Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center opens Monday, March 7, 2011 as a project of International Christian Recovery Coalition in partnership with the County of Maui Salvation Army. Meetings with alcoholics, addicts, and concerned others are by appointment at the location of the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. For appointments, call 808 874 4876 or write dickb@dickb.com.
Today there are 19 Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide that have been established since the project was begun January 1, 2011.
As of January 1, 2011, this web page will be used in part for publishing contact (and other relevant) information about individuals, groups, and organization which become “Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide” affiliated with the International Christian Recovery Coalition.
Here are our current affiliates. Please contact them if you would like to know about Christian recovery resources—such as Interventions, Detox, Christian and Christian-track treatment programs, Christian sober living, Christian Counseling, and Christian recovery fellowships—in their area (or in their state, in their country, and/or elsewhere in the world through the International Christian Recovery Coalition):
Manna House Ministries, James Moody, President, Jamestown, Tennessee
http://MannaHouseMinistries.com/
(931) 752-7075
New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., Robert Tucker, Ph.D., President, Huntington Beach, California
http://www.NewLifeSpiritRecovery.com/OC_Recovery.html
(866) 543-3361
Rock Recovery Ministries-ABC Sober Living-Soledad House, David Powers, San Diego, Californiahttp://www.TheRockSanDiego.org/Ministries/RockRecovery/David Powers: (619) 925-1879
Recovery Ministry, Golden Hills Community Church, Brentwood, Californiahttp://www.goldenhills.org/about/staff.html c/o David Sadler, 3220 Surmont Drive, Lafayette CA 94549David Sadler (925 382 6070)
Bruce A, Aspgren, Rocking A. Ministry, Caldwell, Texas, Bruce Aspgren, PO box 211 Caldwell, Texas 77836-0211
Paul Popiel, A.A. believer, Pacifica, California 504 Manor Drive, Pacifica, CA 94044 (650) 359 6794
Christian Recovery Resource Center Satellite Office, Wally Lowe Vero Beach, Florida, 7835 1st Street SW. Vero Beach, FL 32968, Wally Lowe (O) 772 794 2485; (C) 954 395 2743
Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center Main Office, Dick B. and Ken B., Kihei, Hawaii PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837(C) 808 276 4945
Christian Community Missions, Chaplain/Pastor Leonard Grubb, Painesville, Ohio 773 Mentor Avenue, Painesville, Ohio (C) 216 496 0406
Mark Galligan, A.A. Christian Believer, 13 Telford Road, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada13 Telford Road, Collingwood, Ontario, Canada L9Y545Office: 705 445 9135Home: 416 453 6250MagicJack: 716 240 5243Skype: mark,galligan1
Robert P. Turner, MD, MSCRAssociate Professor of Neurosciences and PediatricsAssociate Professor of Medicine, Division of Biostatistics and EpidemiologyAssociate Researcher, MIND Research InstituteBasic Science Building, Room 344J Charleston, SC 29425 Office: 843-792-3307; 843-792-1351 Paging: 843-792-2123 Facsimile: 843-792-3220 or 792-8626
Grant Sharp, Quest Ministries, United Kingdom24 Rushley DriveSheffield, 5 Yorks S173EN United KingdomGrantsharp7@hotmail.com
Roger McDiarmid, A.A. Christian believer, Salesman, Huntington Beach, California, 19771 Estuary Lane, Huntington Beach, California 92646 (949) 836 4214
Won Way Out Ministries Treatment Center, William Boyles, 327 Martin StreetDover, Delaware 19901 (302) 674-8036
Alcoholics For Christ, Neighborhood Church, Gary Seymour, 1001 W. Country Club Lane, Escondido, California 92026 www.neighborhoodafc.com
Ken Jones, Pastoral Counselor, Melbourne, Florida 2526 Ventura Circle, W. Melbourne, FL 32904, 1 321 501 2014 kjones79@cfl.rr.com http://www.aprodigalreturn.com/
Steve Foreman, Runs "Came To Believe" retreats, 2211 Lee Road, Suite 100, Winter Park, FL 32789 (407) 862-5900Steve@CameToBelieve.orgwww.CameToBelieve.org
The Oasis Recovery Center of Western PA (Oasis Institute)Dr. Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., CEO/Executive Director, 960 Penn Avenue, Suite 105, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222 (412) 281 8364http://www.oasisrecoverycenter.org
Celebrate A New Life, Bobby Nicholl, Director of Admissions, Celebrate A New Life, 27382 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 (800) 708-3173http://www.celebratedrugrehab.com
God Bless Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalitions.
See http://bit.ly/erD3tW
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Rocking A Ministry and Caldwell Texas Christian Recovery Resource Center
The following welcome message was just receiving from Bruce Aspgren of Rocking A Ministry in Caldwell, Texas. Bruce's ministry just recently became a Christian Recovery Resource Center and is now one of about 20 centers established since January 1, 2011.
I am working on final paperwork for the ministry location.take a look on google maps 1601 9th street Caldwell, Texas.I would want to use space for a Christian Recovery Resource Center. What do you think? Much prayer welcomed. brbruceDescriptionOwned by the Rocking A Ministries. (ink not dried yet)14,832 SF metal building with metal roof. 9,832 SF of warehouse/industrial.Two 2,128 SF storage areas. 704 SF office area. Layout and proximity can support many different innovative opportunities. 4 ADJACENT PROPERTIES (1) 1601 A Ninth ST21,450 SF.0.468 aces.(2) 1601 B Ninth ST1,250 SF.0.689 acres.(3) 1601 C Ninth ST770 SF building.0.459 acres. (4) 1601 E Ninth STOne 14,000 SF building and one 10,000 SF building.0.459 acres.TOTAL PACKAGE62,302 SF.2.49 acres. Located on the western edge of Caldwell. Within a 1/4 of a mile of Caldwell Municipal airport.
Bruce Aspgren PO box 211
Caldwell, Texas 77836 -0211
Christian Recovery Resource Centers have now been established in United Kingdom, Ontario Canada, Delaware, Pittsburgh, Winter Park Florida, Charleston South Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Maui, and California (Oroville, two in Huntington Beach, San Diego, Escondido, Antioch, and San Juan Capistrano). All are A.A. friendly, Bible friendly, History friendly, and oriented to disseminate the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, history, founding, original A.A. Christian Fellowship program in Akron, and astonishing successes. And the role they can play today!
Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com; dickb@dickb.com
I am working on final paperwork for the ministry location.take a look on google maps 1601 9th street Caldwell, Texas.I would want to use space for a Christian Recovery Resource Center. What do you think? Much prayer welcomed. brbruceDescriptionOwned by the Rocking A Ministries. (ink not dried yet)14,832 SF metal building with metal roof. 9,832 SF of warehouse/industrial.Two 2,128 SF storage areas. 704 SF office area. Layout and proximity can support many different innovative opportunities. 4 ADJACENT PROPERTIES (1) 1601 A Ninth ST21,450 SF.0.468 aces.(2) 1601 B Ninth ST1,250 SF.0.689 acres.(3) 1601 C Ninth ST770 SF building.0.459 acres. (4) 1601 E Ninth STOne 14,000 SF building and one 10,000 SF building.0.459 acres.TOTAL PACKAGE62,302 SF.2.49 acres. Located on the western edge of Caldwell. Within a 1/4 of a mile of Caldwell Municipal airport.
Bruce Aspgren PO box 211
Caldwell, Texas 77836 -0211
Christian Recovery Resource Centers have now been established in United Kingdom, Ontario Canada, Delaware, Pittsburgh, Winter Park Florida, Charleston South Carolina, Illinois, Texas, Maui, and California (Oroville, two in Huntington Beach, San Diego, Escondido, Antioch, and San Juan Capistrano). All are A.A. friendly, Bible friendly, History friendly, and oriented to disseminate the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, history, founding, original A.A. Christian Fellowship program in Akron, and astonishing successes. And the role they can play today!
Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com; dickb@dickb.com
Friday, March 04, 2011
Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center - Opens in Kihei
Maui
Christian Recovery Resource Center
35 Halekuai St # 105, Kihei, HI
Dick B. and Ken B., Directors
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
808 874 4876 – dickb@dickb.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
A Partnership of
County of Maui Salvation Army
and
International Christian Recovery Coalition
Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide
Interviews, Assessments, Resources, Referrals
Christian Recovery Movement History
1850’s—Evangelists, Rescue Missions, Salvation Army, YMCA lay personal work, Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor; A.A. Cofounders, A.A. in Akron, A.A. Big Book 1939, Christians in recovery today
Personal, Confidential Meetings with Those
Afflicted with and Affected by Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Meetings Scheduled By Appointment – Call 808 874 4876
Gloria Deo
Christian Recovery Resource Center
35 Halekuai St # 105, Kihei, HI
Dick B. and Ken B., Directors
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
808 874 4876 – dickb@dickb.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
A Partnership of
County of Maui Salvation Army
and
International Christian Recovery Coalition
Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide
Interviews, Assessments, Resources, Referrals
Christian Recovery Movement History
1850’s—Evangelists, Rescue Missions, Salvation Army, YMCA lay personal work, Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor; A.A. Cofounders, A.A. in Akron, A.A. Big Book 1939, Christians in recovery today
Personal, Confidential Meetings with Those
Afflicted with and Affected by Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Meetings Scheduled By Appointment – Call 808 874 4876
Gloria Deo
Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center - Opens in Kihei
Maui
Christian Recovery Resource Center
35 Halekuai St # 105, Kihei, HI
Dick B. and Ken B., Directors
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
808 874 4876 – dickb@dickb.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
A Partnership of
County of Maui Salvation Army
and
International Christian Recovery Coalition
Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide
Interviews, Assessments, Resources, Referrals
Christian Recovery Movement History
1850’s—Evangelists, Rescue Missions, Salvation Army, YMCA lay personal work, Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor; A.A. Cofounders, A.A. in Akron, A.A. Big Book 1939, Christians in recovery today
Personal, Confidential Meetings with Those
Afflicted with and Affected by Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Meetings Scheduled By Appointment – Call 808 874 4876
Gloria Deo
Christian Recovery Resource Center
35 Halekuai St # 105, Kihei, HI
Dick B. and Ken B., Directors
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
808 874 4876 – dickb@dickb.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
A Partnership of
County of Maui Salvation Army
and
International Christian Recovery Coalition
Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide
Interviews, Assessments, Resources, Referrals
Christian Recovery Movement History
1850’s—Evangelists, Rescue Missions, Salvation Army, YMCA lay personal work, Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor; A.A. Cofounders, A.A. in Akron, A.A. Big Book 1939, Christians in recovery today
Personal, Confidential Meetings with Those
Afflicted with and Affected by Alcoholism and Drug Addiction
Meetings Scheduled By Appointment – Call 808 874 4876
Gloria Deo
Christian Recovery Resource CentersA Project of the International Christian Recovery CoalitionDick B., Executive Director
Explanation and Purpose
Across the globe today, there are an estimated twenty million alcoholics and drug addicts who don’t know where to turn to get information about, find resources for, and overcome objections to, their seeking the help of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible.
There is no lack of Christian resources for recovery. The “depth” of the resources may be another matter entirely.
There is a relentless opposition to the seeking, mention of, and reliance upon such resources in the recovery arena today. Twelve Step Fellowship members frequently eschew mention of God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, church, and religion. Many among them have swallowed the idea that they can invent their own idea of a “power greater than themselves.” They tend to invent a self-made religion which claims to be “spiritual but not religious.” They frequently espouse the idea that there is a “higher power” that can help. They then go on to claim that this “higher power” can be a tree, a chair, a light bulb, a radiator, Santa Claus, the Great Pumpkin, Something, Somebody—any thing or “power” other than the Creator of the heavens and the earth. They leave their fellowships in droves—some relapsing, some turning to other alternatives, and some actually aligning themselves with some sort of Christian alternative. Even there, they often hear that any Twelve Step recovery effort is contrary to the Bible, dangerous for Christians, and ineffective in result.
Yet there are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Christian leaders, afflicted in recovery, and concerned others who want to stick with God. They don’t want to reject fellowships. They want to be healed, forgiven, delivered, loved, empowered, and assured of an everlasting life. They don’t want “manufactured” Christian programs with a spot of prayer, a spot of Bible, unlicensed Christian counselors, or lack of connections with vibrant church activities, dynamic Christian recovery fellowships, and skilled Christian Bible teachers, prayer leaders, and healing experts.
Mothers, brothers, spouses, grandparents, uncles, other relatives, and friends contact us almost daily with messages of bewilderment and despair. They say that they are dealing with an alcoholic or drug addict. They say that afflicted person does not want to quit. They say he is despondent and depressed. They say he gets into endless troubles—criminal, family, child-custody, tax, imprisonment, debt, divorce, and health, even suicide attempts. When asked if there is belief in God and a Christian affiliation, they may yes. But where can they find Christian help!
This plan attempts to provide an effective answer today. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Explanation and Purpose
Across the globe today, there are an estimated twenty million alcoholics and drug addicts who don’t know where to turn to get information about, find resources for, and overcome objections to, their seeking the help of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible.
There is no lack of Christian resources for recovery. The “depth” of the resources may be another matter entirely.
There is a relentless opposition to the seeking, mention of, and reliance upon such resources in the recovery arena today. Twelve Step Fellowship members frequently eschew mention of God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, church, and religion. Many among them have swallowed the idea that they can invent their own idea of a “power greater than themselves.” They tend to invent a self-made religion which claims to be “spiritual but not religious.” They frequently espouse the idea that there is a “higher power” that can help. They then go on to claim that this “higher power” can be a tree, a chair, a light bulb, a radiator, Santa Claus, the Great Pumpkin, Something, Somebody—any thing or “power” other than the Creator of the heavens and the earth. They leave their fellowships in droves—some relapsing, some turning to other alternatives, and some actually aligning themselves with some sort of Christian alternative. Even there, they often hear that any Twelve Step recovery effort is contrary to the Bible, dangerous for Christians, and ineffective in result.
Yet there are tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Christian leaders, afflicted in recovery, and concerned others who want to stick with God. They don’t want to reject fellowships. They want to be healed, forgiven, delivered, loved, empowered, and assured of an everlasting life. They don’t want “manufactured” Christian programs with a spot of prayer, a spot of Bible, unlicensed Christian counselors, or lack of connections with vibrant church activities, dynamic Christian recovery fellowships, and skilled Christian Bible teachers, prayer leaders, and healing experts.
Mothers, brothers, spouses, grandparents, uncles, other relatives, and friends contact us almost daily with messages of bewilderment and despair. They say that they are dealing with an alcoholic or drug addict. They say that afflicted person does not want to quit. They say he is despondent and depressed. They say he gets into endless troubles—criminal, family, child-custody, tax, imprisonment, debt, divorce, and health, even suicide attempts. When asked if there is belief in God and a Christian affiliation, they may yes. But where can they find Christian help!
This plan attempts to provide an effective answer today. www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
200 Cases of Free Dick B. History Books - Going...
Going . . .
Get One (or More!) FREE* Case(s) of New Dick B. Books
(* $30.00-per-case for USPS Media Mail Shipping and Handling)
Offer Expires March 31, 2011*
(* or sooner, if supplies are exhausted before then)
FREE* Dick B. Book Distribution Project Update
See our inventory of cases of new Dick B. books in Maui storage as of July 2009 here:
http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4
(You can use a credit or debit card, or PayPal, by clicking on the “Donate” button.)
Over about the last three weeks since we announced our FREE Dick B. book distribution project, we have shipped or distributed about 100 FREE* cases of new Dick B. books, and we have more orders waiting to be shipped. (We had to rent a U-Haul truck over the past two days just to get some of the cases to the U.S. Post Office.)
We have already had one person order 30 cases for distribution through a Christian treatment program. Another person just ordered 27 cases of books—three (3) cases of each of the nine (9) titles available. A third person ordered one case each of all nine of the available titles.
We still have a good number of cases of these four (4) titles: (1) New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and Alcoholics Anonymous; (2) Why Early A.A. Succeeded (Bible study primer); (3) By the Power of God (study groups and content); and (4) Turning Point (comprehensive history).
We only have a few cases left of the other five (5) titles. Order as many cases as you wish—WHILE SUPPLIES LAST—before March 31, 2011.
How Dick B.'s books are being used right now: (1) people give them away at clubs, meetings, churches, rehabs, transitional housing, Vet centers and programs, and hospitals and fellowships; (2) treatment programs distribute them to clients, students, or patients; or use them in classes or libraries or sober living; (3) outreach centers sell them, give them away, and/or have them in their libraries; (4) people give them to counselors and pastoral counselors, the homeless, sponsees, sponsors, friends, family, and stores; (5) individuals and organizations sell or raffle them to fund their Christian recovery outreach; and (6) some people tell us where they would like us to ship one or more cases of books, or they tell us to select the destination (as we know where we could send all of the remaining cases right now), and we ship the books on their behalf.
** Please note: each case has only one title in it. For example, a case of New Light on Alcoholism has 16 copies of New Light on Alcoholism in it. We do not have “mixed cases” available.
*** Please also note: USPS Media Mail usually takes 4-6 weeks to get from Maui to mainland destinations, as shipping by boat and truck (rather than by airmail) is involved.
