He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!!!!
Bible Study
Sermon on the Mount-Part 3
Matthew 5:17-20
- Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
(Having laid the foundation of the message in the summary statements of the Beatitudes, Jesus now proceeds to show the superiority of His message to that of the law of Moses. He makes it clear that He had not . . . come to destroy the law. That is, the New Testament gospel is not contradictory to the Old Testament Law; rather it is the ultimate fulfillment of the spiritual intention of the law. Where the law had degenerated into legalism among the Pharisees, Jesus now takes the law beyond mere outward observance to the inner spiritual intention of God.)
- For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
- Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
- For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Because of the necessity of righteousness as a requirement to enter heaven, Jesus then declares that except their righteousness should exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees they could not enter heaven. The significance of this is seen in the fact that the Jews of Jesus’ day considered these people to be the most religious in all Israel. However, their religion was largely an outward show of self-righteousness. In communicating the depth of His message, Jesus used a series of contrasts between the outward behavior demanded by the law and the inner attitude of the heart desired by God. Here we discover the practical application of genuine Christian character to true spiritual living.)
Here we see the gospel in action:
Law(old) Spirit(new)
No murder No anger
No adultery No lust
No divorce Commitment
No oath-taking Speak the Truth
No retaliation Forgiveness
Hatred for your enemy Love for your enemy
(Tradition allowed it) (Commanded)
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My Prayer for the Day
"Heavenly Father, I humbly ask that You strengthen me in all Your commandments...That I may be slow to anger, not enslaved by temporary feelings and emotions that cause me to make bad decisions, that I fully commit to my relationship ships (not half in half out), that I may always speak truth, that I may forgive others (who am I not to?), that I pray for those who harmed me, that I abide my the Holy Spirit within my because my body becomes dis-eased when I don't-In Jesus name-Amen"
Today’s action
- Today I will be slow to anger and not react to other peoples emotions or defects
- Today I will consciously be aware of my desires and not be ruled by them
- Today I will fully commit to all my commitments-being a women of my word
- Today I will be truthful and genuine-not superficial and fake to keep up "appearances"
- Today I will forgive all those I perceived hurt or harmed me and pray for God to grant me the willingness to forgive them
- Today I will see how toxic it is to resent (re-feel) past pain and how my delusional victim thinking doesn't serve me.
- Today I will see that it's easier to own my behavior and not use others as an excuse to not grow
8th STEP
"We attempt to sweep away the debris which has accumulated out of our effort to live on self-will and run the show ourselves. If we haven’t the will to do this, we ask until it comes."
(p. 76 BB)
God help me to become willing to sweep away the debris of self will and self reliant living. Thy will be done for this person as well as for me. AMEN
9th STEP
God give me the strength and direction to do the right thing no matter what the consequences may be. Help me to consider others and not harm them in any way. Help me to consult with others before I take any actions that would cause me to be sorry. Help me to not repeat such behaviors. Show me the way of Patience, Tolerance, Kindliness, and Love and help me live the spiritual life. AMEN
(p. 78-80 BB)
10th STEP
God remove the Selfishness, dishonesty, resentment and fear that has cropped up in my life right now. Help me to discuss this with someone immediately and make amends quickly if I have harmed anyone. Help me to cease fighting anything and anyone. Show me where I may be helpful to someone else. Help me react sanely; not cocky or afraid. How can I best serve You - Your will, not mine be done. AMEN
(p. 84-5 BB)
"How can I best serve Thee—Thy will (not mine) be done."
More AA prayers http://silkworth.net/pages/aa/
Podcast of he Day
Marion W. 3rd Session Winter 2018 Step Series
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12 x 12 on Step 11
“Sought through prayer and meditation to
improve our conscious contact with God as
we understood Him, praying only for knowledge
of His will for us and the power to carry
that out.”
"First let's look at a really good prayer. We won't have far to seek; the great men and women of all religions have left us a wonderful supply. Here let us consider one that is a classic. Its author was a man who for several hundred years now has been rated as a saint. We won't be biased or scared off by that fact, because although he was not an alcoholic he did, like us, go through the emotional wringer. And as he came out the other side of that painful experience, this prayer was his expression of what he could then see, feel, and wish to become:
“Lord, make me a channel of thy peace—that where
there is hatred, I may bring love—that where there is
wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness—that where
there is discord, I may bring harmony—that where there is
error, I may bring truth—that where there is doubt, I may
bring faith—that where there is despair, I may bring hope
—that where there are shadows, I may bring light—that
where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I
may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted—to understand,
than to be understood—to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving
that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal
Life. Amen.”
As beginners in meditation, we might now reread this prayer several times very slowly, savoring every word and trying to take in the deep meaning of each phrase and idea. It will help if we can drop all resistance to what our friend says. For in meditation, debate has no place. We rest quietly with the thoughts of someone who knows, so that we may experience and learn."
