"Rise 'n' Shine" 12-step Big Book Study for Sex Addicts 4 am Pacific, 5am Mountain, 6am Central, 7am Eastern time

Welcome to the Thursday morning tele-meeting, 12-step Big Book study for Sex addicts.  Let's open this meeting with a moment of silent meditation, each in their own way, followed by the serenity prayer.

To paraphrase the Forward to the First Edition:

WE, OF Sex Addicts Anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book (and this group). For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. We think this account of our experiences will help everyone to better understand the sex addict. Many do not comprehend that the sex addict is a very sick person. And besides, we are sure that our way of living has its advantages for all.

My name is _________ (give name and last initial).  I am a sex addict.  My sobriety date is _________. 

Is there anyone who does not have a Big Book in front of them?  If you don't you can access it on-line at www.aa.org/bigbookonline/

This is an open meeting and as such all who have an interest in alcoholism and our program of recovery is welcome.  Because this is an open meeting, you need not identify yourself nor your reason for being here if you do not wish to do so.  Your anonymity will be protected.  We ask that you protect ours.

While this is an open meeting, membership in Sex Addicts Anonymous is restricted to those who have a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior for good and all.  If your problem is other than addictive sexual behavior, then your solution is elsewhere.  If your problem is drugs or alcohol or some other addictive issue, CA, NA, AA or one of 200 or more other 12 Step fellowships is where you will find your solution.  If you are still looking for a solution to one of these respective problems, please let a trusted servant know and we will be happy to assist you in finding a group that will meet your needs.  You are welcome to stay and listen to us study, but we ask that you restrict your participation to merely reading the indicated text when called upon.

We would like to recognize those who have reached certain milestones in their pursuit of sobriety.  Is anyone celebrating 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months. Is there anyone celebrating an annual birthday?

We would also like to welcome any newcomers to SAA.  If there is anyone here that would like to begin their journey to sobriety, or if you would like to recommit to sobriety, we would like to acknowledge you.  Being acknowledged indicates that you have a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior for good and all.  Is there anyone here that would like to begin their journey to sobriety tonight?

If you have questions about how to work the Steps as instructed by the Big Book, your sponsor is the proper person to whom to pose them.  If you are not getting satisfactory answers, perhaps there is someone here that can help.  With that in mind, there may be some here tonight that are looking for a sponsor or even a new sponsor.  Will those of you who have worked these Steps, had a spiritual awakening and have the time & willingness to work with others please announce yourselves, so that those looking for guidance will know who they can entrust their lives to?

In this meeting we stay focused on the instructions in the Big Book of A.A.  Time and experience has proven it to be the most successful approach to the Steps no matter what the addictive problem may be.  We as sex addicts know that we must be focused on two things: either applying these Steps or studying their instructions for better application.  We know that if we do not do these things that we will surely act out.  And for us, to act out is to die.  For our study purposes, we will use the Big Book Study Guide prepared by members of Dallas's Primary Purpose Group of Alcoholics Anonymous.  It can be downloaded for free at www.ppgaadallas.org/study_guide.htm.  In this guide there are questions correlated with almost every sentence in the Big Book.  I will read a question and call upon a member to read the correlating sentence.  If you have comments regarding the text read, please restrict them to your insights into its message as it relates to your sex addiction.

We consider all else to be an outside issue.  This includes personal problems.  The proper venue for sharing such problems is with a sponsor.  This, after all, is where real recovery takes place - in working the Steps with a sponsor.  If you feel the need to check- in, please ask, and I will direct someone to share their phone number with you.  The two of you can then contact each other outside of the tele-meeting.


Before we begin our Big Book study we will review a Tradition.  This weeks Tradition is _______.


We will begin our study tonight on page ______.

CLOSING

"Our book is meant to be suggestive only.  We realize we know only a little.  God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick.  The answers will come, if you own house is in order.  But you obviously cannot transmit something you haven't got.  See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and for countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.
"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God.  Admit your faults to Him and your fellows.  Clear away the wreckage of your past.  Give freely of what you find and join us.  We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.

"May God bless you and keep you until then"

(Big Book page 164).

We would like to acknowledge at this time anyone wishing to start their journey to sobriety.  Being acknowledged indicates a desire to stop addictive sexual behavior for good and for all, but we don't act-out just one day at a time.  Does anyone want to begin their journey?
Now is the time for the 7th Tradition. The Seventh Tradition states that "every group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions."   You can make donations by check by mailing a check to Telemeeting Intergroup at:
Telemeeting Intergroup
PO Box 533
Ellettsville, IN 47429
Or you can donate via PayPal at www.saatalk.org
The Telemeeting Intergroup supports all of the telemeetings, and all excess funds are sent to the SAA ISO office.
(check the "Announcement Folder" for announcements)