Again—why are we giving away FREE* cases of new Dick B. (* with the only cost to you involved being $30.00 for USPS Media Mail Shipping and Handling)? Because most Dick B. titles are now available through Print-On-Demand (via www.DickB.com, www.Amazon.com, and www.BarnesAndNoble.com). Consequently, we no longer have to have benefactors help us get 5,000 or more copies of a given title printed, have the cases of books shipped from the printer to us on Maui, and have them warehoused on Maui until they are sold or given away. We would now like to bless you and your Christian recovery outreach by making available our Maui inventory cases of new Dick B. books until all of the cases are gone.
God Bless,
Dick B.
PO Box 837
Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Tel.: (808) 874 4876
Email: DickB@DickB.com
Dick B.'s main Web site: www.DickB.com
The International Christian Recovery Coalition: www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
The Free Dick B. Book Distribution Project:
http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/inventory.shtml
Gloria Deo
Get One (or More!) FREE* Case(s) of New Dick B. Books
(* $30.00-per-case for USPS Media Mail Shipping and Handling)
Offer Expires March 31, 2011*
(* or sooner, if supplies are exhausted before then)
FREE* Dick B. Book Distribution Project Update
See our inventory of cases of new Dick B. books in Maui storage as of July 2009 here:
http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4
(You can use a credit or debit card, or PayPal, by clicking on the “Donate” button.)
Over about the last three weeks since we announced our FREE Dick B. book distribution project, we have shipped or distributed about 100 FREE* cases of new Dick B. books, and we have more orders waiting to be shipped. (We had to rent a U-Haul truck over the past two days just to get some of the cases to the U.S. Post Office.)
We have already had one person order 30 cases for distribution through a Christian treatment program. Another person just ordered 27 cases of books—three (3) cases of each of the nine (9) titles available. A third person ordered one case each of all nine of the available titles.
We still have a good number of cases of these four (4) titles: (1) New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and Alcoholics Anonymous; (2) Why Early A.A. Succeeded (Bible study primer); (3) By the Power of God (study groups and content); and (4) Turning Point (comprehensive history).
We only have a few cases left of the other five (5) titles. Order as many cases as you wish—WHILE SUPPLIES LAST—before March 31, 2011.
How Dick B.'s books are being used right now: (1) people give them away at clubs, meetings, churches, rehabs, transitional housing, Vet centers and programs, and hospitals and fellowships; (2) treatment programs distribute them to clients, students, or patients; or use them in classes or libraries or sober living; (3) outreach centers sell them, give them away, and/or have them in their libraries; (4) people give them to counselors and pastoral counselors, the homeless, sponsees, sponsors, friends, family, and stores; (5) individuals and organizations sell or raffle them to fund their Christian recovery outreach; and (6) some people tell us where they would like us to ship one or more cases of books, or they tell us to select the destination (as we know where we could send all of the remaining cases right now), and we ship the books on their behalf.
** Please note: each case has only one title in it. For example, a case of New Light on Alcoholism has 16 copies of New Light on Alcoholism in it. We do not have “mixed cases” available.
*** Please also note: USPS Media Mail usually takes 4-6 weeks to get from Maui to mainland destinations, as shipping by boat and truck (rather than by airmail) is involved.
Again—why are we giving away FREE* cases of new Dick B. (* with the only cost to you involved being $30.00 for USPS Media Mail Shipping and Handling)? Because most Dick B. titles are now available through Print-On-Demand (via www.DickB.com, www.Amazon.com, and www.BarnesAndNoble.com). Consequently, we no longer have to have benefactors help us get 5,000 or more copies of a given title printed, have the cases of books shipped from the printer to us on Maui, and have them warehoused on Maui until they are sold or given away. We would now like to bless you and your Christian recovery outreach by making available our Maui inventory cases of new Dick B. books until all of the cases are gone.
God Bless,
Dick B.
PO Box 837
Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Tel.: (808) 874 4876
Email: DickB@DickB.com
Dick B.'s main Web site: www.DickB.com
The International Christian Recovery Coalition: www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
The Free Dick B. Book Distribution Project:
http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/inventory.shtml
Gloria Deo
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Christian Recovery Resource Centers - 3 More Added
The International Christian Recovery Coalition founded the Christian Recovery Resource Center Project on January 1, 2011. A number of Christian leaders and programs immediately established centers - and we will keep you posted from time to time. Or you can always look at www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. Or at the resource center page http://bit.ly/erD3tW.
Just today, three new Christian Recovery Resource Centers were established by:
Alcoholics For Christ, headed by Gary Seymour, located in Escondido, California
Celebrate a New Life, headed by Bobby Nicholl. This is a Christian Treatment Center located at San Juan Capistrano, California
The Oasis Center, Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., codirector. This is a community outreach center located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Just today, three new Christian Recovery Resource Centers were established by:
Alcoholics For Christ, headed by Gary Seymour, located in Escondido, California
Celebrate a New Life, headed by Bobby Nicholl. This is a Christian Treatment Center located at San Juan Capistrano, California
The Oasis Center, Karen A. Plavan, Ph.D., codirector. This is a community outreach center located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
A.A. History - Dick B. Betty Ford Ctr Awareness Hour Talk Online
Alcoholics Anonymous History Talk by A.A.'s leading unoffician historian Dick B. which was delivered at the Betty Ford Center Awareness Program held at the Annenberg Center on the campus of the Eisenhower Medical Center, Ranch Mirage, California in February, 2011.
Dick B. was invited to speak, tell his own recovery story, and review his extensive travels, research, speaking engagements, publications, and reports on the origins, history, founding, original A.A. Christian Fellowship program of 1935, and its astonishing successes.
Dick was introduced by long-time Betty Ford Consultant and Counselor Jerry McDonald
You may now hear the entire talk online at http://dickb.com/ongoing-talks.shtml
Dick B. was invited to speak, tell his own recovery story, and review his extensive travels, research, speaking engagements, publications, and reports on the origins, history, founding, original A.A. Christian Fellowship program of 1935, and its astonishing successes.
Dick was introduced by long-time Betty Ford Consultant and Counselor Jerry McDonald
You may now hear the entire talk online at http://dickb.com/ongoing-talks.shtml
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
A.A. History: Where to Find it. How to Use It
The origins, history, founding, original program, and astonishing successes of early A.A. as it was established in Akron in 1935 are a vital part of recovery, of leads, of study of the Big Book, of taking the Twelve Steps, and of helping others.
Where can you find these vital facts?
First, go to A.A. General Service Conference-approved books like DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, "Pass It On," Pamphlet P-53, and Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age.
Second, soon there will be a real rebirth of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in 1939, and from which almost all of the important stories have been removed. Therefore, one can study the new Hazelden publication of the original printer's manuscript and see the program as it was presented and then changed at the last minutes in 1939. Also, Dover Publications will shortly publish an affordable reprint of the First Edition with a good introduction to its importance, written by me. Finally, a dedicated oldtimer A.A. is about to prepare his commentary on the First Edition and work with us to make it available.
Third, I can think of no better materials of ours than the following three resources: (1) "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" - 4 DVD classes. See www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. (2) The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010. See www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml. (3) One or more of my historical titles such as When Early AAs Were Cured and Why, The Conversion of Bill W., and Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous. See www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.
God Bless, Dick B.
Where can you find these vital facts?
First, go to A.A. General Service Conference-approved books like DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, "Pass It On," Pamphlet P-53, and Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age.
Second, soon there will be a real rebirth of the First Edition of Alcoholics Anonymous, published in 1939, and from which almost all of the important stories have been removed. Therefore, one can study the new Hazelden publication of the original printer's manuscript and see the program as it was presented and then changed at the last minutes in 1939. Also, Dover Publications will shortly publish an affordable reprint of the First Edition with a good introduction to its importance, written by me. Finally, a dedicated oldtimer A.A. is about to prepare his commentary on the First Edition and work with us to make it available.
Third, I can think of no better materials of ours than the following three resources: (1) "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" - 4 DVD classes. See www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. (2) The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010. See www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml. (3) One or more of my historical titles such as When Early AAs Were Cured and Why, The Conversion of Bill W., and Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous. See www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.
God Bless, Dick B.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
New Need for Information on Comprehensive Christian Recovery Resources
Tens of thousands of alcoholics, addicts, A.A. members, concerned Christians, professional recovery workers, old-timers, and desperate family and other concerned friends and associates have contacted me over the past 20 years. They usually ask how they or their loved ones can get God's help. And do so within existing A.A., Christian, treatment, and counseling boundaries.
Twenty years ago, with A.A. drifting away from its Christian origins, history, founding, original program, and successes and some members, professionals, and religious focusing more and more on nonsense gods, "spirituality," and meetings, the cries for help were critical.
Did recovery people respond adequately? The answer, for the most part, is that they did not.
Publishing houses leaped to print Recovery or Twelve-Step Bibles - thousands of them.
Christian counselors sought licensing for Christian recovery counselors.
