Sunday, July 31, 2011
Electronic Forms Now Available for Dick B. Books
Three of Dick B.'s A.A. History Books are now in ebook form. Use Google to find SMASHWORDS. Use the result to find the 3 books -- James Club, Why Early A.A. Succeeded, and The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook. And then note that each of three different purveyors are offering one of the books each as A FREE EBOOK SAMPLE.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Draft of the Script for Dick B.'s Fifteenth YouTube Program on Quiet Time
Draft of the Script for Dick B.'s Fifteenth YouTube Program on Quiet Time
The Dick B. YouTube Channel
The History of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Christian Recovery Movement
[Fifteenth Program: Showing How and Where the Christian Roots of A.A. originating in the Christian Upbringing of A.A. Cofounders Bill W. and Dr. Bob Ultimately Wound Up Directly Influencing the “Old School” A.A. Christian Fellowship Bill and Bob Dr. Bob founded in Akron in June of 1935]
This is the fifteenth presentation on the Dick B. YouTube Channel. It will, in this Fifteenth Program, deal with the impact of one the great evangelists, whose life impacted on the Christian upbringing of Dr. Bob.
There are three topics: (1) The remarks on the Christian roots of A.A. by Dr. Bob. (2) The special place that “prayer and meditation” held in early A.A. (3) The particular Quiet Time contributions of Evangelist F. B. Meyer.
The Remarks of Dr. Bob and His Son on the Christian Roots of A.A.:
He was almost forced as a youngster to go to Church services, prayer meetings, and Christian Endeavor four and sometimes five times a week.
He declared he had had excellent training in the Bible as a Youngster (and his son said his dad had read the Bible from cover to cover three times).
In his last major address to AAs in 1948, Dr. Bob said early AAs believed the answers to their problems were in the Bible and that the basic ideas for the Twelve Steps came from study and effort in the Bible.
Quiet Time, the Biblical Roots, and Their Vital Role in Early A.A.
“Morning devotion and ‘quiet time’ . . . were musts. . . . Morning quiet time continued to be an important part of the recovery program in 1938-1939, as did the spiritual reading from which the early members derived a good deal of their inspiration.” See DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, 136, 150. See the biblical basics in Psalm 5:3: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
Bill W. said: “They would start out in the morning reading from The Upper Room and say the prayers. . . . I sort of always felt that something was lost from A.A. when we stopped emphasizing the morning meditation” See DR. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, 178.
As to Dr. Bob, A.A.’s General Service Conference-approved literature reported: “Prayer, of course, was an important part of Dr. Bob’s faith. . . . Dr. Bob’s morning devotion consisted of a short prayer, a 20 minute study of a familiar verse from the Bible, and a quiet period of waiting for directions as to where he, that day, should find use for his talent. Having heard, he would religiously go about his Father’s business, as he put it.” See DR. BOB, 314.
As to Bill Wilson’s wife Lois, who wrote: “Anne [Dr. Bob’s wife] taught me to have a ‘quiet time’ in the morning that I might feel near to God and receive strength for the day. Children of the Healer, 42-43.
As to Dr. Bob’s wife Anne, their daughter said: “At that time I was getting involved with quiet times they had in the morning. The guys would come, and Mom would have her quiet time with them. . . they’d have their quiet time, which is a holdover from the Oxford Group, where they read the Bible, prayed and listened, and got guidance.” Children of the Healer, 41.
