Many observers of early A.A. said things like, “Why, this is
first-century Christianity!” (See, for example, the A.A. General Service
Conference-approved book, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 148.) To study
Apostolic Christianity in the Bible, read, for example: Acts 2:38-47; and
4:29-35. Anne Smith, wife of A.A. cofounder Dr. Bob, wrote: “Of course the
Bible ought to be the main Source Book of all. Begin reading the Bible with the
Book of Acts.” [See: Dick B., Anne Smith’s Journal 1933-1939 (3rd ed.), 82:
http://www.DickB.com/annesm.shtml.]
Monday, June 30, 2014
The Rest of the A.A. History Story in Small Bites You Can Chew
The Rest of the A.A. History Story in Small Bites You Can Chew
Dick B.
© 2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
A Bite of A.A.’s Resemblance to First Century Christianity
Many observers of early A.A. said, “Why, this is first-century
Christianity!” See Alcoholics Anonymous
Comes of Age, page 148. To study,
learn, and chew that reference to Apostolic Christianity, read Acts 2:38-47; 4:29-35.
Dr. Bob’s wife Anne wrote: “Of course the Bible ought to be the main Source
Book of all. Begin reading the Bible with the Book of Acts.” Dick B., Anne Smith’s Journal 1933-1939, 3rded.,
page 82. http://www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml
A Bite of A.A.’s Christian Progenitors Who Successfully Helped Down and
Out Drunks
Young Men’s Christian Association; Gospel Rescue Missions;
Evangelists like Moody, Meyer, and Drummond; Salvation Army; Congregationalism;
United Christian Endeavor Society. See Dick B. and Ken B., Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous: His Excellent Training in the Good
Book as a Youngster in Vermont. http://www.dickb.com/drbobofaa.shtml
A Bite of the Christian Upbringing of Bill W. and Dr. Bob That
Influenced Their Program Development
Congregational churches in East Dorset, Manchester,
Northfield, and St. Johnsbury, Vermont; Sunday school in East Dorset and St.
Johnsbury; Attendance at Congregational Academies like Burr and Burton, Norwich
University, and St. Johnsbury
Academy; Required daily chapel
(sermons, Scripture, hymns, prayers), required church; required Bible study;
YMCA leadership and participation. See Dick B. and Ken B., Bill W. and Dr. Bob: The Green Mountain Men of Vermont: The Roots of
Early A.A.’s Original Program, EAN/UCC-13: 978-1-885803-53-5, pp.6-16,
41-103.
A Bite of the Biblical Healing Sought by the First Three AAs
Bill W. and Dr. Silkworth’s advice about help from the Great Physician; Ebby
Thacher’s visit with Bill telling Bill he had “got religion,” that “God has
done for me what I could not do for myself;” and that he had been reborn at
Calvary Mission; Bill’s handing his life over to Jesus Christ at Calvary
Mission, saying that he too had found religion and “for sure been born again;”
Bill’s hospital room blazing with an indescribably white light and Bill’s
sensing “This is the God of the Scriptures; and Bill’s being cured forever. See
Dick B. The Conversion of Bill W.: More
on the Creator’s Role in Early A.A. http://www.dickb.com/theconversionofbillw.shtml
Dr. Bob’s joining the little group of A First Century
Christian Fellowship; admitting he was a “secret drinker” and couldn’t stop;
praying with the group for his deliverance; the miracles of Bill W.’s phone
call to Henrietta out of the blue, Henrietta’s arranging the six hour visit
between Bill and Bob; and Bob’s finally telling Bill he was going through with
the program and had placed his surgery and his life in God’s hands; and never
drank again. See Dick B., The Akron
Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous; http://www.dickb.com/Akron.shtml;
and DR. Bob and the Good Oldtimers.
