Step 2

Applying “Old School” A.A. in Today’s 12-Step Fellowships

What the First, Original, Akron A.A. Program Was and Did

The way the first three AAs-Bill W., Dr. Bob, Bill D.-got sober before there was a “Big Book.” See The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3rd ed., 2010, pp. 57-59.

    1. There were no Steps;

    2. There were no Traditions;

    3. There was no “Big Book”;

    4. There were no “drunkalogs” (of the kind seen today); and

    5. There were no meetings (of the kinds seen today).

Instead, each of the first three AAs:

    1. believed in God;

    2. was a Christian;

    3. asked God for deliverance; and

    4. received the requested deliverance from God.

The Summary by Frank Amos, Published in DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers, page 131.

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The Nature and Basis of Assurance

At the commencement of Matthew 5 we find the Lord Jesus pronouncing blessed a certain class of people. They are not named as “believers” or saints,” but instead are described by their characters; and it is only by comparing ourselves and others with the description that the Lord Jesus there gave, that we are enabled to identify such. First, He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” To be “poor in spirit” is to have a feeling sense that in me, that is, in my flesh, “there dwelleth no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). It is the realization that 1 am utterly destitute of anything and everything which could commend me favorably to God’s notice. It is to recognize that I am a spiritual bankrupt.

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You Believe in God but Do You Really Trust Him?

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NRSV
Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death so that we would rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He who rescued us from so deadly a peril will continue to rescue us; on him we have set our hope that he will rescue us again.

I’ve always believed in God, believed that He exists, that He gave us His Word, that He desires to be interactively involved with me.

I have not always trusted Him.

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Scriptures for Strength in Eating Disorder (and all kinds) of Recovery

If you are in eating disorder recovery, you know what a tough battle it is. There are times that you may even feel it’s impossible to find the strength you need. But if you look to the Bible, you can find strength right at your fingertips. God’s word can give you the strength and power you need to move forward in your recovery.

Psalm 121:1,2 is a great place to start when looking for Bible passages that offer strength. I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

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Scriptures for Resisting Behaviors

Could you use some help in warding off a binge, resisting restricting your food intake or stopping yourself from over-exercising? Does resisting eating disorder behaviors seem impossible sometimes? The good news is that divine help is available. God wants you to be free of your eating disorder, so you can go to His Word for help in resisting behaviors.

If you are hesitant to ask God for help because of the guilt and shame you feel over the behaviors you practice, please don’t let that stop you. Your not asking for His help is not going to stop Him from knowing about your behaviors. And remember that He is on your side. He wants you to be closer to Him, and He also wants to help set you free of your eating disorder.

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Affliction Prepared For and Improved

“It was good for me to be afflicted–so that I might learn your decrees.” Psalm 119:71

As it is the duty of God’s children to prepare for affliction before it comes; so it is also their duty to improve affliction when it does come.

If we do not prepare for affliction–we shall be surprised by it;
and, if we do not improve it–we are likely to increase it.

He who would prepare for affliction, must beforehand:
(1.) resign all to God,
(2.) strengthen his graces,
(3.) store up divine promises,
(4.) and search out secret sins.

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Are You “Fully Persuaded?”

And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised,
he was able also to perform. Romans 4:21 KJV

It has been said of Abraham that he was a friend of God and the father of many nations, but what impacts me most about this biblical patriarch is that he was “fully persuaded” that God could and would fulfill His promises, regardless of seemingly impossible circumstances.

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Learning God’s Purpose for Your Life

But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves,
not having been baptized by John. Luke 7:30, NASB

We hear a lot about the importance of “purpose-driven lives,” but is it enough to follow any purpose… or does it matter whose purpose we choose to follow?

The above verse in Luke tells us that the Pharisees and lawyers rejected God’s purpose for their lives. Why? Because they hadn’t been baptized by John. What does that have to do with it?

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Good Without God?

Is “good” always good?

I’ll bet you received a lot of “year-end” messages from different organizations seeking a final funding push. One that caught my attention was an appeal to join in combating their perception of a growing movement called “good without God.”

I was invited to sign an online declaration—and of course to send some money. I did neither, but I did find myself wondering whether I object to the notion of “good without God.” What do you think?

I recalled a conversation with a close friend (I’ll call him Ben) as he explained why he never took his kids to church.

A good family

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