Specific Contributions of Evangelist F. B. Meyer to Early A.A.’s Quiet Time
Francis Brotherton Meyer was born in Clapham, London, on April 8, 1847. Meyer had a close. life-long friendship with the American evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, working with him in England and America. Billy Graham was speaking on the great social reformers of the Keswick Victorian era—mentioning both General William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army) and Meyer. Meyer took the position that for ex-prisoners, alcoholics, and delinquents, conversion to God through Jesus Christ was necessary but not always sufficient. Often, he asserted they also needed jobs and accommodation. George Williams, a trustee at Meyer’s Christ Church--himself a leading evangelist who played a large part in founding the YMCA--was involved in Meyer’s work at Newman Hall. Meyer preached both the need to find salvation through Christ and to give up alcohol. Christian Endeavor—the society in which Dr. Bob was active—was close to Meyer’s heart; and, in 1894, Meyer became the first president of the Central South London Christian Endeavor Union. His evangelism resulted in many conversions. In 1892, he made his first trip to USA and was eventually to go there at least twenty times. In 1898, he went to Washington, opened the Senate with prayers, and had a talk with President McKinley. Frank Buchman—who founded the Oxford Group—first attended Northfield Conventions and heard Meyer speak. Meyer later came to the campus of Pennsylvania State College where he told Buchman to listen more to God than the phones and to work more personally rather than organizing large meetings. Buchman was much influenced by Meyer’s books, especially his Secret of Guidance. Buchman was especially struck by the words, “If any man wills to do His will, he shall know.”
I published my book Good Morning! Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A., Rev. ed., 1988 in order to give the recovery community an authentic view of the origins, practices, and viewpoints about what early AAs called “Quiet Time.” www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml. The title of this book was chosen because the subject of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker’s first radio program was “Good Morning.” There, Shoemaker told his listeners how he set aside the first portion of his day for time with God. With his family, he reached for his Bible. He read a chapter or two. Then they got quiet and spent some time in prayer. In quietness, he said, they prayed for the people, the causes, the immediate problems of the day, and asked God to direct them. He suggested that if his listeners began the day that way, they would have a “good morning,” and a good afternoon, and a good evening—and a good life. Shoemaker was a strong advocate of what was originally called the “Morning Watch” and later came to be known as “Quiet Time.” According to Bill Wilson, Shoemaker’s teachings on this and most of the other Twelve Step ideas were the direct source of influence on Bill’s writing.
Actually, in Dr. Bob’s Christian Endeavor society, the “meditation” practice was called “Quiet Hour.” In the YMCA, it was known as the “Morning Watch.” In the Oxford Group, it became known as “Quiet Time.” And Bill Wilson spoke of it in his Big Book as “prayer and meditation.”
However much F. B. Meyer influenced the men and organizations that shaped early A.A., Meyer certainly crossed their paths. The paths of Moody and Sankey, the YMCA, the Salvation Army, and of the Young People’s Christian Endeavor Society. And in 1896, he gathered and pulled together the ideas he had formulated on God’s guidance. He published The Secret of Guidance.
Here are some of the major points he made (1) the biblical foundations in Psalm 32:8 (“I will instruct thee and teach thee. . .”), Proverbs 3:6 (“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”), Isaiah 58:11 (“The Lord shall guide thee continually”), John 8:12 (“I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. . .”). (2) surrendering to the will of the Father (John 5:20: “. . . I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me”). (3) “It is for us ultimately to decide as God shall teach us, but the voice may come to us through the voice of sanctified common sense. . .” (4) we must be much in prayer for guidance, James 1:5 (“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. . .” Meyer presented, in one short chapter, many ideas you can find in the ideas, and even the language of, A.A.’s Big Book on asking God for direction.
End of Program Fifteen:
This presentation focused on how the idea of looking to God for guidance came to A.A. founders from some Christian evangelist heavyweights. The next program will cover the work of two other evangelists of importance. One is the world-famous Billy Sunday. The other is an evangelist of Dr. Bob’s Akron days, Ethel Willitts. We will provide you with further information as to how the deeds of the evangelists—with their conversions, Bibles, prayer meetings, pleas to God for guidance, healings, revivals, and Gospel meetings—found their way into the ideas, principles, and practices of the “Old School” Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship.
I close by giving you pictures of two of my books which more fully detail the facts about the progression of the Christian roots of A.A. into the actual program of the “Old School” Akron A.A. Christian fellowship. The first is Good Morning! Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A., Bridge Builders Edition, 1998 www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml, and Bob Holman, F.B. Meyer: “If I Had A Hundred Men” (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2007).
