Probably the two most up-to-date accounts of Alcoholics Anonymous Founders - plural - not "founder" are these Alcoholics Anonymous History books by Dick B. and Ken B.:
Alcoholics Anonymous Founder: Dr. Robert Holbrook Smith, affectionately called "Dr. Bob." The book is Dick B. and Ken B., Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good Book as a Youngster in Vermont. See www.dickb.com/drbobofaa.shtml. If you want a great book to circulate among your friends at this year end, that's the book for you. It introduces the entire history of early A.A.'s Roots in the Green Mountain State. It covers the Town of St. Johnsbury, The Great Awakening of 1875 in St. Johnsbury, Dr. Bob's family and church and Academy years. And most students of recovery will be astonished at the details about the role of the YMCA brethren and their revival and conversion meetings. At information about the great evangelists--Dwight L. Moody, Ira D. Sankey, F. B. Meyer, Henry Moorhouse, Allen Folger, and later Billy Sunday. At information about the important and simple program of the Salvation Army publicized in Twice-Born Men by Harold Begbie. At the information about the rescue missions made famous by the conversion work of Jerry McAuley and S.H. Hadley - and later by the decisions for Jesus Christ by Bill Wilson and his sponsor Ebby Thacher at Calvary Rescue Mission in New York. And then at the enormous parallels between the program of the Young People's Christian Endeavor Society and the original Akron program. There's more about Dr. Bob in http://drbob.info, www.dickb.com/drbob, and www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml.
So get schooled in Old School A.A. by learning about its roots with Dr. Bob.
Alcoholics Anonymous Founder: William Griffith Wilson, known as Bill W.. The book is Dick B., The Conversion of Bill W.: More on the Creator's Role in Early A.A. See www.dickb.com/conversion.shtml. If you want the other great book to circulate among your friends as the year closes, then this second book is also for you. It tells you facts you've never heard. Facts that show how early AAs really got well. It tells about the contributions of William James, Carl Jung, William D. Silkworth, Rowland Hazard, Ebby Thacher, Calvary Rescue Mission, Bill's decision at the altar, Bill's blazing white light experience in Towns Hospital, his early witnessing with a Bible under his arm, his marching with Rev. Sam Shoemaker in a processional to Madison Square where the participants carried the sign "Jesus Christ changes lives." It tells you why conversion to God through Jesus Christ became an essential part of the early A.A. program. There's more about Bill and the early factors in www.dickb.com/newlight.shtml, www.dickb/realhistory.shtml, and www.dickb.com/Oxford.shtml.
Two books that will tell you documented, complete, accurate facts about the real roots of Alcohlics Anonymous and the Christian Recovery Movment--facts you've undoubtedly never heard in or out of A.A. until the last two years when Dick and Ken published these two books.
dickb@dickb.com.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Blockbuster book, The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous, now an eBook
As the expansion of Dick B.'s Alcoholics Anonymous History titles moves forward, it's a pleasure to announce that his important title about early A.A.'s founding in Akron has just become available in electronic form. For a picture of the cover and a full description of the book itself, see www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml.
Non-Christian Community Outreach - Dale Marsh
“An excellent new article by one of our International
Christian Recovery Coalition speakers who is out in the field harvesting
and articulating a valuable approach to all who need
help from
Christian leaders and workers.” Dick B.
11/10/11
Global Evangelism
ORT-2013
Project Proposal
Non-Christian Recovery Community Outreach
The purpose of the paper is to suggest ways to reach people in the
recovery community with the Gospel. This is sometimes done in a hostile environment.
However, it is also a great opportunity to meet people at a point of brokenness
in their lives, in a time when they are receptive.
There are a wide variety of recovery groups that use the 12 Step (see
attachment A) program of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), originally developed by
Bill Wilson, Dr Robert Smith and others between 1935 and 1939. Due to the
success of the 12 Step methods it has become the standard for self help in
recovery from addictions of all kinds. Although the 12 Steps are biblically
based, in many ways the programs today do not reflect the original intent or
methods of the groups begun in Akron and Cleveland Ohio
One of the first off shoots of AA was Narcotics Anonymous (NA). NA was
begun due to a tendency in AA to not understand the needs of those addicted to
narcotics and other drugs. As our culture has changed, most people entering AA
today are dually addicted. Other off shoots from the original program include;
Gamblers Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, Heroin Anonymous, Overeaters Anonymous
and others. With the addition of these variations in the program came more
changes to the original intent of AA’s founders.
Many other changes have occurred in the
treatment of addictions since those early days. Treatment facilities have
practically become an industry. The options include palatial mansions with
doctors and therapists on staff for celebrities and other wealthy people, to
programs designed for the poor and those coming out of prison. Fees range from free to five and even fifty
thousand dollars a month. The method of delivery of treatment options is as varied
as the price ranges available. These include intensive inpatient treatment,
sober living environments, and out patient services. Although I cannot go into
in depth descriptions of each method in this paper, most of these methods are
12 Step friendly. Although some facilities are not 12 Step friendly, they tend
to use the same principles without actually using the 12 Step of AA. The
principles that have the most effective results, although many in recovery have
no understanding of this, are biblical.
