The International Christian Recovery Coalition was organized just about three years ago after a Christian Recovery Leaders Nationwide Conference at Mariners Church Community Center in Irvine, California.
It has grown in participants, leaders, speakers, fellowships, churches, treatment work, media dissemination, articles, blogs, resource centers, a ChristianRecoveryRadio.com site, a 27 video class presentation on "Stick with the Winners," a Guidebook called "Stick with the Winners" that tells how to conduct recovery meetings using Conference-approved literature, the editions of The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, and a number of other projects including a large number of conferences, seminars, and personal meetings with Christian recovery leaders, workers, newcomers, and the public..
It costs nothing to be listed as a participant.
The mission is very simple: (1) The International Christian Recovery Coalition is an informal fellowship worldwide. (2) Its participants help disseminate facts about the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible played in the origins, history, founding, original Christian Fellowship program of Akron A.A., June of 1935. (3) Suggesting as well the role they can and will play today for those who want God's help in overcoming alcoholism, addiction, and life-controlling problems; and are willing to go to any lengths to do so. (4) Applying the principles and practices--which actually were the principles and practices of the Apostles in First Century Christianity as recorded in the Book of Acts--in recovery programs, fellowships, groups, meetings, treatment, counseling, and outreach today. Just as was done in "old school" early A.A. and its Akron Christian Fellowship.
Our suggestions to those who may want to become participants and help implement the mission:
Check out the International Christian Recovery Coalition website by going to and looking at www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com. Look at the participants, mission, and projects.
If you approve, simply send a listing of yourself or your organization to dickb@dickb.com -listing something like the following:
"John Smith, Recovered believer, Serenity Group Fellowship, 4444 Hiawatha Street, Keeokuk, KS 99999, phone: , email: . URL..... if any."
"Walla Walla Christian Treatment Center, [address, city, state, zip, phone, email, URL"
You will then be listed on the website as a participant in the Coalition.
There is no cost involved.
You are welcome whether as an enthusiast, endorser, benefactor, named participant, or anonymous "member."
And you can belong, serve, and contribute in your own area of interest--newcomer, oldtimer, 12-Stepper, speaker, secretary, clergyman, recovery pastor, recovery group leader, Christian recovery fellowship leader or worker, treatment program director, Christian counseling, rehab or detox work, Christian intervention, chaplaincy, medicine, psychiatry, psychology, therapy, teaching, social work, prisons, homeless, at-risk people, young people, hospital, Christian residential treatment, sober living, transitional housing, academic institution, bridge group, non-profit agency, government agency, research, history, archives, 12-Step service or employment, pharmaceuticals, etc.
To ask questions, receive further information, offer help, or become listed, feel free to contact Dick B. at dickb@dickb.com, 808 874 4876, or Ken B. at 808 276 4945, or write Dick B. at
PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Buying and Using The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide Today
To see the contents, subjects, and mission of The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., and also to see how to acquire a copy, see: http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-guide.shtml
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
"Bill W." Facts or Films
Dick B.’s Documented Account
of the Story of Bill Wilson, Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Influences on Wilson
[In reply to a question about Oxford Group influences, if any, on Bill Wilson]
Dick B.
Copyright 2012 Anonymous. All rights resereved
“Thank you for asking about the possible influence of the
Oxford Group on Bill Wilson.
Actually, there were many influences on his A.A. ideas, as
there were in the case of Dr. Bob: They definitely include, and I have
documented, the following:
1. The Bible.
2. The Christian organizations and people that preceded and
influenced AA: a) Evangelists like Dwight Moody and F. B. Meyer; b) Gospel
Rescue Missions; c) Lay brethren of Young Men's Christian Association; d)
Salvation Army; e) Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor; f) Oxford
Group; g)Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.
