Does anyone know any good autobiographies

[UKChristian]

of Christians that have struggled with, and overcome alcohol issues. I think it may help me with where I am, both with my faith, and my own alcohol/anxiety issues to hear how others have overcome it. I know there is a biography of Johnny Cash which I intend to read(being a massive country fan anyway). The other high profile person that would fit the bill I can think of is George W Bush. On a quick google search, I see he has written some memoirs but they seem to be more focussed on his Presidency than his life in general. Any suggestions welcome

 

[madison1101]

My pastor gave me an excellent book about Spiritual intimacy called Abba's Child, by Brennan Manning. I believe the author was a priest, and if I remember he had an alcohol problem. It helped me through a very dark period of a relapse.

Amazon.com: Abba's Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging (9781576833346): Brennan Manning: Books

I also read the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book. Bill W.'s story talks about his Spiritual awakening, where he encountered the Lord and got sober.

AA is a Spiritual program, where people are free to choose their own Higher Power. Where I live, most are Christians who love and worship Jesus.

God bless.

Trish

 

[UKChristian]

Hi Trish. Thanks for your reply.

I will try and check out those books. I have decided that AA is not for me at this time for several reasons but at the same time the Big Book may well be of some help.

 

[madison1101]

Hi Trish. Thanks for your reply.

I will try and check out those books. I have decided that AA is not for me at this time for several reasons but at the same time the Big Book may well be of some help.

I hope you gave AA a try before deciding it's not for you. AA saved my life. I was hopelessly in relapse after working the 12 Steps my way, and landed in a rehab, where I totally surrendered, which is Step 3, to the Lord, and learned I had never really completed all 12 Steps of the AA program.

AA's 12 Steps are the AA program. The meetings are the classroom, where I learned how other people worked the Steps. My sponsor is my mentor and guide, helping me complete the 12 Steps, and encouraging me to do 12th Step work. Now that I have completed the Steps, I have a responsibility to reach out to newcomers who come to meetings, and give them my phone number for support. I also do volunteer work at a drug and alcohol agency to help people in early recovery.

The beauty of AA is there is no rule about how many meetings to attend. Plus, there are no dues or fees to be there. They pass the basket to pay for coffee, literature and rent for the meeting space. The only requirement for AA membership is the desire to stop drinking. PERIOD.

You may already know all this, but I try to post it regularly, so others who read this can learn about AA.

While I was in rehab, I received a copy of the Life Recovery Bible. This Bible has devotions related to the 12 Steps. It also shows how each Step correlates with Scripture. I suggest any Christian who is struggling with any addiction get themselves a Life Recovery Bible. It helps me so much to see the wisdom in the Steps.

 

[UKChristian]

I hope you gave AA a try before deciding it's not for you. AA saved my life. I was hopelessly in relapse after working the 12 Steps my way, and landed in a rehab, where I totally surrendered, which is Step 3, to the Lord, and learned I had never really completed all 12 Steps of the AA program.

AA's 12 Steps are the AA program. The meetings are the classroom, where I learned how other people worked the Steps. My sponsor is my mentor and guide, helping me complete the 12 Steps, and encouraging me to do 12th Step work. Now that I have completed the Steps, I have a responsibility to reach out to newcomers who come to meetings, and give them my phone number for support. I also do volunteer work at a drug and alcohol agency to help people in early recovery.

The beauty of AA is there is no rule about how many meetings to attend. Plus, there are no dues or fees to be there. They pass the basket to pay for coffee, literature and rent for the meeting space. The only requirement for AA membership is the desire to stop drinking. PERIOD.

You may already know all this, but I try to post it regularly, so others who read this can learn about AA.

While I was in rehab, I received a copy of the Life Recovery Bible. This Bible has devotions related to the 12 Steps. It also shows how each Step correlates with Scripture. I suggest any Christian who is struggling with any addiction get themselves a Life Recovery Bible. It helps me so much to see the wisdom in the Steps.

From what I know, AA is an amazing organisation. In answer to your question, no I have not tried AA. My struggle with alcohol is part of abigger issue which is the fact that I am not very happy with my life and haven't been for several years and anxiety. Whilst I can sometimes talk about these issues on here and other places, talking about them face to face, even in a one to one situation with someone I trust such as my vicar or doctor, is something I can't do. So if I can't talk about it with my vicar or doctor, there's no way I'm going to be able to discuss in front of several other people at an AA meeting. Also, where I live is quite a close knit community(especially among the drinkers), if I were to go to a meeting, there is a fairly decent chance I would know a few people there. That is something I'm uncomfortable with. For these reasons, I've decided AA is not for me, wonderful organisation that it is all the same

 

[madison1101]

From what I know, AA is an amazing organisation. In answer to your question, no I have not tried AA. My struggle with alcohol is part of abigger issue which is the fact that I am not very happy with my life and haven't been for several years and anxiety. Whilst I can sometimes talk about these issues on here and other places, talking about them face to face, even in a one to one situation with someone I trust such as my vicar or doctor, is something I can't do. So if I can't talk about it with my vicar or doctor, there's no way I'm going to be able to discuss in front of several other people at an AA meeting. Also, where I live is quite a close knit community(especially among the drinkers), if I were to go to a meeting, there is a fairly decent chance I would know a few people there. That is something I'm uncomfortable with. For these reasons, I've decided AA is not for me, wonderful organisation that it is all the same

I totally understand your concerns about getting involved in AA. I felt the same way many years ago. There are some things you need to know.