Let’s take a moment to look at the original AA program as developed in Akron Ohio
The
Actual, Seven-Point, Original Akron
Summarized by Frank
Amos for Rockefeller
·
An alcoholic must realize that he is an
alcoholic, incurable from a medical viewpoint, and that he must never drink
anything with alcohol in it.
·
He must surrender himself absolutely to God,
realizing that in himself there is no hope.
·
Not only must he want to stop drinking
permanently, he must remove from his life other sins such as hatred, adultery,
and others which frequently accompany alcoholism. Unless he will do this
absolutely, Smith and his associates refuse to work with him.
·
He must have devotions every morning–a “quiet
time” of prayer and some reading from the Bible and other religious literature.
Unless this is faithfully followed, there is grave danger of backsliding.
·
He must be willing to help other alcoholics get
straightened out. This throws up a protective barrier and strengthens his own
willpower and convictions.
·
It is important, but not vital, that he meet
frequently with other reformed alcoholics and form both a social and a
religious comradeship.
·
Important, but not vital, that he attend some
religious service at least once weekly.
(DR. Bob and the Good
Oldtimers, p 131).
It is important for those of us in
the Christian Recovery movement to understand this history if we are to be
prepared to witness within the non Christian recovery setting.
Recovery Community Culture
The message about God has been distorted since those early days of the
12 Step movements. This can be distressing to the Christian in recovery, or it
can be seen as an opportunity. The
simple fact is that AA has changed no more then our American culture has changed
over the last seventy-six years.
These changes can be seen throughout our society and AA as well. There
has developed a clearly visible drug and alcohol culture which has also shaped
the culture in the rooms of AA and NA. With the advent of New Age thinking, we
can see this influence in the recovery movement as well.
Some people in the recovery community have had bad experiences with the
church. Others have been misled by pop culture and other influences to believe
many untrue ideas about the church. Some have legitimate concerns due to highly
publicized failures in the church. Others are just angry at God for the way
their lives have turned out. Still others want to be sober but do not want to
give up other sins they like, sins which are forbidden in the Bible. There are
a myriad of reasons why Christians can find a hostile environment in a non
Christian recovery meeting. Sometimes Christians have literally been shouted
down for expressing there views on spiritual matters.
Other cultural issues in modern recovery include
things that Christians find distressing such as, foul language, anti-Christian
bigotry, sexually suggestive behavior, lewd joking, 13th Stepping
(entering romantic relationships), and odd conceptions of “a” god. AA
misconceptions of God include: the group, a light bulb, a door knob, and many
others. This is an out growth of the phrase “God as we understood Him” in Step3
and Step11. “God as we understood Him” came from an Oxford Group saying, “Give
as much of yourself as you understand to as much of God as you understand.” This is just another thing that has been
distorted from the original meaning. With this knowledge the Christian can
point out the true intent of “God as we understood Him.”
These things are considered perfectly
normal to many in recovery. However it can be very confusing to the new comer
and frustrating to the Christian. These
issues and more have left a vacuum and an opportunity into which Christians
stepped with the advent of the Christian Recovery Movement.
Since the origins of the twelve step
programs were Christian in nature, it is easy to make connections between the
programs and the teachings in the Bible. With a little knowledge of these
historical origins, Christians in recovery can have a great impact on the lives
of fellow recovering persons on the journey to wellness. The question is: How
do we go about outreach to the recovery community? Do we attempt to mold
recovery to the church culture or do we come along side in the rooms of AA and
NA and work within that culture? I believe the answer to these questions is “Both!”
Christian Responses to Twelve Step Recovery
There are many responses by
Christians to Twelve Step Recovery. They are as varied as the denominational
differences we see throughout Christendom today. Some are very wrong, and some
are just differences in the approach each Christian community takes in the
ministry to which God has called them. Some take a mold recovery to the church
culture approach, and others come along side the existing recovery program and
work within the recovery culture. Some methods are a blending of both.
I will not spend much time on the
Christian approach which is totally against twelve step recovery programs. In this approach you will hear things like the
twelve steps are against God, God is not present at AA and NA, or AA and NA are
a cult. This approach drives AA and NA folks away from Christ and encourages
Christians who have had their feelings hurt at AA or NA to be completely
negative and legalistic about the two programs. In my opinion this destroys a testimony
that could have been leading people from AA and NA to the Lord.
Taking a more middle ground on this are ministries that tend to get AA’s
and NA’s to conform to church culture. I find that these ministries can be
quite successful and that this is not a huge detriment to helping folks in
recovery find Christ. Since there are many options, the net result is often
positive.
Here are some of the things I think can hold us back in Christian
recovery ministries. Referring to AA and
NA as secular. First of all in the strict definition of the word, secular
refers to anything devoid of reference to god or spirituality. For many Christians,
the word secular simply means non Christian. This tends to be a general
understanding in the church. However those outside the church such as AA’s and
NA’s do not have this understanding and can find it demeaning and insulting.