3. The Christian
upbringing of Wilson in the East Dorset Congregational Church, the Bible
studies he did with grandfather Griffith and friend Mark Whalon, the conversion
and cure of his grandfather Willie Wilson, the sermons and revivals and
conversions and temperance meetings he attended, his 4 years at Burr and Burton
Academy where he took a four year Bible study course, went to daily chapel at
this Congregationalist school, and was president of and active in the school's
Young Men's Christian Association.
5. The advice of his physician Dr. Silkworth on his third
visit to Towns Hospital; that he would die or go insane if he didn't stop
drinking; and that the Great Physician Jesus Christ could cure him.
6. The visits from his friend Ebby Thacher, telling him: a)
that he (Ebby) had been to the altar at Calvary Rescue Mission, been born
again, got religion; b) that he (Ebby) had learned several things from the
Oxford Group friends (Rowland Hazard, Shep Cornell, and Cebra Graves) about
Christian subjects he had studied as a youngster, and also about the power of
prayer, about the Oxford Group[ program, about Dr. Carl Jung's advice to
Rowland that he (Rowland) could be helped if he had a "vital religious
experience"--a conversion experience;] c) Bill's trip to Calvary Church to
hear and check up on Ebby Thacher's testimony; d) Bill's thought that perhaps
Calvary Mission could do for him what it had done for Ebby; e) Bill's trip to
the altar at Calvary Mission where he made his decision for Jesus Christ, wrote
twice "For sure I had been born again," and wrote that he had
"found religion." f) Bill's subsequent drinking, deep despair and
depression, and thoughts that he should call on the Great Physician for help;
g) Bill's last trip to Towns Hospital where he cried out to God for help, had
his memorable "indescribably white flash" blazing in his room, sensed
the presence of God, exclaimed "So this is the God of the
Scriptures," stopped doubting the power of God, and never drank again.
7. Bills subsequent discussion with Dr. Silkworth where Bill
was told he had had a "conversion experience." Bill's extensive study
that day of the William James book on religious experiences that cured
alcoholics, and Bill's conclusion that his experience in the hospital was a
valid conversion experience.
8. Bill's adventure on discharge from the hospital out on
the streets with a Bible under his arm and telling drunks in hospitals,
missions, flea bag hotels, Oxford Group meetings that he had found a cure for
alcoholism and that they should give their lives to God (See Big Book, page
191).
9. Bill's utter failure to convert or sober up anyone at
all. Not before he met with Dr. Bob in Akron.
10. Bill's visit with Dr. Bob at Henrietta Seiberling's Gate
Lodge for six hours where Bill convinced Bob that the idea of service to others
was an essential element in the Oxford Group that was part of the mix, and Dr.
Bob's assent.
11. The three months that Bill spent with the Smiths at
their home in Akron where: a) Anne read them the Bible each day. b) Anne may
have shared from the journal she had kept since 1933. c) there were daily
prayers and quiet time. d) there was an
agreement that hospitalization was an essential ingredient. e) Attendance at
the weekly "clandestine lodge" meeting of the Oxford Group at the T.
Henry Williams home. f) Where extensive Oxford Group and Shoemaker literature
were available at the meeting for the taking.
12. The success--when there was no Big Book, were no Steps,
were no Traditions, were no drunkalogs, and were no meetings like those
today--with A.A. Number Three-Bill Dotson. Bill and Bob visited Dotson in the
hospital, told him to give his life to God and, when healed, go out and help
others. Dotson turned to God for help, was immediately healed, and went out
from the hospital a new man--which marked the founding of Akron Group Number
One July 4, 1935.
13. Bill and Bob learning in November of 1937 by
"counting noses" that forty members had achieved and maintained some
sobriety--with an assured 50% success rate; and that God had shown them how the
cure could be passed on by working with newcomers, hospitalization, belief in
God, acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, old fashioned prayer
meetings, Bible study meetings, Quiet Time, reading Christian literature, and
helping others without charge.
