1. BOB AND DR STEVE TO BE     FEATURED ON FRANK PASTORE     SHOW THIS FRIDAY,     DECEMBER 9TH!!! 2. THIS WEEK'S SHOW: "HOW     DOES 'GOD' FIT INTO YOUR     12-STEP PROGRAM???" 3. HOLIDAY RELAPSE     PREVENTION: HAVE A PLAN!!!     by Dr Steve  4. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY-    "TURNING IT OVER" by Bob     Munck 5. RECOVERY RADIO A NOT-FOR-     PROFIT ORGANIZATION 6. HYTHIAM IS OUR NEW     CORPORATE SPONSOR 7. CONTACT US ANYTIME- 24/7 8. SIGN UP FOR THE FLASH!

1. BOB AND DR STEVE TO BE FEATURED ON THE FRANK PASTORE SHOW THIS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9th
Bob and Dr Steve will appear as Frank Pastore's special guests this Friday on the Frank Pastore Show, 99.5 FM KKLA's
4 - 7P prime-time/drive-time radio show. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity to hear more about the Recovery Radio Show!

Tune in on Friday at 5:30PM. Bob and Dr Steve will join Frank at about 5:45P, and will share their unique experience, strength, and hope... for recovery from ALL addictions. Hear more about why these two individuals have dedicated their lives and professions to helping other addicts...and educating the world about the DISEASE OF ADDICTION.

On January 6th 2004, Frank Pastore became the new afternoon drive-time host on KKLA 99.5 FM in Los Angeles. As a former professional baseball player with graduate degrees in both theology and political science, Frank integrates religion and politics with the news of the day in an entertaining and stimulating style at the intersection of faith and reason.
 

2.  THIS WEEK'S SHOW
    Part II of our Special Series “GOD, "HIGHER POWER", AND SPIRITUALITY IN
    THE 12-STEP PROGRAMS FOR RECOVERY FROM ADDICTIONS"

HOW DOES 'GOD' FIT INTO YOUR 12-STEP PROGRAM FOR RECOVERY??

Step 2 reads, “Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity”, and Step 3 reads, “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him”. Here we find reference to something that for many of us is anathema; we either lost our childhood connection to God, or, we never had one. The founders of AA, Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, both had deep convictions and beliefs in a Christian God, but they realized very early that including the work “GOD” in the steps and tenets of AA would push many alcoholics away. What if we were Buddhist or Muslim?? So, they elected to use the term “”God as we understood him” instead of just “GOD”. What does this mean? Why is it important for a recovering addict/alcoholic to embrace the concept of a Higher Power, regardless who/what that Higher Power is??

This week we will take a close look at this problematic issue, and will provide you with the background and understanding necessary to “bring you in to the rooms” of the 12-Step programs, and to facilitate your own successful navigation of the 12 steps. After all, 12-Step programs are the ONLY widely-available means that have PROVEN EFFECTIVE to achieve and maintain sobriety. No other technique has had near the success of the 12-Step programs. Best that you listen up here if you’re seeking recovery and are having problems with this issue!!

So join us "LIVE!!" this Saturday night, 6 - 8P Pacific Time 99.5 KKLA Los Angeles, or, in 10 other cities, or, Streaming on the Web. RECOVERY WORKS!!
 

Holidays are ALWAYS difficult for addicts and alcoholics, and the Christmas Holidays are arguably the worst. Family, work, religious celebrations, social issues, the flu season…all of these collide during this frenetic time of the year, and hit the addict directly in the face. Addicts are hard-wired to seek relief from stress by going to their drug or addictive behavior.

Dreaded relapse is a vital concern for all addicts during this time. What can we do to anticipate and prepare for dealing with relapse??

We MUST have a RELAPSE PLAN. What will YOU do to PREVENT relapse, and what will YOU do if you DO HAVE A SLIP??

As for prevention, be sure to KNOW WHAT YOUR TRIGGERS ARE!! Write them down!! Think about them; anticipate them!! Stay away from dangerous situations. Don’t hang with the “wrong crowd”. Holiday parties are mine fields for Addicts and Alcoholics. If you go, go with a sober friend. If you are on any medications to help with your sobriety, such as Campral, Antabuse, Topamax, or Re-Via, be sure to take them; they will help keep cravings down. If you have a DUAL DIAGNOSIS, be sure your medications for that disorder are taken and everything is in order with your other emotional or psychiatric condition. Make some TIME FOR YOURSELF; do not allow yourself to get overloaded with stress. EXERCISE; again, this is not the time of year to be too busy for physical and emotional health. Go to your 12-Step MEETINGS; this is NOT the time of year to be too busy for meetings. Talk with your SPONSOR; and be sure to call him/her FIRST, if you even THINK about using, or having a drink.

