Hi to all of you and Merry Christmas. I woke up early this Saturday morning feeling grateful. I usually do wake up with gratitude every day, but maybe the feeling was a little intensified this morning...not sure. Anyway, I felt like giving God extra thanks this morning in my prayers. The main focus of my gratitude this morning is the peace in my life, and the love in my life. Those two things (among many more) are purely and strictly the result of God Himself. All I did was open myself up to God through working the Steps, and He gave me those results. I don't know how to get results like that on my own, by my own will. But...He does...and He did. For that, I am grateful. For that, I thank Him. Actually, I must even thank Him that I'm able to feel this gratitude. Everything that is good comes directly from Him. Blessings to all, Mike D.
All I did was open myself up to God through working the Steps, and He gave me those results.
That's a great post Mike D...And the quote above is the key to succeeding in this recovery program. Letting God...As you understand what God is to you....Do for you what you couldn't do for yourself.
There was a poster the other day that mentioned they were sober and feeling spiritually connected to their HP....But they were lost. I was actually called out by a moderator here for the reply I gave....Which was this...
Have you worked the steps?....I had to do that to become spiritually connected to my HP. I know I was lost before I did them.
I stand by that. I had so much blocking me from God....As I understand Him. I wasn't connected to anything....Faith without works is dead. They talk in the book about abandoning yourself to God....Seeing to it that your relationship with Him/Her/Whatever God is to you is right. I had to honestly face and rid myself of what was blocking me....I had to clean house...I had to work those 12 steps...And only then I could see the results of what you are describing. The shortest prayer for me is "Thank You." I say it many times throughout the day....As well as "Thy will...Not mine...Be done." God's Grace is an amazing thing....If you have the room to let it in.
I never "called you out" Omg. She asked how AA changed your life and you gave unsolicited suggestion. Also, the writer in that thread was basically asking "what is it like now" not "What happened or what did you do?" Of course you did not see that. And your typical response to anyone you disagree with is to tell them what they are saying is not your interpretation of the BB and will therefore result in killing other people, meanwhile, everything you say is beyond reproach because whenever challenged, you claim perfection as a result of working the steps and that your message is infallible because you seem to think it's "exactly" as written.
I received PM messages from folks saying they were not going to post anymore because of this dynamic. So as moderator, that is what I was addressing, not just attacking. You can cling to an inability to take feedback if you want. Humility is a principle behind the steps. Keep practicing what you preach.
-- Edited by pinkchip on Saturday 14th of December 2013 11:50:48 AM
-- Edited by pinkchip on Saturday 14th of December 2013 12:45:13 PM
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Stepchild was correct. Encouraging newcomers to work a hybrid version of AA can lead to death. It is a disease that wants to kill us. One or two people working a mixed bag program does not change the words in the book. I definitely would speak up as well.
Alcoholism is deadly and wants to kill me. Half measures availed me nothing.
I beg you to be fearless... Do the program by the book. Your HP will empower you to work and live the AA program. No need to modify it. Changing it up to suit yourself and calling that new creation AA is not right. Blessing it as AA isn't right either.
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"I spent a lifetime in hell and it only took me twelve steps to get to heaven."
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
The post said "how did AA change your life "not please give me spiritual suggestions because I am lost." You turned it into that because of your desire to preach.
Double snap.
-- Edited by pinkchip on Saturday 14th of December 2013 02:04:18 PM
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
PC it appears you have an axe to grind with StepChild.
We are quite often sharing ESH with the traditional formula of what we were like, what happened, and what we are now.
Nothing unusual about that.
Is that a disciplinary offense on this forum?
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"I spent a lifetime in hell and it only took me twelve steps to get to heaven."
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
AA is not the only way an alcoholic can stop drinking. Just because someone does not get the AA program, it is not a death sentence. Heck, there are plenty of people in the fellowship who just don't show up and drink. I no longer consider it my job to judge them. I just know what working the 12 steps have done for me, and just share my experience, strength, and hope on my sober journey.
Sober strummer. There is no axe to grind. If you scroll up, I think you can clearly see who has an axe to grind as that person was the one that began with the incorrect hijacking of the thread and whining of being "called out by a moderator." And yes we typically do share esh using what it was like, what happened, and what it's like now. If stepchild did that, there would never have been an instance of telling people their programs were wrong and they were going to kill others with their esh because he would have been sticking to his own. So yeah. Irony. If there was any "disciplinary" action really needed, the ban button would have been pressed already. He has been banned from this site before, though not by me. I really have more important things to do than carry cyber grudges. It's all good. Honestly, from what I see stepchild is a fine person on the whole. If there was an ax evwn, it would be pretty darn small.