A.A. Number Three Bill W.—a Sunday school teacher, deacon of
his church, and seemingly hopeless alcoholic; who prayed with his wife and
whose wife prayed with the pastor of a church that someone her husband could
understand would visit him in City Hospital. The prayers were followed by his
visit from Bill W. and Dr. Bob at Akron
City Hospital; his kneeling at his bed and turning his life over to the care of
God; and Bill D.’s being healed forever. See Bill D. – A.A.’s Number 3, http://silkworth.net/aahistorybdotson.html;
and Alcoholics Anonymous Number Three, http://silkworth.net/bbstories/2nd/182-192.html.
A Bite of the First and Real Christian Fellowship Program and Success
of Akron Group Number One
The program was investigated and summarized by Rockefeller
agent Frank Amos and republished on page 131 of DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers. The sixteen Christian practices
that implemented the summarized program are described on pages 27-37 of Dick B. and Ken B., Stick with the Winners! http://mcaf.ee/bmxa5
Sunday, June 29, 2014
A.A. History: The Rest of the Story with Dick B. - 25 years of research on Dick B.'s New A.A. History Website
A.A. History: The Rest of the Story with Dick B. - 25 Years of Research on New Website
A video series by Dick B. & Ken B.
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
A.A. History: The Rest of the Story. With Dick B.
A.A. History: The Rest of the Story. With Dick B.
Home
Bill W. & Dr. Bob
A.A. History Sources
Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery
A.A. History Photos
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Overcoming Drug and
Alcohol Sickness in 1986
What Would You Have
Found?
By Dick B.
© 2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
Let’s
suppose that you, like I did, entered the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous in April,
1986. Hopelessly wedded to the bottle. Unknowingly addicted to pain pills and
sedatives. Shaking like a lear. And in more trouble than you had ever
experienced in your life—in the Army, in the cross-hairs of the police and
district attorney, threatened with loss of your law license, beset with tax
problems, financial problems, domestic problems, and physical and mental
wreckage from doing it all too long.
Let’s also
suppose you had willingly sought help in A.A. Did you find any doctors or
nurses on hand? Did you find any clergy or Bible teachers on hand? Were there
any trained or licensed counselors to help stay the course? Did anyone tell you
that if you quit without medical help you might have seizures, fear, bewilderment,
and forgetfulness. As well as confusion as to what you were supposed to do in
this barren arena of well-intentioned fellow-sufferers, uninformed speakers,
and inexperienced sponsors?
Let’s
suppose too that your new-found friends were telling you to get phone numbers,
never drink, and go to meetings daily, as well as getting a Big Book and a
sponsor and following directions. Some were belittling you and your questions.
Some were urging you “to take what you like and leave the rest.” Some were
telling you, “This too shall pass.” Some were telling you to take the cotton
out of your ears and put it in your mouth. Some were saying you had a disease.
Some that your problem was sin. Some that you must take the Twelve Steps as
soon as possible. Some that you would do best if positioned like a door mat and
“accepting” whatever came your way. Some that you needed to have a “higher
power” which could be a tree, a chair, a radiator, Santa Claus, or just about
anything “greater than yourself.”
Were all
these good starting points? Would any or all get you sober? Would any wipe away
your depression, troubles, fear, and confusion?
In one sense,
this unlikely cadre, course, and group of untrained helpers and help actually
worked for me from the beginning—I not having died from three gran mal
seizures, having followed the mixed suggestions, having seen the word “God” in
the Steps and prayed to Him, and vigorously searching for and helping others—however
inept and feeble my efforts were.
But how many
others drank or used again? More than I could count! And the chronic relapsing
was continuing to this very day. How could I carry a message as mixed as the
one I had been given? With higher powers, acceptance, and meeting mania! What
should a sponsor tell and do to aid his newcomer? How reliable was the sponsor’s
help when he didn’t know his Big Book or how to “take” a newcomer through the
Steps; when he didn’t really believe in God or kept referring to some nonsense
higher power like a rock. When he had never learned A.A.’s roots in the Bible. Or
when there was virtually no information circulated on where A.A. had come from,
when there was no discussion of the many changes that taken place in the
recovery ideas between 1935 and 1939. Or when people in meetings mentioned the
Bible, religion, Jesus Christ, or God and were insulted and reprimanded for
even making mention of such things.
