Dick B.: The Real "Power" Behind Alcoholics Anonymous

A.A. Conference-approved Foundation for Early A.A. History

2012-01-28T21:26:00.000-10:00

The Case for A.A. Meetings Providing History From Conference-approved Literature

Old School A.A. First Century Christianity Recovery Approaches

Dick B. and Ken B.
Copyright 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved

There are two strong bases for bringing these to the attention of Christian Recovery Leaders in a simple, fairly brief, concrete form. They are:

1. The Resemblance of effective early A.A. to 1st Century Christianity
All the objective observers (Five Rockefeller people in all; the early Oxford Group Fellowship and Shoemaker; and Dr. Bob’s Christian Fellowship name for Akron) make it clear they felt they were renewing the elements of First Century. This meant Christianity as set forth in Acts 2 and 4. It also meant these Christian elements would produce children of God who were able to walk by the spirit in complete health and recovery from alcoholism.

2. The Elements of Conference-approved literature that fully support those who
wish to believe, use, and practice old school A.A. in today’s recovery fellowships.
The seven-point program and 16 practices of early A.A. embodied a modern-day application of First Century Christianity in the program Bill and Bob developed in the Akron A.A. program of 1935.
If you take those points as well as the 28 Oxford Group principles that Bill and Shoemaker worked out for the 1939 program, you can use A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature to show the original intent of both Akron and the original Big Book to rely on God for recovery.
Also, if possible, to have that happen through a born-again, conversion, and new birth perhaps accompanied by the “vital religious experience” of the type William James, Carl Jung, Rev. Samuel Shoemaker, and Dr. William Silkworth believed would bring about necessary relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

The Proposed Four, Brief, Instructive Classes That Will Train 12 Steppers in How to
Learn, Utilize, and Apply Old School A.A. in Today’s 12 Step Fellowships.

1. The biblical origins of Christian recovery that can be found in: (a) Old Testament- “I am the LORD that healeth thee;” (b) Jesus taught the Word
Daily in the Temple; (c) The Apostles received the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1 and 2); Peter and John healed the lame man in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 3) (d) The Apostles fellowshipped together, brought people to Christ, prayed and heard the Word together, broke bread together, healed, and saved thousands.

2. The Christian conversion and healing successes beginning in the 1850’s with (a) Great evangelists like Moody, Meyer, and Sunday. (b) Young Men’s Christian Association brethren. (c) Jerry McAuley and the Water Street Rescue Mission (d) the Salvation Army whose Begbie book was so popular in early A.A. (e) The Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavor which laid out most of the First Century practices that Dr. Bob learned and which became so much a part of the early Akron A.A. (f) The earlier Oxford Group life-changing principles that became embedded in the Big Book and actually sobered up early Oxford Group people.

3. (a) The Christian upbringing of the co-founders Bob and Bill; (b) the way the first
three Christian AAs got sober by simply turning to God; (c) the founding of A.A
(d) The 7 point early Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship program,

4. (a) The 16 practices the early Christian AAs followed, the 75 to 93% success they had.(b) Present-day Conference-approved materials on spiritual (c) experience, finding God, and that “God could and would if he were sought;” and the early Big Book manuscript and stories that make the Christian and biblical origins of the 1939 program explicitly and therefore applicable for those today who want God’s help.

The "Christian Spring" in Christian Recovery for 2012

2012-01-28T11:29:00.000-10:00

International Christian Recovery Coalition has planned a "Christian Spring" in Christian Recovery and in the Christian Recovery Movement for 2012.

The Purpose: To bring the roots of Christian recovery to the attention of Christians, Christian leaders, Christian recovery leaders and workers, Christians in recovery, and all who want God's help in conquering alcoholism, addiction, and the disasters which accompany them in society and in individuals. Available to all--whatever their present approach or program.

The Plan:

Geographically, we hope to hold meetings with NAs in Southern Califorenia, with AAs in Southern California, with both in Northern California and with all in Florida.

The New Approaches:

We want folks to know that there is nothing new about the role that God,. His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible have played in helping drunks and addicts. This is a piece of history that should be at the fore of any program that wants to bring recovery. Healing was clear in the Old Testmanet. Healing was clear in the ministry of Jesus. Healing was clear among the First Century Christians. Healing of alcoholics and addicts was widespread and effective in the 1850's among the great evangelists, the rescue missions, the Young Men's Christian Association personal work folks, the Salvation Army, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, and even the earliest Oxford Group-Shoemaker outreach. It was present among the first three AAs. AND IT WAS CERTAINLY PRESENT IN EARLY AKRON A.A.'S CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP.

If you read Acts Chapters Two and Four, you will see it all centered on DAILY fellowship, prayer, Bible study, healing, conversion, and breaking bread together.

We hope to see leaders rise up in counseling, intervention, treatment, 12 Step fellowships, sober living, Christian recovery fellowships, and among churches and clergy and psychologists. They can put God squarely in the middle of the recovery arena. They can do it now. They can do it in their offices, their programs, their fellowships, their living facilities, their Christian recovery work, and their churrches.

We will have several powerful Christian speakers from across the U.S. who can show you how they are doing this now. We will have some wonderful panels who present the material on radio, TV, and film. We will have some effective, simple, teaching sessions to train the trainers in how First Century Christianity touched recovery in the 1930's and can touch it today.

We will show how, for example, "A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature" can be the strongest tool for showing how 12 Step recovery really began with reliance on God.

You and your fellowship, your group, your program, your efforts, and your churches and conferences can join us right now.

God Bless, Dick B., Executive Director. www.dickb.com; www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com.

Our new, expanded The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 4th ed., will soon be ready for those who want an updated approach to all the foregoing.

The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 4th ed., Draft Excerpt

2012-01-27T12:37:00.002-10:00

The Big Book Message Bill W. Intendedfor His First Edition

The Evidence We Have Seen

Dick B. and Ken B.

The Beginning

Robert Thomsen undertook the writing of Bill W.’s biography.And the book began with this Author Note:

Bill W. told his own story manytimes; he also wrote about it. Possibly because of New England reticence, theemphasis ws always on the second half of his life. He gave few details of hischildhood, his youth, or the early years of his marriage. However, it was myprivilege—my blessing, if you will—to have known and worked beside Bill duringthe last twelve years of his life, when he had begun to understand that hisbiography would be written one day, and he made many attempts in notes, in letters,and on tape recordings “to set the record somewhere near straight.”[1]

Thomsen wrote further:

Ever since his night at Towns, Billhad no argument with God, and the impact of this sudden change had been farmore profound than even he understood.[2]

A professional writer would haverun from such an assignment, but Bill sat down at his desk in Newark eachmorning and talked simply, honestly, unashamedly, using the language ofreligion where it applied. With no hesitation, he described the surrender at TownsHospital and the miraculous communion he’d sensed with Bob, as well as thetools they’d tried to use in their new life. . . . In no time he had the firsttwo chapters finished and Ruth typed them up.[3]

As chapters were completed, copieswere made and passed along for comment by the trustees and members of thegroup—and everyone had a comment

Fitz [John Henry Fitzhugh M.] feltthat since the movement was based on Christian doctrine they should say so flatout.[4]

First was the idea that they shouldlabel their steps a Suggested Programof Recovery. Bill called this one a ten strike. They all agreed that no drunkshould rebel at a mere suggestion.[5]

Each week, Bill would read what he had written to those whogathered at his home on Tuesday evenings. While he was working his way throughthe explanatory chapters, New York and Akron members were submitting theirpersonal stories. . . . By the end of January, 1939, the manuscript was readyfor preliminary distribution; 400 copies were Multilithed and circulated tomembers, friends, and other allies for comments and evaluation.[6]

But Fitz was a minister’s son and deeply religious. Fitzfell at once into hot argument with Henry [Parkhurst] about the religiouscontent of the coming volume. Fitz wanted a powerfully religious document. Fitzmade trip after trip to New York from his Maryland home to insist on raisingthe spiritual pitch of the A.A. book.[7]

The pros and cons were mostly about the tone of the book.Some wanted it slanted more toward the Christian religion, others, less.[8]

In New York, the hot debate about the Twelve Steps and the book’scontents was doubled and redoubled. There were conservatives, liberal, andradical viewpoints. Fitz M, the Episcopal minister’s son from Maryland and thesecond man to recover at Towns Hospital, made constant journeys to New York inorder to reinforce the conservative position. Fitz thought that the book oughtto be Christian in the doctrinal sense of the word and that it should say so.He was in favor of using Biblical terms and expressions to make this clear.Another early New York A.A., Paul K., was even more emphatic about.[9]

Alcoholics who had tried the missions were forevercomplaining about this very thing. The alcoholic’s un-reasoning rebellionagainst the spiritually religious approach had severely handicapped themissions. It was true that we could not agree on a religious basis for ourfellowship and that the straight religious approach had worked in relativelyfew cases.[10]

We were still arguing about the Twelve Steps. All this timeI had refused to budge on these steps. I would not change a word of theoriginal draft, in which, you will remember, I had consistently used the word“God,” and in one place the expression “on our knees.”[11]

And What Did Bill’s Original Manuscript Say? There’s the Rub!