What if you slip??? Again, have a plan. Call your SPONSOR immediately!! Go to a MEETING!! Get to a safe place. Be around other sober friends. Flush your stash down the toilet, and flee from any unsafe places. Unfortunately, relapse is a defining aspect of the disease of addiction. But it need NOT be the end of the earth, and sometimes positive things can result from relapse, even if only to reinforce the necessity of an constant awareness of the ever-present danger of relapse.

Recovery from Addiction is only a daily reprieve. We must approach each day as if it’s our last. Do I want to die sober?? Or…do I want to die drunk…or loaded??

Addiction is always lurking…waiting for us to have a weak moment, waiting for us to delude ourselves into thinking that we are “cured” from our disease of addiction.

Take your recovery seriously. If you don’t, you WILL relapse this Christmas.

This is Dr Steve, giving it to you Straight!!!

Each week on our show, Bob presents his "Thought for the Day", a unique and powerful personal devotion. This is from a man with 15 years of personal sobriety, and with many years of recovery leadership. He has seen and heard it all. He has sponsored hundreds of men during that time. Addiction is a medical disease that is unique in having emotional and spiritual components, as well. This week in the FLASH! we are reprinting Bob's Thought for the Day for this week...a spiritual reflection which challenges and inspires those of us in recovery.

"This past week I've been thinking about the upcoming Christmas season, and about all of the parties that young people will be attending, and where underage drinking will be occurring. Too many unnecessary deaths will happen." - Bob Munck

TURNING IT OVER

Step 3 in the 12 steps program reads, “Made a decision to turn over our will and our lives to the care of God as we understood him."

What does this mean?? And why is this concept so important to the addict who seeks recovery in a 12-Step program?

Trusting in someone or something else- besides ourselves!!- is without doubt the most difficult decision that an addict must ever make; let alone understand. First, who IS God, anyway??? And WHY can God heal me of my addictions?

Many of us come into a 12-Step program of recovery with negative perceptions about God, as well as the world we live in. Think about it: What if your mom or dad simply did not show you much love while you were growing up, or what if they emotionally abused you? Or if for whatever reason, you grew up thinking you were "Not Good Enough”? Or, what if you had hurtful childhood experiences or misguided academic training? If any of these have happened to you, you JUST MIGHT have a distorted perception of God. You may find it very hard to trust anyone or anything- let alone to Trust GOD with your life.

Your Recovery will stumble if your beliefs in God are clouded and distrustful. You must let go of your Fear, and you must fully surrender your life to God. It is in Step 3 that we decide to take a “leap of Faith” and turn our lives over into God’s Hands.

You must pray and believe that God knows better about guiding your life. His direction is much better than what you have done with your life to this point. If you ever have any doubt about this, just remember the commonly-shared thought that is often heard in the rooms of AA and NA, “My own best thinking got me where I am; to these very rooms". (of AA, NA, etc)!!!!

The following prayer for Step 3 will help you “turn it over”. It is taken from “Prayers for The Twelve Steps—A Spiritual Journey”, published by RPI Publishing, Inc.

“Lord, I am learning that there is an awful lot I can’t do.
I can’t control life the way I am used to.
I can’t make people be what I want.
I can’t stop the pain inside me.
I can’t even fully submit to your plan yet—I’m still to frighten of you.

But I know that there is one thing I can do right now.
I can make a decision to turn my will and life over to you.
Making the decision doesn’t mean I have to make it happen.
Making the decision doesn’t mean I understand you or your plan.
Making the decision doesn’t even mean I’m entirely willing, but it does mean that I know your way and will is right.
Lord, turn my simple decision into reality.”

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RECOVERY RADIO A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
The Recovery Radio Show is organized as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit public benefit corporation under the IRS tax code: Our Mission is to provide education about addiction to our fellow human beings, and to do what we can to allow those still suffering to get into recovery. If you, or your company, would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the RRS, you may do so with our profound thanks and appreciation by clicking on the link above, or by going to the "DONATE" button on our website on the HOME page. Or, you may call our very own Melissa Stewart at 866.334.0471 M-F between the hours of 8A - 5P.

That's it for this week....Join us this Saturday Night, won't you?????.....6-8 Pacific Time...on-air, or on the web.

Yours very truly, and in sobriety,
Dr Steve, Bob, and the Recovery Radio Crew