14. When Akron, by a barely passing vote in Akron,
authorized Wilson to write a book, Bill claimed there were six word-of-mouth
ideas being used with success. He phrased the six ideas in at least 4 different
ways--when it came to God's help. He claimed they were derived from the Oxford
Group, but that there was no general agreement, particularly in the mid-west ,
on what they were. He also said they were applied according to the
"whim" of the group involved. But Bill's "six" word-of-mouth ideas were very
different from the 7 point Akron Christian Fellowship program that Frank Amos
summarized in his report to the Rockefeller people in 1937. See DR. BOB and the
Good Oldtimers, 131.
15. Bill soon sat down with Rev. Sam Shoemaker at the
book-lined study at Calvary House--with closed doors--and worked out the
program of the Big Book, derived largely from Oxford Group ideas (and the
Oxford Group itself declared that the principles of the Oxford Group were the
principles of the Bible--as Rev. Sherwood Day twice wrote in The Principles of the Oxford Group).
16. When it came time to write Chapter 5 of his new book,
Bill asked Sam Shoemaker to write the 12 Steps, but Shoemaker declined saying
that they should be written by an alcoholic, namely Bill. Bill then sat down,
looked at his alleged "six ideas", and quickly wrote out Twelve Steps in a book
where the word "God" had consistently been used without
qualification.
17. Just before the book went to press, four people (Ruth
Hock-secretary, Hank Parkhurst--Bill's partner, Bill Wilson--the author, and
John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo--who wanted the book to be Christian to the core)
changed the language of the steps, deleting God from Step Two, and adding
"as we understood Him" to Steps 3 and 11. Bill attributed this change
to a "broad highway" to the contributions of the atheists and
agnostics.
Most of this material can be found in various of my books
listed in http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.
And the material is placed in updated, comprehensive,
documented, teachable form in "The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide,"
3rd ed., 2010. http://www.dickb.com.
Most of the recent, documented research is set forth in my
two preceding books "Dr. Bob of Alcoholics Anonymous"
http://www.dickb.com/drbobofaa,shtml, and "The Conversion of Bill W."
http://www.dickb.com/conversion.shtml.
dickb@dickb.com
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
5 Guiding Articles on Conducting Old School A.A. Study Meetings
Content for May 28, 2012 FYI Newsletter, send ASAP
______________________________________________________________________________
The Five Brief Articles That Tell You
How to Start, Lead, and Conduct Old School A.A “Stick with the Winners”
Studies, Classes, Meetings, Groups, Conferences, Individual Viewings, and other
Presentations
By Dick B.
Copyright 2012
Anonymous. All rights reserved.
Hundreds have written, emailed, phoned, and posted requests
asking how they can successfully organize, format, name, list, and lead an Old
School A.A. History Study Today. And my son Ken and I have now held many
conferences and meetings over the last three years on this subject. We learned
as much from what we heard as from what we wrote about the hunger, need, issues,
and desires of AAs, NAs, Christian 12 Steppers, Christian Recovery Groups, and
others, that all had to offer. This newsletter contains 5 different resulting articles
which should tell you what to do, where to look, what to acquire, how to avoid
blockades and pitfalls, and how to glorify God and His Son Jesus Christ, as
well as how specifically to help the alcoholic, addict, and suffering soul
overcome his or her malady by seeking God’s help—just as the early A.A.
Christians and their Christian Fellowship did when AA was founded in Akron,
Ohio, in June, 1935.
“I want to start an A.A. History and Old
School A.A. Bible Roots Group!”
Here Are the Five Articles Suggesting
Exactly How to Proceed
Article One
Where do I begin?
Keep It Simple!
Five short articles will give you some practical suggestions
as well as some hints for avoiding intimidation, controversy and blockades.
Become a Student First, and then Become the Leader
If you think about it, almost every good group, every good
meeting, and every A.A. conference you have attended, and also every good A.A.
speaker, good sponsor, and individual A.A. student studied first to learn the
facts. So.