Another controversial issue is How AA’s or NA’s introduce themselves
prior to sharing at a meeting. Hi I’m __________ I’m an alcoholic (or addict).
I understand the theological reasoning behind the Christian dismissal of this
introduction. I do believe we are new creations is Christ. But I am also
reminded of Paul ’s statement in 1
Corinthians 9:19-23. Although this is not necessarily always controversial, strict
enforcement of how people introduce themselves can make AA’s and NA’s feel
unwelcome.
The last one I often hear is this “You
can’t get sober without Christ.” Personally I know many people who have
done just that, people with many years of sobriety who don’t know Christ as
their personal savior. As a matter of fact these folks tend to be one of my top
priorities as I witness in the recovery community. It is true that one will not
have a life as joyous and free as he or she could without Christ; and, of
course, in the end, not knowing Christ is disastrous. But to say that you can’t
get sober with out Christ simply is not true. There are not many things more
exciting to me then leading a brother in sobriety with many years of clean time
to the Lord. All of a sudden ten or more people will have a Christian sponsor.
What a blessed impact this has on the lives of people in the recovery
community. When we say “You can’t get sober without Christ,” we look either
ignorant or dishonest to those in AA or NA. This again hurts our testimony in
the recovery community.
Working within
the Culture
1Corinthians
9:19 -23 19
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to
win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win
the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I
myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21
To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am
not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not
having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I
have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save
some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel that I may share
in its blessings.
“In Paul ’s cultural flexibility he never compromised the
absolutes of the gospel message. Some scholars have felt that there is a
disparity between Paul ’s principles
and his practices as recorded in Acts. However, it was only in cultural matters
that he was flexible to avoid offense to the gospel and totally consistent with
his principles as stated above.” (What in the world is God Doing p.276).
The basic principles of AA are governed by the 12 Traditions (see
attachment B). These principles tend to be followed to greater and lesser
degrees at any given meeting. The idea of the Traditions is to regulate to some
degree the method and management of the meeting environment. These loose
regulations leave much room for interpretation and confusion. The Traditions do
make it clear that all are welcome no matter what they believe, or what religious
background they come from, including none.
This is attractive to many seeking help. If we are to operate within the
Traditions, which is conforming to the culture, it becomes inappropriate to be
preaching Jesus constantly in the AA or NA setting.
Using a good working knowledge
of the history of the Christian foundations in the early recovery movement and
following Paul ’s example we have an
excellent opportunity as Christians to have an effective witness. As one of my
early Christian mentors in AA still reminds me, “AA is the best fishing hole in
town!”
The following list of AA slogans and
sayings came directly from the bible or were heavily influenced by the bible.
As we witness within the confines of the Twelve Traditions these slogans and
sayings can be leveraged into conversations about Christ.
Just for Today / One Day at a Time ------------ Matthew 6:34
First Things First ---------------------------------- Matthew 6:33
Faith with out works is dead. -------------------- James1:20
We were reborn. ----------------------------------- John 3:3
Thy will be done. ---------------------------------
Matt 6:5-13
The Lords Prayer ---------------------------------- Matt 6:5-13
Not only do we have these and many other
sayings inspired by the Bible, we also have the founders’ own accounts of how
AA began--such as the following quote from Dr Bob. “But we were convinced the
answer to our problem was in the Good Book. To some of us older ones, the parts
we found absolutely essential were the Sermon on the Mount, the thirteenth
chapter of 1 Corinthians and the book of James.” (The Cofounders of Alcoholics Anonymous / Biographical Sketches / Their
Last Major Talks / Pamphlet P-53 p13).
Also, in the same
publication, we find: “I didn’t write the twelve steps. I had nothing to do
with the writing of them. But I think I probably had something to do with them
indirectly. After my June 10th episode, Bill came to live at our
house and stayed for about three months. There was hardly a night that we
didn’t sit up until two or three
o’clock , talking. It would be hard for me to conceive that, during
these nightly discussions around our kitchen table, nothing was said that
influenced the writing of the Twelve Steps. We already had the basic ideas,
though not in terse and tangible form. We got them, as I said from out study of
the Good Book.” (The Cofounders of
Alcoholics Anonymous / Biographical Sketches / Their Last Major Talks /
Pamphlet P-53 p14).
The list of AA slogans, and the two quotes
from Dr Bob, are just a small sampling of the biblical influence on the Program
of Alcoholics Anonymous. There are many more to be found throughout AA
literature. Another excellent source of information about AA’s biblical history
is books by AA historian Dick B in his over forty publications about AA
history.
The Practical Application
Now let’s consider the practical
applications of this knowledge. First of all let’s discuss Christ Centered
Recovery. At Serenity Group we constantly use the knowledge of our AA roots to
connect people to Christ. We teach AA history classes at least twice each year,
and I use AA history throughout the opening devotionals each week. In our small
groups we instill the value of the recovery movement and use of the Bible throughout
the discussion. Our Serenity Bible is an excellent way to help those interested
in Jesus to see how their recovery fits with the Bible and God’s church. Many
have come to know Christ and become able to relate their relationship with Him
to their healing in the recovery process. Recovery is so much more fulfilling
with Jesus, the true higher power personally involved in our lives.
