Galatians 2:13

As a result, other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. (NLT)

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I fancied myself a leader, for had not the men of my battery given me a special token of appreciation? My talent for leadership, I imagined, would place me at the head of vast enterprises which I would manage with the utmost assurance. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 1)

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Managing with the utmost assurance —

yep, rings true, I've been there.

Peter, simple fisherman transformed 

to key carrier, not just for a meeting

but to the kingdom all in a few short years.

How fearful he must have been,

how often. 

Do I need a report from his POV?

No. No need to take his inventory,

just mine.

When I find myself a leader

by vote of peers or default, 

my responsibility lies not

in keeping waters calm

but in being qualified to lead,

allowing that to come from 

a power far greater than I, 

and seeking daily the power's directive

and
the will and courage
to lead there.

God, I offer myself.
While I'd prefer anonymity,
I'm willing to yield
to your plan.

Galatians 2:11-12

When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. (NIV)

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For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority—a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern. (Alcoholics Anonymous, Tradition Two)

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Tough call, leaving trivial behind.

Hard job to set aside old prejudice,

see people as people —

not as Jew or Gentile,

not male, female, old, young,

hale, infirm, addict, "normie,"

straight, gay, citizen, stranger.

If behavior stands up, rings true

before God,

why censor it

before disapproving others?

Who is a leader?

One who talks, influences, coerces?

Or one who takes the high road,

the ethical path

no matter what vocal others think?

God, when you show me right,

walk with me,

shoving me in right direction

when you must

but hopefully filling me with

conviction replacing fears.

Galatians 2:10

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. (NIV)

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Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84)

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Keep on keeping on. 

Do good, do the next right thing.

Repeat.

Repeat again.

Habits are made of repetition,

patterns are woven of row upon row

of same same.

Tradition is habits and patterns passed,

spread, adopted as norm, as right.

Yet practices change, customs evolve

and right can morph to wrong

unnoticed, undeterred.

Continue

persist

carry on

consciously, intentionally,

holding on to good,

to the next right thing.

God, I can carry on

one hour,

one day,

diligent in doing what I know is right.

Make it true, Lord,

make it true.

Galatians 2:9

James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. (NIV)

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All sections of this country and many of its occupations are represented, as well as many political, economic, social, and religious backgrounds. We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 17)

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Gentile, Hebrew,
stock speculator, proctologist,
white collar, blue collar, skid row bum.
Colleagues sharing interest
in good news,
a loving god,
a supportive community
contributing, involved in
recovery for self and others, knowing
all are bundled. Each gains momentum,
power, velocity, veracity
from his fellows'.
Republican, Democrat, Libertarian,
fierce partisan positions mean nothing,
remain unspoken
in light of even-more-integral,
more essential matters.
Shared recovery,
indescribably
wonderful.

God, thanks for essentials
that can place lesser matters
in proper perspective.

Galatians 2:7-8

On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised. For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. (NIV)

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When you discover a prospect for Alcoholics Anonymous, find out all you can about him. If he does not want to stop drinking, don't waste time trying to persuade him. You may spoil a later opportunity. This advice is given for his family also. They should be patient, realizing they are dealing with a sick person. (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 90)

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Who cares who carries the message

so long as the carrying is done?

Well, I must admit to the lingering conviction

a message not channelled through me

must of necessity be inferior.

What if explanations lack the pertinence,

applicability, feel irrelevant?

Who will invigorate the word,

encapsulate Nirvana?

So, what makes me believe in me but my arrogance,

my ego?

It's not my message to carry.

I am a tool, available for use

in building.

My bondage to self, my difficulties 

are removed, and victory over them

may humiliate me 

yet 

be the message to be carried.

God, who cares who carries the message?

Let be true I don't.

Let me be willing

to be humbled

and used.

Galatians 2:6

As for those who were held in high esteem — whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism — they added nothing to my message. (NIV)

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An alcoholic who has recovered, but holds a relatively unimportant job, can talk to a man with a better position. Being on a radically different basis of life, he will never take advantage of the situation. (Alcoholics Anonymous: the "Big Book," Kindle Locations 1861-1862, "To Employers")

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Wisdom has nothing to do

with intelligence, education.

Recovery doesn't come by degrees

made up of letters and periods.

Intelligent we are in many respects

but insane – lunatics —

where addiction is involved.

certain simple things,

commence on a simpler level, 

follow a few simple rules.

Simple, not easy, achieved only

with the destruction of

self-centeredness.

Then comes wisdom,

when intelligence, education, 

experience have become tools

of simplicity.

God, please block my smarts
until I grasp simplicity.

Galatians 2:4-5

This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (NIV)

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Soon A.A. was beset by these very problems on every side and in every group. But out of this frightening and at first disrupting experience the conviction grew that A.A.’s had to hang together or die separately. We had to unify our Fellowship or pass off the scene. (Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book Kindle Locations 97-99, foreword to the second edition.)

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Holding on to truth, holding out for purity

staying the course

without apostasy.

Truth wields a mighty sword, impervious, 

indestructible

yet truth can fall to insidious mutation,

to good intentions, to obfuscating clarification.

A good thing, a godly thing, a god thing 

we have here.

God knows how we can keep it!

God, save us from the conviction 

we can always tweak

something for the better.