Read more 12 X 12 http://www.portlandeyeopener.c
Big Book
More About Alcoholism....Cont..
"Our behavior is as absurd and incomprehensible with respect to the first drink as that of an individual with a passion, say, for jay-walking. He gets a thrill out of skipping in front of fast-moving vehicles. He enjoys himself for a few years in spite of friendly warnings. Up to this point you would label him as a foolish chap having queer ideas of fun. Luck then deserts him and he is slightly injured several times in succession. You would expect him, if he were normal, to cut it out. Presently he is hit again and this time has a fractured skull. Within a week after leaving the hospital a fast-moving trolley car breaks his arm. He tells you he has decided to stop jay-walking for good, but in a few weeks he breaks both legs.
On through the years this conduct continues, accompanied by his continual promises to be careful or to keep off the streets altogether. Finally, he can no longer work, his wife gets a divorce and he is held up to ridicule. He tries every known means to get the jay- walking idea out of his head. He shuts himself up in an asylum, hoping to mend his ways. But the day he comes out he races in front of a fire engine, which breaks his back. Such a man would be crazy, wouldn’t he?
You may think our illustration is too ridiculous. But is it? We, who have been through the wringer, have to admit if we substituted alcoholism for jay-walking, the illustration would fit us exactly. However intelligent we may have been in other respects, where alcohol has been involved, we have been strangely insane. It’s strong language—but isn’t it true?
Some of you are thinking: “Yes, what you tell us is true, but it doesn’t fully apply. We admit we have some of these symptoms, but we have not gone to the extremes you fellows did, nor are we likely to, for we understand ourselves so well after what you have told us that such things cannot happen again. We have not lost everything in life through drinking and we certainly do not intend to. Thanks for the information.’’
That may be true of certain nonalcoholic people who, though drinking foolishly and heavily at the present time, are able to stop or moderate, because their brains and bodies have not been damaged as ours were. But the actual or potential alcoholic, with hardly an exception, will be absolutely unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge. This is a point we wish to emphasize and re-emphasize, to smash home upon our alcoholic readers as it has been revealed to us out of bitter experience."
Read more Big Book http://www.portlandeyeopener.c
AA History
A.A. History - General
The Man on the Bed -Stain glass window. New at the Akron Intergroup office.
1940 AA Preamble
We are gathered here because we are faced with the fact that we are powerless over alcohol and unable to do anything about it without the help of a Power greater than ourselves.......
We are gathered here because we are faced with the fact that we are powerless over alcohol and unable to do anything about it without the help of a Power greater than ourselves.......
Timelines in AA's History -An extensive Flowchart from 1864 to present. -by Archie M.
A Narrative Timeline Of AA History -Arthur S., Northeast Texas Area Archives has built upon Archie M's original Timeline file and is still growing - 1774 to 2003. Converted to html with Arthur's permission. There is to much information to list here.
¬Single html file (758 kb)
¬PDF version (327 kb)
¬Word doc version (1.18 mb)
¬Single html file (758 kb)
¬PDF version (327 kb)
¬Word doc version (1.18 mb)
In AA’s First Five Years -Lois W., wife of AA’s co-founder, Bill W., recalls the time in AA when there were few members and no Big Book.
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103 "MUSTS" In The Book Titled, "Alcoholics Anonymous"
If you go to enough meetings, you'll hear it said that in AA, "there are no MUSTs, only suggestions". Well, like most half-truths in A.A., if you hear them long enough you begin to believe them. But what does the Program have to say about this?
If you go to enough meetings, you'll hear it said that in AA, "there are no MUSTs, only suggestions". Well, like most half-truths in A.A., if you hear them long enough you begin to believe them. But what does the Program have to say about this?
A Talk by Bob E., A.A. #11
Shortly, before his death, Bob E. shared with some members of the Upstate Group of All Addicts Anonymous, the following recollection of what AA was like when he first joined.
Shortly, before his death, Bob E. shared with some members of the Upstate Group of All Addicts Anonymous, the following recollection of what AA was like when he first joined.
Alcoholics Anonymous -by Father Edward (Ed) Dowling
This is an article written by Father Ed Dowling in a column he had in The Queen's Work Magazine Dated: June 1945, page 13. Father Dowling had his own cloumn in this magazine.
This is an article written by Father Ed Dowling in a column he had in The Queen's Work Magazine Dated: June 1945, page 13. Father Dowling had his own cloumn in this magazine.
Sister Ignatia Gavin and A.A. -Sister Ignatia Gavin, a tiny Irish-American nun, helped initiate medical treatment for alcoholics in Akron, Ohio at Towns Hospital.
Ruth Hock's recollections -AA's 1st Secretary, letter to Bill W., her recollections of A.A. in the beginning, transcribed from an original document, dated November 10, 1955.
¬Ruth Hock's recollections -A copy of Ruth's type written letter to Bill W. in .pdf format.