There was
and is a way out of the foregoing mixture. It is producing literature,
speakers, panels, conferences, and members who have taken a broad view of the
program and its roots, who have had the humility to look up and learn what had
worked and what had not worked, and what the pioneers had done that is missing
today.
Lest some
conclude that I don’t know the things suggested, I would point to three
authoritative sources to start with. First, to read Bill W.’s comments about
the Lord on page 191 of the Fourth Edition of the Big Book. Second, to read Dr.
Bob’s comments about our Heavenly Father on page 181 of that Fourth Edition.
Third, to dig into my book, Cured!:
Proven Help for Alcoholics and Addicts, 2d ed, (Kihei, HI: Paradise
Research Publications, Inc., 2006) www.dickb.com/cured.shtml.
And then to obtain a copy of the A.A. General Service Conference-approved
pamphlet P-53, The Co-Founders of
Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks, pages
13-14.
Monday, June 23, 2014
A.A. History: The Rest of the Story! With Author and Historian of A.A. Dick B
A.A. History: The
Rest of the Story!
With Author and
Historian of A.A. Dick B.
Our New Website:
By Dick B.
© 2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
28 Years Serving
in A.A.; 25 Years Researching and Writing the Full A.A. Story; Presenting the
Facts on Videos and in Photos
Featuring
·
Bill W., Dr.
Bob, and the Cure of Alcoholism: The Rest of the Story
Four
video talks by Dick B. and Ken B. drawing on extensive work with newcomers;
traveling, interviewing, collecting, speaking, publishing. This material is
already filmed, but a number of edits and highlights still need attention
before these most important new resources are made available to you.
·
A.A. History Sources:
With veteran AA
and videographer Steve G., Dick takes you through and explains his 30,000 books
and materials covering all of A.A.’s sources and the roots that inspired A.A.’s
cofounders. This vast library is covered in four videos
·
Introductory
Foundations for Christian Recovery
4 videos filmed by the prestigious New
Life Spirit Recovery, Inc. in Huntington Beach, California; and now widely used
in their Christian recovery program and by leaders and directors throughout the
United States. With Dick B. and Ken B. presenting
·
A.A. History
Photos
Filmed by
several members of our teams of AAs (including particularly A.A. oldtimer,
archivist and camera expert Jim H. of Washington) all of whom investigated A.A.
meetings, residential recovery homes, churches, records, libraries, manuscripts,
archives, news articles, historic homes, academies, and museums, on several
trips through Vermont and Massachusetts to the places where A.A. cofounders
received their Christian upbringing and teachings from the Bible that fed their
later A.A. work with still-suffering alcoholics, addicts, and derelicts.
·
YouTube and
Other Videos
Dick B. and Ken
B. have spoken on A.A. history and Christian recovery at A.A., N.A., meetings,
churches, Christian fellowships, memorial locations, conventions, prison facilities,
groups, meetings, conferences, treatment centers, radio interviews, retreats, and
extensive personal discussions; and a number of YouTube presentations, and
other videos which are presented here.
The Voluminous
Books and Articles of Dick B. and Ken B.
Over
his 28 years of continuous sobriety since April 21, 1986, Dick B. has authored and
published or had published 46 books and over 1,700 articles now available in bookstores,
online, on the internet, and by newsletters and blogs which have carefully
footnoted the facts and included extensive helpful bibliographies that help
other writers, groups, and students locate and check the sources of A.A. ideas
and its later programs.
All
these resources are available at your finger tips—many free—Those that are not
free are very reasonably priced; and many will go free to sustaining
contributors. Many will go at a low discount or as wholesale lots to those who
want them for group or class or teaching use. And you can obtain the facts and
discuss your status or needs with Ken B. at 808 276 4945.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
A.A. History Sources with Dick B.
A.A. History Sources
with Dick B.