Dickb@dickb.com
The History of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Christian Recovery Movement
[Fifteenth Program: Showing How and Where the Christian Roots of A.A. originating in the Christian Upbringing of A.A. Cofounders Bill W. and Dr. Bob Ultimately Wound Up Directly Influencing the “Old School” A.A. Christian Fellowship Bill and Bob Dr. Bob founded in Akron in June of 1935]
This is the fifteenth presentation on the Dick B. YouTube Channel. It will, in this Fifteenth Program, deal with the impact of one the great evangelists, whose life impacted on the Christian upbringing of Dr. Bob.
There are three topics: (1) The remarks on the Christian roots of A.A. by Dr. Bob. (2) The special place that “prayer and meditation” held in early A.A. (3) The particular Quiet Time contributions of Evangelist F. B. Meyer.
The Remarks of Dr. Bob and His Son on the Christian Roots of A.A.:
He was almost forced as a youngster to go to Church services, prayer meetings, and Christian Endeavor four and sometimes five times a week.
He declared he had had excellent training in the Bible as a Youngster (and his son said his dad had read the Bible from cover to cover three times).
In his last major address to AAs in 1948, Dr. Bob said early AAs believed the answers to their problems were in the Bible and that the basic ideas for the Twelve Steps came from study and effort in the Bible.
Quiet Time, the Biblical Roots, and Their Vital Role in Early A.A.
“Morning devotion and ‘quiet time’ . . . were musts. . . . Morning quiet time continued to be an important part of the recovery program in 1938-1939, as did the spiritual reading from which the early members derived a good deal of their inspiration.” See DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, 136, 150. See the biblical basics in Psalm 5:3: “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”
Bill W. said: “They would start out in the morning reading from The Upper Room and say the prayers. . . . I sort of always felt that something was lost from A.A. when we stopped emphasizing the morning meditation” See DR. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, 178.
As to Dr. Bob, A.A.’s General Service Conference-approved literature reported: “Prayer, of course, was an important part of Dr. Bob’s faith. . . . Dr. Bob’s morning devotion consisted of a short prayer, a 20 minute study of a familiar verse from the Bible, and a quiet period of waiting for directions as to where he, that day, should find use for his talent. Having heard, he would religiously go about his Father’s business, as he put it.” See DR. BOB, 314.
As to Bill Wilson’s wife Lois, who wrote: “Anne [Dr. Bob’s wife] taught me to have a ‘quiet time’ in the morning that I might feel near to God and receive strength for the day. Children of the Healer, 42-43.
As to Dr. Bob’s wife Anne, their daughter said: “At that time I was getting involved with quiet times they had in the morning. The guys would come, and Mom would have her quiet time with them. . . they’d have their quiet time, which is a holdover from the Oxford Group, where they read the Bible, prayed and listened, and got guidance.” Children of the Healer, 41.
Specific Contributions of Evangelist F. B. Meyer to Early A.A.’s Quiet Time
Francis Brotherton Meyer was born in Clapham, London, on April 8, 1847. Meyer had a close. life-long friendship with the American evangelist, Dwight L. Moody, working with him in England and America. Billy Graham was speaking on the great social reformers of the Keswick Victorian era—mentioning both General William Booth (founder of the Salvation Army) and Meyer. Meyer took the position that for ex-prisoners, alcoholics, and delinquents, conversion to God through Jesus Christ was necessary but not always sufficient. Often, he asserted they also needed jobs and accommodation. George Williams, a trustee at Meyer’s Christ Church--himself a leading evangelist who played a large part in founding the YMCA--was involved in Meyer’s work at Newman Hall. Meyer preached both the need to find salvation through Christ and to give up alcohol. Christian Endeavor—the society in which Dr. Bob was active—was close to Meyer’s heart; and, in 1894, Meyer became the first president of the Central South London Christian Endeavor Union. His evangelism resulted in many conversions. In 1892, he made his first trip to USA and was eventually to go there at least twenty times. In 1898, he went to Washington, opened the Senate with prayers, and had a talk with President McKinley. Frank Buchman—who founded the Oxford Group—first attended Northfield Conventions and heard Meyer speak. Meyer later came to the campus of Pennsylvania State College where he told Buchman to listen more to God than the phones and to work more personally rather than organizing large meetings. Buchman was much influenced by Meyer’s books, especially his Secret of Guidance. Buchman was especially struck by the words, “If any man wills to do His will, he shall know.”