Attempts at Christian treatment and Christian track treatment programs were established.
Some clergy and Christians panned A.A.
Some AAs panned clergy and Christianity
A.A. "official" publications began announcing that you didn't have to believe in anything at all in order to recover from alcoholism.
All were probably well-meaning. All were offering half-measure solutions. And all were totally uninformed about the Christian recovery movement origins in the Salvation Army, YMCA, Rescue Missions, Evangelists, and Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. They didn't know much if anything about the original A.A. Christian fellowship program of 1935 and its successes. And they grasped at slender, irrelevant straws--talking about the Oxford Group, the Washingtonians, the Emanuel Movement, Emmet Fox. Anything but how the original AAs got well believing in God and coming to Him through Jesus Christ.
After 20 years of travel, research, interviews, gathering of materials, holding conferences and meetings, and talking to old-timer Christian AAs, we found a hunger for A New Way Out--a way which would foster reliance on God, honor the support A.A. provides, emphasize helping others, and returning to historical, spiritual tools like the Bible, Prayer, Quiet Time, Christian Fellowship, and Daily Devotions. Simple. Easy. Effective. But almost lost.
We offered and still offer several answers: (1) International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. (2) Christian Recovery Resource Centers http://bit.ly/erD3tW. (3) The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010 www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml. (4) "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. (5) The new Dick B. Handbook for Recovery Resource Centers. http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4. (6) A complete reference set of 29 of Dick B.'s titles on A.A. History and Biblical roots. See www.dickb.com.
The most important step now is to recognize the elements of a comprehensive Christian recovery effort: (1) Interview, inquiry, assessment, referral. (2) Immediate medical diagnosis and precautions against seizures and acute withdrawal problems. (3) Possible licensed Christian counseling. (4) Possible Christian intervention with Christian follow-through. (5) Possible Christian treatment or Christian track treatment that is adequate! (6) Family and children care emphasis--like old-time A.A. (7) Coordination with Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. (8) Coordination with Christian recovery meetings. (9) Bible study. (10) Prayer. (11) Quiet Time help. (12) Literature help. (13) After Care. (14) Alumni activity. (15) Church or religious comradeship. (16) Christian Recovery Fellowships. (17) Study groups. (18) Help in entering a new life in the community, employment, financial stability, education, vocational training, fitness, fellowship, and regular study and fellowship meetings. (19) Heavy emphasis on helping others. (20) Reliance on God for guidance, forgiveness, love, healing, fellowship, and revelation.
Dick B., dickb@dickb.com 808 874 4876.
Twenty years ago, with A.A. drifting away from its Christian origins, history, founding, original program, and successes and some members, professionals, and religious focusing more and more on nonsense gods, "spirituality," and meetings, the cries for help were critical.
Did recovery people respond adequately? The answer, for the most part, is that they did not.
Publishing houses leaped to print Recovery or Twelve-Step Bibles - thousands of them.
Christian counselors sought licensing for Christian recovery counselors.
Attempts at Christian treatment and Christian track treatment programs were established.
Some clergy and Christians panned A.A.
Some AAs panned clergy and Christianity
A.A. "official" publications began announcing that you didn't have to believe in anything at all in order to recover from alcoholism.
All were probably well-meaning. All were offering half-measure solutions. And all were totally uninformed about the Christian recovery movement origins in the Salvation Army, YMCA, Rescue Missions, Evangelists, and Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. They didn't know much if anything about the original A.A. Christian fellowship program of 1935 and its successes. And they grasped at slender, irrelevant straws--talking about the Oxford Group, the Washingtonians, the Emanuel Movement, Emmet Fox. Anything but how the original AAs got well believing in God and coming to Him through Jesus Christ.
After 20 years of travel, research, interviews, gathering of materials, holding conferences and meetings, and talking to old-timer Christian AAs, we found a hunger for A New Way Out--a way which would foster reliance on God, honor the support A.A. provides, emphasize helping others, and returning to historical, spiritual tools like the Bible, Prayer, Quiet Time, Christian Fellowship, and Daily Devotions. Simple. Easy. Effective. But almost lost.
We offered and still offer several answers: (1) International Christian Recovery Coalition www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. (2) Christian Recovery Resource Centers http://bit.ly/erD3tW. (3) The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010 www.dickb.com/Christian-Recov-Guide.shtml. (4) "Introductory Foundations for Christian Recovery" www.dickb.com/IFCR-Class.shtml. (5) The new Dick B. Handbook for Recovery Resource Centers. http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4. (6) A complete reference set of 29 of Dick B.'s titles on A.A. History and Biblical roots. See www.dickb.com.
The most important step now is to recognize the elements of a comprehensive Christian recovery effort: (1) Interview, inquiry, assessment, referral. (2) Immediate medical diagnosis and precautions against seizures and acute withdrawal problems. (3) Possible licensed Christian counseling. (4) Possible Christian intervention with Christian follow-through. (5) Possible Christian treatment or Christian track treatment that is adequate! (6) Family and children care emphasis--like old-time A.A. (7) Coordination with Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. (8) Coordination with Christian recovery meetings. (9) Bible study. (10) Prayer. (11) Quiet Time help. (12) Literature help. (13) After Care. (14) Alumni activity. (15) Church or religious comradeship. (16) Christian Recovery Fellowships. (17) Study groups. (18) Help in entering a new life in the community, employment, financial stability, education, vocational training, fitness, fellowship, and regular study and fellowship meetings. (19) Heavy emphasis on helping others. (20) Reliance on God for guidance, forgiveness, love, healing, fellowship, and revelation.
Dick B., dickb@dickb.com 808 874 4876.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Why Give Away Free 350 Cases of New Dick B. Books
Dick B. A.A. History
We Are Giving Away 350 Cases of New Books By Dick B.!
Free!*
(* $30.00 for Shipping and Handling)
Here's Why
Since we decided to make available 350 cases of my new A.A. history books (1 title in each case; often about 44 books per case), one long-time A.A. friend and 12-Stepper ordered 30 cases right away. Two AAs in NY each ordered nine (9) cases—for a total of 18 cases. And many others have contacted us to order one-to-five cases.The cases of books are free. We mail them via U.S. Postal Service Media Mail to conserve expense. We ask for $30.00-per-case to cover the cost of Shipping and Handling to get the cases from our storage on Maui to the Post Office and then to you. U.S. Postal Service Media Mail usually takes from four-to-six weeks to get to most destinations on the mainland because it goes by boat rather than by air.
Recipients are free to do with the books as they wish.
Why are we doing this?
First, because the entire purpose of A.A. and 12-Step fellowships is to "pass it on." In the past, a number of benefactors have paid to have our books printed, and we have thousands still on hand in inventory in Maui. Now that we have moved most of our titles into Print-On-Demand and therefore no longer have to warehouse large quantities of books in Maui, we have decided it is time to make those books we still have in storage available in large quantities at virtually no cost. This means that recipients can study them, donate them, distribute them, and let others have them in these days when times are tough financially. This is a once-only situation because 29 of my titles are now in print-on-demand—including the nine (9) titles we have in inventory here in Maui—and we have no need for the inventory which others generously funded. The cases of books we have in storage in Maui are yours free. We are only asking $30.00 per case to cover Shipping and Handling.
Second, there are quite a few titles on hand that have been much in demand. For example, The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (www.DickB.com/GoodBook.shtml) has been my most widely-read and sought-after book. Thousands have been printed, and sold or given away. Here is a list of the titles and number of cases of each we had on hand as of July 2009—and we have sold or given away some of those cases since then:
http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4
You will find instructions on that page as to exactly how to order one or more cases right now. The distribution is slow because we work with volunteers; and the books are in storage, so we have to go get them, re-tape the boxes for shipping, re-label them, affix postage, and transport them to the Post Office for shipping. (If you would like to read about each of the nine titles listed in the inventory above, please go here: http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.)
Third, there are more and more James Clubs, 12-Step groups, conferences, treatment folks, Christian recovery fellowships, churches, and individual 12-Steppers who want to bless others with free books; and that is what we hope to see.
The deadline for this offer is March 31, 2011—the end of the first calendar quarter in this year.
After that, these cases of books will be available only through purchase via my Web site: www.DickB.com.
May this effort bless those who choose to help others by distributing our rich and important history that has been researched, published, and disseminated for the last 20 years.God Bless,
Dick B.,
H/O: (808) 874-4876; or Ken B.'s cell: (808) 276-4945
DickB@DickB.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.comPO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
We Are Giving Away 350 Cases of New Books By Dick B.!