©2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
The Four Videos on the
Enormous A.A. History Sources Site with Dick B.: Library Interview and Narration,
June 22, 2014
Our new
website, the videos on it, and the virtually unknown or ignored approximately
30,000 books, articles, manuscripts, letters, pamphlets, and papers covering
the heart of A.A. ideas is now available online, through our website http://aahistorychristianrecovery.com
Free copies
are available to our numerous sustaining supporters. Copies can be purchased online
by other individuals, groups, libraries, conferences, speakers, and leaders at
a very low price.
This is an
announcement that the 30,000 books and other A.A. sources were gathered over a
decade of years by author Dick B., historian of A.A.
They were
placed in a temporary library on Maui. Videographer Steve Glagola of Florida
came to Maui, viewed the extensive library, interviewed Dick B., and then made
videos of Dick speaking about each book or group of books, answering questions
about those resources, and—at long last—setting up a tutorial where AAs and
recovery people and leaders could see and hear the resources explained and made
available online.
This A.A.
History Sources with Dick B. series is one of four inter-related video groups
on Alcoholics Anonymous History—The Rest of the Story. One contains the
introductory classes on A.A. history
that are already in use in various parts of the recovery world. The
second is this series of four A.A. History Sources—presenting the 30,000 item
library and collection by Dick B., almost all of which has been donated free to
the Wilson House in East Dorset Vermont, the Dr. Bob Core Library at North
Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury Vermont, the Shoemaker Room at Calvary
Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron—as well
as to Ray G., for many years the archivist at Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron.
The third
series will shortly be posted and consists of four videos titled, “Bill W., Dr.
Bob, and the Cure of Alcoholism: The Rest of the Story.
The fourth
will include some 800 photos taken by an
A.A. archivist on our investigative research trips to Maine, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Cleveland, and Akron. And the final, we hope, will be a presentation
of Dick B.’s one hour talk at the Oldtimers meeting in Minneapolis during the
A.A. International Conversion. The topic was the six major roots of A.A.
The
treasures in the first two sets are available for your viewing now. They are
available on our website http://aahistorychristianrecovery.com.
In the ensuing weeks and months, you will find them abundantly discussed on the
Dick B. websites, the Dick B. blogs, Dick B. YouTube presentations, Christian
Recovery Radio, and articles posted and circulated in Dick’s newsletters and
posts on Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Linked-in, Pinterest, Hub, In the Rooms,
Christian Recovery Social, A.A. History with Dick B. on Cyber Recovery Social,
Stumble Upon, and others.
We will be
discussing the materials briefly on these outlets for the next several months
as well. And we encourage groups and individuals to obtain the videos, present
them, study them, and discuss them.
For further
information, contact Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837; 808 874 4876; dickb@dickb.com
Again the
new website is http://aahistorychristianrecovery.com
A.A. History Sources with Dick B.
A.A. History Sources
with Dick B.
©2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
The Four Videos on the
Enormous A.A. History Sources Site with Dick B.: Library Interview and Narration,
June 22, 2014
Our new
website, the videos on it, and the virtually unknown or ignored approximately
30,000 books, articles, manuscripts, letters, pamphlets, and papers covering
the heart of A.A. ideas is now available online, through our website http://aahistorychristianrecovery.com
Free copies
are available to our numerous sustaining supporters. Copies can be purchased online
by other individuals, groups, libraries, conferences, speakers, and leaders at
a very low price.
This is an
announcement that the 30,000 books and other A.A. sources were gathered over a
decade of years by author Dick B., historian of A.A.
They were
placed in a temporary library on Maui. Videographer Steve Glagola of Florida
came to Maui, viewed the extensive library, interviewed Dick B., and then made
videos of Dick speaking about each book or group of books, answering questions
about those resources, and—at long last—setting up a tutorial where AAs and
recovery people and leaders could see and hear the resources explained and made
available online.
This A.A.
History Sources with Dick B. series is one of four inter-related video groups
on Alcoholics Anonymous History—The Rest of the Story. One contains the
introductory classes on A.A. history
that are already in use in various parts of the recovery world. The
second is this series of four A.A. History Sources—presenting the 30,000 item
library and collection by Dick B., almost all of which has been donated free to
the Wilson House in East Dorset Vermont, the Dr. Bob Core Library at North
Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury Vermont, the Shoemaker Room at Calvary
Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Akron—as well
as to Ray G., for many years the archivist at Dr. Bob’s Home in Akron.