I published my book Good Morning! Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A., Rev. ed., 1988 in order to give the recovery community an authentic view of the origins, practices, and viewpoints about what early AAs called “Quiet Time.” www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml. The title of this book was chosen because the subject of Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker’s first radio program was “Good Morning.” There, Shoemaker told his listeners how he set aside the first portion of his day for time with God. With his family, he reached for his Bible. He read a chapter or two. Then they got quiet and spent some time in prayer. In quietness, he said, they prayed for the people, the causes, the immediate problems of the day, and asked God to direct them. He suggested that if his listeners began the day that way, they would have a “good morning,” and a good afternoon, and a good evening—and a good life. Shoemaker was a strong advocate of what was originally called the “Morning Watch” and later came to be known as “Quiet Time.” According to Bill Wilson, Shoemaker’s teachings on this and most of the other Twelve Step ideas were the direct source of influence on Bill’s writing.
Actually, in Dr. Bob’s Christian Endeavor society, the “meditation” practice was called “Quiet Hour.” In the YMCA, it was known as the “Morning Watch.” In the Oxford Group, it became known as “Quiet Time.” And Bill Wilson spoke of it in his Big Book as “prayer and meditation.”
However much F. B. Meyer influenced the men and organizations that shaped early A.A., Meyer certainly crossed their paths. The paths of Moody and Sankey, the YMCA, the Salvation Army, and of the Young People’s Christian Endeavor Society. And in 1896, he gathered and pulled together the ideas he had formulated on God’s guidance. He published The Secret of Guidance.
Here are some of the major points he made (1) the biblical foundations in Psalm 32:8 (“I will instruct thee and teach thee. . .”), Proverbs 3:6 (“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths”), Isaiah 58:11 (“The Lord shall guide thee continually”), John 8:12 (“I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. . .”). (2) surrendering to the will of the Father (John 5:20: “. . . I seek not my own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me”). (3) “It is for us ultimately to decide as God shall teach us, but the voice may come to us through the voice of sanctified common sense. . .” (4) we must be much in prayer for guidance, James 1:5 (“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. . .” Meyer presented, in one short chapter, many ideas you can find in the ideas, and even the language of, A.A.’s Big Book on asking God for direction.
End of Program Fifteen:
This presentation focused on how the idea of looking to God for guidance came to A.A. founders from some Christian evangelist heavyweights. The next program will cover the work of two other evangelists of importance. One is the world-famous Billy Sunday. The other is an evangelist of Dr. Bob’s Akron days, Ethel Willitts. We will provide you with further information as to how the deeds of the evangelists—with their conversions, Bibles, prayer meetings, pleas to God for guidance, healings, revivals, and Gospel meetings—found their way into the ideas, principles, and practices of the “Old School” Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship.
I close by giving you pictures of two of my books which more fully detail the facts about the progression of the Christian roots of A.A. into the actual program of the “Old School” Akron A.A. Christian fellowship. The first is Good Morning! Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation, and Early A.A., Bridge Builders Edition, 1998 www.dickb.com/goodmorn.shtml, and Bob Holman, F.B. Meyer: “If I Had A Hundred Men” (Great Britain: Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2007).
Dickb@dickb.com
Bargain Price for Dick B. 29 Vol. Set Extended Through August 31, 2011
Tremendous Bargain!
July Special Extended—to August 31, 2011!
“Get the Set!”: Part 3
The Entire, 29-Volume,
“Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set”
Only USD $249.00!