One of the other values that helps us be
more effective is our desire to instill the feeling of being “ok” to be at a Christ Center
An often heard criticism of AA and NA is
that it is all a bunch of whining. Let’s face it; people are dealing with very
difficult issues if they have entered a recovery program. There will be much
discussion of some depressing circumstances in people’s lives. We counter this
with a time of praises during the opening devotionals before we break into
small groups. This is sometimes the most inspiring part of the evening. Here is
a little example of what I am talking about. One evening there were two lady
newcomers. Of course, there are always new comers at the meeting. During the
praises, they got up and walked out. One of them was clearly quite upset. Once
we were breaking for small groups, they came back in and emphatically demanded
to speak to me. I was a little nervous as I thought we had offended them. I was
surprised by her question that followed.
The lady asked, “Is this real? Are these people really this happy?” At this point, a sense of relief came to me
as I could see the Holy Spirit was working on them. As one of our small groups
leaders passed by, I asked her to share a bit of her testimony. I am a strong
believer in ladies sharing with ladies. I stepped back for a few minutes and
let them interact. Shortly our ladies group leader was praying with her. As the
prayer came to a conclusion I asked the newcomer if she would like to accept
the Lord. She answered “Yes.” We prayed again. If we can help folks to relax
and understand that we are not at odds with others in the recovery community,
folks seem to be more receptive.
One other thing we insist on is taking
announcements for any and all recovery events in Oroville. Although AA and NA
will not announce Serenity events, we take that in stride and just love on
them. The next thing you know people are telling everyone what we’re doing out
of a sense of fairness. A supreme value is that we love God and love others
especially in the Recovery Community of Oroville.
Next let’s consider participation in AA
and NA meetings. One thing we always do is respect the rules (The Twelve Traditions).
Even though in my heart I want to stand and shout about Jesus from the roof
tops, this would only destroy my ability to reach those I am trying to reach.
It is quite easy to intertwine scriptural principles with the program. It is
also easy to use quotes from AA approved literature which proclaim Christ. As
long as it’s AA approved, there is not a problem. Although some don’t like it
when I do this, I am acting within the spirit of the 12 Traditions.
There are other little things we can do as
Christians to reach our brothers and sisters in recovery. I like to say things
like “I finally decided to just go with the same higher power at Dr Bob and
Bill Wilson”. That one always gets someone asking questions after the meeting.
Likewise I can say something like “I always like to use the same book that Dr
Bob always read when he did his 11th step work”. You might have
guessed, that book is the Bible. It is not hard to be a bit creative and loving
to make great strides for the kingdom.
I will never forget one of the finest
compliments I ever got at an AA meeting. This grumpy old time AA guy who was as
tough as nails came up to me and stuck his finger in my chest. I didn’t know
what was coming next. He looks me in the eye and says “Hey, you’re the guy who
leads the Christian meeting that respects us.” Only a short time later he
became very ill. Before he passed, one of our Serenity guys lead him to the
Lord in the hospital. I am so glad that I get to see him again on the other
side of eternity. He was a member of AA for over twenty years before he
accepted Christ.
Vision for the Future
When our people know our recovery history,
it gives them a sense of empowerment to operate within the meetings throughout
the community. In the past many Christians abandoned AA and NA because of the
treatment they received for their opinions about the Bible and Jesus Christ.
Our goal is to teach them to couch their discussion of Christ and the Bible in
the historical context, and to do so with humility. When we do this, things
change.
It is our desire that everyone in the
recovery community of Oroville gets the chance to hear about Jesus. We want
them to know that in truth He is the author of the recovery movement. We want
our lives to represent Him to them. My friend and Mentor Brother Al who likes
to call AA the best fishing hole in town also likes to tell me that Christians
cannot give up on AA. He reminds me that
we may be the only Jesus that many in recovery may ever see.
The results are impressive. At Serenity we
are usually around 150 in attendance on a regular night. On our dinner /
speaker night we usually run over 250.
We draw from at most a population of about 27,000. It has been estimated
that Nation wide statistics claim that about ten percent of the population is
in active addiction. If half of them are seeking recovery, which I doubt, that
means we are reaching over ten percent of our local recovery community on a
regular night and over twenty percent on our dinner / speaker night. The other
impressive result is that at any given AA meeting. half of the folks in the
room will be Christians. Only a few years ago almost no one in the room was
Christian. Without our trying to change the culture of AA, the culture changes
when half the people there are Christians.
We love to use this little motto from St
Francis of Assisi
“Preach
the gospel everywhere you go, if necessary, use words.”
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Alcoholics Anonymous History Study Groups of Chaplain Grubb
Good morning dick... wanted to copy you on
this email.. something I've been sending out locally - your feedback and
critique are always welcome !!
By The Power of God
A Guide to Early AA Groups & Forming
Similar Groups Today
Author: Dick B.
