Father Bill W.

This series focuses on Harold Begbie’s book Life Changers. Published in 1922 it describes key elements in Frank Buchman’s program of radical change from which AA drew so many of its principles and practices. Studying the source material for the 12-Steps can give us insights into the transformational process the Group was trying to achieve both in individuals and in nations. They can prove invaluable to anyone whose recovery has lost its “zing” or to individuals unable to recover because of a “watered down” recovery approach. Fr. Bill focuses on chapters 3 through 9 of Life Changers drawing broadly from the stories of some who attended the 1922 house party and the elements that helped bring about their change. Show notes: Life Changers:https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changers-13th-Harold-Begbie/dp/1439232067War of the Gods in Addiction by David Schoen:https://www.amazon.com/War-Gods-Addiction-David-Schoen/dp/1882670574Varieties of Religious Experience by William James (free / pdf version)https://csrs.nd.edu/assets/59930/williams_1902.pdf

 This series is focused on Harold Begbie’s book Life Changers. Published in 1922 it describes key elements in Frank Buchman’s program of radical change from which AA drew so much. Studying the source material for the 12-Steps can give us insights into the transformation process the Group was trying to achieve both in individuals and in nations. These can prove invaluable to anyone whose recovery has lost its “zing” or to individuals unable to recover because of a “watered down” recovery approach. Fr. Bill focuses on chapter two of Begbie’s book describing the founder of the Oxford Group as a “soul surgeon”- a man capable of cutting out anything that keeps a person from a full recovery. Show notes: Life Changers: https://www.amazon.com/Life-Changers-13th-Harold-Begbie/dp/1439232067

This series is focused on Harold Begbie’s book Life Changers. First published in 1922 it describes some of the key elements in Frank Buchman’s program of radical change from which AA had its birth. Studying the source material for the 12-Steps can give us insights into the transformation process the Group was trying to achieve both in individuals and in the lost culture of the times. Understanding these more fully and putting some of them to work for us can prove invaluable to anyone whose recovery has lost its “zing” or to individuals unable to recover because of a “watered down” recovery approach that isn’t working for them. They say “some of us are sicker than others” and the solution for some may be taking a stronger dose of medicine than others. The author identifies some of that strong medicine. The book is available in affordable reprints listed in the show notes.Show notes: Life Changers by Harold Begbie

I was invited to share with the “As Bill Sees It – AA Group” in Sheffield, England on March 30th , 2025. The speaker shares on one of Bill Wilson’s writings. I chose a selection from the 12 & 12: “When a man or a woman has a spiritual awakening, the most important meaning of it is that he has now become able to do, feel, and believe that which he could not do before on his unaided strength and resources alone. He has been granted a gift which amounts to a new state of consciousness and being.“He has been set on a path which tells him he is really going somewhere, that life is not a dead end, not something to be endured or mastered. In a very real sense he has been transformed, because he has laid hold of a source of strength which he had hitherto denied himself.” Hope you enjoy!

Jeff and Debra Jay are the co-authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention. Now in its third edition, their book has helped thousands of families find new lives in recovery. The series addresses how families can be empowered to help a loved one still in denial, how to prepare properly for an intervention, and how the intervention can best be assured to succeed. In this episode Father Bill and Jeff discuss what happens on the day of an intervention along with some suggestions for special cases. If you’ve ever been told “you can’t help an alcoholic or addict until they ask for help” you won’t want to miss this series.Show Notes: Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention (The book) by Jeff and Debra JayLove First website: (Helpful material to learn more about addiction, intervention, and family recovery)https://lovefirst.net/structured-family-recovery/#top The Hijacked Brain by Dr. Henrietta Barnes, MD

Jeff and Debra Jay are the co-authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention. Now in its third edition, their book has helped thousands of families find new lives in recovery. The series addresses how families can be empowered to help a loved one still in denial, how to prepare properly for an intervention, and how the intervention can best be assured to succeed. In this episode Father Bill and Jeff continue their discussion of laying the foundations for a successful intervention. If you’ve ever been told “you can’t help an alcoholic or addict until they ask for help” you won’t want to miss this series.Show Notes: Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention (The book) by Jeff and Debra Jay     Love First website:(Helpful material to learn more about addiction, intervention, and family recovery)https://lovefirst.net/structured-family-recovery/#top

Jeff and Debra Jay are the co-authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention. Now in its third edition, their book has helped thousands find their way to new lives in recovery. The series addresses how families can be empowered to help a loved one still in denial, how to prepare properly for an intervention, and how the intervention can best be assured to succeed. In this episode Father Bill and Jeff explore laying the foundations for a successful intervention. If you’ve ever been told “you can’t help an alcoholic or addict until they ask for help” you won’t want to miss this series.Show notes:Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention (The book) by Jeff and Debra JayLove First website: (Helpful material to learn more about addiction, intervention, and family recovery)https://lovefirst.net/structured-family-recovery/#top

Jeff and Debra Jay are the co-authors of Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention. The book is now in its third edition and has helped thousands find their way to new lives in recovery. Recognized national leaders in the field of intervention, the authors lay bare some of the myths that continue to keep so many alcoholics and addicts trapped in their illness. The series will address how families can be empowered to help a loved one still in denial, how to prepare properly for an intervention, and how the intervention can best be assured to succeed. In this episode Father Bill interviews Jeff who shares the story of his own recovery, his work in the addiction treatment field and how he found and fostered his passion for intervention work.  If you’ve ever been told “you can’t help and alcoholic until he wants help” you won’t want to miss this series.Show Notes: Love First: A Family’s Guide to Intervention by Jeff and Debra JayLove First Website: https://lovefirst.net/structured-family-recovery/#top

The Serenity Prayer has long been associated with Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s a prayer uniquely fitted to meeting the needs of alcoholics and addicts as we begin our recovery journey or face trials along the way. On first reading it, Wilson said, “Never had we seen so much A.A. in so few words.” (AA Comes of Age, p. 196.) In this episode Fr. Bill shares some thoughts on the prayer in both its short and longer forms.Show Notes: Who Wrote the Serenity Prayer, by Fred R. Shapiro, Yale Alumni Magazine, 2008http://archives.yalealumnimagazine.com/issues/2008_07/serenity.html“We Version” of the Original Serenity Prayer:God, grant us the serenityto accept the things we cannot change, courage to change thethings we can,     andthe wisdom to know the difference.           Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time;           accepting hardship as the pathway to peace;           taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as we would have it;           trusting that You will make all things right if we surrender to Your will;             so we may be reasonably happy in this life                   and supremely happy with You forever in the next.        Amen

William Schaberg is the author of an important new book that’s “a must read” for every 12-Step member ready to separate recovery myth from recovery miracle. This episode focuses on chapter one of Schaberg’s sure to be classic Writing the Big Book titled Challenging the Creation Myths.  He and Father Bill explore what Wilson referred to as “the flying blind” period before the Big Book was written. It’s just one of the many myths Schaberg carefully examines as he traces the Big Book’s writing through the critical eye of historical documentation. Myths are not unrealities – they’re expressing truths that are often bigger than reality. You’re sure to find this a fascinating and enlightening discussion.Show Notes:Writing the Big Book by William H. SchabergBill Schaberg’s YouTube ChannelS. H. Hadley Story by William JamesFrank Parkhurst’s story from the Big Book, first edition: https://aamo.info/bb/j41d/bbs_hank_p.htmlControversy regarding Rowland Hazard and the dates of his treatment by Carl Jung: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rowland_Hazard_III