First, become the leader of the proposed A.A. History and
Old School Bible Roots Group. Do it by learning A.A.’s own conference-approved
materials. And, in order to become a leader, master the following A.A.
General Services Conference-approved literature – Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed, 2001; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, 1980; and The Co-Founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their
Last Major Talks (A.A.’s Pamphlet
P-53).
Gather a Group of Your A.A. Friends. Pray together. Decide together.
Conduct a Written informed Group Conscience together. Vote together on What You
desire to and will do. Record Detailed Minutes of the Proceedings in Writing
Unfortunately, many good potential A.A. leaders and A.A.
groups start at the wrong place. They go to some person in a Central or
Intergroup Office; ask what they can do and how to go about it; and then are
told by this self-appointed governor that they are not permitted to organize
such a meeting, list it, study anything but “Conference-approved” literature,
or even mention the Bible, Jesus Christ, Christian literature, or the growing
body of our A.A. history.
So don’t start that way.
Choose a name for the group that will be inviting to AAs.
Possibilities include:“A.A. Study Group.” “A.A. History Group.” “A.A. Roots
Group.” Or “The Meeting!”
Gather a group of friends. Ask God to guide your group in
its decisions. Propose the name, a
location, a time, and a Secretary. Propose a format and the literature your
will use and be permitted to use and discuss at your meeting. Agree on how to
conduct the meeting. Hold an informed Group Conscience covering each of these points. Vote. Record in detailed
writing the subjects of your meeting, the vote on each subject, and the
informed group conscience decision. Have your Secretary certify and sign the
written decisions. And keep that group conscience available at every meeting.
And freely show it to any interested person who asks questions pertaining to
the group decisions. Do so after the meeting is concluded.
Now you have done all you need to do: 1) Petition our loving
God to express Himself in your informed group conscience proceedings. 2) Write,
record, and retain your written, dated, signed informed group conscience. And
3) Decide to “go!”—to carry out the decisions in your meetings.
You are an A.A. group. You have an A.A. meeting. And
you are autonomous, informed, and agreed, supported by A.A.’s Twelve Traditions,
implementing your group decisions, and guided by Almighty God.
_______________________________________________________________
Article Two
The Resources We Recommend for Each
Group
The Previous Article One
Suggested Precisely How to Establish Your Group
This Article Two Explains the Resources the Group and Its Leader Should
Obtain, Study, and Use
First, make sure you have the following A.A. General
Services Conference-approved Literature items. And these should be placed on
the Secretary’s table, apart from other agreed literature:
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th
ed, 2001;
DR. BOB and the Good
Oldtimers, 1980;
The Co-Founders of
Alcoholics Anonymous: Biographical Sketches Their Last Major Talks (A.A.’s
Pamphlet P-53).
Second the following literature should be acquired, placed
on a separate table, and used a) by leaders to learn; b) by speakers to teach;
and c) by those attending the meetings to absorb the meeting materials:
Holy Bible;
Alcoholics Anonymous:
The Original 1939 First Edition, with introduction by Dick B.
Dick B. and Ken B., The
Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010:
Dick B. and Ken B., Stick with the Winners! How to
Conduct More Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings Using Conference-Approved
Literature: A Dick B. Guide for Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery
Arena (2012)
Center Column of Front Page of www.dickb.com,
with instructions to download for $9.95.
Dick B. and Ken B, The
“Stick with the Winners” Video Series of 27 Video Classes that complement
the foregoing four non-conference-approved resource books:
www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com,
with instructions for obtaining for $29.95.
Third, we suggest that a complete reference set of 29 Dick
B. titles be acquired at the substantially discounted price of $249.00, kept in
the group library, and used as needed.
We
are offering the entire, 29-volume, "Dick B. Christian Recovery Reference
Set" for:
Ongoing Special!
