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How to listen to God

by John E. Batterson

Written in the late 1930's
(A personal friend of Dr. Bob's — co-founder of A.A.)




6. Test
When the flow of thoughts slows down, stop. Take a good look at what you have written. Not every thought we have comes from God. So we need to test our thoughts.

Here is where the written record helps us to be able to look at them.

a. Are these thoughts completely honest, pure, unselfish and loving?

b. Are these thoughts in line with our duties to our family -- to our community?

c. Are these thoughts in line with our understanding of the teachings found in our spiritual literature?





http://silkworth.net/aahistory/how-to-listen-to-god.pdf

http://www.gentle-stress-relief.com/how-to-listen-to-god.html



Distributed by Wally P.,
Archivist/ Historian/ Author

http://www.aabacktobasics.org




Historical Background


The following information comes from a personal telephone discussion with Wally P, an AA archivist and historian.

During the 1930s John Batterson was an enthusiastic supporter and participant in the Oxford Group in Ohio. The Oxford Group was one of the historical roots of the 12 Step programs that exist today.


Historical records indicate that the two co founders of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill W and Dr. Bob, actually recovered from alcoholism by following the Oxford Group program.


The 4 steps of the Oxford Group Surrender, Sharing, Restitution and Guidance later evolved into the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous.


The "How to Listen to God" pamphlet is one of many documents expressing how to do the Guidance part of the Oxford Group's four steps.


Wally P. interviewed John Batterson's nephew, Dr. Bob Batterson, to learn more.

Wally P learned that John Batterson was an active member of the Columbus Ohio Oxford Group. John also regularly traveled up to Akron and Cleveland Ohio to participate in the Oxford Group Meetings in those cities.


So, John Batterson would have known Dr. Bob, co founder of AA who was also actively participating in the Akron meetings.


Wally P. also discovered in the Ohio Wesleyan archives in 1998 that John Batterson was one of the speakers at the Oxford Group's Akron House Party held at the Mayflower Hotel in 1934. John shared the podium with Henrietta Seiberling at that meeting.


Wally P reports that John Batterson met James H., another member of the Oxford Group in Baltimore Maryland in 1938. James received the "How to Listen to God" pamphlet from John at that time. From there the How to Listen to God pamphlet went around the world.


Wally P. received the pamphlet from James H. in the late 1990's and has distributed it to hundreds of thousands since then. It is this pamphlet that Wally P uses to teach people how to do Step 11 of the 12 step progr
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCcW7jP-7rI