Plus Shipping to the Continental United States Is FREE!**
The retail/list price of the 29 volumes purchased separately, with an average price of $23.19 per book:
$672.55
We are offering the entire, 29-volume, "Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set" for:
July Special—Extended through August 31, 2011!
Only $249.00—FREE Shipping!*
* Please note: Shipping is FREE for orders shipped within the continental United States. For Shipping charges to other areas, please contact Dick B. via email at DickB@DickB.com for details.*
Save more than $423.00*—and Shipping is FREE **
(* compared to purchasing each of the 29 volumes separately at retail list price)
(** FREE Shipping within the continental United States)
A lifetime treasure embodying Dick’s 21 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).
Here are the Tables of Contents from the third five titles in the “Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set,” listed in alphabetical order, to whet your appetite for investing in this amazing “Reference Set”:
Introduction to the Sources and Founding of Alcoholics Anonymous
Table of Contents
Ch. 1: Introduction to the Sources and Founding of Alcoholics Anonymous
Ch. 2: The Akron Genesis Period
Ch. 3: The New York Conversion Period
Ch. 4: The Original A.A. Program That Akron Developed
Ch. 5: The Works Publishing Company Program That Bill Wilson Fashioned
Ch. 6: The Reshaping of the Big Book Program [Just After the Big Book's Publishing in April 1939]
Ch. 7: Conclusion
Making Known the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous
A 16-Year Research, Writing, Publishing, and Fact-Dissemination Project
Table of Contents
Part 1: Historical Research Papers, Letters, Pictures, and Tapes
Part 2: Historical Books, Pamphlets, and Articles on Alcoholics Anonymous
Part 3: Spiritual History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymous
Part 4: Temperance, Anti Saloon League, Prohibition, Abstinence, Alcohol Books and Pamphlets of an Earlier Time
Part 5: Recent Books and Articles on Alcoholism, Addictions, and Dependency
Part 6: Details on Our Contributors and Their Collections
Part 7: Our Advisory Council Supporting Members
New Light on Alcoholism
God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.
(Second Edition)
Table of Contents
Part 1: Sam and A.A.'s Heart
Ch. 1: Sam Shoemaker “Co-founder” of Alcoholics Anonymous
Ch. 2: Sam Shoemaker's New Light
Ch. 3: Sam's Unmistakable Footprints in the Twelve Steps
Ch. 4: The Parallels between the Shoemaker Language and Alcoholics Anonymous Language
Part 2: Sam's Writings and Talks, and A.A.
Ch. 5: The Shoemaker Writings Prior to A.A.'s Big Book
Ch. 6: Sam's Remarks to and about A.A.
Part 3: The Shoemaker Relationship with A.A.
Ch. 7: Shoemaker's Relationship with Bill Wilson
Ch. 8: Sam, the Great Communicator, and His Letters
Ch. 9: Shoemaker and His Bible
Ch. 10: Shoemaker Ideas That “Took” in A.A.
Part 4: Sam's Legacies for Us Today
Ch. 11: The Pittsburgh Afterglow
Ch. 12: What Shoemaker's Contributions Can Mean for All of Us Today
Real Twelve Step Fellowship History
The Old School A.A. You May Not Know
Table of Contents
Ch. 1: Introduction
Ch. 2: The Original A.A. Program of Recovery
Ch. 3: The “Absolute Essentials” of the Good Book Program in Akron
Ch. 4: The Substantial Changes in A.A. From 1939 to 1955
Ch. 5: How Adding a History Element to Recovery Can Help the Newcomer Today
That Amazing Grace
The Role of Clarence and Grace S. in Alcoholics Anonymous
Table of Contents
Part 1: Getting Acquainted with Grace and Clarence
Ch. 1: My Introduction to Grace
Ch. 2: “Amazing” Grace—A Biographical Sketch
Ch. 3: Now about Clarence
Part 2: As Grace Recalls
Ch. 4: Clarence and A.A.'s Founding Years
Ch. 5: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible
Ch. 6: The Oxford Group Ideas and Influence
Ch. 7: The Big Book, Steps, and A.A. Fellowship
Part 3: The Ministry of Clarence and Grace
Ch. 8: Ambassadors for Christ in A.A.