Only $249.00—Shipping included!* Order it on the
front page of www.dickb.com
*
Please note: The “Shipping included” offered as part of this “Ongoing
Special” opportunity for the "Dick B. Reference Set" only applies
within the continental United States. For Shipping & Handling for areas
outside the continental U.S., please contact Ken B. via email at kcb00799@gmail.com
for details.*
______________________________________________________________________________
Article Three
How Should We Conduct Such a Meeting
The
Previous Article Two Explains the Resources the Group and Its Leader Should
Study and Use
This
Article Three Gives You Two Sample Examples of How You Can Lead the Meeting
There certainly can be no “one size fits all.” What you do in a meeting, what the topic should be, and how you should conduct a meeting depends on all these vital factors: (1) Asking God what He would like to see you do, and exactly how to do it. (2) Following His directions (3) Making your own choice, depending upon the topic, the type of meeting, and what the Group has decided in its informed group conscience (4) Aiming at serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ and (5) Carrying a message to those who still suffer that God can and will help them if they want that help and have renounced drinking and drugging for good.
Example one: “This meeting will study two articles about A.A. Cofounder Dr. Bob, and they consist of the interview of Dr. Bob in 1939 [often mis-named “his Faith Article], and the Tidings article about the talks of both Bob and Bill on the same platform at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in 1948.”
(a) Announce the topic.
(b) Read all or at least the relevant parts of both articles.
(c) When you’ve completed reading the Interview article, ask members: “What do you think is the central message that Dr. Bob gave his interviewer.” “Did Dr. Bob talk about prayer and what did he say about it.” “What did Dr. Bob say about being ‘cured of drunkenness by prayer’” “What did Dr. Bob say about the difference between promising to go straight and sticking to it” “What did Dr. Bob say about“hitting bottom.” “What did Dr. Bob say about the visits of the pioneers to a newcomer in the hospital.” “What did Dr. Bob say about reading the Bible with the hospitalized newcomer.” “What did Dr. Bob say about ‘Christ’ on the two occasions he mentioned Jesus Christ.” “What did Dr. Bob say about using the Good Book—the Bible”
[And if time permits, ask questions concerning other points listeners may not have known]
(d) When you have completed reading the Tidings article, ask members: “What did Dr. Bob say in a few short words in his talk—about religious literature.” “About church attendance,” “About prayer.” “About the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.” “About reading the Bible.” [And if time permits, ask questions concerning other points listeners may not have known]
(e) If time permits, invite members to make comments on both articles, in an orderly and
brief fashion
Example two: “This meeting will be about how to approach a newcomer.”
Read the pages on that subject that we have written in the “Stick with the Winners” Guide.
Ask questions about each suggested approach. Ask what the Big Book says on the topic in “Working with Others” and elsewhere.
And so on.
Article Four
Suggested Topics for Your “Old-School”
Meetings
Article Three
provided two samples of how you can lead your meetings.
This Article Four
provides dozens of suggested topics to use at an “old-school” meeting. There
certainly can be no “one size fits all.” What you do in a meeting, what the
topic should be, and how you should conduct a meeting depends on all of the
following vital factors:
Asking God in the
name of Jesus Christ what He would like to see you do, and exactly how to do
it.
Following His
directions.
Making your own
choice, depending upon the topic, the type of meeting, and what the Group has
decided in its “informed group conscience” meeting.
Aiming
at serving and glorifying God and His Son Jesus Christ.
Carrying an accurate,
effective message to those who still suffer that God can and will help them if
they want that help and have renounced drinking and drugging for good.
The first suggested groups of topics are
provided in our new book:
Dick B. and Ken B.,
Stick with the Winners! How to Conduct More Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings
Using Conference-Approved Literature: A Dick B. Guide for Christian Leaders and
Workers in the Recovery Arena (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications,
Inc., 2010).
You can download this title for only $9.95 by
scrolling down in the center column of the front page of the following Web site
until you come to the discussion of the book:
www.DickB.com
The second suggested groups of topics
are presented in our new, 27-video class:
Dick B. and Ken B., “Stick with the Winners!” A
27-video class (2012).
