Father Bill W. – Details, episodes & analysis

Many early AAs were prolific readers. Dr. Bob left a library overflowing with spiritual literature and for Oxford Group members spiritual reading formed an important part of their daily morning quiet times. When I’m asked, “What books do you recommend?” to read before doing Two Way Prayer, I’m hesitant to answer as we’re each very different. But, for me, there's one book I’ve returned to several times and it never fails to speak to the deepest longings of my soul. The Big Book says the Great Reality is within. Thomas R. Kelly’s book A Testament of Devotion sheds a Light that helps illuminate that inward journey. Come along for the ride!

A Testament of Devotion by Thomas R. Kelly

In this Golden Oldie, Father Bill interviews Professor William Miller, author of Quantum Change: When Epiphanies and Sudden Insights Transform Ordinary Lives. Listen as the professor reflects on his in-depth study of psychic change. It’s a lively discussion of spirituality and science. Quantum Change: When Epiphanies and Sudden Insights Transform Ordinary Lives by William Miller

https://williamrmiller.net/quantum-change/

Two Way Prayer is only a part of a longer morning Quiet Time. In the following two episodes Fr. Bill explores a pamphlet by Howard J. Rose that’s titled simply: The Quite Time. The short pamphlet was popular among members of the Oxford Group and early AA.  It gives an overview of the Morning Quiet Time practice covering five areas: 

1.) The Facts of God’s Guidance. 

2.) The Conditions of God’s Guidance

3.) The Tests of God’s Guidance

4.) One Method of receiving God’s Guidance

5.) The Results of God’s Guidance

The pamphlet is available to download in the show notes

Show Notes:

• The Quiet Time by Howard J. Rose

• The World’s Religions by Houston Smith: (Many used copies are available online so don’t spend too much)

Father Bill continues a deep dive into this Oxford Group set of instructions for practicing Two Way Prayer. This episode explores the Original Pamphlet’s advice for “checking” the guidance you receive. Early AAs knew not every thought they wrote down came from God and the pamphlet provides some simple criteria to help in your discernment. You’ll find this episode filled with practical advice to keep you from straying too far afield.

Show Notes:

God Calling by Two Listeners, edited by A.J Russell

24 Hour a Day Book, by Richmond Walker

Not God, A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Ernest Kurtz

https://www.amazon.com/Not-God-Alcoholics-Ernest-Kurtz/dp/0894860658

Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, AA publication

Original Oxford Group Pamphlet

Two Way Prayer - AA's Lost Tool for Practicing the 11th Step

Two Way Prayer YouTube Channel

To support Father Bill W. and Two Way Prayer with a donation, please visit: https://www.twowayprayer.org/donate-1

If this has been helpful to you; please like, subscribe, share, and keep coming back!

Father Bill continues a deep dive into this Oxford Group set of instructions for practicing Two Way Prayer. This episode explores the Original Pamphlet’s advice for preparing to pray, listing during prayer, and writing down the Guidance received in a prayer session. You’ll find this episode filled with practical advice for making this lost,  “life-changing” 11th Step prayer practice your own.

Show Notes:

God Calling by Two Listeners, edited by A.J Russell

24 Hour a Day Book, by Richmond Walker

Not God, A History of Alcoholics Anonymous, by Ernest Kurtz

https://www.amazon.com/Not-God-Alcoholics-Ernest-Kurtz/dp/0894860658

Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, AA publication

Original Oxford Group Pamphlet

Two Way Prayer - AA's Lost Tool for Practicing the 11th Step

To support Father Bill W. and Two Way Prayer with a donation, please visit: https://www.twowayprayer.org/donate-1

If this has been helpful to you; please like, subscribe, share, and keep coming back!

Father Bill continues a deep dive into this Oxford Group set of instructions for being loved and guided by an Inner Voice. Like any experiment, the process requires a degree of “open mindedness” and “willingness” to begin. This episode focuses on the pamphlet’s assertion that “God has an interest and plan for each of us” as well as “an answer for every need and problem we face.” This pamphlet has proved a Life-Changer to many in 12-Step recovery.

Show Notes:

A.A. Comes of Age: https://www.aa.org/alcoholics-anonymous-comes-age/

First Corinthians 13: https://biblia.com/bible/esv/1-corinthians/13/

Henry Drummond, The Greatest Thing in the World pdf version (A commentary on the above popular with Dr. Bob and early AA’s.) https://manybooks.net/titles/drummondh1673916739-8.html/

Three Scriptures popular with the Oxford Group and early AAs. (Dr. Bob's Legacy) - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u_RW58z7d_4fPIKs3E3vJH0MtVpwXNuZ/view?usp=sharing 

Original Oxford Group Pamphlet

Two Way Prayer - AA's Lost Tool for Practicing the 11th Step 

To support Father Bill W. and Two Way Prayer with a donation, please visit: https://www.twowayprayer.org/donate-1

If this has been helpful to you; please like, subscribe, share, and keep coming back!