Everybody has a right to be wrong in their opinions,
but nobody has a right to be wrong in their FACTS; Get the facts on recovery
from the founders and authentic historical documentation...
Hello Family;
I want to introduce you to a publication that is being read in
and around AA as a vital part of understanding the success that the pioneers of
AA had in the program. And it is also a source of vital statistical information
pertaining to the "Faith of the Founders" and the "God
of their understanding".
I have been asking myself why most of the people I meet in our
family and fellowship are reluctant to look back into the factual history of the
program that many say has saved their lives ? What is it about the talk of God,
or more particularly Jesus, that has so many people troubled to the point they
won't even mention God or Jesus in a meeting ?
I have shared this book with a number of old timers and a few
new comers who have raved about the authenticity, and accuracy of the
information contained in it... and the clarity with which this information has
been presented!
I want to get back to the successes they had early on, by
opening the discussion and witness among those members of this fellowship who
have had the very same experiences as the founders; and have been relieved of
the compulsion that is part of the phenomena of craving; and have done so by the
Grace of God as a result of sincere and fervent prayer!
You can log on to the site at www.dickb.com and begin to read and examine the
materials, or you can contact me and let me know if you would like a copy of
this book for yourself...
I'm looking for 10 to 20 people who profess Jesus and the God
of the Bible as their higher power and would like to participate in a good old
fashioned "Good Book & Big Book Meeting" just as the
founders did in Akron !
I'm open to your thoughts so contact me and let me know if
you'd be interested in being a founding member of an AA meeting group that is
committed to bearing witness to the truth and history of the program!
I'm grateful for the fellowship, but disappointed by the
lack of knowledge that is conveyed by it's membership with respect to the Power
of God and Jesus Christ as it was acknowledged and presented by the
founders
Let me hear from you !
SOB Date 12/28/1984
Leonard Grubb
Phone 440-354-5922
Cell 216-496-0406
email:
leonardgrubb1@aol.com
Sovereign Confidentiality Notice:
This private email message, including any attachment(s) is limited to the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain Privileged and/or Confidential Information. Any and ALL Political, Private or Public Entities, Federal, State, or Local Corporate Government(s), agent(s), investigator(s), or informant(s), et.al., and/or Third Party(ies) working in collusion by collecting and/or monitoring MY email(s), and any other means of spying and collecting these communications Without my Exclusive Permission are Barred from Any and All Unauthorized Review, Use, Disclosure or Distribution.
With Explicit Reservation of ALL My Rights, Without Prejudice and Without Recourse to Me.
Any omission does not constitute a waiver of any and/or All Intellectual Property Rights or Reserved Rights.
NOTICE TO PRINCIPAL IS NOTICE TO AGENT,
NOTICE TO AGENT IS NOTICE TO PRINCIPAL
Monday, November 28, 2011
Chaplain Leonard Grubb, Coalition Participant, Launches New A.A. History and Recoveery Site
From: LeonardGrubb1@aol.com
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 10:03 AM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: HI Dick.. just got your email on the new web presence...
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 10:03 AM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: HI Dick.. just got your email on the new web presence...
I
guess I should be keeping you informed....
Check
this out...
It is my intention to
feature your writing and information as my authoritative source
On much of the content
that we will be producing ...
JUST Launched !!
I am an Internet
marketer remember ??
Leonard Grubb
Phone 440-354-5922
Cell 216-496-0406
email:
leonardgrubb1@aol.com
Join my mailing list; Grubb & Associates : Mailing List Signup
Sovereign Confidentiality Notice:
This private email message, including any attachment(s) is limited to the sole use of the intended recipient and may contain Privileged and/or Confidential Information. Any and ALL Political, Private or Public Entities, Federal, State, or Local Corporate Government(s), agent(s), investigator(s), or informant(s), et.al., and/or Third Party(ies) working in collusion by collecting and/or monitoring MY email(s), and any other means of spying and collecting these communications Without my Exclusive Permission are Barred from Any and All Unauthorized Review, Use, Disclosure or Distribution.
With Explicit Reservation of ALL My Rights, Without Prejudice and Without Recourse to Me.
Any omission does not constitute a waiver of any and/or All Intellectual Property Rights or Reserved Rights.
NOTICE TO PRINCIPAL IS NOTICE TO AGENT,
NOTICE TO AGENT IS NOTICE TO PRINCIPAL
Saturday, November 26, 2011
A Dialogue with an AA Who Likes A.A. History, But Fears Christian Viewpoints in A.A.
A Dialogue with an AA Who Likes A.A. History, But Fears
Christian Viewpoints in A.A.
Dick B.
Dear Paul P.
Thank you for writing. A.A. is not a Christian Fellowship
today. It
cannot be a Christian Fellowship today. And it will not
be a Christian
Fellowship in the future. In fact, I cannot think of a
quasi religious
program that is more diverse and varied than A.A. You
might consider the
difference between Bill's "broad highway" and
Dr. Bob's Twelfth-stepping
Christian techniques in Akron
(1) A focus on helping the newcomer who still suffers. (2)
Love and service
as the essence of the Steps, and (3) love and tolerance
as a code for members. There is plenty of room for Christians in A.A. today.