This class complements the material in the Stick with
the Winners! book mentioned above. And you can get access to all 27 videos for
a one-time donation of $29.95 at:
www.ChristianRecoveryRadio.com
The third suggested groups of topics are
provided in our guide:
Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide: Historical Perspectives and
Effective Modern Application, 3rd ed. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research
Publications, Inc., 2010)
You can read more about this important resource here:
http://christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-guide.shtml
You may purchase this book by using the “Donate”
button provided under “Major Christian Recovery Resource #3” in the center
column of this Web site:
www.DickB.com
The fourth suggested group of topics may be gleaned,
title by title, subject by subject, in each of the 29 volumes of “The Dick
B. A.A. History and Christian Recovery
Reference Set.” We have made this entire set available at the substantially
discounted price of $249.00 (includes shipping within the United States. Please
contact us about shipping outside the U.S.). We have recommended that every
group obtain this Reference Set. Each of the books, with a picture page, is
described on our website:
www.dickb.com/titles.shtml
And the entire, 29-volume “Dick B. A.A. History and
Christian Recovery Reference Set” may be acquired by clicking here:
http://www.dickb.com/index.html#Major_Christian_Recovery_Resource_2
If you have any godly questions
concerning the topics and resources discussed above, please phone Dick B. at
1-808-874-4876 or Ken B. at 1-808-276-4945. Or send me (Dick B.) an email
message at DickB@DickB.com.
Article Five
Topics for Your Convenience in our
“Stick with the Winners” Guidebook and 27 video classes
Our Previous Article Four Provides Dozens of Suggested Topics to Use at
An Old School Meeting
This Article Five Suggests the Following Two Guides to Topics to Use at
An Old School Meeting
Dick B. and Ken B.’s Newest Title:
Stick with the Winners!
How to
Conduct
More
Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings
Using
Conference-Approved Literature:
A Dick
B. Guide
for
Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena
(Kihei,
HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2012)
Contents
Introduction: “Old-School”
Christian Recovery
Ch.
1: Resources for “Old-School” 12 Step
Recovery Meetings
Ch.
2: Conference-Approved Literature
Foundations
Ch.
3: The Real Akron A.A. Program
Ch.
4: 16 Key Practices of the Real Akron
A.A. Program
Ch.
5: “Old-School” A.A. and First Century
Christianity
Ch.
6: “Old-School” Elements That Can Be
Used Today
Ch.
7: How to Conduct “Old-School” Recovery
Meetings
Conclusion
Announcing!
Dick B. and Ken B.’s New 27-Video Class:
Video Title
00 Introductory
Video for the “Stick with the Winners!” Class
01 Where
to Begin with a Newcomer
02 Show
the Newcomer That the Cure of Alcoholism Was Not Something New from A.A.
03 The
Vermont Youth of Dr. Bob and Bill W. Set the Stage for Early A.A.’s Emphasis on
God, His Son Jesus Christ, the Bible, Prayer,
Conversion, and Witness
04 How
Bill W. Got Sober by Turning to God
05 How
Dr. Bob Got Sober by Turning to God
06 How
A.A. Number Three, Bill D., Got Sober by Turning to God
07 A
Summary of How the Original “Old-School” A.A. Program Was Developed
08 Frank
Amos’ Seven-Point Summary of the Original Akron A.A. Program
09 Part
One: Practices One through Eight of the 16 Practices of “Old-School” A.A. in
Akron
10 Part
Two: Practices Nine through 16 of the 16 Practices of “Old-School” A.A. in
Akron
11a The
75% and 93% Success Rates of Early A.A. (Part 1/Video 1—got interrupted)
12 Part
One: Groups One through Seven of the Resources about the “Old-School” A.A.
Program Available Today
13 Part
Two: Groups Eight through 14 of the Resources about the “Old-School” A.A.