The third
series will shortly be posted and consists of four videos titled, “Bill W., Dr.
Bob, and the Cure of Alcoholism: The Rest of the Story.
The fourth
will include some 800 photos taken by an
A.A. archivist on our investigative research trips to Maine, Vermont,
Massachusetts, Cleveland, and Akron. And the final, we hope, will be a presentation
of Dick B.’s one hour talk at the Oldtimers meeting in Minneapolis during the
A.A. International Conversion. The topic was the six major roots of A.A.
The
treasures in the first two sets are available for your viewing now. They are
available on our website http://aahistorychristianrecovery.com.
In the ensuing weeks and months, you will find them abundantly discussed on the
Dick B. websites, the Dick B. blogs, Dick B. YouTube presentations, Christian
Recovery Radio, and articles posted and circulated in Dick’s newsletters and
posts on Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Linked-in, Pinterest, Hub, In the Rooms,
Christian Recovery Social, A.A. History with Dick B. on Cyber Recovery Social,
Stumble Upon, and others.
We will be
discussing the materials briefly on these outlets for the next several months
as well. And we encourage groups and individuals to obtain the videos, present
them, study them, and discuss them.
For further
information, contact Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837; 808 874 4876; dickb@dickb.com
Again the
new website is http://aahistorychristianrecovery.com
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Alcoholics Anonymous History--The Rest of the Story. With Dick B.- Books and papers Videos
Alcoholics Anonymous
History—The Rest of the Story. With Dick B.
©2014 Anonymous. All rights reserved
The Four Videos on the
Enormous Dick B. Resource Library Interview and Talks, June 21, 2014
Our new
website, the videos on it, and the virtually unknown or ignored approximately
30,000 books, articles, manuscripts, letters, pamphlets, and papers covering
the heart of A.A. ideas is now available online, through our website. Free
copies are available to our numerous sustaining supporters. Copies can be
purchased online by other individuals, groups, libraries, conferences,
speakers, and leaders at a very low price.
This is an
announcement that the 30,000 books and other resources were gathered by author
Dick B., historian of A.A., over a decade of years. They were placed in a
temporary library on Maui. Videographer Steve Glagola of Florida came to Maui,
viewed the extensive library, interviewed Dick B., and then made videos of Dick
speaking about each book or group of books, answering questions about those
resources, and—at long last—setting up a tutorial where AAs and recovery people
and leaders could see and hear the resources explained and made available.
This series
is one of four related video groups on Alcoholics Anonymous History—The Rest of
the Story. One contains the introductory classes on A.A. history that are already in use in various parts of
the recovery world. The second is this series of four—presenting the 30,000
item library and collection by Dick B., almost all of which has been donated
free to the Wilson House in East Dorset Vermont, the Dr. Bob Core Library at
North Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury Vermont, the Shoemaker Room at
Calvary Episcopal Church in Pittsburgh, and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in
Akron—as well as to Ray G., for many years the archivist at Dr. Bob’s Home in
Akron.
The third
series will shortly be posted and consists of four videos titled, “Bill W., Dr.
Bob, and the Cure of Alcoholism: The Rest of the Story. The fourth will include
some 800 photos taken by an A.A.
archivist on our investigative research trips to Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts,
Cleveland, and Akron. And the final, we hope, will be a presentation of Dick B.’s
one hour talk at the Oldtimers meeting in Minneapolis during the A.A.
International Conversion. The topic was the six major roots of A.A.
The
treasures in the first two sets are available for your viewing now. They are
available on our website. In the ensuing weeks and months, you will find them
abundantly discussed on the Dick B. websites, the Dick B. blogs, Dick B.
YouTube presentations, Christian Recovery Radio, and articles posted and
circulated in Dick’s newsletters and posts on Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler,
Linked-in, Pinterest, Hub, In the Rooms, Christian Recovery Social, A.A.