And there is more than enough room for those who are in therapy,
hospitals, detox, rehabs, recovery, in treatment, in churches, in synagogues,
in Ashrams, in Indian Sweat tents, in Buddhist shrines, and humanist
organizations to help others recover from alcoholism by learning what A.A. was,
is, and should continue to be.
Former General Manager, Chairman of the Trustees, and
"senior advisor" Bob P. hit the nail on the head when, on his
retirement, he said his biggest concern is the rigidity the fellowship has
developed--trying to control others, telling them what they can do and read,
and barring them from writing about what they believe. Thanks for expressing
your view and interest in our history. It is this latter point in your message
that propels me to take the time to answer your courteous letter.
Should you wish to support and further the historical quest,
let me know.
Dick B.
Author, 42 titles & over 700 articles on A.A.
History and the Christian Recovery Movement
Exec. Dir., International Christian Recovery Coalition
Christian Recovery Resource Centers - Worldwide
www.DickB.com
DickB@DickB.com
(808) 874-4876
Ps 118:17 (NJB):
I shall not die, I shall live to recount the great
deeds of Yahweh.
Facebook: DickBmauihistorian
Twitter
Blog
YouTube
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul P
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 1:22 PM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: Your AA history blog
From: Paul P
Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2011 1:22 PM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: Your AA history blog
I have read some
of your blogs with interest. You are certainly
correct the history is not discussed anymore, at least
not within the
meetings I attended. My recent attempt to bring some
history to my home
group has been met with apathy and poor attendance during
our book
studies of Pass It On, Dr Bob and the Good Old Timers,
and AA comes of age.
I am a little, and i think this is the only word I can
use, disturbed by
what appears to be an attempt, desire or wish on your
part to make AA a
christian organization once more.
Many of us have sought out groups that are specifically
not within a
church or religious setting as we do not believe in the
idea of Jesus
been our savior.
The program works because of a God of OUR understanding.
Not mine not
yours nor the particular group chairman's but yet as an
all inclusive
God that we can all believe in.
I look forward to reading more of your blog and my own
personal history
search into the roots of AA.
Paul P
Alcoholics Anonymous History: Accurate, Complete, Unrestricted Contriibutions
health.groups.yahoo.com
dickbaahistory: Dick B., Accurate A.A. History
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A.A. Holiday Studies, James, Jesus' Sermon, 1 Cor 13
Alcoholics Anonymous History
Alcoholics Anonymous History:
Alcoholics Anonymous History -- the origins, the roots, and the early tools can be your special, simple, inexpensive way of reading, studying, learning, and applying three of the early A.A. Christian Fellowship program's absolute essentials--as Dr. Bob called them. The three, in the order of your holiday study of A.A, can be (1) The Book of James in the Bible. (2) Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in the Bible, and (3) 1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible--the so-called chapter on love.
Studying Each Chapter in the Bible along with A.A. Literature - one portion at a time
Your study can be easy. You can take one Bible chapter at a time. You can use one of Dick B.'s commentaries on the segment and the chapter. And you can have the Big Book and Steps at your side.
Asking Guidance from God, and Learning A.A.'s Roots in the Bible
The starting place, of course, is seeking God's guidance as to what He wants you to read, absorb, and apply from the particular chapter of what Dr. Bob called "the Good Book." See: Dick B., The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible. www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml. You can order it online..
Alcoholics Anonymous and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount
Bill W. and Dr. Bob—both cofounders of Alcoholics Anonymous—each said that Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7) contained the underlying spiritual philosophy of Alcoholics Anonymous. And there is much much more to the link than that.
Relevant Items to Look for:
These three chapters of the Gospel of Matthew (5, 6, and 7) form the foundation for many specific expressions and also many of the words in the A.A. Big Book and program. One can start with “Thy will be” done which is found in the Big Book and Matthew 6:10 where Jesus used those words in what some call the “Lord’s Prayer. And in the beginning of A.A. and for many years thereafter, the Lord’s Prayer closed each meeting of the fellowship.
Sermon ideas can be found in Jesus’ Sermon as well as Big Book-Step ideas such as the Third Step “decision,” the Fourth Step Inventory where one is called on to look for his part or wrong in a resentment or harm situation. Also in Steps 8 and 9 where one is called on to agree with his adversary and to settle up any wrongs (make amends) before he goes to the altar to worship. Step 10, of course, is a repeat of many of the ideas in 3, 4, 5, 8, and 9. Dr. Bob’s frequently used “Heavenly Father” language comes from this and other Gospel segments. “Practicing the principles” in Step 12 originally encompassed obeying the Ten Commandments (of which Jesus spoke when he talked of loving God and your neighbor), the Beatitudes which Dr. Bob’s wife called “Christ-like virtues to be cultivated,” and the so-called “Golden Rule” embodied in so many of the suggestions for kind, loving, patient, and forgiving nature.
Holiday Study Groups incorporating Jesus’ Sermon
Since we first featured this piece of history, many AAs, Christian and otherwise, have formed Big Book/Bible Study groups. Some called "James Clubs."
