Road Out of Hell

Step One: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.*

RinC includes principles taken from the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous®, the program practiced by Bill W., Dr. Bob, Clarence S., and the other early rummies as found in the book Alcoholics Anonymous published in April 1939. The language used in the RinC 12 Steps is as originally written by A.A. cofounder Bill W., according to A.A. General Service Conference-approved literature. Our thanks to Dick B. and his son Ken B. for their detailed research into the history of Alcoholics Anonymous® which is available and published at DickB.com.

The Purpose of the Parables (Matthew 13:10-17)
Recovery begins when one person shares their story with another. Joyce and I pray that the stories told by Jesus through His parables, visualized in the context of the 12 steps given to Bill W. late one evening of December 1938, will bring His rest to all who are heavy laden. Invite Jesus into your life, listen to Him, and He promises to give you His peace.

Luke 13: 6-9 ESV
The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Matthew 7: 15-20 ESV
A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

* ‘PASS IT ON’  (New York, N.Y.: A.A. World Services, Inc., 1984), 198.
Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age (N.Y.: A.A. World Services, Inc., 1957, 1985) 166-67.

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