First,you are not required to say anything at an AA meeting. If they ask you to share, just say your name and that you prefer to just listen for that particular day.

The program is the 12 Steps, not the meetings. You can learn a great deal about how people work the Steps by listening to obsfeothers share their experience.

When it comes to seeing people you know at an AA meeting, I had that happen to me once years ago. At first I was mortified, because the person I saw was one of my Summer bosses. I spoke with my sponsor who reminded me that my boss was there for the same reason I wad, s\]

 

[UKChristian]

I totally understand your concerns about getting involved in AA. I felt the same way many years ago. There are some things you need to know.

First,you are not required to say anything at an AA meeting. If they ask you to share, just say your name and that you prefer to just listen for that particular day.

The program is the 12 Steps, not the meetings. You can learn a great deal about how people work the Steps by listening to obsfeothers share their experience.

When it comes to seeing people you know at an AA meeting, I had that happen to me once years ago. At first I was mortified, because the person I saw was one of my Summer bosses. I spoke with my sponsor who reminded me that my boss was there for the same reason I wad, s\]

Yes obviously people are all there for the same reason. it is just that I'm a very private person(I consider this one of my faults and am working on it)and don't want anyone to know my business. Even my family members don't know that much about me. A lot of my problems would be solved, I believe, if I move somewhere else where nobody knows me and started afresh. Whilst this is almost certainly true, it would also create problems. What would I do for a job for example? And whilst I'm not married and don't really have any commitments as such, I know it helps certain members of my family to have me around.

 

[rmarvel]

of Christians that have struggled with, and overcome alcohol issues. I think it may help me with where I am, both with my faith, and my own alcohol/anxiety issues to hear how others have overcome it. I know there is a biography of Johnny Cash which I intend to read(being a massive country fan anyway). The other high profile person that would fit the bill I can think of is George W Bush. On a quick google search, I see he has written some memoirs but they seem to be more focussed on his Presidency than his life in general. Any suggestions welcome

Its a movie I uploaded to you YouTube it is the story of bill w look up rmarvel1 on YouTube and you find it it is the whole movie and it is pretty good

Sent from my Samsung DROID using CF

 

[woodpecker]

hi, I just watched the movie "Machine Gun Preacher", a true story of a drug dealer, alcoholic, finds Jesus, and now saves orphans in Sadan, great movie.
Machine Gun Preacher - Official Movie Website
Machine Gun Preacher Angels of East Africa

I also just finished an autobiography by the lead singer of the rock band Creed, Scott Strapp. He is a Christian, struggled with his faith and alcohol during his time with the band, eventually he over came with the help of God, this song is about his alcohol addiction.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBBqjGd3fHQ

P.S. I over came alcohol without AA, was not for me.

 

[dgiharris]

Quitting your alcoholic addiction without AA is possible just as it is possible to chop a tree down with a sledge hammer.

Just because its possible doesn't make it optimal.

AA is an incredible organization that will greatly increase your probability of success.

If you are worried about running into people that know you, then go to AA in an adjacent city.

Or put another way, would you drive 45 minutes to save your own life?

I have personal experience with AA and its an awesome org. Imo, people that do not like AA are people whose ego's are too big and have too much pride to humble themselves in front of others. AA also tells you the bitter truth and its human nature to not be able to handle the truth when we are at fault.

 

[woodpecker]

Quitting your alcoholic addiction without AA is possible just as it is possible to chop a tree down with a sledge hammer.

Just because its possible doesn't make it optimal.

AA is an incredible organization that will greatly increase your probability of success.

If you are worried about running into people that know you, then go to AA in an adjacent city.

Or put another way, would you drive 45 minutes to save your own life?

I have personal experience with AA and its an awesome org. Imo, people that do not like AA are people whose ego's are too big and have too much pride to humble themselves in front of others. AA also tells you the bitter truth and its human nature to not be able to handle the truth when we are at fault.

Talk about pride and ego, that is you with your ugly judgment of those who did just fine with the power of the Holy Spirit delivering them from the sin of drunkeness and the worship of alcohol

 

[dgiharris]

Talk about pride and ego, that is you with your ugly judgment of those who did just fine with the power of the Holy Spirit delivering them from the sin of drunkeness and the worship of alcohol

I'm just being honest. I've worked with addicts and in a recovery center, and those that used AA increased their odds of sobriety by a factor of 10.

If you are part of a church group that will give you the same level of support as a typical AA chapter then by all means, good on you and godspeed.

But if you are trying to get through an addiction on your own then you are setting yourself up for failure.

I'm not saying you can't pray and ask god for help. . By all means, please do so. I'm just saying doing that AND using AA as a support system will dramatically improve your odds for success.

 

[SteveJr]

Mike Macintosh is a Calvary Chapel pastor in San Diego.
He wrote an incredible testimony of how God changed him from a rock-bottom drug addict in the 60s and 70s to a lead pastor of a church.
It shows the wild ride and trouble he got into before he was saved by Gods grace
Title is "For The Love of Mike" author Sherwood Eliot Wirt