Program Available Today
14 The
Starting Point: Mastering and Relying on Key Sections of Conference-Approved
Literature
15 Supportive
Statements in Alcoholics Anonymous
(“the Big Book”)
16 Supportive
Statements in The Co-Founders of
Alcoholics Anonymous (# P-53)
17 Supportive
Statements in DR. BOB and the Good
Oldtimers
18 Organizing
and Conducting a “Conference-Approved Literature” Group
19 Resources
for Your Group and Its Meetings
20 Topics
for Your Group and Its Meetings
21 A
Sample Meeting Format
22 Using
the Sample Meeting Format with Other Topics
23 Putting
It All Together: Some Suggested Basic Approaches
24 The
Helpful Personal Stories of Four Early AAs . . .
25 Conclusion:
Here’s What Makes the International Christian Recovery Coalition and
These Suggested Meetings Different
Please phone Dick B. at 808
874 4876 or Ken B. at 808 276 4945 with any questions.
AA History Group Study Topic Suggestions for You
“I Want to Start an A.A. History and ‘Old-School’
A.A. Bible Roots Group!”
Article Four: Suggested Topics for Your “Old-School”
Meetings
By Dick B.
© 2012 Anonymous. All
rights reserved.
Article Three provided two samples of how you can lead your meetings.
And we will write three or four short articles that give you some practical
suggestions and some hints for avoiding controversy and blockades.
This article (Article Four) provides dozens of suggested
topics to use at an “old-school” meeting. There certainly can be no “one size
fits all.” What you do in a meeting, what the topic should be, and how you
should conduct a meeting depends on all of the following vital factors:
·
Asking God in the name of Jesus Christ what He
would like to see you do, and exactly how to do it.
·
Following His directions.
·
Making your own choice, depending upon the
topic, the type of meeting, and what the Group has decided in its “informed
group conscience” meeting.
·
Aiming at serving and glorifying God and His Son
Jesus Christ.
·
Carrying an accurate, effective message to those
who still suffer that God can and will help them if they want that help and
have renounced drinking and drugging for good.
The first suggested groups of topics are provided in our new
book:
Dick B. and Ken B., Stick with the Winners! How to Conduct More Effective
12-Step Recovery Meetings Using Conference-Approved Literature: A Dick B. Guide
for Christian Leaders and Workers in the Recovery Arena (Kihei, HI:
Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2010).
You can download this title for only $9.95 by scrolling down
in the center column of the front page of the following Web site until you come
to the discussion of the book:
The second suggested groups of
topics are presented in our new, 27-video class:
Dick B. and Ken B., “Stick with the Winners!” A 27-video
class (2012).
This class complements the material
in the Stick with the Winners! book
mentioned above. And you can get access to all 27 videos for a one-time
donation of $29.95 at:
The third suggested groups of
topics are provided in our guide:
Dick B. and Ken B., The
Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide: Historical Perspectives and Effective Modern
Application, 3rd ed.
(Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2010)
You can read more about this
important resource here:
You may purchase this book by using
the “Donate” button provided under “Major Christian Recovery Resource #3” in
the center column of this Web site:
The fourth suggested group of
topics may be gleaned, title by title, subject by subject, in each of the 29
volumes of “The Dick B. A.A. History and
Christian Recovery Reference Set.” We have made this entire set available at
the substantially discounted price of $249.00 (includes shipping within the
United States. Please contact us about shipping outside the U.S.). We have
recommended that every group obtain this Reference Set. Each of the books, with
a picture page, is described on our website:
And the entire, 29-volume “Dick B.
A.A. History and Christian Recovery Reference Set” may be acquired by clicking
here:
If you have any godly questions
concerning the topics and resources discussed above, please phone Dick B. at 1-808-874-4876
or Ken B. at 1-808-276-4945. Or send me (Dick B.) an email message at DickB@DickB.com.
Gloria Deo
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