The e-AA Group

You can be certain I am not being silly. The Big Book shares the original A.A. experience where neither 12th-Step work nor sponsorship are ever called "Service". Today, however, and even though Dr. Bob used to say the book was written to keep things from being twisted and garbled beyond all recognit...

Patsy© wrote:In my own experience, Service in or to AA, comes in many forms, two of which are 12 step work and sponsorship.

"Service in or to AA" is not part of the original A.A. experience, just a modern-day philosophy or perspective held by folks who do not understand.

From Dr. Bob's Nightmare: "...passing on what I learned to others who want and need it... Dr. Bob is talking about 12th-Step work and sponsorship there, not about "service to AA" or whatever...and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the two or to keep them in proper order. The Twel...

Question: "If...God gave us free will, why...do God's will?" Because we do not have the power to make our own will actually happen -- We do not have the power or ability to manage our own lives successfully (Step One) -- and our Maker does not seem interested in providing the power we would need in...

J Sadly, that will end up being used as a "gag rule"... No, this was discussed when this suggestion was originally added, and all moderators will be cautious. We will see, but I am highly doubtful since the initially-personal idea shared by one or two that just two or three posts per thread should ...

...AA's 24 hour plan...is just like all the rest of the suggested tools in AA's spiritual tool kit... What a hoot! The "simple kit of spiritual tools laid at our feet" (page 25) does not include any such thing in the original A.A., so please do try to be more cautious about mis-representations! Rat...

PaigeB wrote:...That makes your experience different than mine.

My approach to and experience with Step Four was no different than that of anyone else who has done what is shared and suggested in our Basic Text, and in the original A.A. there is but one "combined knowledge and experience" shared by all.

...an excerpt from the pamphlet on AA's 24 hour plan: "...We concentrate on keeping sober just the current twenty-four hours. We simply try to get through one day at a time without a drink...neither yield nor resist...merely put off taking that particular drink until tomorrow…" I had a desire to st...

The following rules and suggestions are items agreed to by the group conscience, to promote civility among contributors, and keep topics on point. ... ‌•‌ We offer our own ES&H and avoid critiquing the shares of others. http://www.e-aa.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=20141 In my own case, I have no ...

"The Atheist may stand up in an AA meeting denying God... Certainly, and yet this thread is about "the language of the heart" during 12th-Step work while trying to help someone come to terms with chronic alcoholism (Step One) and its inevitable "yet another trip into pitiful and incomprehensible de...

...explain what Bill means when on page 92 in dealing with that same newcomer...He says this.. If you are satisfied that he is a real alcoholic, begin to dwell on the hopeless feature of the malady. Back in the day when so many never had a chance to meet with Bill or Bob or one of the first 100, be...

I have heard

"Practice what you preach and then drop the preach."

and

"Preach the Gospel at all times, using words only when absolutely necessary."

The challenge, however, is to share our common-to-all experience Maybe I missed something... is there a suggestion that we are only to share our common-to-all experience? As compared to what, and what else is there to share? But the point in that specific comment has to do with trying to help other...

I don't know anybody in my home group who is not an alcoholic. AA is the last house on the block and most people are trying to get away from it. The court-appointed and treatment folks who are not alcoholics don't stay around. Many years ago some of us kinda got a kick out of people coming to meeti...

....How are we to communicate this progressive nature of this disease to the newcomers? By sharing our own experience, strength and hope on this particular aspect of the disease with newcomers. No. That might be the way of today's AA where so-called 'ES&H' might vary greatly from one person to the ...