Detailed Table of Contents
FOREWORD – Dr. Douglas Beaumont
CHAPTER ONE – A New Beginning
The Path Often Traveled, The Path to Destruction, Approaching the Bottom, Alcoholics Anonymous, Beyond Sobriety
CHAPTER TWO – Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Click Clack
The Thinking Process, The Lie Unfolds, Upside-Down Thinking, The Sin Principle, Truthful Beliefs Aid Recovery, Belief Systems, Our Needs Play a Role, Beliefs Affect Perception, Principles, Feelings, Think, Think, Think, A.A. – A Process that Works, Emotions Have Their Purpose, Why A.A. Works, What’s the Rub, Habits, Choices, Breaking Habits, The A.A. Fellowship, Why We Need God, The Best of Both Worlds
CHAPTER THREE – The 12-Step Waltz
The Dues Have Been Paid, The Music Begins, Dancing with the Stars, 12-Step Recovery is a Process, Step 1 – Discussion, Step 2 – Discussion, The Power of Desire, Our Understanding of God Changes, Different Concepts of God Exist, The A.A. Approach, Our Objective is Spirituality, The True Source of Spirituality, Insanity – What Does It Mean?, God knows the Alcoholic?, The Wisdom of Man, The Wisdom of God, Step 3 – Discussion, Choices Make a Difference, The Source of Truth, Step 4 – Discussion, Step 5 – Discussion, Step 6 – Discussion, Step 7 – Discussion, Step 8 – Discussion, Step 9 – Discussion, The Promises, The Goal is Peace, Step 10 – Discussion, Step 11 – Discussion, Step 12 – Discussion, The Principles of the Program, The Human Dilemma
CHAPTER FOUR – What is God Like?
The Calling, Confusion and Doubt is Normal, The Search Begins, The Personality of God, God is a Spirit, The Spiritual Connection, God is the Creator, God is Infinite, God’s Is Faithful to His Creation, God is Eternal, God doesn’t Change, God is Perfect, Eternal Life is a Choice, God knows All, Has Absolute Power, and Is Everywhere, God’s Is Aware of Us – Personally, Recovery is God’s Business, God is Truth, God is Holy, God is Love, God is Personal, The Gift of Salvation, The Gift of Grace
CHAPTER FIVE – Made in His Image
God’s Image is Visible, The Path to Spiritual Experience, A Match Made In Heaven, The Human Creation, Driven by Beliefs, The Magnificent Mind, Think, Think, Think., It’s the Thoughts, not the Thinker, Change the Thought – Change the Feeling, The Healthy Mind, The Denial Wall, Truth can be Painful, Anger – Right or Wrong, The Lies that Society Tells,
CHAPTER SIX – This Thing Called Self
Are the 12 Steps Enough?, Why We Need God, The Good Book, Man from God’s Perspective, The Creation of Man, Error Takes away Life, The Giver of New Life, Spiritual Growth VS Spiritual Awakening, God’s Will is not Guesswork, Is God in A.A.?, God Loves the Alcoholic, The Best Choice, My Story, What about You?, Spiritual Attitudes, More Promises
CHAPTER SEVEN — Powerlessness
The Surrender Paradox, It’s a Spiritual Battle, The Devil Made Me Do It, The Mind is the Battlefield, The Importance of Christ, Fighting the Battle with Truth, The Importance of Truth, Our Conscience Has a Purpose, Peace Be With You, A Good Defense, And More Defense, he Heart of the Matter
CHAPTER EIGHT – The Helper
The Conscience Awakens, A Change of Mind, The Helper, It’s about Choice, And More Choice, Good Choices – Good Consequences, Recognizing our Flaws, Replacing the Bad with the Good
CHAPTER NINE – Gods Will For the Alcoholic
God either Is, or He Isn’t, A Sincere Commitment, God’s Simple Truth, Practicing Principles, Reading, Meditating, and Application, The Serenity Prayer, Living One Day at a Time, Making the Choice, The Old Nature Dies – The New Nature Lives, A Word about Alcohol, A Fine Thin Line, Transforming the Mind, Is the World or the Truth in You?, God’s Will is Twofold, God Knows All About Recovery, Powerlessness – Revisited, Error yields Bondage
CHAPTER TEN – Off The Beam
Who, Me?, Out of the darkness – Into the light, The Roots of Sin, Pulling the Roots, The Deadly Seven, Pride, Characteristics of Pride, Envy, Common Forms of Envy, Envy breeds Jealousy, Healthy Desire, Anger and Resentment, Justifiable Anger, Unjustifiable Anger, Symptoms of Anger, Resentments, Real Fear VS False Fear, Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Sloth, Depression, The 12 Step Process
CHAPTER ELEVEN – On The Beam
Beginning of Day, End of Day, Desire leads to Change, The Beatitudes, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Doorway to the Kingdom, Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted, Worldly Sorrow, Godly Sorrow, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth, Acceptance, The Full Serenity Prayer, Peace, Peace, and more Peace, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled, The Spiritual Growth Process, Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy, The True Source of Love, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God, Love in Action, A True Son, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven, Unconditional Love, The Behavior of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, The Promises of Alcoholics Anonymous, Faith Grows with Use, Faithfulness, Gentleness, The Gentleness of Stephen
CHAPTER TWELVE – To Control or Not To Control, That Is the Question
Losing our Grip, Our Need for Self-Control, We are Equipped for Self-Control, Energy for Self-Control, Made Whole (But Not Finished), Our Body Beautiful, God Given Faculties, Those Pesky Emotions, Choices – Feelings or Principles, Self-Control the World’s Way, Self- Control God’s Way, Death through Adam, Life through Christ, Justification, Sanctification – God’s Perfecting Process, Establishing Boundaries, Taming the Imagination
CHAPTER THIRTEEN – Prayer and Meditation
Meditation, Benefits of Meditation, Prayer, Purpose of Prayer, Praying for Needs, Praying with Persistence, Praying for Others, The Lord’s Prayer, God the Father, Approaching God, From Pour Me to Poor Me – A Blessing, Submission to God’s Will, God’s Will is Written, One Day at a Time, Bread is Good, The Bread of Life, Forgiveness, The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant, Resentments and Forgiveness, The Truth about Temptation, Prayer Brings Us Together
CHAPTER FOURTEEN – Practice, Practice, and More Practice
The A.A. Path Leads to God, Faith and Right-Standing with God, Making Choices, The Ultimate Choice, Christian Obedience, Self or Selfless, It never has been about Us – It’s about Others, More Promises, A Timeless Journey
APPENDIX – How We Know the Bible Is God’s Word – Dr. Douglas Beaumont
Question 1: Does God Exist?, Creation Shows That There is a God, Conscience Shows That There is a God
First Conclusion: God Exists
Question 2: Has God Verified His Communication The Bible is Trustworthy, Copies, History, Archeology, Science, The Bible is Inspired by God, Miracles, Prophecy, Old Testament References, New Testament References
Second Conclusion: the Bible Alone is the Word of God
What about All Those Contradictions?
Final Conclusion
Reference Books