Your Specific A.A. Guide: The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials:
Use this all-important guide by Dick B., The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials. www.dickb.com/JamesClub.shtml. This guide book covers each of the three “essential” Bible segments considered absolutely essential. And therefore it is a great guide to A.A. and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. You can order this online.
You'll find a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, comparison of portions of Matthew 5, 6, and 7 (the entire sermon) with significant Big Book and other A.A. literature.
Three Suggested Study Tools:
Again, your study tools: The Book of James, The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials, and The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible. All available to you on line.
dickb@dickb.com, 808 874 4876.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
God is not a "chair." Not in A.A. Not anywhere!
God is not
a “chair.” Not in A.A. Not anywhere!
Dear Dave:
Thanks so much for your important points and letter.
Yes. There
certainly is an organization that is seeking to do something
about the
drift away from God. The organization is International Christian
Recovery
Coalition. And participating free in the Coalition is the first step to helping
still further. I am having
my son Ken
forward that information to you right away.
Please look
at the mission statement on www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
If this is
acceptable, please---at no cost to you---send me your listing which
can read
something like this:
“David C. Eanes, Recovered Christian
believer, mail address, city, state, zip, phone, dceanes@gmail.com”
You should
know that the Coalition is a growing world-wide fellowship of Christian
participants who are
“Bible
Friendly, A.A. Friendly, History Friendly, and Recovery Friendly.”
Growing in
participants every day. You can see the names on the website www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.
There is a
strong movement of Christians IN A.A., 12 Step Fellowships, and treatment work
who disdain the idolatry,
appreciate
and serve in A.A. or recovery area, and who believe the early A.A. Christian
Fellowship program and ideas
can be
applied IN A.A. today. We have just completed almost 30 meetings in California , Maui , and
the
Adversary is---as he always is---lurking in the fellowship to blind people to
the power of God. 1 Peter 5:8!
Thanks
again for calling, and don’t hesitate to phone.
Dick B.
Author, 42 titles & over 650 articles on A.A.
History and the Christian Recovery Movement
(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.
Facebook:
DickBmauihistorian
From: Dave
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:31 AM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: An Early A.A. Suggestion: May You Find God Now!
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2011 11:31 AM
To: dickb@dickb.com
Subject: An Early A.A. Suggestion: May You Find God Now!
Hi Dick,
I just read your “An Early A.A. Suggestion: May You Find God
Now!” on Silkworth.net and I wanted to applaud you for telling it like it is.
As a matter of fact I was in a noon meeting today and after
hearing someone say that ‘Program’ tells him that it’s ok for him to call a
‘chair’ his higher power, I just couldn’t resist commenting. I’ve heard
this kind of thing over and over in meetings and I just couldn’t take any more.
I responded firmly but respectfully: “Nowhere in the Big
Book does it say that a ‘chair’, ‘Good Orderly Direction’ or even ‘The Group’
can be a substitute for God. That philosophy is one that’s evolved in the
fellowship over the years and IMHO it’s not what Bill W. meant when he writes
of the ‘God of Your Understanding’. Of course there was rebuttal.
Fortunately I didn’t get nailed to the cross.
I read recently that the success rate of newcomers staying
clean and sober in A.A. has dropped to an all-time low of 5%. That amazes
me, or more accurately it appalls me. Quite a far cry from the 75% that’s
mentioned in the Big Book. If the 5% is accurate, then what’s the point.
I firmly believe that the decline of the Program is a direct
result of the Fellowship getting away from the roots of the program. And
GOD is at the very center of those roots.
I’m a Born Again Christian and my Savior died on the cross
for the forgiveness of my sins. Jesus Christ is “The Way, the Truth, and
the Life”, “no one comes to the Father but through him”. This belief is
at the very core of my being and the answer to recovery for me. I
struggle not to share that in meetings. Yet, I contain myself and don’t.
But when we take GOD (i.e. The Father, The Creator of Heaven
and Earth) out of the program we have completely lost our way. We have
stepped so far away from what Bill W., Dr. Bob, and the first 100 intended that
we’re in danger of becoming completely ineffective.
It seems to me that it’s way past time that we do something
about this. There must be a significant number of folks in the Program
that believe and agree with what you’ve said in your article. I’m
wondering if there’s any group that is trying to work within A.A. (the key word
being within) to change this trend and move back towards what the Program was
intended to be. If so, I’d like to take an active part in it.
Thanks,
Dave
Monday, November 21, 2011
Alcoholics Anonymous History: Early A.A. with families and in the homes
There is a wealth of historical material now which makes it clear that early A.A. in Akron embraced the family and the home. Alcoholics Anonymous History is really a history that begins in Akron--Akron Christian Fellowship, Akron Number One. Men were members. Wives and family members participated. And the focus was in the homes of the pioneers.