“Pass It On” states:“The very first draft of the Twelve Steps, as Bill wrote them, has been lost,”(p. 198). One historian wrote in an endnote: “Here also the original draft hasbeen lost. Insofar as I have been able with the help of NW [Nell Wing, A.A.’sFirst Archivist] to reconstruct from the earliest available drafts andcomments, the original form of theTwelve Steps, there were slight differences in the following six.”[12]

If you were looking for the original draft manuscript in order to find out what Bill had reallywritten in the midst of all this blackout, where would you start?

In 1991.when Dick B. first began researching at Bill’s homeat Stepping Stones in Bedford Hills, New York, he arrived there for his twodifferent trips with the blessing and encouragement of A.A. archivist FrankMauser [Nell Wing’s successor] who even let him stay in his apartment duringone of the periods. Dick also had the blessing and encouragement of the thenStepping Stones archivist, Paul Lange, who gave him free range of thematerials, even the materials at Bill’s office (Wit’s End). Dick was astonishedat the large number of draft materials which had preceded the ultimate Big Bookform. These were located in the basement of Lois Wilson’s actual home; and thatbasement room—with its files, manuscripts, correspondence, and memorabilia—wascompletely open to Dick on both visits. So were the nearby copy machines in thearea that enabled Dick to copy and take with him, with the archivist’spermission, all the materials he listed in writing for the archivist on10/2/91: (1) Handwritten Pages—Hank Parkhurst ideas for Book. (2) Pages byBill—Names of people for stories. (3) Outline of Chapters and Chapter 1 –“There is a Solution. (4) 36 pages of Bill’s Original Story—lines numbered,later pages missing. (5) Letters Bill to Lois. (6) Amos 5 page report. (7)Pages Clarace Williams to Bill and Lois Sept/35 (8) Pages T. Henry to Bill3/37. (9) Pages Dr. Bob to Bill 2/17/38

Here in outline are the items Dick B. found and partialexcerpts from them:

(1) An 11 page hand-written outline of proposed “ideas forthe Book, “contents prepared by Hank Parkhurst. Page 3 asked: How do I knowthis will work with me? Why is this method any better than any other religiousmethod? (It is not—This is only a step toward a religious experience whichshould be carried forward in Christian fellowship no matter what your church.”

(2) The typed “Original Story” with hand-written notationsand titled “Bill Wilson’s Original Story.” It consists of 36 pages. There is anumber for every line. The numbered items run from 1 to 1180, and end there.Among the comments by Bill: (a) Where now was the God of the preachers? (b)“Old memories of Sunday School” (c) The temperance pledge which I never signed.(d) the sound of the preacher’s voice which could be heard on still Sundaymornings. (e) This is what my friend suggested I do: Turn my face to God as Iunderstand Him. I should prepare myself for God’s company. Ask what attitudesand actions I still have whichwere not completely honest wi9th God. Humbly ask God that he take these handicaps away. Iwas to keep myself free in the future of those things which shut out God’spower. Frequently asking God for help. Taking a simple childlike attitudetoward God.

(3) The typed “W.G. Wilson Reflections” with handwrittenadditional portion stating “of his early life to the spiritual awakening.”

(4) “Main Events – Alcoholics Anonymous Fact Sheet by Bill”On return to New York began to go to more Oxford Group meetings. First work atthe Mission and the Towns Hospital very hard. The second success which alsooccurred at Towns Hospital was John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo. He was author of theclassic phrase, “Who am I to say there is no God.” At length Mr. Scott said:This is like first century Christianity, one person carrying the message to thenext. I probably got down to serious writing about September 15, 1938.Meanwhile the chapters of the book were sent to Dr. Bob. He never passed themaround very much, merely writing me sayng he thought they were all right. I hadreferred very frequently to God through the Steps. Fitz mayo thought the bookdidn’t have enough God in it.

(5) Typed copies of the first two chapters that werewritten – in reverse order.

Final editing of the book was done by Tom Uzzell, member ofthe faculty at New York University. Uzzell cut the book by at least a third,some say half—from 800 to 400 pages.[13]

I contacted Bill Pittman, Hazelden’s Director of HistoricalInformation. Bill said he had interviewed Ruth Hock and specifically asked herwhat had been deleted. Ruth told Bill Pittman that the deleted contentconsisted largely of Christian and biblical materials.

In a July, 1953 isssue of the AA Grapevine, Bill specifically said that A.A.’s “southern friend”Fitz M. “wanted a fairly religious book infused with some of the dogma we hadpicked up from the churches and missions which had tried to help us.”

In his biography of Bill Wilson, Francis Hartigan said:“Bill may have included some heavily Christian wording in his early drafts ofthe Big Book.”[14]

Then still another suggestion that the “original manuscript”appears to have been lost. “Pass It On”states at p-age 235:

On March 16, 1940, a month afterthe Rockefeller dinner, Works Publishing moved its offices from Newark to 30Vesey Street in lower Manhattan. . . .In the move, much was thrown out—including probably the original drafts of theSteps and the rest of the Big Book’s fifth chapter which was written there.

There is a final point about what is known to have beenchanged in the Big Book manuscript. At Stepping Stones, I found the originalChapter # 1 (which was written in the Spring of 1938). It was titled “There isa Solution.” Beginning on page 9 of the manuscript I found, Bill wrote:

But there is a solution. . . . Andthe GREAT FACT is just this and no less; that all of us have had deep andeffective religious experiences which have in every case revolutionized ourwhole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God’s great universe.

We would like to see you followsuit, for we think no one should miss THE GREAT REALITY which we have beenlucky enough to find. The central fact of our lives today is the absolutecertainty that the Creator of you and me has entered into our hearts and livesin a way which is to us new and beautiful and has there has commenced toaccomplish those things which by no stretch of the imagination were we humanlycapable of.

After years of living on a basiswhich now seems to us wholly false, you are not going to get rightly related toyour Creator in a minute. None of us has found God in six easy lessons, but Hecan be found by all who are willing to put the task ahead of all else.

[Speaking of Rowland Hazard and Dr.Carl Jung, Bill wrote:] You and I would say that the patient was on a very hotspot that is probably what he did say and feel. So have we when it began tolook to us as thought we must have a vital religious experience or perish. Ourfriend did finally have such an experience and we in our turn have sought thesame happy end. . . . What seemed at first to be a flimsy reed has proved to bea loving and powerful hand of God.

With All This Evidence of What Was Originally Written, What wasIntentionally Deleted, and the Frequency of Former References to the Creator,to Christianity, and to biblical materials, the reader should ask thesequestions as to what Bill Wilson originally intended to say

· What were the Christian and biblical materialsthat Ruth Hock said were discarded?

· What was the “dogma” of the churches andmissions that had helped AAs that Fitz wanted to have as a part of the book,but which Bill rejected?

· Why is there no mention of the fact that Rev.Shoemaker had said that man needed to have a vital religious experience; heneeded to find God; he needed Jesus Christ; that Bill originally wrote of thisnecessary “vital religious experience;” and that Bill shifted his language to a“spiritual experience,” then a “spiritual awakening,” and finally to a“personality change.”

· To what did Fitz refer when he said the programwas based on “Christian doctrine?

· To what language did Hartigan refer when he saidBill may have included some “heavily Christian wording” in some of the earlierdrafts.

· What caused the bogus insertion of “choose yourown conception of God” into the alleged, but non-existent remark by Ebby toBill?

