We are AA!!!

Some friends of mine and I are starting a new chapter in our lives today.  Our little group we started is moving into a new home and we are going to be having three meetings a week.  We had our last meeting in our old location tonight and it was so cool.  We had a good attendance and everyone shared their experience and hope about the topic that was presented out of the Big Book.

After the meeting I got to share some experiences out of my past with a brother who is going through some of the same things.  It was a very enlightening experience for me.  Yet again, a chance to see how God can use my experience to benefit others.

I have been struck by something all day.  The real beauty of this Program is that we get to do it from now on.  We are on a spiritual journey together without end...  We are AA... We love you and you are welcome here...

We don't care if you are black, white, red, brown, purple, or green. We don't care if you are straight or gay... It doesn't matter to us if you are rich or poor.  Blessed with an intelligence beyond belief or just simple minded...  We love you...

What we do care about is this... 

When you drink can you control the amount you drink EVERY time? or...

Given sufficient cause can you stop altogether?

If the answer to EITHER one of those questions is NO... Then we have a way out on which we can absolutely agree and join in brotherly and harmonious action!!!

And here is the real kicker... We are having a blast doing it.  We are living above our present circumstances by the Grace of God... We absolutely insist on enjoying life....

Come and join us on the Broad Highway...  Our life ROCKS!!! because our GOD ROCKS!!!

Daily Action

In my office I have a hand written note pinned to the wall. It says "I pray that this will be a life changing experience" 

It was written by a sponsee and given to me right before a meeting, before we started working the Steps. He is dead now. And has been for awhile. 

He obviously believed in something or He wouldn't have prayed. But belief was not enough. He would not take the ACTION required... 

I know another guy that joined us at the same time. He didn't believe in anything, but he took the actions. He has done more to help people in the last year and a half than a lot of people I know. 

The difference wasn't in how we worked the steps. The difference was in the willingness to take ACTION...

That note is a reminder to me to take action everyday...

Power on the move...

I have some dear friends in the program. Their stories are touching my heart today;

One of them, is taking his child to Houston to see if he has a serious medical problem, one of them has just found out he has a 4 year old son and is going to have the opportunity to be part of his life sober. Another has a family member who has relapsed.  Another has business troubles of a serious nature, another has been blessed with a new job opportunity.

What do these guys have in common?  They have God's Power in their life today.  They are actively working the steps.  They are actively sponsoring other people.  They are each grateful for the positions in which they find themselves.

They have turned their thoughts to people they can help.  They are living happy, joyous and free no matter what their present circumstances.

This is the Power we can help people find in our fellowship. This is what it is all about.

It is not about sitting around after a few years of sobriety and pontificating to others, lecturing them on how they should act, walk, and talk. 

It is not about endless debates and wordy arguments.

It is not about opinion and damn sure not about therapy. 

It is about getting connected with the Creator and doing things His way for a change.

So get down off of your soapbox or up off your ass and join us... And if you won't or can't do that please, at least get out of the way... Cause we are on the move, and the Power of God can't be stopped...

What we carry is the clear message of hope as outlined in the first 164 pages of a book called Alcoholics Anonymous...

Peace and Love

Sponsorship

I recently attended a meeting with about 20 people.  The topic came straight from the Big Book.  Everyone got a chance to share.  The shares were full of Hope and Truth.  The newcomers in the room left hearing the simple message of our fellowship

I recently attended another meeting.  The subject came out of a different book and there were lots of war stories and a lot of discussion about feelings and opinions.  The newcomers left with mixed messages and a lot of opinion.

What is the difference between these meetings?  They are both in the same fellowship.  Great people in both of them that really care about others. 

The difference I believe is in sponsorship.  Everyone in the first meeting has a sponsor and the vast majority are sponsoring someone else.  People are actively working this program and connecting with God on a daily basis.  Sponsors are not only accountable to their sponsors but to their sponsees as well...

This means that the Big Book is used by these people as a textbook.  They know the actions to take on a daily basis because they are working and reworking the steps...

Now I ask you when you have the desperation of a drowning man, where do you want to be in the first meeting or the second?

Do you need the clear simple message of Hope as outlined in the first 164 pages.  Or do you need 30 different opinions?

Do you need to hear how some one else got connected to a Power that solved their problem? Or do you need to hear what a crappy day the guy with 20 years had. 

Do you want to recover from this disease or do you want to hide out in AA meetings twice a day for the rest of your life and always be recovering?

Get a sponsor if you don't have one.  Ask them have you had a spiritual experience as a result of working the steps... If they aren't sure then run like hell.

How do we get our fellowship back from the opinionated, self help, therapeutic gurus... One drunk at a time that's how.

We must stand up for something, or we will fall for anything...