History with Dick B. on Cyber Recovery Social, Stumble Upon, and others.
We will be
discussing the materials briefly on these outlets for the next several months
as well. And we encourage groups and individuals to obtain the videos, present
them, study them, and discuss them.
For further
information, contact Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837; 808 874 4876;
dickb@dickb.com
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Alcoholics Anonymous and Religion - a Letter to Dick B.
Alcoholics Anonymous
and Religion
An Articulate,
Perceptive Letter to Historian of A.A. and Author Dick B.
It is always
refreshing to get a letter from an AA who has done his or her homework in A.A.
Conference-approved literature, examined the “wisdom of the rooms” insofar as
it offends those who express their belief in God and their religious choice,
and who writes well.
The
following letter arrived June 19, 2014 from C.A., and it’s well worth your
reading it.
“In our 12 and 12 in Tradition
5 on page 153, Bill says; "Finally, he saw that I wasn't
attempting to change his religious views, that I wanted him to find the grace
in this own religion that would aid his recovery." Alcohol had hindered
this man's ability to find GOD. Bill believed that our personal religious beliefs was a necessary aid for our
recovery. At one time we believed .they were a liability because we thought GOD
had abandoned us, but it was the other way around. We made ourselves feel
better about our dilemma by looking and criticizing the hypocrites instead of looking at the vast
majority of those that practiced and lived their faith successfully by trusting
in GOD.
Page 49 in our Big
Book says; "People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about.
Actually, we used to have no reasonable conception whatever. We use to amuse
ourselves by cynically dissecting spiritual beliefs and practices when we might
have observed that many spiritually minded persons of all races, colors and creeds were
demonstrating a degree of stability, happiness and usefulness which we should
have sought for ourselves." Then we came to AA thinking the same way, not
realizing that this is the resentment that
kept us drinking or could lead to our relapse. Bill gave us many
examples on how our religion, outside of AA, can help us in AA. Remember, we
are not a religion but we live the principles religion espouses. Page 93 says;
"We represent no particular faith or denomination. We are dealing only with
the general principles common to most denominations." Those principles for those denominations are
biblical. AA's principles are the 12 steps.
On page 28 it reads;
We "are the children of a living creator with whom we may form a
relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and
honest enough to try. Those having religious affiliations will find here
nothing disturbing to their beliefs or ceremonies. There is no friction among
us over such matters". Contrary to popular belief, religion was not the
hindrance, our thinking was. The next paragraph reads; "Not all of us join
religious bodies, but most of us favor such memberships." "Most"
is the key word. It means; almost all: the majority of: the greatest amount.
The Times of AAs' infancy and adolescence was a time of
community and fellowship. Faith and belief in GOD was a rare argument. They
trusted and worshipped HIM. Fast forward to the present. Now GOD is not as
strong a fixture in our fellowship because HE is not a dictator. It is free
will. If you choose to believe atheist, agnostics and skeptics HE will allow
it. Some believe that somewhere along the lines we have to modernize GOD. Not
in our book, but in our minds. Our book is written from the experience and suffering
of those that paved the way for us. GOD made this possible but arrogance can
masquerade as confidence and delude us into thinking we can change who GOD is
in our lives. Insanity and self-will is powerful and recuperative in each of us
and in this day and age it's easily embraced. If you don't know why, then you
haven't noticed our media and what it convinces you to believe.
God is the creator.
Human nature as it exist today is what GOD gave us. That nature is our
instincts. We can lessen their effects on our life with GODS help but they
cannot be altered. As much as man tries to change them by science, by laws and
social practices, the more our society will be thrown into turmoil. You cannot
change what GOD has wrought. He is the ultimate geneticist. Our lives can be
modernized but not our instincts. They can be bettered because that is the
nature of life, good and evil. They can
also be perverted. GOD allows that, but the total destruction and rebuilding of
who GOD made us, by man, isn't going to happen.