· What caused Bill to abandon his frequent mentionof the Creator and God and shift to

the illusory “higher power” of theNew Thought writers like William James and Fox

· And the bottom line question: Why are all thesefactual references to first century Christianity, to the contributions of thechurches and missions, to the Creator and God, to Christian wording, andChristian and biblical materials simply missing, unknown, and veiled in attemptto exclude them from the minds of 12 Step people today—be they Christians,would be Christians, those with biblical and church backgrounds, those whobelieve in God—whether they are Christians or not?

[1] RobertThomsen, BILL W.: 50^thAnniversary Edition Commemorating the 1935 Meeting Between Bill W. and Dr. Bobthat launched Alcoholics Anonymous (NY: Harper & Row, Publishers, Perrenial Library, 1975)

[2] RobertThomsen, 255.

[3] RobertThomsen, 278.

[4] RobertThomsen, 282.

[5] RobertThomsen, 284.

[6] “Pass It On,” 200.

[7] Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 17.

[8] Lois Remembers,

[9] Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 162.

[10] Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 163.

[11] Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 166.

[12][12]Ernest Kurtz, Not-God, 275, note 34.

[13] “Pass It On,”

[14] FrancisHartigan, Bill W.: A Biography ofAlcoholics Anonymous Co-Founder Bill Wilson (NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2000),123.

Who Authored Dr. Bob and the Good Oldimers?

2012-01-21T15:02:00.000-10:00

In case after case, people play ring around the rosie with A.A. history without ever doing the research necessary and the inspection necessary to get the real answers.

A.A. General Services Conference-approved book DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers was published in 1980 after extensive investigation, some repeat trips, and the not-unusual alteration of meaning by some A.A. editor.

Niles Peebles was engaged to write the biography. Nell Wing phoned Clarence Snyder in Florida and told him that the people in New York simply didn't know the oldtimers and that Clarence did. She asked for his help by sending Niles down to interview him. Niles did so, and on how many other occasions or by what means of communication he gained information from Clarence, I do not know. I do know that Grace Snyder informed me of the foregoing details. I also know that Mitchell K. took almost all of the Clarence Snyder papers from Grace Snyder promising to return them after Mitchell completed the work. Years went by. The papers were never returned to Grace. And I have her affidavit to that effect.
There are several pages in Clarence's handwriting in which he proposed to write such a history; but when DR. BOB finally came out, Clarence was satisfied with the results and wound up passing out free copies to those who attended the spiritual retreats he founded and continued. Would the actual papers in Clarence's possession have added to the story of how DR. BOB was written and to what extent Niles collaborated, I do not know.

I do know that Peebles visited Dr. Bob's son in Nocona, Texas and wishes to interview him on the matter. Smitty asked him if he was going to write anything about his mother (Anne Ripley Smith). Peebles said, "No." Smitty replied that he therefore was not going to tell him a "damn thing." Smitth phoned his sister Sue and asked her to do likewise, which she also promised to do. A long time later, Peebles returned to Smitty, said he would write about Dr. Bob's wife, and an interview was granted.

Now, who else contributed? Dennis Cassidy, a veteran A.A. historian, left me a printer's manuscript of DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers. It contains the full names of the people interviewed. It contains an inscription indicating it was written by Peebles. But it also contains other written changes indicating that at least Barry Leach was telling Peebles certain things about the draft. I have that manuscript and have very much tried to have it acquired and donated to "The Dr. Bob Core Library" at North Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury, Vermont--where Bob was born and raised and where he received his extensive biblical training as a youngster.

This valuable piece needs to be acquired and made public. One A.A. veteran had plans to acquire it but has fallen short of the needed funds. And it sits in lingo.

Just as with the "Original" Printer's Manuscript recently published by Hazelden, it may not tell the whole story about Dr. Bob. But it can provide lots of information still being garbled by those writers and historians who have never seen the manuscript, the names, the changes, and how the manuscript stands in relation to the ultimate book published by A.A. in 1980.

One thing is sure. There are still people trying to answer questions on at least one history site when they don't know the answsers about this book. Thus they imply Peebles got his information in Akron. But the facts--including those above--establish a far different picture.

For those devoted to unearthing and using all the "old school" A.A. program and applying it in A.A. today, there is no better starting place than the important DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers manuscript given to me by Dennis Cassidy--who was also a good friend of Sue Smith Windows, Ray and Ginny G. of Ohio--Ray being the long-time archivist at Dr. Bob's Home, and also Dr. Bob's son Smitty and his wife Betty.

Personal Stories Removed from Big Book Editions Now Published by A.A. Itself

2012-01-20T22:38:00.000-10:00

Recently, a devoted A.A. member was reading from the 1st edition of the Big Book at an A.A. meeting. He was silenced by the group which contended he was not reading A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature.

Imagine that, you read from the very first text published by Alcoholics Anonymous, and some trouble-maker in a group says you can't read it because it isn't conference approved.

Often a member is intimidated by such censorship, and even more often he does not realize he is standing on solid ground. But the facts are otherwise.

For example, the First Edition and its personal stories were written and published long before there was a General Service Conference and yet were most assuredly used by AAs to get well at least until 1955 when the Second Edition was published and most of the personal stories were removed.

Fortunately, A.A. itself is awakening to the fact that conference-approved or no, traditions or no, censorship or no, AAs clearly want all of their literature (and much more) available for reference, quotation, and public reading in meetings. How do we know?

A.A. itself has now seen fit to publish all the removed stories and to do so as "conference-approved" literature. Here's the evidence.

(B-20)Experience, Strength and Hope

which contains the 56

stories dropped from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd editions of

the Big Book. These stories, which were unavailable for

a time, are now together in this volume

http://www.aa.org/lang/en/en_pdfs/aacatalog.pdf

Biblical Perspective of 12 Steps - A Product of "Old School" A.A. Tallks

2012-01-20T20:24:00.000-10:00

On Monday, January 9, 2012, we were privileged to speak to a "rockin" meeting of The Hiding Place Fellowship in North Hollywood. The huge bingo room of the Cri-Help Facility was packed. We personally met folks from Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymou, and the Christian community who had come to hear our talks on the biblical origins of the Christian Recvovery Movement and a highlight of the exact places in the Bible from which 12 Step concepts emerged.

Mario Zamorano has been leading a book by book Bible study among a growing number of people, both seasoned clean and sober people, but also newcomers, Christians in recovery, and Christian leaders, and others seeking God's help in their recovery efforts.

We just received notice of how this biblical perspective of the 12 Steps has taken off since our kickoff talk. Here is the announcement just being published: And we think others such as the many James Club, Big Book/Bible Study, and A.A. History Study Groups may profitably contact the leaders of The Hiding Place Fellowship for information, suggestions, and useful helps in their Bible roots of A.A. studies.

A note from The HidingPlace Fellowship

Please pass thison....................

This Monday we will be back at the Bingo Hall for week two of...A biblical perspective of the12 steps. We Start at 7:00 pm.

Come hear the 2nd step in its entirety as defined in
the Bible. This will be very informative and can only enhance your
recovery or daily walk!

For more info or ifyou need transportation please call 562) 266-3024.

Hope to see you there.

God bless.

A Great A.A. History Find for 2012 - Another Witness to Bill's Conversion

2012-01-18T22:27:00.002-10:00

The greatest historical treasure we have discovered as to A.A. History and 2012 just came to light.

During our January, 2012 series of talks, visits and personal meetings in Southern California, we spent precious time with Pastor Frank Geoy, Jr. on the subject of Bill Wilson's acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at the altar at Calvary Mission in New York in early December, 1935.

Now we have more confirming details.

Recall the series of events that preceded Bill's answsering the altar call at Calvary Mission.

First, Dr. William D. Silkworth had told Bill that if he didn't quit drinking, he would die or go insane. But he also told Biill that the Great Physician Jesus Christ could cure him of his alcoholism. The details are covered and documented in Bill's autobiography ("Bill W., M y First 40 Years), and in Dale Mitchel's biography of Dr. Silkwortth. Both recenttly published by Hazelden.

Then came Ebby Thacher. Ebby had long been a drunken friend of Bill's. But Ebby had been to the altar at Calvary Mission just before his famous visit with Bill in Bill's home. Ebby told Bill he had been staying at CalvalryMission, had "got religion," had been to the altar and gave his life to Christ; and Bill could not only see that Ebby was sober, but also born again.