Free!*
(* $30.00 for Shipping and Handling)
Here's Why
Since we decided to make available 350 cases of my new A.A. history books (1 title in each case; often about 44 books per case), one long-time A.A. friend and 12-Stepper ordered 30 cases right away. Two AAs in NY each ordered nine (9) cases—for a total of 18 cases. And many others have contacted us to order one-to-five cases.The cases of books are free. We mail them via U.S. Postal Service Media Mail to conserve expense. We ask for $30.00-per-case to cover the cost of Shipping and Handling to get the cases from our storage on Maui to the Post Office and then to you. U.S. Postal Service Media Mail usually takes from four-to-six weeks to get to most destinations on the mainland because it goes by boat rather than by air.
Recipients are free to do with the books as they wish.
Why are we doing this?
First, because the entire purpose of A.A. and 12-Step fellowships is to "pass it on." In the past, a number of benefactors have paid to have our books printed, and we have thousands still on hand in inventory in Maui. Now that we have moved most of our titles into Print-On-Demand and therefore no longer have to warehouse large quantities of books in Maui, we have decided it is time to make those books we still have in storage available in large quantities at virtually no cost. This means that recipients can study them, donate them, distribute them, and let others have them in these days when times are tough financially. This is a once-only situation because 29 of my titles are now in print-on-demand—including the nine (9) titles we have in inventory here in Maui—and we have no need for the inventory which others generously funded. The cases of books we have in storage in Maui are yours free. We are only asking $30.00 per case to cover Shipping and Handling.
Second, there are quite a few titles on hand that have been much in demand. For example, The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible (www.DickB.com/GoodBook.shtml) has been my most widely-read and sought-after book. Thousands have been printed, and sold or given away. Here is a list of the titles and number of cases of each we had on hand as of July 2009—and we have sold or given away some of those cases since then:
http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4
You will find instructions on that page as to exactly how to order one or more cases right now. The distribution is slow because we work with volunteers; and the books are in storage, so we have to go get them, re-tape the boxes for shipping, re-label them, affix postage, and transport them to the Post Office for shipping. (If you would like to read about each of the nine titles listed in the inventory above, please go here: http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.)
Third, there are more and more James Clubs, 12-Step groups, conferences, treatment folks, Christian recovery fellowships, churches, and individual 12-Steppers who want to bless others with free books; and that is what we hope to see.
The deadline for this offer is March 31, 2011—the end of the first calendar quarter in this year.
After that, these cases of books will be available only through purchase via my Web site: www.DickB.com.
May this effort bless those who choose to help others by distributing our rich and important history that has been researched, published, and disseminated for the last 20 years.God Bless,
Dick B.,
H/O: (808) 874-4876; or Ken B.'s cell: (808) 276-4945
DickB@DickB.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.comPO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
A.A. Big Book First Edition to Have New Birth
Alcoholics Anonymous First Edition of 1939 about to be given a new birth.
Three different aspects--original printers' manuscript to be reviewed, reprint of A.A. 1939 First Edition with introduction that makes its purpose evident, and a work-in-progress sponsor guide by an oldtimer speaker.
Stay tuned for this fresh, forthcoming new opportunity to use the 1939 A.A. 12-Step program and its personal stories that give such a great view of how the A.A. program was applied then.
This new birth series will be coming soon from three different publication sources, and then accompanied by my articles and intros that pull the picture together - A.A. 1939 style.
There's the "old school" original Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship about which I have written so much.
Now there will be the 1939 A.A. Big Book approach which has been slashed to pieces by deleting almost all the personal stories, and also--despite what many say--changed!
dickb@dickb.com; www.mauihistorian.blogspot.com; www.dickb.com
Three different aspects--original printers' manuscript to be reviewed, reprint of A.A. 1939 First Edition with introduction that makes its purpose evident, and a work-in-progress sponsor guide by an oldtimer speaker.
Stay tuned for this fresh, forthcoming new opportunity to use the 1939 A.A. 12-Step program and its personal stories that give such a great view of how the A.A. program was applied then.
This new birth series will be coming soon from three different publication sources, and then accompanied by my articles and intros that pull the picture together - A.A. 1939 style.
There's the "old school" original Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship about which I have written so much.
Now there will be the 1939 A.A. Big Book approach which has been slashed to pieces by deleting almost all the personal stories, and also--despite what many say--changed!
dickb@dickb.com; www.mauihistorian.blogspot.com; www.dickb.com
Dick B. Reference Set (29 vol) to Harvard Divinity School
Entire reference set (29 vols) by A.A. Historian Dick B. just donated to Harvard Divinity School by Harvard Professor, Psychiatrist, Alumnus.
These 29 volumes contain the major portion of the research, writing, and published books by Dick B., who is a writer, historian, retired attorney, Bible student, CDAAC, and an active and recovered member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
www.dickb.com/titles.shtml
These 29 volumes contain the major portion of the research, writing, and published books by Dick B., who is a writer, historian, retired attorney, Bible student, CDAAC, and an active and recovered member of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
www.dickb.com/titles.shtml
Dick B. A.A. History - 350 Cases of New Books Free - Why!
Since we decided to make 350 cases of my new A.A. history books (1 title in each case; often about 44 books per case), one long-time AA friend and 12-Stepper has ordered 30 cases. Two AAs in NY have each ordered 9 cases (total of 18). And many others have contacted us to order one to five cases.
The cases are free. We mail them media mail to conserve expense. We ask for $30. per case to cover the cost of shipping and handling here on Maui. And they go by "slow boat" which is what media mail amounts to. But the recipients are free to do with them as they wish.
Why did we do this?
First, because the entire purpose of A.A. and 12-Step fellowships is to "pass it on." In the past, a number of benefactors have paid to have our books printed, and we have thousands still on hand in inventory in Maui. It's time to make those books available in large quantities at virtually no cost. This means that recipients can study them, donate them, distribute them, and let others have them in these days when times are tough financially. This is a once only situation because all 29 of my titles are now in print-on-demand and we have no need for the inventory which others generously funded. They are yours free - only the $30.00 per case s & h
Second, there are quite a few titles on hand that have been much in demand. For example, The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml has been my most widely read and sought after book. Thousands have been printed and sold or given away. All the remaining, in-stock, available inventory titles are specifically described in http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4. And that site tells you exactly how to order them now. The distribution is slow because we work with volunteers and the books are in storage, have to be obtained, transported to the Post Office, taped and labeled, stamped, and then sent.
Third, there are more and more James Clubs, 12-Step groups, conferences, treatment folks, Christian recovery fellowships, churches, and individual 12-Steppers who want to bless others with free books; and that is what we hope to see.
The deadline is March 31st. This only lasts as an offer until the end of the quarter. After that, my materials will be available only through purchase via my website www.dickb.com; amazon.com; barnes and noble; and ordering through a book store.
May this effort bless those who choose to help others by distributing our rich and important history that has been researched, published, and disseminated for the last 20 years.
God Bless, Dick B., C: 808 276 4945; dickb@dickb.com; www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com;
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
The cases are free. We mail them media mail to conserve expense. We ask for $30. per case to cover the cost of shipping and handling here on Maui. And they go by "slow boat" which is what media mail amounts to. But the recipients are free to do with them as they wish.
Why did we do this?
First, because the entire purpose of A.A. and 12-Step fellowships is to "pass it on." In the past, a number of benefactors have paid to have our books printed, and we have thousands still on hand in inventory in Maui. It's time to make those books available in large quantities at virtually no cost. This means that recipients can study them, donate them, distribute them, and let others have them in these days when times are tough financially. This is a once only situation because all 29 of my titles are now in print-on-demand and we have no need for the inventory which others generously funded. They are yours free - only the $30.00 per case s & h
Second, there are quite a few titles on hand that have been much in demand. For example, The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml has been my most widely read and sought after book. Thousands have been printed and sold or given away. All the remaining, in-stock, available inventory titles are specifically described in http://mcaf.ee/f6ed4. And that site tells you exactly how to order them now. The distribution is slow because we work with volunteers and the books are in storage, have to be obtained, transported to the Post Office, taped and labeled, stamped, and then sent.
Third, there are more and more James Clubs, 12-Step groups, conferences, treatment folks, Christian recovery fellowships, churches, and individual 12-Steppers who want to bless others with free books; and that is what we hope to see.
The deadline is March 31st. This only lasts as an offer until the end of the quarter. After that, my materials will be available only through purchase via my website www.dickb.com; amazon.com; barnes and noble; and ordering through a book store.
May this effort bless those who choose to help others by distributing our rich and important history that has been researched, published, and disseminated for the last 20 years.
God Bless, Dick B., C: 808 276 4945; dickb@dickb.com; www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com;
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
The "Mustard Seed" Project Starts Now - A New Way Out
The Maui Christian Recovery Resource Center
a project of
The International Christian Recovery Coalition
P.O. Box 837, Kihei, Maui, HI 96753-0837
(808) 874-4876 or (808) 276-4945
DickB@DickB.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
The “Mustard Seed” Project Starts Now—A New Way Out
My son, Rev. Ken B., and I have just completed three exploratory Christian recovery efforts:
Over the past 2 ¼ years, we have traveled widely in California and Oahu taking the temperature of the Christian recovery needs, existing enthusiasm, and potential for Christian recovery growth.