So anyway, thank you again Mike D for the wonderful share and it would be nice if people actually would share their esh related from this point.
-- Edited by pinkchip on Saturday 14th of December 2013 07:44:43 PM
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I agree tha I also know people that hang around AA meetings and never work the program of AA. Those that do not to to ant lengths. There is nothing judgmental in saying that is not following the AA program as outlined in the big book.
I am glad they have not drank. I also suspect they may be missing out on the many personal growth experiences of working the steps.
I feel like observing is more the description I use. If it waddles, if it quacks,... As the old saying goes.
At he end of the day a person lives and dies on their own. I have tried to discern who the winners are and stick with them. No hate or judgement. More like survival. :)
But do we share the truth with all the power it contains? Or opinions backed by a few years sober?
Page xiii Paragraph 1: "To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book."
I think we do have a message and a duty to share it. Kinda like standing on a ship and holding a life ring. You must throw it!
Title Page: "ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS. The Story of How Many Thousands of Men and Women Have Recovered from Alcoholism"
Page 20, paragraph 2: "Doubtless you are curious to discover how and why, in face of expert opinion to the contrary, we have recovered from a hopeless condition of mind and body.
Foreword to the First Edition: "We, of Alcoholics Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body."
Page 29, paragraph 2: "Further on, clear-cut directions are given showing how we recovered."
Page 132, paragraph 3: "We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others."
If you love someone needing to sober up. Lovingly share the restoring hope, the power, of the message of AA.
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"I spent a lifetime in hell and it only took me twelve steps to get to heaven."
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
Good points sober strummer. Glad I have hundreds of AA meetings, an AA sponsor, have worked the AA steps, done lots of AA service so that I actually do have authentic AA esh rather than using a BB anagram site to preach what I don't know on my own. I would not like to be one of those non winners you describe.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Good points sober strummer. Glad I have hundreds of AA meetings, an AA sponsor, have worked the AA steps, done lots of AA service so that I actually do have authentic AA esh rather than using a BB anagram site to preach what I don't know on my own. I would not like to be one of those non winners you describe.
Wow...Talk about taking someone elses's inventory and judging....I'm very disappointed in you PC.....Could be some 10th step work ahead for you. Very sad...Indeed. This is the message this book carries and the one I carry...
The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We have a way out on which we can absolutely agree, and upon which we can join in brotherly and harmonious action. This is the great news this book carries to those who suffer from alcoholism.
BB pg 17
Now if you can't absolutely agree with that way out....That's too bad. I guess that would make it hard to help those who suffer. I happen to absolutely agree with it...And I'll continue to share it.
-- Edited by Stepchild on Saturday 14th of December 2013 08:48:57 PM
Good points sober strummer. Glad I have hundreds of AA meetings, an AA sponsor, have worked the AA steps, done lots of AA service so that I actually do have authentic AA esh rather than using a BB anagram site to preach what I don't know on my own. I would not like to be one of those non winners you describe.
I can see now why you are a moderator here.
I think I may save that as a sig so everyone can see what a recovery giant you are.
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"I spent a lifetime in hell and it only took me twelve steps to get to heaven."
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
No. It's just a legit program of recovery I was highlighting I have while I was busy being attacked by you two in a way that is absolutely not the message of AA. I am no giant of recovery. Just one person who has been saved a horrible death and suffering from AA as a whole. Thanks for the nasty reply though. Great program there. Keep coming back.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I'm also on a trip with inlaws. It's at a casino resort with no meetings and alcohol everywhere. I was hoping MIP would help me as it usually does, but the opposite has occurred cuz now I actually am upset and surrounded by liquor and no meetings.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I'm also on a trip with inlaws. It's at a casino resort with no meetings and alcohol everywhere. I was hoping MIP would help me as it usually does, but the opposite has occurred cuz now I actually am upset and surrounded by liquor and no meetings.
Whatever differences we have are secondary to stayimg sober.
We are all a work in progress. So I hope you see yourself and me in that light.
now I like humor and to laugh... So in the spirit of fun, work on a step! Now laugh at the joke and pray.
To have gone 5 years, you have plenty good to look back on.
are you sponsoring anyone? Call them. I do that. It is a form of service work.
Peace.
we will have plenty of time to argue later... :)
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"I spent a lifetime in hell and it only took me twelve steps to get to heaven."
"Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you."
I do not have sponsees because I work in a rehab and have little left to give after that. It has been a difficult endeavor. Please remove the mocking signature.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
Wow! I missed this post yesterday. Love all of your post, Mike and love this quote, especially, and will try and remember it on a daily basis and hopefully, many times a day, and you wrote....
"The main focus of my gratitude this morning is the peace in my life, and the love in my life.