Bill then went to Shoemaker's church to hear Ebby''s testimony and be sure Ebby wes telling it straight. This convinced Bill that maybe the Great Physician could help him too if he went to the Mission and did as Ebby had done.

Bill then went to Calvary Mission. The services included testimony, the phrase "Jesus Saves," and Bible reading and prayer by the leaders. Then came the altar call. And Bill went forward and knelt in prayer.

We just learned of another witness to Bill's ensuing acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. First, Mrs. Samuel M. Shoemaker told me on the phone that she was present when Bill made his decision for Jesus Christ, Second, years later, in a speech by Lois Wilson, recorded in Texas, Bill's wife said that Bill had really and with all sincereity handed his life over to Jesus Christ. To cap it off, Bill wrote in his own biography "For sure I'd been born again." He also wrote his brother in law that he had "got religion."

Then came the delightful surprise we had in our interview with Pastor Frank. Frank told us that Ben Armstrong (President of the National Religious Broadcasters for 22 years) had been an intern of Sam Shoemaker's at Calvary Church. Ben Armstrong declared that he was present when Bill accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at Calvary Mission

To cap it off, A.A.'s General Services Conference-approved 4th edition of the Big Book Alcoholics Anonymous states in Bill's own words on page 191: " Henrietta, the Lord has been so wonderful to me curing me of this terrible disease that I just want to keep talking about it and telling people."

And now we know the fact of Bill's new birth at Calvary Mission in New York--confirmed by Rev. Samuel Shoemaker's wife (Shoemaker being Rector ov Calvary Church), Bill's wife Lolis, and Ben Armstrong of National Religious Broadcasters

January 18, 2012, Dick B., Writer, Historian, Retired attorney, Bible student and an active recovered A.A. member with over 25 years of continuous sobriety. Author of 42 books and over 800 articles on A.A. History.

See www.dickb.com/conversion.shtml

A Great Close to Our Southern California Meetings

2012-01-15T19:16:00.001-10:00

A Great Close to Our Southern California Meetings

Dick B.

© 2012 Anonymous. All rights reserved

Ken and I are back in Maui and excited over the many meetings we had in Southern California from LAX, Redondo Beach, North Hollywood, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Santa Ana, to three hotels – Best Western, Wyndham, and Marriott in the area. The trip was made possible by air fare contribution of Christian friend Freda M.; hotel contribution of David Powers of Rock Recovery Ministries and Soledad House in San Diego; help with trip expenses from Dr. Bernstein’s Cri-Help in North Hollywood and it’s the Hiding Place Bible study group led by Mario Zamorano; and transportation to and fro by Christian friend Freda M., Danny Simmons of Sons of Thunder, Gary Martin of Mariners Church, Tim and Kelli White of Ex-Cons for Christ, Recovered Christian believer Danny Whitmore and his lovely wife Cate, Chuck and Gary, both of NA, and Chaplain Gene Haag of Oregon—Gene about to celebrate his 50th NA birthday/

The last days of the trip saw the firming up of our large Conference in the Disneyland Area in May (thanks to Pastor Jerry Liversage), a large conference in Florida in May and/or November (thanks to efforts of Russell Spatz, Miami attorney), and strong support for International Christian Recovery Coalition’s two additional efforts: (1) Our new ChristianRecoveryRadio.com (thanks to Nikole Wood) (2) Training the Trainers in Applying Old School A.A. Today (thanks to Gary Martin of Mariners Church, Pastor Joe Furey of His Place Church, Pastor Frank McGeoy, Jr. of Irvine, Roger McDiarmid of our Speakers Bureau, and Tim and Kelli White of Ex-Cons for Christ.

We attended meetings where we received warm, supportive input from Director of Recovery L.V. Hanson (Mariners Church, Irvine); attorney Brian Casserly, Member of Mariners Church; and Cole Beshore, M.A., Community Pastor, Mariners Church. And from long-time friend Dale Ryan, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Recovery Ministry and Director of the Institute for Recovery Ministry, School of Theology, Fuller Seminary.

Rob Wolf, long-time recovered Christian believer flew in from Utah to meet with us regarding his possible role in our work. We met with Terry LaDow, MS, BCPCC, CADC II, New Perspectives; and the panelists and producers of the community access television program—Pastor Jerry Liversage, Pastor and Founder Mike Belzman, Ph.D., Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors, Institute; Robert Tucker, Ph.D., President of New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc., at Huntington Beach, Ken, myself, and the producing squad led by Randy Liversage.

It was a heavy, wonderful, and fruitful trip and certainly a major part of the mighty rushing wind of the Christian Recovery Movement now in progress and recognizing the role that God, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Bible have long played in the origins, history, founding, original Christian Fellowship program of A.A. in Akron, and its successes. And can play today.

And Now for the Many Who Became Participants of International Christian Recovery Coalition in Just the Last ten days

Welcome to each of the following participants who are now listed as participants in the International Christian Recovery Coalition:

Terry LaDow, MS, BCPCC, CADC II

New Perspectives

714.731.6617

Teach2think@gmail.com

Rob Wolf, of Utah

rwolf@ibnads.com

Cell: 1-801-671-0663

Mike Stiles, Producer, Public Access Television, Southern California Region, (714) 533-0181

Randy Liversage, Producer/Director, Transformed Productions, (714) 393-5493, Email: rjliversage@aol.com”

Pastor Frank J. McGeoy, Jr., Gracious Giver Church, 12 Step Recovery Church, 1053 Granville Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660, Cell: (949) 689-4593, Email: FrankMcGeoy@att.net – who also provides a large sober living facility.

Chaplain Gene J. Haag, Oregon Department of Corrections, Connecting Point Ministries, 700 Nobility Drive, Medford, OR 97501, Ofc.: (541) 773-1985; Cell: (541) 951-3200, Email: gjhaag@hotmail.com

Wm. (Gary) Martin, Recovered believer, Awesome Bail Bonds, www.AwesomeBailBonds.com, Bail by phone, Office: (888) 877-BAIL (2245), Cell: (949) 872-6504, Insurance License 1841543

Larry McClintick EMC USN (ret), long recovered believer,850 W.Country Lane,Collinsville,IL 62234,618-344-7907; juanita@mcclintick.org

God Bless, Dick B., dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com; January 15, 2012

Contacting Dick B. and Ken B. During Southern California Meetings

2012-01-03T11:57:00.001-10:00

Contacting Dick B. and Ken B.

During Their Forthcoming Visit to Southern California

January 4^th through January 14^th, 2012

First, you can reachus through Ken’s cellular 808 276 4945; kcb00799@gmail.com

Second, here are the areaswhere we will be:

Best Western near Torrance – lateJan 4^th, Jan 5^th, and till noon Jan 6^th

Periodic meetings and Friday evening dinner meeting with Freda M. et al.in Torrance, CA Area

Marriott Hotel, Costa Mesa – Friday evening Jan 6^th,Saturday Jan 7^th, Sunday Jan 8^th, check out on Monday,January 9^th.

Saturday: All day in Santa Ana and speaking, at the Winter 2012Ministry Builders Conference, 9:00 AM., Saturday, January7th, Faith CommunityChurch, 2147 Oak Street, Santa Ana, CA 92707. Details: ACADC.org.

Wyndham Hotel, Costa Mesa – Monday Jan 9^th and checkingout Fri Noon Jan 13^th

Monday:

Speaking at The Hiding Place dinner and meeting, at Cri-Help Bingo Hall,8330 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA 91605.

Monday evening Jan 9^th [Dinner 5:30 – 6:30 P.M. free]; Worship andSpeaker begin at 7:00 PM. Contact Phone # 562 266 3024.

Tuesday:

Meeting with Dan Stoner at 10:00 AM.

Meeting with Nikole Wood at 1:00 PM.

Thursday:

TV filming with Responding Ministries with Rev. Jerry Liversage, CostaMesa, Thursday, Jan 12^th most of the day.

Marriott Hotel, Costa Mesa, Friday afternoon Jan 13^ththrough 3:00 PMnoon Jan 14^th. Departing LAX, Saturday, Jan 14^th,5:05 PM

Available to meet onSaturday up to 2:00 PM

Third, we are alreadyarranging meetings with leaders at Torrance, Thursday and Friday, January 5thand 6th

With Speakers andLeaders at Santa Ana all day Saturday, Jan 7^th

With

Mario Zamorano – aspossible, and at The Hiding Place Meeting Monday Evening Jan 9^th

With Jerry Liversage –at Responding Recovery filming – most of Thursday, Jan 12^th.