· We have spoken at more than 25 conferences and meetings to learn the facts and resources.
· We attended and spoke at the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ACADC) Institute in Palm Springs. We introduced the Christian Recovery Resource Centers project and learned how licensed Christian recovery counseling might fit in.
· We just returned from giving a lecture as part of “The Alcohol and Other Drugs Awareness Hour” lecture series held at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences on the Eisenhower Medical Center campus in Rancho Mirage, California. (This lecture series is also known as the “Betty Ford Center Alcohol Awareness Hour.”) The talk was open to the patients, alumni, and staff of the Betty Ford Center's rehabilitation program, as well as to the general public. We were privileged to learn the broad scope of a top-notch treatment program—including possible intervention, assessment, detox, counseling, treatment, family and children programs, fitness facilities, aftercare, and alumni work. We also learned a great deal about the interaction of the programs with Alcoholics Anonymous and professionals.
The bottom line is that we are more convinced than ever that a new, onrushing, Christian recovery movement is in progress. It needs to be A.A.-friendly, Bible-friendly, and Treatment-friendly; and it needs to be founded on a knowledge of the Christian roots of A.A. It also needs to work harmoniously and interactively with 12-Step programs, Christian recovery facilities and programs, medical and intervention skills, family and child orientations, biblical truths, prayer habits, fitness, aftercare, sober living, and a new life plan—“A New Way Out!”
So we returned to sunny, beautiful, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii.
And we were blessed to have two different families interact with us upon our return—both very much in need of help with the usual difficulties surrounding alcoholism and drug addiction,. They have cried out for Christian help.
The parents and the children in need are Christians. The parents are amenable to a full-bore approach that utilizes medical help and evaluation; Christian churches and fellowships; 12-Step program principles, practices, and participation; comprehensive treatment embracing professional counseling, intervention, and an emphasis on Bible study and prayer; and solving the problems that occur during the course of obtaining and securing sobriety.
We will begin now! We hope soon to have a local office for meetings. We hope to attract committed Christian helpers in the medical (including psychiatry and psychology), religious, counseling, substance abuse, community resource, fitness, and sober living fields—all the while encouraging all to learn the Christian origins and highly-effective program of early A.A., and the application of early A.A.'s principles and practices in the 12-Step fellowships today.
We will act as para-counselors who meet with those in need; assess their problems; apprise them of resources—Christian and otherwise—which will be helpful to their recovery; and suggest references in the areas of intervention, detox, counseling, fellowships, 12-Step programs, treatment, aftercare, and community assistance.
Our capabilities stem from Dick B.’s 24 years of continuous sobriety; his writings about, and knowledge of, the recovery movement, and A.A. history and fellowships; his long work with suffering alcoholics and addicts in the 12-Step scene; and his work with Rev. Ken B. in Bible fellowships consisting almost exclusively of Christian AAs seeking to get well with the help of the power and love of God.
What do we ask? Spread the word. Watch for developments. Suggest resources. Volunteer to help us meet needs. Provide needed transportation, community assistance, and appropriate referral opportunities.
For more information concerning “Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons” worldwide, please see:
http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-resource-centers.shtml
We look forward to hearing from you.
Dick B., J.D., CDAAC
Writer, Historian, Retired attorney, Bible student, recovered alcoholic
Executive Director, the International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.DickB.com
a project of
The International Christian Recovery Coalition
P.O. Box 837, Kihei, Maui, HI 96753-0837
(808) 874-4876 or (808) 276-4945
DickB@DickB.com
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
The “Mustard Seed” Project Starts Now—A New Way Out
My son, Rev. Ken B., and I have just completed three exploratory Christian recovery efforts:
Over the past 2 ¼ years, we have traveled widely in California and Oahu taking the temperature of the Christian recovery needs, existing enthusiasm, and potential for Christian recovery growth.
· We have spoken at more than 25 conferences and meetings to learn the facts and resources.
· We attended and spoke at the Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors (ACADC) Institute in Palm Springs. We introduced the Christian Recovery Resource Centers project and learned how licensed Christian recovery counseling might fit in.
· We just returned from giving a lecture as part of “The Alcohol and Other Drugs Awareness Hour” lecture series held at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences on the Eisenhower Medical Center campus in Rancho Mirage, California. (This lecture series is also known as the “Betty Ford Center Alcohol Awareness Hour.”) The talk was open to the patients, alumni, and staff of the Betty Ford Center's rehabilitation program, as well as to the general public. We were privileged to learn the broad scope of a top-notch treatment program—including possible intervention, assessment, detox, counseling, treatment, family and children programs, fitness facilities, aftercare, and alumni work. We also learned a great deal about the interaction of the programs with Alcoholics Anonymous and professionals.
The bottom line is that we are more convinced than ever that a new, onrushing, Christian recovery movement is in progress. It needs to be A.A.-friendly, Bible-friendly, and Treatment-friendly; and it needs to be founded on a knowledge of the Christian roots of A.A. It also needs to work harmoniously and interactively with 12-Step programs, Christian recovery facilities and programs, medical and intervention skills, family and child orientations, biblical truths, prayer habits, fitness, aftercare, sober living, and a new life plan—“A New Way Out!”
So we returned to sunny, beautiful, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii.
And we were blessed to have two different families interact with us upon our return—both very much in need of help with the usual difficulties surrounding alcoholism and drug addiction,. They have cried out for Christian help.
The parents and the children in need are Christians. The parents are amenable to a full-bore approach that utilizes medical help and evaluation; Christian churches and fellowships; 12-Step program principles, practices, and participation; comprehensive treatment embracing professional counseling, intervention, and an emphasis on Bible study and prayer; and solving the problems that occur during the course of obtaining and securing sobriety.
We will begin now! We hope soon to have a local office for meetings. We hope to attract committed Christian helpers in the medical (including psychiatry and psychology), religious, counseling, substance abuse, community resource, fitness, and sober living fields—all the while encouraging all to learn the Christian origins and highly-effective program of early A.A., and the application of early A.A.'s principles and practices in the 12-Step fellowships today.
We will act as para-counselors who meet with those in need; assess their problems; apprise them of resources—Christian and otherwise—which will be helpful to their recovery; and suggest references in the areas of intervention, detox, counseling, fellowships, 12-Step programs, treatment, aftercare, and community assistance.
Our capabilities stem from Dick B.’s 24 years of continuous sobriety; his writings about, and knowledge of, the recovery movement, and A.A. history and fellowships; his long work with suffering alcoholics and addicts in the 12-Step scene; and his work with Rev. Ken B. in Bible fellowships consisting almost exclusively of Christian AAs seeking to get well with the help of the power and love of God.
What do we ask? Spread the word. Watch for developments. Suggest resources. Volunteer to help us meet needs. Provide needed transportation, community assistance, and appropriate referral opportunities.
For more information concerning “Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons” worldwide, please see:
http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-resource-centers.shtml
We look forward to hearing from you.
Dick B., J.D., CDAAC
Writer, Historian, Retired attorney, Bible student, recovered alcoholic
Executive Director, the International Christian Recovery Coalition
www.DickB.com
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
What Our Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Can Do For You
From The Dick B. Handbook for Christian Recovery Resource Centers and Persons Worldwide
What You May Not Find or Hear When You Cry Out for Help
And
How Our Christian Resource Centers or Persons May Help
A Preliminary talk with a recovered Christian alcoholic, addict, or co-dependent, possibly an AA or NA who has overcome problems with the power and love of God and can share with you.
Where to go for professional, licensed Christian alcohol, drug, and codependency counseling, and what to read about it if you wish.
Whether immediate medical diagnosis, assistance, and detoxification are needed, and
where to find it – even in the Emergency Room.
How to locate and evaluate the possibility of an intervention by a skilled interventionist
who will use love first; not just break down the patient or family; but insure that a willing
alcoholic or addict, or family or friend will also seek God’s help and be able to find it.
Learn why the original A.A. Christian Fellowship program founded in Akron in 1935—and its predecessors in the YMCA, Salvation Army, Rescue Missions, Revivals, and
Young People’s Christian Endeavor Society—was so enormously successful through
reliance on the help of God.
Recognize that help can only begin if:
The alcoholic or addict believes he or she is licked, really wants help, and is willing to listen and cooperate to overcome all his or her problems.
The family, friends, relatives, employers, teachers, and others don’t think they
can—by themselves--“fix” or “force” or “persuade” the alcoholic or addict to seek help.