Father Bill starts a deep dive into this Oxford Group set of instructions for finding and being guided by the Inner Voice – what the Big Book calls: “the Great Reality within.” The journey requires our entering and experimenting within the laboratory of our own lives. In this episode the relationship between the three dimensional world of our egos and the fourth dimensional world of Spirit are explored.

Show Notes:

The Original Oxford Group Pamphlet- https://rb.gy/ysdwpr

TWP Handout by Fr. Bill W. - https://rb.gy/zlnmci

Book Reference: Carl Jung and Alcoholics Anonymous by Ian McCabe (pp. 78-79) https://rb.gy/nbeqib

To support Father Bill W. and Two Way Prayer with a donation, please visit: https://www.twowayprayer.org/donate-1

If this has been helpful to you; please like, subscribe, share, and keep coming back!

This series explores the Oxford Group pamphlet “How to Listen to God.” Written in the late 1930’s by Ohio based Chaplain John Batterson, it summarizes the original practice of Two Way Prayer. The pamphlet circulated widely in Akron, Ohio among AA’s early members and was reintroduced to the recovery community largely through the tireless efforts of AA archivist Wally P. originator of the popular Back to Basics series that takes newcomers through the 12-Steps in 4-week sessions. Wally is Father Bill’s guest, and the pamphlet along with his website and other works are linked below.

How to Listen to God by Wally P. https://rb.gy/dz6qe0

Back to Basics of Recovery Book by Wally P. - https://shop.aabacktobasics.org/Back-to-the-Basics-of-Recovery-p/b2br-book-br.htm

Wally P.’s website http://www.aabacktobasics.org/wallybio.html  Book Store - https://shop.aabacktobasics.org

Copy of the Oxford Group / Batterson Pamphlet: https://www.twowayprayer.org/resources

Father Bill explores recovery as experienced by African Americans coming into AA. His guest is Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC founder of the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery. Mark has nearly 40 years in the addiction treatment field teaching at the University of Chicago, Illinois State University, and Loyola University School of Social Work. In this lively discussion Mark shares his experience in working effectively with African Americans both in treatment and in a 12-Step recovery.

Show notes:

Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is an international speaker, trainer, and consultant in the behavioral health field whose work has reached thousands throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Caribbean and British Islands.

Mark is the author of five books, which focus on behavioral health. Recent writings include Slipping through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies for Clients Multiple Addictions and Disorders, Recovery Management: and Relationship Detox: Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships in Recovery. He has had two stories published in the New York Times best-selling books series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. Mark has been a certified addictions counselor for 34 years. He has received numerous awards including a Life-Time Achievement Award from the Illinois Addiction Counselor Certification Board and the Barbara Bacon Award for outstanding contributions to the Social Work profession as a Loyola University of Chicago Alumni.

Mark is co-founder of Serenity Academy of Chicago, the only recovery high school in Illinois. He is past president of the board of the Illinois Chapter of NAADAC. He has had a 30-year career as a university educator having taught at the University of Chicago, Illinois State University, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and Loyola University of Chicago, School of Social Work.

The Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment and Recovery: http://www.museumofafricanamericanaddictionsrecovery.org/

Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse: author and developer of family systems therapy:  https://www.amazon.com/Another-Chance-Health-Alcoholic-Family/dp/0831400722/

William White: Historian of addiction treatment. See his book Slaying the Dragon: https://www.amazon.com/Slaying-Dragon-Addiction-Treatment-Recovery/dp/093847507X/

My Grandmother’s Hand:  https://www.amazon.com/My-Grandmothers-Hands-Racialized-Pathway/dp/1942094477/

The Body Keeps the Score By Bessel van der Kolk, M.D. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+body+keeps+the+score&i=stripbooks&crid=35TZEEDH97I0N&sprefix=body%2Cstripbooks%2C88&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_4/

Frederick Douglas and Malcolm X: African Americans in recovery: https://facesandvoicesofrecovery.org/resource/addiction-in-the-african-american-community-the-recovery-legacies-of-frederick-douglass-and-malcolm-x/

Rites of Passage: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rite_of_passage/

What Ever Happened to Daddy's Little Girl: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/254931.Whatever_Happened_to_Daddy_s_Little_Girl_

Motivational Interviewing: rb.gy/ic5kun

When young people come into a 12-Step Fellowship they bring special needs that should be addressed if recovery’s to be effective and lasting. Fr. Bill interviews Kirk Campbell who brings many years in the field assisting young addicts. Kirk is the Director of Cornerstone Team Counseling in Houston, Texas. The episode describes the concept of Alternative Peer Groups, now considered a best practice in adolescent recovery. Kirk takes the directive seriously: “We are not a glum lot!”

Show Notes:

Contact Kirk at: Kirk@csteamcounseling.com/

The Two Way Prayer study referenced can be found on the RESOUCE PAGE

https://www.twowayprayer.org/It’s titled: Two Way Prayer: A Lost Tool for Practicing AA’s 11thStep

Here’s the link to the Alternative Peer Group Association:  http://www.aapg-recovery.com/