Fourth, stillendeavoring to arrange meetings with the following:

Mario Zamorano

Dr. Robert Tucker

Bob Noonan

Roger Mc Diarmid and Pastor Joe Furey

Dr. Mike Belzman

Dr. Jens Christy

Dr. John Townsend

Pastor Randy Moraitis

Tim and Kelli White of excons

Rev. John Baker and his son

Nikole Wood

David Roman

Rev. David Stoop

Steve Arterburn

Bobby Nicholl

Others who would like to help with International Christian Recovery CoalitionConferences in May, with interviews and outreach, and with recovery projects.

GloriaDeo

Dick B. and Ken B. Available in Southern CA Jan 5 to 14

2012-01-03T10:35:00.002-10:00

Richard G Burns

ick B. and Ken B. will be in Orange County, California from January 5 to 14th speaking at meetings and also spending time with individual leaders and workers.
Contact dickb@dickb.com if you'd like info on where and how to hook up. Dick B.
www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

International Christian Recovery Coalition

www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

International Christian Recovery Coalition: An informal fellowship of Christian Leaders and Workers in the recovery arena

Awakening to the Real Spiritual Experience of the First Three AAs

2012-01-02T21:48:00.001-10:00

Awakening to the Real SpiritualExperience of the First Three AAs

By Dick B. and Ken B.

A.A.’s Own Attempts Today to Define Awakenings and Experiences

What was the meaning of the phrase “spiritual experience” inStep Twelve as that Step was worded on page 72 of the first printing of thefirst edition of Alcoholics Anonymous (affectionately known with A.A. asthe “Big Book”) published on April 10, 1939?

What was the meaning of the replacement phrase “spiritualawakening” in Step Twelve as that Step was reworded in the second and followingprintings of the first edition of the Big Book?[1]

Possibly the closest explanation is contained in the firstedition of A.A.’s “basic text,” the Big Book. It can still be found in each ofthe subsequent editions. And here it is as first presented:

There is a solution. . . .

The great fact is just this, andnothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* whichhave revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows andtoward God’s universe. The central fact of our lives today is theabsolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in away which is indeed miraculous. He has commenced to accomplish those things forus which we could never do by ourselves.[2] [Emphasisin original]

Do you know what the section of text quoted above describes?What it means? In the fourth edition, there is an asterisk after the phrase“spiritual experiences” on page 25. The asterisk refers readers to a note at thebottom of the page which states: “Fully explained—Appendix II.” There was nosuch appendix in the Big Book when the first edition was first published onApril 10, 1939. The “Spiritual Experience” appendix was added in the secondprinting of the first edition and began on page 399.[3] Theappendix was also included in the three editions that followed.[4]

Most of Appendix II focuses on correcting the “impression”apparently made on many readers of the first printing of the first edition thatthe use of the terms “spiritual experience” and “spiritual awakening” todescribe the solution early A.A. pioneers found for their alcoholism meant thatthose experiences “must be in the nature of sudden and spectacular upheavals.”[5] Sadly,in showing that such a “conclusion is erroneous,” the appendix alsosubstantially muddied the waters as to the meaning of the terms “spiritualexperience” (used many times in the first and following editions) and of therare, newly-added term “spiritual awakening” (occurring only once—in themodified language of Step Twelve). Appendix II significantly expanded the listof terms and concepts used to describe the solution, rather than simplyexplaining that the experiences didn't have to be “sudden” or “spectacular.”Here are those terms and supposedly synonymous concepts—as presented inAppendix II in the fourth edition:

“spiritual experience”:
“spiritual awakening”:
“personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism”
“these personality changes”
“[these] religious experiences”
“sudden revolutionary changes”
“an immediate and overwhelming 'God-consciousness' followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook”--”such transformations, though frequent”
“Most of our experiences are . . . the 'educational variety' because they develop slowly over a period of time.”
“a profound alteration in his reaction to life”--“such a change could hardly have been brought about by himself alone.”
“they have tapped an unsuspected inner resource which they presently identify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.”
“Most of us think this awareness of a Power greater than ourselves is the essence of spiritual experience.”
“Our more religious members call it 'God-consciousness.'”[6]

Appendix II leaves readers having to decide for themselveswhether “the central fact of our lives today is the absolute certaintythat our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeedmiraculous” was still the solution or whether a “personality change” would dothe job. And to decide whether the God who “could and would if He were sought”was the same as or different from an “inner resource which they presentlyidentify with their own conception of a Power greater than themselves.” Themove from a “spiritual experience” to a “spiritual awakening” to a “personalitychange” closely resembles the shift which took place in the “great compromise”to appease atheists just before the Big Book went to the printer in 1939.[7]

Even Rev. Samuel M. Shoemaker, Jr.—whom Bill W. called acofounder of A.A.—took a crack at explaining a “spiritual awakening” in hisaddress to AAs at their St. Louis Convention in 1955.[8] InAlcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, Shoemakeris quoted as follows:

I believe there are four universalfactors in all genuine spiritual awakenings: conversion, prayer, fellowship,and witness. By conversion I mean the place where a person turns toward God.Where he begins to want to be honest with himself in the light of his religion.[9]

And in many A.A. meetings, I (Dick B.) have heard peopleshare that their “awakenings” were numerous. Some have adopted the language inAppendix II, saying that they have had an “immediate and overwhelming‘God-consciousness’ followed at once by a vast change in feeling and outlook.”Most settle for the idea that their experience was “of the educationalvariety.” Many just call it “change”—much as their Oxford Group forbears spokeof being “changed.” And then I (Dick B.) have heard others return triumphantlyfrom a Joe and Charlie Big Book Seminar in Sacramento, California, and say itis merely a “personality change sufficient to bring about recovery fromalcoholism.” And they emphasize “personality change” instead of “our Creatorhas entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous.”

As with so many variations of and confused statements aboutA.A. ideas (as interpreted by the “wisdom of the rooms” in a wide variety ofways), all the declared, varying definitions of “spiritual experience” and“spiritual awakening” left me annoyed and uncertain. And they did so long afterI (Dick B.) had spent many hours studying the Big Book, and taking newcomersthrough the Twelve Steps--doing so without the slightest realization that thehistory of Alcoholics Anonymous itself could at last clearly show the originsof this fundamental A.A. objective—a spiritual experience. This “spiritualexperience” was fully described in Chapter Two of the first edition of the BigBook, “There is A Solution,” as quoted above. In Chapter One of the firstedition, titled “Bill's Story,” Bill W. said the following things:

My friend promised when thesethings were done I would enter upon a new relationship with my Creator; that Iwould have the elements of a way of living which answered all my problems.Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility toestablish and maintain the new order of things, were the essentialrequirements.

Simple,but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction ofself-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light whopresides over us all.

Thesewere revolutionary and drastic proposals, but the moment I fully accepted them,the effect was electric. There was a sense of victory, followed by such a peaceand serenity as I had never known. There was utter confidence. I felt lifted up,as though the great clean wind of a mountain top blew through and through. Godcomes to most men gradually, but His impact on me was sudden and profound.[10]

And there is a more full and adequate account of Bill’soft-stated and frequently-requested “blazing white light experience” in whichBill declared that he sensed the presence of God, and concluded: “So this isthe God of the Scriptures.” And was told by Dr. Silkworth that he had had a“conversion experience.”[11]

How about “God has done for me what I could not do for myself?”

This is the message that Bill Wilson’s “sponsor” andlong-time friend Ebby Thacher carried to Bill right after Ebby told Bill: “I’vegot religion.”[12]

Ebby said to Bill: “that God had done for him what he couldnot do for himself. His human will had failed. Doctors had pronounced himincurable. Society was about to lock him up.”[13] Billsaid: “That floored me. It began to look as though religious people were rightafter all. Here was something at work in a human heart which had done theimpossible.”[14] Billthereafter repeated this language about God’s doing the impossible.