The home: The focus of early Alcoholics Anonymous History can be found in the homes of the pioneers. They fellowshipped together daily. They daily met at the Smith Home for Quiet Time led by Dr. Bob's wife Anne. They visited each other, broke bread together, and phoned each other (if they could afford phones) and profited from the warm welcome they received in Akron homes. In addition, once each week, they met for a "regular" meeting on Wednesdays with the tiny Oxford Group people at T. Henry Williams' home in Akron. They had address books with the names, phones, and addresses of each of the pioneers
You can find it all in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, A.A.'s Co-Founders Pamphlet P-53, and Dick B., The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml. Dr. Bob's kids also detailed much of the same material in their excellent book Children of the Healer.
Of course, a number of the early AAs actually lived in the homes of Dr. Bob and Anne, Tom Lucas, Wally G. and others. This was during their shaky period and enabled them to have fellowship with other believers, counsel from Anne Smith, Dr. Bob, Henrietta Seiberling, and others. And to have many of the benefits of the First Century Christianity which observers saw in the Akron fellowship.
See also: www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml and www.dickb.com/realhistory.shtml.
The home: The focus of early Alcoholics Anonymous History can be found in the homes of the pioneers. They fellowshipped together daily. They daily met at the Smith Home for Quiet Time led by Dr. Bob's wife Anne. They visited each other, broke bread together, and phoned each other (if they could afford phones) and profited from the warm welcome they received in Akron homes. In addition, once each week, they met for a "regular" meeting on Wednesdays with the tiny Oxford Group people at T. Henry Williams' home in Akron. They had address books with the names, phones, and addresses of each of the pioneers
You can find it all in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, A.A.'s Co-Founders Pamphlet P-53, and Dick B., The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml. Dr. Bob's kids also detailed much of the same material in their excellent book Children of the Healer.
Of course, a number of the early AAs actually lived in the homes of Dr. Bob and Anne, Tom Lucas, Wally G. and others. This was during their shaky period and enabled them to have fellowship with other believers, counsel from Anne Smith, Dr. Bob, Henrietta Seiberling, and others. And to have many of the benefits of the First Century Christianity which observers saw in the Akron fellowship.
See also: www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml and www.dickb.com/realhistory.shtml.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Alcoholics Anonymous History: Our Latest Project
Alcoholics Anonymous History: Our Latest Project
By Dick B.
© 2011
Anonymous. All rights reserved
For many years, my son Ken and I have watched as book after book, guide after guide, "Bible" after “Bible,” workbook after workbook, and "scholarly" papers on A.A. have uniformly tended to miss the boat when it came to researching and reporting "real" Alcoholics Anonymous History.
By this, I mean they have often and erroneously attributed A.A.'s origins to the Oxford Group. In so doing, they have failed to research or report the Christian upbringing of A.A.'s cofounders. They have failed to report how the first three AAs got sober without the Oxford Group and without Steps, Traditions, or Big Book. They have failed to report the immense influence of the Bible on A.A. and its founders--in the case of Akron A.A.--and of Rev. Sam Shoemaker--when it came to the language of the Big Book and 12 Steps. And they have failed to give the Bible the prominence it had in early A.A. where it was used at every meeting, taught by the leaders, and read by the newcomers and old-timers alike.
They have fallen into the trap of emphasizing the supposed importance of the Washingtonians while ignoring the fact that this movement--though large--was of short duration, failed utterly, and did not at all emphasize belief in or reliance on God.
They have often failed to report the importance of the Book of James, Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 in early A.A. and even of the quotes in Bill's Big Book from these sources. They have also failed to note how many times the early writings--devotionals like The Runner's Bible and The Upper Room, and books like Drummond's The Greatest Thing in the World (1 Corinthians 13)--popped up again and again in the books and pamphlets of early A.A. and even in the Oxford Group at times.
This is not a treatise on what has been missing.
It is a report on why we have recently undertaken several projects in which fine Christian writers who are deep into recovery work have invited us to write introductions or appendices for their publications, including books, workbooks, and even a reprint of the first edition of the Big Book. These publications simply introduce readers of all stripes and hues to the important Christian origins, history, founding, original program, and great successes of the Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship.” They document the principles of the Akron program. They detail the 16 practices that the early AAs used. All when there were no Steps, no Traditions, no Big Book pages, no drunkalogs, and no meetings as we know them today.
There is a growing, mighty wind of interest and desire to learn accurate Alcoholics Anonymous history, to report it widely, to present it completely, to teach it frequently, to incorporate it in Christian recovery work and literature, and to apply it IN today's 12 Step programs.
We can now name four major publications which have added or are about to add such an A.A. history Foreword, Introduction, or Appendix; and also a number of recent books and articles which we have written that set the stage for the new Christian Recovery Movement. They can and will turn A.A. and recovery eyes back on the origins of A.A. and encourage a reinstatement IN today's fellowships of those principles and practices which led early A.A. to claim an overall 75% success rate in early A.A. and a documented 93% success rate in Cleveland A.A. (where the first A.A. Group was founded on May 11, 1939.)
We are eagerly awaiting any and every opportunity to "beef up" the already-successful Christian recovery work with the Alcoholics Anonymous history elements. Please consider the importance and value of this ongoing Christian recovery tool.
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