Which comes first.....

Some time ago, I had a conversation with my friend Father Martin. It went like this: So, Bob, when you were still using did you have a God of your understanding? No I didn't. When you got sober and started working the steps did you have it then? No I didn't. Did you have human friends when you were using? No, maybe a few rent-a-friends. Did you have some friends when you got sober. Yes, I started to have some good friends. A Sponsor and some sober running buddies. When and how did you get a God of your understanding? When I got a Sponsor and started working the steps, along with hanging around other sober people, it just happened over a period of time. So, where are you with God now? I have a great relationship with God, and it is growing day by day. So, tell me Bob, which comes first, your friendship with God or with other Humans? Humm, it seems my friendship with other Humans came first. Don't forget that Bob! That's why god put so many of us here, so we can help each other. God is the Alpha, but he charges us with helping each other make the connection. In my heart and in my mind, Father Martin will never be gone! Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later. Bob

Principles before personalities.....

AA's Founding Fathers seem to have known what was coming. Sort of like this Country's Founding Fathers. Look at the statement "Principles before personalities". The Principles are the 12 Steps. The Personalities are the men and women of AA. They are both very important to the life of AA. The piece I like most of all, is that they used the word "before", instead of "instead". They understood how important the men and woman of AA is to all of us, including the new man or woman. Most often, we need people before we begin to work the steps. We need a Sponsor, Home Group, group of drunks to hang with, etc. We all can agree that the steps are the work that frees us from this addiction, but also how important the men and woman are to this program. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later. Bob

Some of my favorite sayings......

Meeting makers make it or People who don't go to meetings never hear what happens to people who don't go to meetings.

The elevator to recovery is out of order, PLEASE TAKE THE STEPS.

I am everything I always loved in a person.

Having a pity party? Don't send out for pizza or pitch a tent!

If I always do what I've always done, I'll always get what I've always got!

I used to live one day at a time, but it was always yesterday or tomorrow.

Poor me, Poor me, Pour me another drink.

Short version of the serinity prayer: F@#* it!

Some people are on the marijuana maintenance plan.

You're doing pretty good with those 3 absolutes!

If no one has told you that they love you today, better luck tomorrow!

I don't worry about you between the Serenity prayer and the Lord's prayer, I worry about you between the Lord's prayer and the Serenity prayer.

Those are just a few..... Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later Bob

12 Promises....

Those 12 Promises that you hear read at all AA meetings are not the "12 Promises of AA". They are actually the 12 promises of the ninth step. Those promises come true before you are halfway through (the ninth step). They are some of the promises written in the 12 steps. Each step has at least 2 promises. Bill was a brilliant writer. He understood that we humans need to see some promises whenever we are asked to do some work. Like a paycheck after you work 40 hours. Like a grade after you finish a project in school. Like Mom's gift to you after you finish your weekly chores. We need to let new people know when these things happen. A good Sponsor is needed to educate new people. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later. Bob

I'm back......

It's been a while, but I'm back for a bit. I have three new DVD's out. 1 "Our Path" What Bill meant when he wrote the first sentence in Chapter 5. 2 Relapse Dynamics, How to understand Relapse in a way you never have to reintroduce yourself. 3 Spirituality: It's way simpler than you think! This time I did them myself and own them. Two companies are selling them and I am too. They can be bought through www.gwcinc.com and www.kineticvideo.com . All I do is like my dear friend Father Martin always did. The last time I talked to him he called me a "modern day Father Martin". That is extremely special to a guy like me. I talk to Mae every week, and she is doing fine. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later. Bob

"OUR PATH"

Wow, have I been busy. It's been a while since I posted last. I just got finished doing 3 more DVD's that will be available at GWC, Inc or my business BFdipso, LLC in about 3 weeks. The 3 new topics are "Our Path", Relapse Dynamics- It's a thought Process, and Spirituality Religion vs. Spirituality, It's way simpler than you think! "Our Path" is from page 58 of The Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous. I go into what Bill was talking about. How there was no AA when he wrote that line. There was nobody working 12 Steps yet. Sponsor wasn't even thought of yet. But, there is a very distinct PATH that started forming in 1931 with Dr. Carl Jung and Roland Hazard. Then to Ebby Thatcher. Then to Bill. then to Dr. Bob. Then to Bill Dotson, and on and on. It's an interesting story. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later. Bob

We are but trusted servants....

We do not govern. A lot of great old timers have told me, over the years, the longer you are around, the smaller you should get. I am starting to figure that out. My BEHAVIOR is the thing that is most obvious and most able to direct someone. My mouth only creates dissension and sometimes I say things that I can't shove back in my mouth. When I hear someone make a lambasting comment at a meeting, I need to focus on what he didn't get his way with, instead of wanting to tell him off. We are a troubled lot, even with the alcohol and drugs behind us. Love and tolerance, that's what my friend Father Martin always told me to strive for. Time for a cup of coffee, see ya later.