Stating the “solution,” Bill wrote: “He [the Creator] hascommenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do byourselves.”[15] Billspoke of Dr. Jung’s advice to Rowland Hazard that Hazard might get help througha “conversion experience.” Rowland pursued the suggested route, and Bill saidRowland had the “extraordinary experience . . . which made him a free man.”Bill added: “We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperationof drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be theloving and powerful hand of God.” Bill then wrote of “the staff member of aworld-renowned hospital [who] recently made this statement to some of us: ‘Whatyou say about the general hopelessness of the average alcoholic’s plight is, inmy opinion, correct. As to two of you men, whose stories I have heard, there isno doubt in my mind that you were 100% hopeless apart from Divine help. . . .For most cases, there is virtually no other solution.’”[16] Finally,as Bill described the Twelve Step process, he wrote about his “promises” ofwhat would happen to those who were painstaking about their development: “Wewill suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.”[17]

Bill’s “abc’s” stated the solution quite well: “(a) That wewere alcoholic and could not manage our own lives. (b) That probably no humanpower could have relieved our alcoholism. (c) That God could and would ifsought.”[18]

I (Dick B.) believe, as I believe almost all AAs do, thattheology is rarely the province of the drunks in A.A. It is they who hitbottom. It is they who reach the “turning point.” It is they who may surrendertheir lives to God—often crying out something like, “God help me.” And it isthey who may or may not experience what Bill called the “miracle of healing.”[19]

What drunks need not do is try to explain a miraculoushealing in the way Appendix II does. And the miracle is certainly not just apersonality change. Nor is it just about salvation. The endless stories ofdeliverance in the rescue missions can be found in descriptions of the lives ofJerry McAuley and S.H. Hadley. There are there many testimonies involvingdrunks who came to the mission only to have needs met, not necessarily forsalvation. Then follow the accounts of those who got on their knees, acceptedJesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and were saved. Then stories also tellof how men “fell” (went out and got drunk many many times after they weresaved). And, for the missions, reclamation came by never giving up on a personwho “fell.” The mission was back in business with that drunkard if and when hedecided to stand on his relationship with God through Christ, and return to“the Christian life”—living in accordance with God’s Word. Walking after thespirit, and not after the flesh.

Early AAs were required to seek salvation (if they were notalready children of God)—a deliverance from darkness by the grace of Godthrough accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, receiving the gift ofthe Holy Spirit, and being assured of everlasting life. And this was somethingfar more important and far different to them than just quitting drinking andeven from resisting temptation and being delivered from it. Over and over inthe rescue missions, from which AAs derived many ideas, salvation and enduringsobriety came at the same time, merely flowing from a cry to God for help. Butthe mission objective for the derelict was an event (salvation) followed by aChristian life based on the Bible, prayer, God’s guidance, and walkingaccording to the Word.[20]

After Bill W. and Dr. Bob and A.A. Number Three (BillDotson) got sober, the early emphasis was on “First Century Christianity.” Thepioneers not only got saved but pursued a Christian life of growth throughBible study, prayer meetings, Quiet Time, using Christian literature anddevotionals, and then being certain to witness to others while maintainingfellowship and attending religious services if they chose.

God had done for the early A.A. pioneers what they could notdo for themselves. He had enabled salvation (if the person was not already achild of God). And he had provided plenty of information for living inaccordance with His will and Word. The obedience and action were in the handsof the newcomers.

For me, the greatest lesson I (Dick B.) have learned fromA.A. history after years of researching, thinking, and study concerns theexperiences of the first three AAs—Bill Wilson, Dr. Bob Smith, and Bill Dotson.The accounts of their experiences showed how these three each found and stoodon the power of God working in their lives to heal them. The long-submergedfacts show us the results, rather than providing any needed theologicalexplanations and variations. And that is the last point to be made here.

Look at How and Why God’s Healing Miracle Worked in the First Three AAs

Not many know, and some won’t even concede, the followingdocumented, historical accounts. [For the documentation for the ideas andquotes in the remainder of this article, please see: Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3^rded. (Kihei, HI: Paradise Research Publications, Inc., 2010).]

First, by the time they sought relief from their alcoholism,all three of the first three AAs:

(1) Reacheda very low point of despair and hopelessness—“deflation in depth” as Wilsonliked to describe the so-called “bottom.”[21]

(2) Believed in God.

(3) Had received a Christian upbringing where salvation andthe truth of God’s

Word were an assured partof what was learned.

(4) Had long before accepted or recently accepted JesusChrist as their Lord and Savior.

(5) Sought help from God.

(6) Were cured of their alcoholism.

Second, there was no common, specific way in which they hadput themselves in the position where God had healed them. Each may have“found,” “discovered,” “rediscovered,” or “established his relationship with”God in a different manner.[22] Butall had been healed.

Third, their miraculous healings can briefly be described asfollows:

(1) Bill W. was told by Dr. Silkworth that Jesus Christ,the “Great Physician,” could cure him of his alcoholism. Ebby Thacher haddemonstrated his rebirth to Bill and told how he had gone to the altar at theCalvary Mission and been healed. Bill himself accepted Jesus Christ as his Lordand Savior at Calvary Mission's altar. Bill wrote he had been born again. Hewas saved. Then he went to Towns Hospital, having decided that the GreatPhysician could cure Him. He cried out to God for help. He sensed the verypresence of God in his hospital room. He exclaimed: “So this is the God of theScriptures.” Bill wrote that the Lord had cured him of his “terrible disease.”He never drank again. And he believed that God had called him to save all the alcoholics.The healing was complete.

(2) Dr. Bob—long acquainted with the Bible, salvation, andChristian programs and practices—nonetheless had never really wanted to quitdrinking. He said he was probably one of those “wanna wanna” guys. And he hadnever openly conceded that he was a drunk. But he was persuaded to join alittle group on their knees on the floor in Akron and with them to pray for hisdeliverance. He did not quit drinking immediately after the prayer. But amiraculous phone call by Bill Wilson to Henrietta Seiberling resulted inHenrietta's declaring that Bill was “manna from heaven.” Bill and Bob met forsix hours. Bob grasped the importance of service—helping others—and joined Billin a quest to find and develop methods to help others. After one brief, finalbinge, Dr. Bob decided to quit drinking for good. In a little-known interview,Dr. Bob said he had been healed by prayer. In his personal story, he announcedthat he had been cured. He never drank again. The healing was complete.

(3) Bill Dotson—an alcoholic Akron attorney—was visited inthe Akron City Hospital by Bill W. and Dr. Bob. They told Dotson their stories.They told him he must give his life to God, and they told him he must helpothers when he got well. Dotson turned to God for help. He was cured of hisalcoholism. He so stated at a later point. And he became the needed third partyaround whom the original Akron A.A. Christian program was built. Bill W. saidthat the first A.A. group—Akron Number One—was founded the day that Dotsonwalked out of the hospital a free man. The date of the founding was July 4,1935. And Dotson went on to become the “grand old man” in Akron—serving drunksat every turn. The healing was complete

Finally, these and other little-known details about the firstthree AAs have convinced me that—before there was a recovery program called inAkron a “Christian fellowship,” before there were any “six” “word-of-mouth”ideas being used by Wilson, and before there was any Big Book and its includedTwelve Steps in 1939: (1) All three had turned to God for help in overcomingtheir alcoholism. (1) All three men had experienced healing of their alcoholismby God. (3) All three could join in saying “God had done for us what we couldnot do for ourselves.” Those were their “spiritual experiences.” And all hadproved that point.

[1] Thisreworded version of Step Twelve, containing the phrase “spiritual awakening,”also occurs in the second edition (1955), the third edition (1976), and thefourth edition (2001) of the Big Book—on page 60 in these later editions.

[2]Alcoholics Anonymous: The Story of How More Than One Hundred Men Have Recoveredfrom Alcoholism (New York City: WorksPublishing Company, 1939), 37-38; Compare: Alcoholics Anonymous: This is theFourth Edition of the Big Book, the Basic Text of Alcoholics Anonymous, 4thed., (New York City: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 2001), 25.

For reference, the phrase “spiritualexperience(s)” occurs 21 times in the front matter and main text (up to page164), together with “Appendix II: Spiritual Experience,” of the fourth edition (2001)of the Big Book as follows:

(a)“Foreword to Second Edition,” once, on pages xv-xvi;

(b)Chapter 2, “There Is a Solution,” four times, on pages 25, 27 (twice), and 29;

(c)Chapter 4, We Agnostics,” three times, on pages 44, 47 (note), and 56;

(d)Chapter 5, “How It Works,” once, on page 66—keeping in mind that Step Twelveoriginally read “spiritual experience” in the first printing of the firstedition of the Big Book;

(e)Chapter 6, “Into Action,” twice, on pages 75 and 79;

(f)Chapter 8, “To Wives,” once, on page 119;

(g)Chapter 9, “The Family Afterward,” four times, on pages 124, 128, 130, and 131;

(h)Chapter 11, “A Vision for You,” three times, on pages 155, 157, and 158; and

(i)Appendix II, “Spiritual Experience,” twice, on pages 567 and 568.