If you don't learn from those priest, minister or Rabbis,
you are in trouble. The suggestion wasn't made lightly. We need to learn who
GOD is and how to obey HIS Will. We use
them along with our sponsors. But remember, some sponsors aren't spiritual and
a lot of us don't have that faith in GOD, "that moves
mountains." We are fallible because
of our self will and self reliance.Human nature as it exist today, is the same
as it was when GOD created us. We can modernize our world and society as a
whole, but not us. God broke the template. He is the ultimate solution.
On page 131 in our Book it reads; "alcoholics who have
derided religious people will be helped by such contacts. Being possessed of a
spiritual experience, the alcoholic will find he has much in common with these
people, though he may differ with them on many matters. If he does not argue
about religion, he will make new friends and is sure to find new avenues of
usefulness and pleasure. He and his family may be a bright spot in such congregations.
He may bring new hope and new courage to many a Priest, Minister, or Rabbi, who
gives his all to minister to a troubled
world."
We need to study our Book to be knowledgeable about what it
takes for the promises to come true. There is no fourth dimension, new design
for living or relief from resentments if we are reading the book for
sound-bites for our own selfish ends. We have to live and practice it in its
entirety.
I will never be
convinced AA is the only way to sobriety because my experiences in life has
proved otherwise. But i am convinced it has brought over two and a half-million
people to GOD and a "new design for living." I bask in GOD'S love and
grace every day. I will be found helping GOD'S children in and out of the rooms
as long as I am allowed to breathe. What is love if we don't give it away.”
C W (name withheld to preserve anonymity)
06/19/2014
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed.
Alcoholics Anonymous History
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide
Third Edition
(Kihei, HI: Paradise
Research Publications, Inc., 2010)
(eBook/“digital
download” version)
By Dick B. and Ken B.
© Anonymous 2010. All rights reserved
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., by Dick B. and Ken B. (157 pages, 8 ½” x 11”) is based
on Dick B.’s lifetime of Bible study, legal scholarship and training, 26 years
of continuous sobriety, active participation in the A.A. Fellowship, experience
sponsoring more than 100 sponsees, 22 years of historical research, and 44
published titles.
This edition is the
product of one year of conferences, meetings, and personal talks by the authors
(Dick B. and Ken B.) with Christian recovery leaders and others from the United
States and Canada. It is based on their needs, their suggestions, their
responses, and the compelling need for “A New Way Out” for Christians in the
recovery arena who are not, and don’t want to be, alone. It can be used as a
guide by 12-Step members, sponsors, counselors, facilitators, Christian
recovery pastors, Christian recovery groups, clergy, study groups, and those
engaged in carrying the story of early A.A.’s
Christian fellowship, simple program, and astonishing successes to
fellowships, treatment facilities, prisons, homeless, veterans, military, and
hospitals.
(The 3rd edition of
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide was substantially revised and expanded in conjunction
with the production of the “Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery”
class by Dick B. and Ken B. on four DVD's in March 2010.)
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide is intended as a supplementary resource. It does not aim to
change the fundamental nature of any existing Christian recovery or approach.
Rather, it presents an attractive, appealing, helpful, and effective
segment—primarily historical and introductory in nature—that all can use: (1)
to bring to their respective audiences accurate historical information about
the roles played by God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in the
astonishing, documented successes of early A.A.; and (2) to enhance
substantially the effectiveness of their Christian recovery efforts by
employing the successful, relevant techniques and lessons from the original
Akron A.A. “Christian fellowship” program in helping those who still suffer
with alcoholism, substance abuse, and other self-destructive behavior and
life-controlling problems.
Suggested Additions
to Christian Recovery Programs Proposed in This Guide
First, a concise,
accurate, historical element containing discussions of:
•
Christian treatments that were effective in dealing with
alcoholism prior to A.A.'s founding;
•
The Christian training of A.A.’s founders as youngsters in
Vermont;
•
The Christian beginnings of A.A. in Akron and New York,
including discussions of how the first three AAs got sober;
•
The founding of early A.A., its actual practices, and the
"original" Akron “Christian fellowship” program;
•
The astonishing 75% overall success rate early A.A. claimed
and Cleveland's documented 93% success rate;
•
Alterations of the original Akron program that made their
way into the first edition of Alcoholics Anonymous ("the Big Book")
published in April 1939;
•
Ways to enable a newcomer to utilize the early Christian
A.A. precepts in the present-day 12 Step programs; and
•
Means by which Coalition
leaders and workers in the recovery arena can adapt and apply this (new)
information to their own approaches and still underline the importance of God,
His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible in Christian recovery efforts today.