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¬Ruth Hock's recollections -A copy of Ruth's type written letter to Bill W. in .pdf format.
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A Letter From Bill W. on Depression -from the memoirs of Tom P., an early California AA member.
(*Aslo see: The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety, an AA Grapevine Article dated, January 1958, which is strikingly similar to this letter from Bill W. on Depression.")
(*Aslo see: The Next Frontier: Emotional Sobriety, an AA Grapevine Article dated, January 1958, which is strikingly similar to this letter from Bill W. on Depression.")
Gresham's Law and Alcoholics Anonymous -by Tom P. Jr., ©1993. Due to the file size of this article, it is presented here in four parts. All four parts will be linked together at the bottom of each page by part # & title.
Bill W.'s letter to Dr. Carl Gustav Jung -Dated January 23, 1961, a well overdue letter, as Bill put it.
Dr. Carl Jung's Letter To Bill W. -Dated January 30, 1961, In reply to Bill's letter above that's dated January 23, 1961. (Dr. Carl Jung)
Bill Wilson's Meeting at Henrietta Sieberling's House
....I agreed to speak but felt that it would mean most to them to hear some of her own words, so I called her on the telephone and asked her to tell me about the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous so that I could make sure my remarks were accurate. I made a tape recording of the conversation and played part of it at the .....
....I agreed to speak but felt that it would mean most to them to hear some of her own words, so I called her on the telephone and asked her to tell me about the origins of Alcoholics Anonymous so that I could make sure my remarks were accurate. I made a tape recording of the conversation and played part of it at the .....
The Wilson - Burwell Letters -For quite a few years, Bill W., co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and Jim B., author of the 2nd and 3rd edition personal story in the Big Book titled: "Vicious Cycle", communicated via written correspondence between 1947 and 1965.
For Drunks Only—One Man's Reactions to Alcoholics Anonymous -by Richmond W.—author of "Twenty-four Hours a Day." For Drunks Only was originally published in 1945.
The Impact of Alcoholism -Bill W.'s Testimony before The Special Subcommittee July, 1969. Present: Senators Hughes, Yarborough, Williams, Javits, Dominick, and Bellmon.
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Chuck C.'s Testimony Before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee -September 27, 1969. Present: Senators Hughes, (presiding), Dominick, and Saxbe [members of the Subcommittee]. Also present: Senators Cranston and Murphy [both Senators from California].
The story behind these Four books signed by Chuck C. and Clancy I.-by Ken R. -This was sent to me by Ken R. about when he attended the annual A.A. Gratitude Roundup in Diamondhead, Mississippi on November 28th, 2009. Clancy I. wrote the Preface to Chuck's book, "A New Pair of Glasses," and Ken was thrilled that he would finally go to hear him speak and he being able to speak with him in person.
Matthew J. R. -"Matt R. is one of my heroes, one who, following his recovery from alcoholism, made a significant contribution to the field of alcoholism." -Nancy O.
Dr. Paul's Interview -Dr. Paul's story 'Doctor, Alcoholic, Addict' was published in the Third Edition of the Big Book; his remarks on acceptance, which appear on pages 449 and 450, have been helpful to many AA members over the years. This interview was conducted by telephone to Dr. Paul's home in California.
A Summary: Ask It Bask It - General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous - 1951-1978 (The Ask-It-Basket was a part of the General Service Conference
from 1951 to 1985. Sessions ran from 3 to 6 one hour sessions during the couse of the Conference. The idea behind it was that a person seeking information or opinions on a specific subject could place an unsigned question in the Ask-It-Basket, in the main meeting room.
The Conference produced a summary of the Ask-It-Basket questions in 1979 and this document is contained in the file 1951-1979.
from 1951 to 1985. Sessions ran from 3 to 6 one hour sessions during the couse of the Conference. The idea behind it was that a person seeking information or opinions on a specific subject could place an unsigned question in the Ask-It-Basket, in the main meeting room.
The Conference produced a summary of the Ask-It-Basket questions in 1979 and this document is contained in the file 1951-1979.
A Summary: Ask It Bask It - General Service Conference of Alcoholics Anonymous - 1979-1985
Dr. Harry M. Tiebout, MD -A strong supporter of A.A. throughout his life, he consistently worked for acceptance of his views concerning alcoholism the medical and psychiatric professions. He served on the Board of Trustees for A.A. from 1957 to 1966, and was chairman of the National Council on Alcoholism in 1950.
The Story of Irma Livoni -As related by Matt M., a sponsee of Sybil C.and a copy of a letter to Irma Livoni from the Los Angeles AA Group dated, Dec. 6th, 1941, kicking Irma out of A.A. Irma never returned to A.A. and died of alcoholism. A copy of the original letter was sent to me, some time back, by the owner of the original letter about the first women to get kicked out of A.A. The letter is dated December 6th, 1941.