The phrase “spiritual awakening(s)” does notoccur at all in the first printing of the first edition. (The term “religiousawakening” occurs once on page 390 in the personal story titled “The RollingStone.”) The phrase “spiritual awakening” only occurs twice in the secondprinting of the first edition; once as a replacement term for “spiritualexperience” in the language of Step Twelve, and once in “Appendix II: SpiritualExperience”--on page 569 in the second and third editions, and on page 567 ofthe fourth edition.

[3] “BigBook Changes,” http://silkworth.net/bb_changes/BB-Changes-02.pdf; accessed1/2/12.

[4] It wasfound on pages 569-70 of the second and third editions; and it is found onpages 567-68 of the current (fourth) edition.

[5] Alcoholics Anonymous, 4^thed., 567.

[6] Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., 567-68.

[7] Thisbegan when John Henry Fitzhugh Mayo, the Episcopal minister’s son from Marylandand the second man to recover at Towns Hospital, doubled and redoubled thedebate over the Big Book’s language. Fitz thought the book ought to beChristian in the doctrinal sense of the word and that it should say so. He wasin favor of using Biblical terms and expressions to make this clear. Wilson’spartner Henry Parkhurst (who got drunk shortly thereafter) was called the“liberal” who wanted a psychological book which would lure the alcoholic in.”The battle and the compromise arelargely explained by Wilson himself in pages 162-168 of Alcoholics AnonymousComes of Age: A Brief History of A.A. (NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services,Inc., 1957). The heavily edited and scribbled result is graphically portrayedin The Book That Started It All: The Original Working Manuscript of AlcoholicsAnonymous (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2010.) Lois Wilson stated her version andreasons for the dramatic change in her memoirs Lois Remembers: Memoirs of theco-founder of Al-Anon and wife of the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous (NY:Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., 1987). 113. She said the compromiseagreement had produced “a universal spiritual program.”

[8] Shoemaker’stalk at the 1955 International Convention is published in full on pages 261-70of Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age(New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1957).

[9] Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, 276.

[10] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^st ed.,23-24 (= 4^th ed., 13-14):

[11] BillW., My First 40 Years: An Autobiographyby the Cofounder of Alcoholics Anonymous (Center City, MN: Hazelden, 2000),145-48.

[12] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^sted., 19.

[13] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1st ed., 20-21.

[14] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^sted., 21.

[15] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^st ed.,36.

[16] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^st ed.,36-38. [Later, in correspondence between Bill W. and Dr. Jung, the “necessaryvital spiritual experience” was called a “conversion experience.” Thecorrespondence is in “Pass It On,”38, 54-55.

[17] Thestatements in this paragraph can be found in their order on the following pagesof Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^sted., pp. ______.

[18] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^sted., 72.

[19] Alcoholics Anonymous, 1^st ed.,36, 69, 97.

[20] SeeSamuel H. Hadley, Down in Water Street: A Story of Sixteen Years Life and Workin Water Street Mission A Sequel to the Life of Jerry McAuley, Memorial Edition(NY: Fleming H. Revell Company, n.d.); J. Wilbur Chapman, S.H. Hadley of WaterStreet (NY: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1906).

[21] Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age (NewYork: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc., 1957), 64, 68.

[22] BillWilson followed the dicta of both William James and Rev. Shoemaker: (1) “Finding” God through “living in harmonywith God,” “doing” his will (John 7:17); (2) Having a resultant “vitalreligious experience.” (3) Attaining it through Jesus Christ. See Samuel M.Shoemaker, Jr., Realizing Religion (NY: Association Press, 1929), 9, 16, 27,29. Dr. Bob “rediscovered” God when, as a Christian, he finally recognized hewas “licked” by liquor and prayed to God with others for his deliverance. BillDotson’s story was that he, as a Christian, had just never turned to God forhelp, but when he did, he gave God the credit and said he had “found Him.” Allthree had “established a relationship with God” before or at their sobriety bybelief in God, being Christians, turning to God for help, and being rewarded byGod for their believing. Hebrews 11:6.

Help for Today's Clergy Who. . . .

2012-01-02T11:01:00.001-10:00

Help for Today’s Pastor, Minister, or PriestWho. . .

Has experience withalcoholics and addicts in his church and elsewhere; wants to be of help; hasheard strange things about or has concerns about A.A.; and doesn’t want expensiveor expansive alternative programs? In fact, that servant wants his churchactive in a knowledgeable, effective, Christian recovery effort. And, here’swhat he or she can do.

By Dick B.

Start with the Facts

Here is the early Akron A.A. Christian Fellowship program –as briefly summarized in A.A.’s own literature – which repeatedly evoked thecomment, “Why this is First Century Christianity! What can we do to help?”

Actual Seven-Point Original Program

Summarized by Frank Amos for Rockefeller

· An alcoholic must realize that he is analcoholic, incurable from a medical viewpoint, and that he must never drinkanything with alcohol in it.

· He must surrender himself absolutely to God,realizing that in himself there is no hope.

· Not only must he want to stop drinkingpermanently, he must remove from his life other sins such as hatred, adultery,and others which frequently accompany alcoholism. Unless he will do this absolutely,Smith and his associates refuse to work with him.

· He must have devotions every morning–a “quiettime” of prayer and some reading from the Bible and other religious literature.Unless this is faithfully followed, there is grave danger of backsliding.

· He must be willing to help other alcoholics getstraightened out. This throws up a protective barrier and strengthens his ownwillpower and convictions.

· It is important, but not vital, that he meetfrequently with other reformed alcoholics and form both a social and areligious comradeship.

· Important, but not vital, that he attend somereligious service at least once weekly.

[DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers (New York, N.Y.: AlcoholicsAnonymous World Services, Inc, 1980), 131.]

Understand

This early program is as applicabletoday as the accounts in the Book of Acts, Chapters Two and Four.

This program is compatible withtoday’s A.A. and with most of today’s Christian approaches.

The program is published. It isfree. It is contained in A.A.’s own General Service Conference-approvedliterature.

The program, as originallypracticed, had a documented 50% success rate, with a probable additional 25%success rate among the 40 pioneers who really went to any lengths to follow it.

Criticisms of aberrations in today’s A.A. and about theshortcomings of its founders have had nothing to do with the help that tens ofthousands of present-day Christians in A.A., N.A., and such 12 Step programshave received. And want to receive!

A Beginning Approach

Select one or more church leaders (perhaps a recoverypastor) in your church who have personal experience with alcoholism andaddiction, who have personal experience with Alcoholics Anonymous or another 12Step program, who are born again Christians and fervent Bible students, and whowant to start an inexpensive, small recovery group, free from church “control”but fully supported, encouraged, and enriched by church leadership andteaching, and helped with starting costs.

Obtain two of Dick B.’s books:

The Good Book and TheBig Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.

In the words of Rev. Samuel Shoemaker—cofounder of A.A.: Get Up. GetStarted. Get changed!

The Dick B. RecoveryGuide, 3^rd ed., 2010 http://www.dickb.com/Christian-Recover-Guide.shtml

Contact Dick B., 808 874 4876, or dickb@dickb.com, or PO Box 837, Kihei, HI96753-0837

With any questions, problems, or suggestions.

Gloria Deo

Who is Dick B., an active AA? Here's his story

2012-01-02T09:52:00.003-10:00

Quite frequently, I see questions on the internet and elsewhere, asking:

"Who is Dick B.?" Is Dick B. an alcoholic? Is Dick B. active in Alcoholics Anonymous? Why does he use the pen name Dick B. instead of his full name? Are his books "Conference-approved?" How long has he been sober? Did Dick B. ever use drugs? Is Dick B. a Christian? Are there really Christians in A.A. today?

You probably know that such questions are important to many and are often on their mind when someone suggests they read a book like The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible.
www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml.

Many such questions can be answered by reading or listening to Dick B.'s Story.

