Steps 3 and 11 frame the vision for a wholly new way of life. It’s one lived, not under the direction of the ego but under the guidance and direction of a Power greater than ourselves. But the ego still has a role to play and that’s through the right use of the will. The purpose of the will is: TO BE WILLING!In this series, Fr. Bill explores a talk delivered by Quaker mystic Thomas R. Kelly. It’s titled HOLY OBEDIENCE. There’s a free pdf link in the show notes below. It’s also one of several essays found in Kelly’s book A Testament of Devotion. It makes for great reading in a morning Quiet Time. But a word of caution. Read it slowly; it’s a lot of truth for a poor ego to swallow all at once!Show notes:Holy Obedience by Thomas R. Kellyhttps://quaker.org/legacy/pamphlets/wpl1939a.html A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly with an Introduction by Richard J. Foster

Steps 3 and 11 frame the vision for a wholly new way of life. It’s one lived, not under the direction of the ego but under the guidance and direction of a Power greater than ourselves. But the ego has a role to play and that’s through the right use of the will. The purpose of the will is: TO BE WILLING!In this series, Fr. Bill explores an essay by Quaker mystic Thomas R. Kelly titled HOLY OBEDIENCE. There’s a free pdf link in the show notes below. It’s also one of several articles found in Kelly’s book A Testament of Devotion. It makes for great reading in a morning Quiet Time. But a word of caution. Read it slowly; it’s a lot for a poor ego to swallow all at once!Show notes:Holy Obedience by Thomas R. Kellyhttps://quaker.org/legacy/pamphlets/wpl1939a.htmlA Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly with an Introduction by Richard J. Foster

In the episode Fr. Bill shares some experience and advice for keeping the 12-Step program simple and alive. If you’re a long-term listener, you probably won’t find much new here, but hopefully hearing the simple recovery message in simple language can start the recovery juices flowing again.Show notes: The Will of God and a Man’s Life Work by Henry B. Wright The Power of Two Way Prayer

We all know the saying, “You have to give it away to keep it.” That idea may be especially true of the practice of Two Way Prayer. Listening for God’s guidance was at the center of the transformative practices of the Oxford Group, and those of us who have been fortunate enough to rediscover it have a responsibility to share it with others. One way of passing it on may be starting a Two Way Prayer Group.In this episode, Fr. Bill shares his experience in doing this. Even if you’re not ready to start a group of your own, you’ll probably find the information helpful. But if you are willing to take the leap of faith it requires to start a group, you’ll find it indispensable.Show notes:A suggested meeting format. (attached)The Power of Two Way Prayer by Father Bill W.TWP Workshop/Video twowayprayer.org

Most in recovery know that Henrietta was the woman who answered a phone call from Bill Wilson and put him in touch with Dr. Bob; but there’s a whole lot more to her story than that. In this episode Fr. Bill interviews Julie Frye who served for ten years as curator of the Seiberling mansion and gatehouse and knows more about Henrietta than most anyone alive.  As Founder’s Day approaches, come learn more about this amazing woman and the critical role she played in the birth of Alcoholics Anonymous.Show Notes:PowerPoint Presentation of Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens with Julie FryeAnne Smith’s JournalThe Cleveland Symphony Orchestrahttps://www.clevelandorchestra.com/

In this short episode, Fr. Bill reflects on a brief recording of Bill Wilson’s unsuccessful attempts to return to the original 12 Step wording of “spiritual experience” over “spiritual awakening.”  He also comments on Fr. Dowling’s words to the 20th Anniversary Gathering of AA in St. Louis where he said, “Istill weep that the elders of the movement have dropped the word ‘experience’ for ‘awakening.’”  No need to weep, but it’s good information to know.Show notes:Father Ed by Dawn Eden GoldsteinBill Wilson's recorded commentary on "Experience"

Throughout his life, Father Ed was attracted to those who suffered - and since AA describes itself as “a program of attraction,” there’s little wonder this Jesuit priest was drawn to 12-Step members from the Program’s earliest days. In 1940, Dowling saw a troubled man recover from the depths of alcoholic despair and soon after witnessing this miracle he traveled to New York to meet AA’s co-founder, Bill Wilson. He wanted to learn how AA worked.Thus began a spiritual friendship between two men that continued throughout Fr. Ed’s life. Bill later wrote of Ed, “He became just about the closest friend I shall ever have - and my spiritual advisor, too. He took me through some of my rough going, which, without his counsel and love, I might never have survived.”Fr. Bill interviews Dawn Eden Goldstein, author of a new and much needed biography of Father Ed. Her book is a “must read” for those interested in AA history and will prove a valuable study guide for anyone wanting to discover the love of God that lies at the heart of every genuine 12-Step recovery. Show notes:Father Ed by Dawn Eden GoldsteinDawn Eden contact:  https://dawneden.blogspot.com/"...and Bill described this in front of Father Ed atthe AA Comes of Age Conference in St Louis in 1955, you can hear Bill'sintroduction and Father Ed's address on YouTube."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQYhXb4eNEUwww.twowayprayer.org

This series address what some of us in recovery refer to as “the God problem.”  Does God exist? Does God really care about us humans – and maybe more honestly and specifically, does God care about me and mine?People have been asking these questions for as long as we’ve been on this earth but for us “real” alcoholics and addicts whose lives depend on finding a spiritual solution to our addiction death sentence, it’s more than a matter of speculation.People have been asking these questions for as long as we’ve been on this earth but for us “real” alcoholics and addicts whose lives depend on finding a spiritual solution to our addiction death sentence, it’s more than a matter of speculation.In this episode Bill and Fr. James explore the final two chapters of John Caputo’s book What to Believe?  Chapters focus on the Nature of Real Love and How It Relates Us to God.Show notes:John Caputo’s book What to Believe?

This series address what some of us in recovery refer to as “the God problem.”  Does God exist? Does God really care about us humans – and maybe more honestly and specifically, does God care about me and mine? People have been asking these questions for as long as we’ve been on this earth but for us “real” alcoholics and addicts whose lives depend on finding a spiritual solution to our addiction death sentence, it’s more than a matter of speculation. People have been asking these questions for as long as we’ve been on this earth but for us “real” alcoholics and addicts whose lives depend on finding a spiritual solution to our addiction death sentence, it’s more than a matter of speculation. In this episode Bill and Fr. James explore the next two chapters of John Caputo’s book What to Believe?  Chapters focus on “What is going on in God’s name” and “Whether or not God will have been may be up to us.” Two more easy lessons!Show notes:John Caputo’s book What to Believe?

This series address what some of us in recovery refer to as “the God problem.”  Does God exist? Does God really care about us humans – and maybe more honestly and specifically, does God care about me and mine? People have been asking these questions for as long as we’ve been on this earth but for us “real” alcoholics and addicts whose lives depend on finding a spiritual solution to our addiction death sentence, it’s more than a matter of speculation. People have been asking these questions for as long as we’ve been on this earth but for us “real” alcoholics and addicts whose lives depend on finding a spiritual solution to our addiction death sentence, it’s more than a matter of speculation. In this episode Bill and Fr. James explore the next two chapters of John Caputo’s book What to Believe?  The chapters focus on “the Event,” what’s really going on in the name of God. Caputo says, “this is what to believe, what we really can and do believe, regardless of whether we ‘believe in God.’”Show notes:John Caputo’s book What to Believe?