Thanks again to the folks at the AA History Lovers Group at Yahoo!
There are far more than Twelve Promises written in the Big Book “Alcoholics Anonymous.”
This is a listing of only those relating to the First Step (please, some may be a stretch – utilize, don’t analyze);
First Step Promises:
1. How many thousands of men and women have recovered from alcoholism. (Title page).
2. Who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. (foreword 1st edition xiii)
3. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. (foreword 1st edition xiii)
4. We are …read more

I’m very happy to report that I went to an NA meeting last night (my first in 8 yrs.) and Narcotics Anonymous is alive and well in Savannah, Georgia!
Yes, I am serious… for a long time, nine years, I’ve watched as the local court system has directed folks with substance problems into the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous. This court system even has a magnificent program called Drug Court that works to the benefit of quite a few people that are willing to give it a proper effort. Many AA’s felt the court “dumping” addicts into AA was a disservice to …read more

“I Stand At The Door” is the title of a piece written by Sam Shoemaker from the Oxford Group. It begins;
I stand by the door.
I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out.
The door is the most important door in the world -
It is the door through which men walk when they find God.
There is no use my going way inside and staying there,
When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,
Crave to know where the door is.
And all that so many ever find
Is only the wall where the door ought to be.
They creep along …read more

This will come as a surprise to a couple of good friends. It is an example of “thinking?” My thinking overnight based on some words that were offered to me yesterday.
But first – regardless of the outcome I am thankful because I have been motivated. The motivation was certainly from the God I understand today. All the frills that came along with it may have hidden its meaning for a day or two but I was finally able to see the signpost. Therefore, within a couple of days the SCCSCU will be in receipt of a letter, however poorly written …read more

From the Narcotics Anonymous World Services web site I’d like to reproduce a few paragraphs and then direct you to the link to read through the entire bulletin. The good folks at NA obviously put a great deal of thought into this and it is certainly worth the read.
Some thoughts regarding our relationship to Alcoholics Anonymous

“The question of just how Narcotics Anonymous relates to all other fellowships and organizations is one which may generate controversy within our fellowship. In spite of the fact that we have a stated policy of “cooperation, not affiliation” with outside organizations confusion remains. One …read more

This is now an old favorite! From pages 417 – 418;
“For years I was sure the worst thing that could happen to a nice guy like me would be that I would turn out to be an alcoholic.”
I actually did not give that much consideration in my drinking days. As much as there were a couple of folks who made some mention that I might have a problem with booze, no one ever came out bluntly, until Fr. Tom, and told me I was an alcoholic. They simply whined about my drinking or told me I ought to cut back.
“Today …read more

Do you really mean that? Are you sure?
It seems like this months Daily Reflections are more on target, for me, than most other months. What today’s actually speaks to my mind is: “Count Your Blessings, Not Your Troubles”
“One exercise that I try to practice is to try for a full inventory of my blessings…”

“What did I have to be grateful for? I shut myself up and started listing the blessings for which I was in no way responsible, beginning with having been born of sound mind and body.”

Well, maybe he was born with a sound mind lol.

“I went through seventy-four …read more

If you sit in a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous and you hear anyone – ANYONE – share that they CHOSE not to drink alcohol in any way, shape or form,
PASS THIS ON!
Page 24;

“The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink.”
It doesn’t matter if they have 100 years sober in AA, tell them!

If its you spreading the lie that you chose not to drink alcohol, stop it!
Find some place else to go… or learn the truth…
“We are without defense against the first drink.”

Well, this first sentence has the promise of becoming long and a run-on eh?
We’ve seen the First Step Promises, the Second Step Promises, , the Third Step Promises, and the Fourth Step Promises, now here are the Fifth Step Promises from the AA History Lovers Group at Yahoo!
1. In actual practice, we usually find a solitary self-appraisal insufficient. (72:2)
2. If we skip this vital step, we may not overcome drinking. (72:2)
3. They took inventory all right, but …read more

According to today’s reflection…
It’s Okay To Be Me
“Time after time newcomers have tried to keep to themselves certain facts about their lives… they have turned to easier methods… But they had not learned enough humility.”
So, I had to find a level of humility that would lead me out of the place where I believed there was so much wrong with me nothing would ever fix it.
“Humility sounds so much like humiliation, but it really is the ability to look at myself – and honestly accept what I find.”
Not only honestly accept what I find but also find that what I …read more