The afflicted alcoholic or addict concedes, through learning, that he or she is beyond his own help or the help of others, that he or she has a glimpse at how to find out if there is an uncontrolled alcohol and/or drug problem; wants to quit permanently, get well, end the misery, decide to act, determin to do whatever it takes, and discipline himself to stick with the effort.
The afflicted and the affected stop tolerating recidivism, relapse, and revolving
door treatment and go for the gold—complete recovery, hard-won, once and for all.
There is a glimpse at the idea that nothing changes if nothing changes—that the afflicted and affected need new friends (not former tempters or dealers); new
playgrounds (bars, or dark and slippery places); new ideas about their problems;
and new tools to use to overcome temptation, guilt, shame, fear, anger, dishonesty, and trouble.
In our opinion, believes or is willing to believe in and seek God; understands what it means to become a child of the one true living Creator—and how to become a
Christ and come to God in that way; understands the importance of appropriate
prayer; recognizes the need for Bible training; sees the necessity for keeping
company with healthy, convicted, loving fellow believers; and wants to have
fellowship with God, His Son Jesus Christ, and like-minded children of God.
Understands that “old school” (the original) A.A. program was astonishingly simple,
successful, and based on reliance on God, cleaning house, and then helping others.
Understands that “old school” A.A. is quite compatible with 12-Step programs today even for those who want God’s help because A.A. General Service Conference-approved
Literature (the Big Book, 12 Steps, and selected literature) talk about God, Jesus Christ,
the Bible, prayer, healing, religious growth, and church. They also now condone people
with other beliefs, no beliefs, or outright rejection of God. No matter! The support of A.A. is a treasure without price if one knows the pitfalls.
Understands that there is idolatry, secularism, an array of “nonsense gods,” a good deal
of Christian bashing, religion bashing, church bashing, and A.A. bashing today that is
perhaps more compelling toward leaving A.A. and returning to the hog wallow again.
Understands that a comprehensive Christian recovery today may require committed
utilization of all the following items – many just mentioned.
Qualifying the alcoholic and addict as conceding his helplessness, understanding that
Determined and disciplined effort are needed to overcome it, and insisting that all
The former temptations, dangerous habits, and the like must be dumped!
Medical assistance or detoxification
Perhaps competent Christian intervention and referral
Early insistence on belief in God and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Early introduction to the Christian origins, history, founding, original program, successes, and changes in the recovery movement and 12-Step groups.
Perhaps competent licensed or lawful Christian counseling.
Perhaps competent Christian pastoral counseling.
Perhaps competent Christian chaplaincy at institutions where the patient may be.
Continued medical monitoring.
Effective Christian residential or outpatient treatment.
Concurring Christian treatment for family, children, codependents
Participation at A.A. or 12-Step programs and meetings and cooperation there.
Participation in Christian Recovery Fellowships – now proliferating around the world.
Bible instruction and study
Prayer instruction and meetings
Individual Quiet Times – Prayer, Bible, Devotionals, Seeking guidance, Sharing
Competent Big Book and 12-Step instruction for those pursuing 12-Step as well.
Christian Aftercare
Supervised Christian sober living
Church or Bible Fellowship
Unselfish, unremunerated, vigorous work with unrecovered alcoholics, addicts, and codependents. This is the missing link today. Call them 12-Step calls. Call them Sponsors. Call them Disciplers. Call them Twelfth-steppers. Call them compassionate recovered drunks or druggies. They need to help others. They can help others. And they are missing a major ingredient of the original recovery movement ideas.
Assistance in obtaining assistance in the community – for veterans, elderly, children, mentally impaired, disabled, indigent, homeless, abandoned, incarcerated, needing
Financial counseling and relief, facing legal and criminal proceedings, divorce and
Child custody matters, marital and family counseling, psychiatric help.
A plan for new dedication to serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ;
turning to the Bible and God’s revelation for details on salvation, healing, forgiveness, guidance, comfort and consolation, peace and love, the principles and teachings of
Jesus Christ, and the results described in the Book of Acts regarding early Christianity.
What You May Not Find or Hear When You Cry Out for Help
And
How Our Christian Resource Centers or Persons May Help
A Preliminary talk with a recovered Christian alcoholic, addict, or co-dependent, possibly an AA or NA who has overcome problems with the power and love of God and can share with you.
Where to go for professional, licensed Christian alcohol, drug, and codependency counseling, and what to read about it if you wish.
Whether immediate medical diagnosis, assistance, and detoxification are needed, and
where to find it – even in the Emergency Room.
How to locate and evaluate the possibility of an intervention by a skilled interventionist
who will use love first; not just break down the patient or family; but insure that a willing
alcoholic or addict, or family or friend will also seek God’s help and be able to find it.
Learn why the original A.A. Christian Fellowship program founded in Akron in 1935—and its predecessors in the YMCA, Salvation Army, Rescue Missions, Revivals, and
Young People’s Christian Endeavor Society—was so enormously successful through
reliance on the help of God.
Recognize that help can only begin if:
The alcoholic or addict believes he or she is licked, really wants help, and is willing to listen and cooperate to overcome all his or her problems.
The family, friends, relatives, employers, teachers, and others don’t think they
can—by themselves--“fix” or “force” or “persuade” the alcoholic or addict to seek help.
The afflicted alcoholic or addict concedes, through learning, that he or she is beyond his own help or the help of others, that he or she has a glimpse at how to find out if there is an uncontrolled alcohol and/or drug problem; wants to quit permanently, get well, end the misery, decide to act, determin to do whatever it takes, and discipline himself to stick with the effort.
The afflicted and the affected stop tolerating recidivism, relapse, and revolving
door treatment and go for the gold—complete recovery, hard-won, once and for all.
There is a glimpse at the idea that nothing changes if nothing changes—that the afflicted and affected need new friends (not former tempters or dealers); new
playgrounds (bars, or dark and slippery places); new ideas about their problems;
and new tools to use to overcome temptation, guilt, shame, fear, anger, dishonesty, and trouble.
In our opinion, believes or is willing to believe in and seek God; understands what it means to become a child of the one true living Creator—and how to become a
Christ and come to God in that way; understands the importance of appropriate
prayer; recognizes the need for Bible training; sees the necessity for keeping
company with healthy, convicted, loving fellow believers; and wants to have
fellowship with God, His Son Jesus Christ, and like-minded children of God.
Understands that “old school” (the original) A.A. program was astonishingly simple,
successful, and based on reliance on God, cleaning house, and then helping others.
Understands that “old school” A.A. is quite compatible with 12-Step programs today even for those who want God’s help because A.A. General Service Conference-approved
Literature (the Big Book, 12 Steps, and selected literature) talk about God, Jesus Christ,
the Bible, prayer, healing, religious growth, and church. They also now condone people
with other beliefs, no beliefs, or outright rejection of God. No matter! The support of A.A. is a treasure without price if one knows the pitfalls.
Understands that there is idolatry, secularism, an array of “nonsense gods,” a good deal
of Christian bashing, religion bashing, church bashing, and A.A. bashing today that is
perhaps more compelling toward leaving A.A. and returning to the hog wallow again.
Understands that a comprehensive Christian recovery today may require committed
utilization of all the following items – many just mentioned.
Qualifying the alcoholic and addict as conceding his helplessness, understanding that
Determined and disciplined effort are needed to overcome it, and insisting that all
The former temptations, dangerous habits, and the like must be dumped!
Medical assistance or detoxification
Perhaps competent Christian intervention and referral
Early insistence on belief in God and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Early introduction to the Christian origins, history, founding, original program, successes, and changes in the recovery movement and 12-Step groups.
Perhaps competent licensed or lawful Christian counseling.
Perhaps competent Christian pastoral counseling.
Perhaps competent Christian chaplaincy at institutions where the patient may be.
Continued medical monitoring.
Effective Christian residential or outpatient treatment.
Concurring Christian treatment for family, children, codependents
Participation at A.A. or 12-Step programs and meetings and cooperation there.
Participation in Christian Recovery Fellowships – now proliferating around the world.
Bible instruction and study
Prayer instruction and meetings
Individual Quiet Times – Prayer, Bible, Devotionals, Seeking guidance, Sharing
Competent Big Book and 12-Step instruction for those pursuing 12-Step as well.
Christian Aftercare
Supervised Christian sober living
Church or Bible Fellowship
Unselfish, unremunerated, vigorous work with unrecovered alcoholics, addicts, and codependents. This is the missing link today. Call them 12-Step calls. Call them Sponsors. Call them Disciplers. Call them Twelfth-steppers. Call them compassionate recovered drunks or druggies. They need to help others. They can help others. And they are missing a major ingredient of the original recovery movement ideas.
Assistance in obtaining assistance in the community – for veterans, elderly, children, mentally impaired, disabled, indigent, homeless, abandoned, incarcerated, needing
Financial counseling and relief, facing legal and criminal proceedings, divorce and
Child custody matters, marital and family counseling, psychiatric help.