Here is where you can find it:

http://dickb.com/dickb-story.shtml

God Bless, Dick B., dickb@dickb.com

Kick off 2012 with The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide

2012-01-01T20:53:00.002-10:00

Read it. Lead with It. Talk with it. Serve with it. And here's where to find and acquire
The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed.
http://www.christianrecoverycoalition.com/christian-recovery-guide.shtml

A.A. "Conference-approved literature" Myths and Motivations

2011-12-31T19:13:00.002-10:00

NewEmail From AA Historian
Dick B of Hawaii

JANUARY1, 2012

What “Conference Approved”Literature Means

Pleasepost this much needed article from Pete's Stuff. It incorporates the long-ignoredBox 459 article that GSO said it couldn't find.

Ireceive questions about this all the time; and people at conferences, CentralOffices, and meetings are confronted with the conference approved nonsense withgreat frequency. Any AA can read anything any time anywhere for any purpose.There is no Tradition that says otherwise.

Thereis no law or rule or Tradition that can or should or will censor or censurewhat is presented at a meeting.

Andif someone thinks they've found the mythical tradition, tell them theTraditions are not laws, are not binding on anyone, and were never intended toprohibit free speech or freedom of religion by AAs or others. Those who suggestotherwise just don't know A.A. Nor do they know that early Alcoholics Anonymouswas a Christian Fellowship, studied the King James Version of the Bible, readall kinds of literature--Protestant, Roman Catholic, New Thought, medical, andotherwise, and put out reams and reams of pamphlets and guides as the yearswent by. See www.dickb.com/drbob.shtmland The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth, 7^th ed. www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.

Includedwere pamphlets from many Central Offices and Intergroups--including thelong-running Cleveland Central Bulletin—which had the Oxford Group’s FourAbsolutes on its Masthead for years.Also, the four AA of Akron AA pamphlets, which contained all kinds of quotesfrom and about the Bible. Also The Four Absolutes themselves as explained in amid-western A.A. pamphlet—all about the writer’s interpretation of AbsoluteHonest, Purity, Unselfishness, and Love.

Thenthere were other writers mentioned below and not mentioned below--ClarenceSnyder, Sister Ignatia, Marty Mann, Father Pfau, Richmond Walker, Ed Webster,and on-and-on. Writings by these AAs or A.A. friends were widely read in A.A.and quoted in A.A. Pfau even had a radio program.

Notto forget over 500 Oxford Group and Sam Shoemaker books and pamphlets that wereread and circulated by Dr. Bob himself. And I have read them all and seen themavailable in many archives.

And,let's not forget that the most ignored and suppressed writing of all - AnneSmith's Journal – which contained the heart of early A.A. was read and discussedalmost every morning at the Smith home Quiet Times. In attendance were AAs,families, and kids. See www.dickb.com/annesm.shtml.

Takeoff the shackles, and use your mind! Better still, see what someone else hashad to say. Particularly, the Creator through what He revealed in His Word. Ourbasic ideas came from there.

Myrecent title MakingKnown the Biblical History and Roots of Alcoholics Anonymousspecifically identifies hundreds and hundreds of writings that have contributedto the origins, history, founding, principles, and practices of A.A. in justthe few years it has been in existence: http://www.dickb.com/makingknown.shtml

GodBless, Dick B. http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml;http://www.dickb-blog.com; http://drbob.info;www.ChristianRecoveryCoalition.com

dickb@dickb.

Dick and Ken B. Kickoff Visits in Southern California in January

2011-12-31T10:42:00.000-10:00

A letter just written to our supporter and particiapnt Chuck H. about the New Year

2012: Ken and I intend to kick off the New Year with some fruitful meetings in Southern California.
Starting January 7th, we will be in Santa Ana participating in, and speaking at an Association of Christian Alcohol and Drug Counselors Institute. There will be some fine people speaking there. Open to public. Space limited.

On Monday evening, January 9th, we will be speaking at an NA oriented meeting of the Hiding Place in North Hollywood at Cri-Help facility.Dinner and talks. We will be spending time also with its leader Mario Zamorano.
Open to public. Space limited.

On Tuesday, January 10th we plan to meet with Nikole W. to set up our series of radio interviews in 2012 of Christian leaders and workers who leading Christian recovery efforts in spots all over the world.

On Thursday, January 12th, we will be spending most of the day with Rev. Jerry Liversage in Costa Mesa filming materials related to his Responding Recovery Workbook. These are films that will be broadcast widely in Orange County.

We plan to meet with our vigorous supporters: (1) David Roman--proprietor of 4 Roman Cucina restaurants in Orange County. (2) Dr. Robert Tucker, President of New Life Spirit Recovery, Inc. of Huntington Beach. (3) Roger McDiarmid of International Christian Recovery Coalition Speakers Bureau. (3) The leaders of Ex-Cons.

While in Orange County, we will be in touch with many potential Christian leaders in the Orange County Area who can help us formulate and locate benefactors to support our "Impaired No More" Program. This will reach out to impaired communities, starting with lawyers, and offer programs to help insure their return, with God's help, to a new life--whether it be restoration to their field or a new life of service and success.

We will be meeting with Marriage Counselor Bob Noonan in Orange. He will help us plan a large Conference in Orange County in May where Christian recovery leaders who have contributed mightily will have an opportunity to speak for an hour and meet in workshops with others on how they are leading the new Christian Recovery Movement and expand participation in International Christian Recovery Coalition.

Arranging visits with Ken and myself to the end of furthering these efforts will be a top priority. We will be in the Torrance Area from January 4th to 6th. We will be at the Marriott in Costa Mesa from January 6th to 9th, We will be at the Wyndham in Costa Mesa through the 13th. And for a day in the Marriott again until our return to Maui of January 14th.

Chuck: We have valued your support a great deal and are constantly at work researching and expanding on the vitally important origins, history, founding, original Christian Fellowship program of A.A. in Akron, and its successes. Also on the "broad highway" compromise on the issue of "God" which took place in A.A. just before its Big Book went to press in 1939. And also on how Christians and those who want God's help can recover in whatever A.A., N.A., and 12 Step Fellowship, or treatment or counseling program, or sober living situation they seek if they build on the Christian origins of the recovery movement and stand on their own Christian beliefs and practices utilizing and serving the other 12 Step activities.

During our Southern California visit, we can be reached on Ken's cellular - 808 276 4945.

In His Service, Dick B., Executive Director, International Christian Recovery Coalition. dickb@dickb.com

Alcoholics Anonymous History: Some Bible Quotes in A.A.

2011-12-29T17:12:00.001-10:00

When speaking of the Bible in Alcoholics Anonymous or Alcoholics Anonymous History, it is important to define the time and place involved.

Early Akron A.A.'s Christian Fellowship was founded in June, 1935. Its first group--Akron Number One--was founded July 4, 1935. In that period, Alcoholics Anonymous was Bible based in every respect. Dr. Bob said the oldtimers believed the answers to their problem were in the Bible. His wife Anne Smith said the Bible should be the main Source Book of all. She said not a day should pass without reading it. The Bible was read at meetings. Study of the Bible was stressed. And, when asked a question about the program, Dr. Bob usually replied: "What does it say in the Good Book?" And the three parts that were considered absolutely essential were: the Book of James, Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13. In short, early A.A. was based on the Bible.

For sources of these ideas, see http://www.dickb.com/aa-bible-resources.shtml

For a line by line, verse by verse, comparison of A.A. language and the three segments--James, Jesus' Sermon, and 1 Corinthians 13, see Dick B., The James Club and the Original A.A. Programs Absolute Essentials. www.dickb.com/JamesClub.shtml.

In many parts of the country, many AAs continued to read the Bible, talk about the Bible, and quote the Bible. This was both before and after the Big Book and Twelve Steps were published in 1939. There are many quotes of Dr. Bob's statements about the Bible during the period and up to the point of his death.

On the other hand, when the Big Book was published in 1939, A.A. opened its doors to Christians, non-Christians, atheists, agnostics, people of many faiths, and people who believed in nothing at all.
This did not alter the fact that there were large number of Christians and Bible-readers. And that situation continues to this very moment.

The point is that the doors were opened. But they were not closed to Christians, those who studied the Bible, and those who continued to read Christian literature and devotionals.

www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml

Impaired No More: Why

2011-12-28T18:44:00.001-10:00