Letters to and from Russell Spatz of Miami--Key Speaker May 19, 2012

Russell Spatz, a Key Speaker at our Stick with the Winners! Conference in Orange County on May 18-19 has just sent the following—well worth repeating.

[Note the mention of the use of Scripture in a regular meeting. Come see how this

privilege is used to enhance recovery by the power of God – and is a right as well as privilege]

Dick and Ken

Thought you guys would enjoy this!!

I get these - its great to see that recovery through Christ is blossoming!!

Sent from my iPhone

Russell

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"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."

Theodore Roosevelt 

[By the way, this famous dust in the arena speech by Teddy Roosevelt was used by my law firm in a brief to the United States Supreme Court in a case not all that popular but highly charged and worthy. The court denied certiorari, but two of the nine justices did vote to hear the case.]

Begin forwarded message:

From: ……….Date: April 30, 2012 11:09:19 AM EDT
To: Russell <sponsor1@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: Deerfield Berach tommorrow night

Thanks so much Russell, I would greatly appreciate a physical brochure, my address is 2109 CONROY WAY, WILLOW SPRING,N.C.  27592.   My home group is ONE NOON AT A TIME.  Your guidance is greatly appreciated. We have all had quite a few belly laughs while driving and listening to the step series. thanks again. Peace, Mike

On Apr 30, 2012, at 6:39 AM, Russell wrote:

Dear Mike

We use our brochure to start every meeting – we start with a moment of silent meditation and the serenity prayer – Long or Short version  - your option – then we read the steps and their biblical comparison from the Brochure.  Chairman does a lead (just like AA)  and then a discussion begins.  A newcomer would see little difference between our meetings and a regular discussion meeting except that besides the Big Book and other AA material we use scripture.  Keep it SIMPLE!!!  All the stuff can be found on our site www.alive-again.org 

I can scan a brochure and send it to you or mail you one if you send me your address.  You can make up your own – do your thing!  Let me know how it works out.

Russell

From: michael 
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2012 5:29 PM
To: sponsor1
Subject: Re: Deerfield Berach tommorrow night

Russell , I would like to take you up on that. Do you have a basic meeting layout preference or any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Peace. Mike

On Apr 27, 2012, at 10:10 PM, sponsor1 wrote:

That sounds great Mike – Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you.

Russell

From: michael 
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2012 9:04 PM
To: Russell
Subject: Re: Deerfield Berach tommorrow night

Hey Russell, I've been listening to your step series here in N.C. As a fellow New Yorker , your dynamic is very familiar and comforting to me. Anyway, just wanted to let you know, we have been inspired to start a Bible based big book fusion meeting as well. I was telling some fellow group members about alive again. Everyone was on board so we are searching for a meeting place. Thanks again. God bless you...Michael. . . . 

On Apr 27, 2012, at 7:38 AM, Russell wrote:

Saturday Night Speaker Meeting

Address:  959 SE 6th Ave , Deerfield Beach, FL 33441   (Off of SE 10th St, about 2 miles East of 95)

Time:       7:30pm

Date:       April 28th

For those interested - I just got a copy of The "digital download" version of Dick B. and Ken B., Stick with the Winners! How to Conduct More Effective 12-Step Recovery Meetings Using Conference-Approved Literature at www.dickb.com  The  book is for your personal use and is copyrighted so forgive me for not forwarding out a copy for you.

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Belief in thepower of God, plus enough willingness, honesty, and humility to establish and maintain a new order of things were the essential REQUIREMENTS. Simple, but not easy. A price had to be paid. It meant the destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. (A.A. Page 13, 14)

“Remind the potential newcomer that their recovery is not dependent upon people. It is dependent upon their relationship with God.” (A.A. Page 99)

“Burn the idea into the consciousness of every newcomer, that – they can get well – regardless of anyone. The only condition is that they TRUST IN GOD, and CLEAN HOUSE.” (A.A. Page 98)     

-  Ezekiel 33:1-9