A plan for new dedication to serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ;
turning to the Bible and God’s revelation for details on salvation, healing, forgiveness, guidance, comfort and consolation, peace and love, the principles and teachings of
Jesus Christ, and the results described in the Book of Acts regarding early Christianity.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Headline: Illinois cuts drug treatment to save and My reply
Treatment is not the only answer to alcoholism and drug addiction. It can be an adjunct. Folks are slipping away from the lessons and solutions learned by the early A.A. fellowship founded in 1935. And AAs themselves are slipping away from the spiritual origins. The result is to rely on scholars, scientists, professionals who are moving away from reliance on God and toward the human solution which failed to bring about the healing of alcoholics and led to the spiritual solution that desperate "medically incurable" worst-of--the-worst cases sought and developed. As long as there is government money to throw at a problem like alcoholism, there will be sixty folks trying to make money work. Today, it is unpopular to hear people talk about the help available from God and a fellowship like A.A. But I sought both and any other help I could afford. Almost 25 years later--of continuous sobriety--I would never mourn the loss of treatment. I'd worry about the loss of God and A.A. www.dickb.com/Godandalcoholism.shtml
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Rumor of My Demise Highly Overstated - in fact ridiculous
One aging AA who has spent years trying to suppress my A.A. history writings (without success) has just launched a new straw man. He claims I am about to enter a nursing home.
Not true. This provides me with another opportunity to state:
1. There are no nursing homes on the beach or oceanfront at my Kihei, Maui, condo.
2. There are no nursing homes out on the ocean where we watch the whales dive and sport daily.
3. There is no nursing home where I am speaking Saturday at the Betty Ford Awareness Program.
4. There is no nursing home at the U.S. post office where we are busy shipping out the 350 new book cases to bless folks in Canada, UK, and US who are seeking them.
5. There is no nursing home at the print-on-demand facility where we daily send your orders for new books out of the total 42 I have written.
6. I was told, though, to be kind to my children because they would select my nursing home. For that reason, I am the epitome of kindness to kids - and will be for many years to come.
God Bless, Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition.
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Not true. This provides me with another opportunity to state:
1. There are no nursing homes on the beach or oceanfront at my Kihei, Maui, condo.
2. There are no nursing homes out on the ocean where we watch the whales dive and sport daily.
3. There is no nursing home where I am speaking Saturday at the Betty Ford Awareness Program.
4. There is no nursing home at the U.S. post office where we are busy shipping out the 350 new book cases to bless folks in Canada, UK, and US who are seeking them.
5. There is no nursing home at the print-on-demand facility where we daily send your orders for new books out of the total 42 I have written.
6. I was told, though, to be kind to my children because they would select my nursing home. For that reason, I am the epitome of kindness to kids - and will be for many years to come.
God Bless, Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition.
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Four, fair-minded A.A. history workers who helped me
Through the years--twenty in fact--I have worked with and benefitted from the labors of four AAs who deserve mention in these days when so many folks are dividing themselves into camps and barring the activities of others. One talented historical writer with immense sobriety has often spoken of the need for "freedom of speech" when it comes to writing about A.A. And these men provide a venue for just that.
Here they are in the order of my experience:
Ozzie L., of East Dorset, Vermont. Ozzie was the founder of the Wilson House. After he completed renovation of that historical museum, he set to work on the Griffith House where Bill Wilson was raised. Ozzie worked tirelessly until his death building book cases, research areas, and antique reminders of the Wilson days. But in my case, he decided to welcome my entire collection of 23,000 historical items, find a place for them, and catalogue them. And, fair minded as he was, he also welcomed the treasures of many others who had gathered or written on A.A. history. Today, the Griffith Library, East Dorset, Vermont, is the crown jewel repository of unbiased A.A. history presentations.
Diaz of Oklahoma. He began building the aabibliography website from scratch. And he gathered materials relevant to A.A. history from a myriad of sources - Oxford Group literature, the Bible, Rev. Shoemaker materials, devotionals, and historical writings by AAs of all stripes and colors. Diaz worked very very hard on a shoestring to build his website into one of the most comprehensive historical repositories on the web. He too has been impartial and fairminded in publishing the works of many, including myself, who are not always in agreement. But it was historical content that Diaz sought and posted. And it is still a great A.A. history resource.
Cory F. of Minnesota. He aligned himself with the 2000 A.A. International Convention activities in Minneapolis. He arranged for all sorts of A.A. speakers, including me. And then he arranged for the formation of Archives 2000 on the internet. Cory too was hardworking--moving forward on a shoestring. He welcomed writings from a great variety of A.A. historians, including me. And it mattered little to him whether they were Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish. If they had said something relevant, he selected the best of the writings and posted them for all to see. In addition, he gathered many historical archival materials and began posting them. He was a bird dog when it came to hunting down historical treasures. And he too was fair-minded--a pleasure to work with.
Jim who worked tirelessly on Silkworth.net. He had previously posted historical materials on another A.A. site, but found materials, including mine, being barred. Then Jim began an organizing and gathering of all kinds of historical manuscripts, writings, and articles, including mine. He helped the huge expansion of the Silkworth site to something in addition to an excellent historical resource about Dr. William D. Silkworth. He has probably the best historical website of them all. And he lays everything from every source before the viewer's eyes, in an extremely organized display, and censors nothing--though colleagues often try to push him in other directions. Today, though he no longer works alone, Jim is a man of faith. He is a man of integrity. He is courteous, kind, and fair. And his open-minded willingness to tell things the way the are instead of the way someone says they were is a tribute to the history gang of which I am a part.
The foregoing are my opinions. They endeavor to preserve the anonymity of the four stellar workers. And in my judgment they reflect what I believe is absolutely necessary if the revelation of long obscured, ignored, distorted, and missing variety of A.A. history is to become available and applicable to the recovery of the afflicted and the affected today. These four deserve our gratitude, and they sure have mine! Dick B.
Here they are in the order of my experience:
Ozzie L., of East Dorset, Vermont. Ozzie was the founder of the Wilson House. After he completed renovation of that historical museum, he set to work on the Griffith House where Bill Wilson was raised. Ozzie worked tirelessly until his death building book cases, research areas, and antique reminders of the Wilson days. But in my case, he decided to welcome my entire collection of 23,000 historical items, find a place for them, and catalogue them. And, fair minded as he was, he also welcomed the treasures of many others who had gathered or written on A.A. history. Today, the Griffith Library, East Dorset, Vermont, is the crown jewel repository of unbiased A.A. history presentations.
Diaz of Oklahoma. He began building the aabibliography website from scratch. And he gathered materials relevant to A.A. history from a myriad of sources - Oxford Group literature, the Bible, Rev. Shoemaker materials, devotionals, and historical writings by AAs of all stripes and colors. Diaz worked very very hard on a shoestring to build his website into one of the most comprehensive historical repositories on the web. He too has been impartial and fairminded in publishing the works of many, including myself, who are not always in agreement. But it was historical content that Diaz sought and posted. And it is still a great A.A. history resource.
Cory F. of Minnesota. He aligned himself with the 2000 A.A. International Convention activities in Minneapolis. He arranged for all sorts of A.A. speakers, including me. And then he arranged for the formation of Archives 2000 on the internet. Cory too was hardworking--moving forward on a shoestring. He welcomed writings from a great variety of A.A. historians, including me. And it mattered little to him whether they were Roman Catholic, Protestant, or Jewish. If they had said something relevant, he selected the best of the writings and posted them for all to see. In addition, he gathered many historical archival materials and began posting them. He was a bird dog when it came to hunting down historical treasures. And he too was fair-minded--a pleasure to work with.
Jim who worked tirelessly on Silkworth.net. He had previously posted historical materials on another A.A. site, but found materials, including mine, being barred. Then Jim began an organizing and gathering of all kinds of historical manuscripts, writings, and articles, including mine. He helped the huge expansion of the Silkworth site to something in addition to an excellent historical resource about Dr. William D. Silkworth. He has probably the best historical website of them all. And he lays everything from every source before the viewer's eyes, in an extremely organized display, and censors nothing--though colleagues often try to push him in other directions. Today, though he no longer works alone, Jim is a man of faith. He is a man of integrity. He is courteous, kind, and fair. And his open-minded willingness to tell things the way the are instead of the way someone says they were is a tribute to the history gang of which I am a part.
The foregoing are my opinions. They endeavor to preserve the anonymity of the four stellar workers. And in my judgment they reflect what I believe is absolutely necessary if the revelation of long obscured, ignored, distorted, and missing variety of A.A. history is to become available and applicable to the recovery of the afflicted and the affected today. These four deserve our gratitude, and they sure have mine! Dick B.
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