Ch. 9: Grace Carries On
Ch. 10: The Point of It All
Buy for a Lifetime!
The Entire, 29-Volume,
“Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set”
Only USD $249.00!
Shipping to the Continental United States Included!**
Please go to www.DickB.com for more information about about how to invest in this amazing “July Special” offer. Or send Dick B. an email message at DickB@DickB.com. Or call Ken B. at (808) 276-4945.
Don't miss out on this tremendous bargain!
And if you are considering becoming a “Christian Recovery Resource Center or Person”: Note:
If you have been considering becoming a “Christian Recovery Resource Center or Person,” the entire, 29-volume “Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference Set”—a $672.55 value (at the total retail list price for the 29 volumes)—is currently being included in the new Participant package at no extra charge! Read more about “Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons”—a project of the International Christian Recovery Coalition—here:
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Panels of Speakers Announced for our Two North American Summit Conferences
Two North American Summit Conferences
Presented by
The International Christian Recovery Coalition
Summit Conference 1
Saturday, September 17, 2011
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Crossing Church
(949) 645-5050
Two Panels of Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena
Speaker Panel 1:
John Barton, Historian, Writer, Orange , New Jersey
Randy Moraitis, Executive Pastor of Ministry, The Crossing Church , Costa Mesa , California
Bobby Nicholl, Interventionist, Director, Celebrate a New Life at Hope by the Sea, San Juan
Danny Whitmore, A.A. Historian, former leader of Roots Revival Group, and of Clarence
Snyder Retreats in Southern California
Speaker Panel 2:
Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Oroville , California
Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., Professor of Chemical Dependency and Counseling, Director of Oasis
Center, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
Jeff McLeod, Executive Director, Overcomers Outreach, Inc., Whittier , California
Two North American Summit Conferences
Presented by
The International Christian Recovery Coalition
Summit Conference 2
Saturday, September 24, 2011
9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
2401 Shady Willow Lane , Brentwood , CA 94513
(925) 516-0653
(925) 516-0653
Featured Speaker: Don Hall , Don Hall Ministries, Colfax , California
Two Panels of Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena
Speaker Panel 1:
Jeff A. Holt, Men’s Recovery Fellowship, Auburn Church of the Nazarene, Auburn , California
Dale Marsh, Recovery Pastor, Oroville Church of the Nazarene, Oroville , California
Dominic D., Turning Point Recovery Ministry, Cornerstone Fellowship—Livermore
Campus, Livermore , California
Beach, California
Speaker Panel 2:
David Sadler, Christian recovery leader serving Golden Hills Community Church , Brentwood ,
Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling an Chemical Dependency, Director of Oasis
Center, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania
Danny Whitmore, A.A. Historian, Former Leader of A.A.Roots Revival Group, Leader, Snyder
Retreats in Southern California
Wayne White, Certified Substance Counselor, President and CEO, Footprints/Alcoholics
Victorious, Kansas City , Missouri
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
21 Dick B. Titles Now Listed in Hollis Classic Full Catalog at Harvard University
Thanks to a distinguished psychiatrist at Beth Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, a set of my 29 reference titles has been placed in the Harvard Library System. And now, thanks to him, 21 of my titles are listed in Hollis Classic Full Catalog at Harvard, with miscellaneous titles also listed in World Catalog under Harvard.
Dick B. "The James Club" is now available in ebook form - smashwords
The James Club and The Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials
Ebook By Dick BPublished By first.edition.design.ebook.publishing
Rating: Not yet rated.