Second, a
"package" of proposed approaches tailored to the needs, ideas, and
programs of Christian leaders and workers in the recovery arena, as well as
Christians in recovery.
Third, a discussion
of present-day approaches that downplay reliance on the power and love of the
one true God in favor of (over) emphasizing the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions
alone, “higher power” language, pseudo “spirituality,” self-made religion, and
actual unbelief; and often criticizing church, religion, reliance on God, and
even the mention of Jesus Christ or the Bible by those in today's recovery
fellowships.
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide also introduces the International Christian Recovery Coalition
(www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com) as a means, through common effort, of
expanding your Christian efforts in the recovery arena.
Table of Contents
The Dick B. Christian
Recovery Guide, 3rd ed.,
by Dick B. and Ken B.
(April 2010)
Introduction (by Dick
B.)
Miraculous Healings
Are Recorded in the Bible and Are Still Occurring Today
Effective Christian
Work with Alcoholics Before A.A.
The Background
Factors from Dr. Bob’s Youth in St. Johnsbury (1879-1898)
The Background
Factors from Bill Wilson’s Youth (1895 to 1913) and Later
The Akron Genesis of
Alcoholics Anonymous
The New York Origins
The Crucible at the
Smith Home in Akron During the Summer of 1935
The
Highly-Successful, Original Akron A.A. Program, as Summarized by Frank Amos and
Quoted in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers
14 Specific Practices
Associated with the Original Akron A.A. “Christian Fellowship” Program Bill W.
and Dr. Bob Developed
The Verification of
Early A.A.'s Astonishing Success Rates
Documenting the
Successes of the First 40 Pioneers
Helping the Newcomer
with a Full Kit of Spiritual Tools
Some Suggested Tools
with Which to Arm the Nestling about to Be Flung out of the Nest
Helping a Christian
to Begin Recovery Today
"A New Way
Out"
An Emerging Picture
of Proposals and Potential Service from the California Meetings with Dick B.
and Ken B. July 12-21, 2009
Address by Dick B. at
the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ACADC) Conference in
Palm Springs, August 29, 2009
Conclusion
Obtain The Dick B.
Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., eBook/ “digital download” edition
right now!
$14.95
Monday, June 16, 2014
The New AA Awakening - Outline by Dick B. on AA History
Alcoholics Anonymous:
Awakening to Its Spiritual Treasures
A Series of Discoveries
Dick B.
© 2014 Anonymous. All
rights reserved
Outline
·
First
Century Christianity
·
America’s
Awakening in 1850’s to the Down and Out Derelicts and Drunks
·
Christian
Progenitors Who Cared and Served
·
The
Great Awakening of 1875 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont
·
The
Christian Upbringing of Robert Holbrook Smith
·
The
Christian Upbringing of William Griffith Wilson
·
Drifting
Away in the Dark, Drinking Years
·
The
Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous
·
The
Silkworth-Ebby Thacher-Calvary Mission Great Physician Solution
·
Recovery
Discovery by Bill W.
·
Recovery
Discovery by Dr. Bob
·
Recovery
Discovery by Bill D. – AA Number Three
·
The
Akron Christian Fellowship Program Developed in 1935
·
God
Had Shown Them How by 1937
·
Wilson’s
So-Called Varied “Six” Steps or Word-of-Mouth Ideas
·
The
New Version of the Program The Twelve Steps
·
The
Last-Minute Compromise and Alteration of the Program Before Printing
·
The
“higher power” beginnings
·
Retention
of “God” in A.A. General Services Conference-approved literature
·
“You
can believe in anything or in nothing at all”
·
Emergence
of the New Christian Recovery Movement
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