The One Thing

A Manifesto by Armen Z. Listen to the Russell S. steps from 2006 to hear the references presented.

• THE ONE THING
  • AA is, and always has been, about God and all the ways we get to Him and deepen our relationship with Him – THE ONE THING!
• Expose, not impose
  • Our job is to “expose, but not impose” the gifts and paths that God has given us.
• Pots and Pans, the Clamor of the World
  • Life’s distractions – clamors of the world – that keep me from focusing on THE ONE THING are the “Pots and Pans”. Am I Martha or Mary?
• Adopt the heart of the 10th leper
  • Don’t walk away with only God’s gift of healing, like the other 9 did. Instead, be like the 10th and “be made whole” by praising Him and giving Him all the glory for lifting me up out of my “leprosy” and into a NEW life with Him.
• Have Men Ahead of You That You Are Looking To and That You Want to Emulate, men that are seeking THE ONE THING.
• Be of Good Cheer When You Are Going Through Tribulation
  • “Tests and trials cause much pain and agony but there is joy to be had in the midst of even the deepest suffering” (James 1:2)
  • “Our confidence is always rooted in the goodness of God and His promise to bring about good in all things that happen to the Christian” (James 1:3)
  • “Victory is ours, not when the problem is removed or even when the test is finally over, but as the test is endured by faith” (James 1:4)
  • “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials” (James 1:2, NKJV)
• Adopt the Al Kennedy attitude
  • If I am fixated on my own issues, remember that God has moved my heart to aspire to be more like “Al Kennedy”.
• Why does that bother me?
  • If I am experiencing life’s pains and challenges that distract my focus from THE ONE THING, I must simply remember two key statements: “What if that didn’t bother you?” or “It doesn’t bother me like it bothers you…” – reminder that if I am focusing on THE ONE THING, the other issues will pale.
• Rocket Ride to the 4th Dimension
  • My own will and desire will not be sufficient to achieve the things I want to achieve and be the man I want to be. But I know that if I continue to turn my will and heart to Him, He will lead me to a seat on the Rocket Ride to the 4th Dimension.
• Watered Down Chemotherapy Drugs
  • Over the years, I have cheated myself and a lot of other guys by “softening up” AA’s message to gain approval or not “rock the boat” – in essence, giving out “watered down” versions of the original AA message. Those times that I have stepped out with my integrity on this issue, I have been rebuked and chastised and my fear has sent me cowering back into my hole – away from the rocket ride and back into the mainstream of settling for watered down AA. This is not at all a tragedy because I know that this was part of my growth toward spiritual maturity. But, knowing what I know today, I can’t go back there again. God does not want me there anymore.
• Doctor Bob’s Nightmare
  • Page 181 – If you think you are an atheist, an agnostic, a skeptic, or have any other form of intellectual pride which keeps you from accepting what is in this book, I feel sorry for you. If you still think you are strong enough to beat the game alone, that is your affair. But if you really and truly want to quit drinking liquor for good and all, and sincerely feel that you must have some help, we know that we have an answer for you. It never fails if you go about it with one half the zeal you have been in the habit of showing when getting another drink. Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!
• Alcoholic #3 – Bill Dotson, on how Bill Wilson & Bob Smith 12th stepped him
  • Page 186 – They said to me, “Do you want to quit drinking? It’s none of our business about your drinking. We’re not up here trying to take any of your rights or privileges away from you, but we have a program whereby we think we can stay sober. Part of that program is that we take it to someone else, that needs it and wants it. Now, if you don’t want it, we’ll not take up your time, and we’ll be going and looking for someone else.”The next thing they wanted to know was if I thought I could quit of my own accord, without any help, if I could just walk out of the hospital and never take another drink. If I could that was wonderful, that was just fine, and they would very much appreciate a person who had that kind of power, but they were looking for a man that knew he had a problem, and knew that he couldn’t handle it himself and needed outside help.

    The next question, they wanted to know was if I believed in a Higher Power. I had no trouble there because I had never actually ceased to believe in God, and had tried lots of times to get help but hadn’t succeeded. The next thing they wanted to know was would I be willing to go to this Higher Power and ask for help, calmly and without any reservations.

• And so it stands that AA is not here to conform to my needs or anyone else’s needs. Conversely, it is our JOB to fall in line with the original AA program and way of life, as illustrated in the Big Book, also known as THE ONE THING – Find God, Trust God, Clean House, Help Others.