Published: July 26, 2011
Category: Non-Fiction » Self-Improvement » Addiction and recovery
Category: Non-Fiction » Religion and Spirituality » Christianity
Words: 52121 (approximate)
Language: English
Ebook Short Description
Early Akron AAs wanted "The James Club" to be the name of their fellowship. The Bible's Book of James was their favorite; they also studied it, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. These three Bible segments were considered "absolutely essential" to their program. This book takes each verse in James, the Sermon, and 1 Cor 13, and shows the influence of such verses on A.A. language.Extended Description
For years, A.A. has quietly acknowledged, primarily through one publication, that the early A.A. pioneers in Akron believed firmly that the answer to all their problems was in the "Good Book," as they called the Bible. A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob said that all the basic ideas were taken from their study of the Good Book. And he added many many times that the three parts of the Bible the old timers considered "absolutely essential" to their spiritual program of recovery were: (1) The Book of James. (2) Jesus's Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). (3) 1 Corinthians 13, Paul's famous chapter on "love."You can find the foregoing remarks in A.A.'s DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, in pamphlets published by Akron AA, and in several talks given through the years by Dr. Bob himself. And it was even his co-founder friend Bill Wilson who spoke of the studies of James, the Sermon, and Corinthians; the reading of these passages by Dr. Bob's wife Anne to Bill and Bob; and the fact that--as Bill put it--"J... (Read more)
Tags
bible, sermon on the mount, aa history, 12 step program, big book, book of james, james clubAvailable Ebook reading formats:
Single purchase gains access to all formats. How to download ebooks to e-reading devices and apps.| Format | Full Book | Sample First 20% |
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| Kindle (.mobi for Kindle devices and Kindle apps) | Buy | Download sample |
| Epub (Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo, and most e-reading apps including Stanza, Aldiko, Adobe Digital Editions, others) | Buy | Download sample |
| PDF (good for reading on PC, or for home printing) | Buy | No sample available |
| RTF (readable on most word processors) | Buy | No sample available |
| LRF (Use only for older model Sony Readers that don't support .epub) | Buy | Download sample |
| Palm Doc (PDB) (for Palm reading devices) | Buy | Download sample |
| Plain Text (download) (flexible, but lacks much formatting) | Buy | No sample available |
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Dick B.'s Why Early AA Succeded is Now Available in ebook form
Why Early A.A. Succeeded - First Edition Design Ebook Publishing
Monday, July 25, 2011
Handling Militant Anti-Bible AAs in Today's Recovery Scene
Thank you, Marybeth. I have been continuously sober for more than 25 years. And I’ve heard it all. In fact, I “fired” both my naïve sponsor and his naïve sponsor because they consistently claimed that people who read the Bible get drunk, persistently objected to my bringing my sponsees to our Bible fellowship, and surreptitiously did everything they could to prevent my bringing the author of Pass It On, and Dr. Bob’s son, and an Oxford Group person to speak before a huge and warm audience of some 800 AAs.
These people don’t have a clue about A.A. history. They don’t read or quote A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature like DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers and Pamphlet P-53 that make it crystal clear that the basic ideas for the Steps came from the Bible and that the early AAs not only studied the Bible, but paid particular attention to the Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. The pioneers, including Bill, Dr. Bob, and A.A. Number Three read all kinds of Christian literature. They used daily Christian devotionals like the Upper Room, the Runner’s Bible, and so on. And there is lots more. In fact, Akron AAs boldly called themselves a “Christian Fellowship.” A.A. is no longer a Christian fellowship, but it most certainly has tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of practicing Christians who love God, His Son, and the truth in the Bible. That’s a major reason why I wrote “The Good Book and The Big Book.” And there are many more of like nature.
Today, I wonder why you need a sponsor at all. And if I had one that talked like yours, I would get rid of her in a minute, thank her for what she’s done, and tell her you stand on A.A. Conference-approved literature and your right to do exactly what the early AAs did—believe what you wish, worship where you wish, study what wish, talk as you wish, and help others to do the same.
