy,
recovery pastors, Christian counselor institutes, Christian counselors, Christian
treatment programs, Christian track treatment programs, Christian recovery
fellowships, chaplains, military and vet centers, sober living homes, detox centers,
12 Step Fellowship offices, and Christian leaders—telling them what you do and
how to reach you for help and guidance. (9) Contact newspapers, columnists, TV
and radio producers, national recovery organizations, and (10) Arrange with
outsource centers to make use of or refer others to their detoxes, counseling
facilities, churches, clergy, Christian Fellowships, Speakers meetings, treatment
programs, sober living programs, and other service outlets that will expand the
scope of your service and improve its quality.

Seventh: Send us a donation of $500.00 (which we can arrange to be made tax-deductible) for
permanent listing as a Christian Recovery Resource Center. Get the The Dick B.
Christian Recovery Guide (http://DickB.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml) and
the “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery” class on four (4) DVD's
(http://DickB.com/IFCR-Class.shtml), if you do not already have them. We will
furnish a free assortment of Dick B. books to start your library.

Eighth: Work with us personally to establish, improve, and expand your own Christian
Recovery Resource Center. This can be done by phone or email, by a visit with us
on Maui, or even by your funding a trip to your area for a substantial workshop if
that is within your means.

Finally: We regard our role in this whole project as one of stimulating, consulting on,
facilitating, and establishing networks of service that will emphasize and
provide the role, need, and proximity of Christian recovery help throughout
the world. Our job will be to inform. We will not set standards on, endorse,
or attempt to control what you do. Much of what we have learned in the last
20 years of researching, meeting, speaking, and publishing has come through
the help of others. And we want to make available to the Christian recovery
arena as much of our findings and materials as we have been able to gather.

If you want to ask questions, make suggestions, obtain further information, or discuss this plan—prior to your signing on—please feel to contact Dick B.: dickb@dickb.com; 808 874 4876; PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837; or Ken B. at 808 276 4945.

Gloria Deo