These people are not police. They do not govern. The Traditions (though not binding) make it clear that they are just “servants.” And the Traditions also make clear that we are not to trench on the next person’s religious beliefs. In fact, the Big Book plainly talks about “helpful books.” It suggests finding them with the aid of one’s rabbi, minister, or priest. It says: “Be quick to see where religious people are right. Make use of what they have to offer.” Many of these frustrated egotists seem to believe they are soldiers in some kind of army and that they are the First Sergeants who have been called to enforce Army Regulations. Yet there are none!
Now for the solution:
- If you are not already a participant in our International Christian Recovery Coalition, you would bless us by being listed – at no cost to you. And, you need only read our mission statement on
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com and, if you approve, provide me with a listing like “Marybeth Behringer , Recovered believer, street address, city, state, and zip”
- Among the many participants in the Coalition, you can find the names and locations of a large number of Christian men and women who have long-term sobriety, do not desire to leave A.A., and do
wish to enable others to learn the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played and can play in recovery for those who want God’s help. In fact our history is filled with documentation
that such behavior has long been a part of the A.A. Society.
- If at all possible, consider attending one of our two
straight jacket they tried to put you in, but chose to rely on our Heavenly Father for guidance, strength, forgiveness, healing, and deliverance.
Please feel free to phone Ken or me at any time to bolster your confidence and wonderful objective and service. The days of A.A. will be limited by just how much close-mindedness these idolatrous, autocratic, bleeding deacons sound off and drive others out of A.A. or into Christian groups like Celebrate recovery, or to a life without the power and love of God.
That is not what our founders did or sought.
I wish you the very best with your study group. And I particularly admire the caution you have taken to avoid offending the out-of-line A.A. trouble makers.
Our mottoe is “Christians in the recovery arena are not alone.”
God bless,
Dick B.
Author, 42 titles & over 500 articles on A.A. History
Exec. Dir., International Christian Recovery Coalition
(808) 874-4876
Ps 118:17 (NJB):
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great deeds of Yahweh.
From: Marybeth Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 3:51 PM
To: Dick B.
Cc: Ken Burns
Subject: Need your feedback
To: Dick B.
Cc: Ken Burns
Subject: Need your feedback
Hi Dick/Ken,
I'm the person who just ordered 10 copies of your book, "The Big Book and The Good Book".
So, that's a direct quote from her. I have tried to explain that the purpose of the group is to study how the Steps and Scripture are interwoven....to "improve our conscious contact" with our God....and now we're about to embark on your book.
I don't know how many years you've been sober Dick, but probably long enough to understand some of these attitudes. It was never my intent to harm AA or violate Traditions, only to learn more about God, this marvelous Fellowship of AA, our history, the relationship between Steps and Scripture.
If I'm wrong in any of my motives or endeavors, please provide your honest and open feedback. I welcome it. Then again, if you'd rather not do that, no problem, I respect that. I think the study group is really an "outside issue" - yes, we're borrowing the 12 Steps from AA, but I believe this study group does not conflict at all with AA's primary purpose, to stay sober and to help the suffering Alcoholic. Most of the members of the study group are AA members.
Need your feedback on this situation: 2 years ago I started a study group called "The Step and Scripture" meeting. We made sure we did NOT classify it as an AA meeting. Our preamble states clearly that it is NOT an AA meeting and it's purpose is to grow in spirituality by studying the 12 Steps of AA in conjunction with the Scriptures.
We first used the book, "The 12 Steps for Christians"....and now are about finished with "The Life Recovery Bible Workbook".....and next is your book which we are all looking forward to. Our meeting is NOT listed in the AA schedule of meetings..people came by word of mouth, and it is a small group.
I have received some major criticism from my sponsor (past tense) who says "I'm in violation
Thank you for your interest and help if you or Ken are in a position to provide some insights and direction, and perhaps better explanation for those who sit in judgement.
God Bless you both.
"Why Early A.A. Succeeded" (a Bible study primer) now in electronic form
Now available through print-on-demand and ebook. Order through Amazon.com
This book is by Dick B., and is often used by study groups and others who want to study the Bible and achieve the same results that early AAs did
This book is by Dick B., and is often used by study groups and others who want to study the Bible and achieve the same results that early AAs did
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