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The Book of Life Recovery: Inspiring Stories and Biblical Wisdom for Your Journey through the Twelve Steps
Do you struggle with addictions or dependencies, or do you want to help someone who does? From the authors of the popular Life Recovery series that has guided millions of readers back to health and wholeness, now comes the ultimate recovery book--written from a Christian perspective. As authors and counselors, Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop walk readers through the Twelve Steps of recovery. They share real-life personal stories from survivors as well as Biblical stories and verses to support readers in their journey. Whether using the book alone, or as a companion to the popular "Life Recovery Bible," this is an essential resource for anyone wanting to walk closer with God through recovery, as well as for their counselors, pastors, and loved ones.
- GenresNonfiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 17, 2012
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Stephen F. Arterburn
257 books154 followersStephen Arterburn is the founder and chairman of New Life Ministries—the nation's largest faith-based broadcast, counseling, and treatment ministry—and is the host of the nationally syndicated New Life Live! daily radio program aired on over 180 radio stations nationwide, Sirius XM radio, and on television. Steve is also the founder of the Women of Faith conferences, attended by over 4 million women, and of HisMatchforMe.com.
Steve is a nationally known public speaker and has been featured in national media venues such as Oprah, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, CNN Live, the New York Times, USA Today, and US News & World Report.
In August 2000, Steve was inducted into the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame. A bestselling author, Steve has written more than one hundred books, including the popular Every Man's series and his most recent book, Healing Is a Choice. He is a Gold Medallion–winning author and has been nominated for numerous other writing awards.
Steve has degrees from Baylor University and the University of North Texas as well as two honorary doctorate degrees. Steve is a teaching pastor at Northview Church in suburban Indianapolis and resides with his family in Indiana.
Steve is a nationally known public speaker and has been featured in national media venues such as Oprah, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, CNN Live, the New York Times, USA Today, and US News & World Report.
In August 2000, Steve was inducted into the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame. A bestselling author, Steve has written more than one hundred books, including the popular Every Man's series and his most recent book, Healing Is a Choice. He is a Gold Medallion–winning author and has been nominated for numerous other writing awards.
Steve has degrees from Baylor University and the University of North Texas as well as two honorary doctorate degrees. Steve is a teaching pastor at Northview Church in suburban Indianapolis and resides with his family in Indiana.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 24, 2012
The Book of Life Recovery is perhaps best described by its subtitle: Inspiring Stories and Biblical Wisdom for Your Journey through the Twelve Steps. It was written as a companion to The Life Recovery Bible, which is a New Living Translation Bible with notes and helps related to the twelve-step recovery process. Steve and Dave, co-hosts on the popular New Life Live counseling show, worked together on both of these projects, bringing together decades of work on the front lines of recovery into a format that can reach even more people with the truth of God’s plan for redemption and restoration.
Your first reaction to hearing about this book might be the same as mine was at one time – to think that a twelve-step program is really just for someone dealing with alcoholism or drug addiction, or possibly for their family members. While those two categories probably include more people than you think, this book really is for everyone who has been trying to make it on their own and has any area of life that is not totally surrendered to God – in short, all of us.
The book’s format is simple. Each chapter focuses on one step and offers real-life stories from people who are on the road to recovery, insight into the principles behind the meaning and purpose of the step, and several Bible studies targeted to those principles. These studies can be done individually or as part of a group, allowing the reader to move beyond simply taking in the information to applying it their own lives.
Although the book is designed to be worked through over the course of a year, I was so engrossed in the stories and the insights I was finding that I read the entire thing straight through upon receiving it. Now I am planing to go back through and do one Bible study each week as the authors suggest. Here are just a few of the things I highlighted on my read-through:
- We begin the healing process by coming to terms with the absolute truth that we are powerless. Our problem has the upper hand, and we are incapable of breaking free on our own.
- We have surrendered our will. And so we don’t tell him [God] what to do; instead, we wait for him, moment by moment to lead the way. Because we have surrendered, he is now responsible for what happens next.
- All too often, on the inside, we’re still thinking there are some parts of our recovery we need to do on our own…. On the outside, we have surrendered, but on the inside, we’re still holding parts of ourselves in reserve.
- The more we experience the truth, the more we will experience God’s grace, and the more we will experience an attitude of humility, have a teachable heart, and feel accepted for who we are.
- If we are as sick as our secrets, we can become as healthy as our confessions.
Whether you are familiar with the Twelve Steps or not, The Book of Life Recovery is a powerful tool that will help you see how surrendering your heart and life to God can move you from misery and isolation into a place of true hopefulness for your future and healthy community along the journey.
Your first reaction to hearing about this book might be the same as mine was at one time – to think that a twelve-step program is really just for someone dealing with alcoholism or drug addiction, or possibly for their family members. While those two categories probably include more people than you think, this book really is for everyone who has been trying to make it on their own and has any area of life that is not totally surrendered to God – in short, all of us.
The book’s format is simple. Each chapter focuses on one step and offers real-life stories from people who are on the road to recovery, insight into the principles behind the meaning and purpose of the step, and several Bible studies targeted to those principles. These studies can be done individually or as part of a group, allowing the reader to move beyond simply taking in the information to applying it their own lives.
Although the book is designed to be worked through over the course of a year, I was so engrossed in the stories and the insights I was finding that I read the entire thing straight through upon receiving it. Now I am planing to go back through and do one Bible study each week as the authors suggest. Here are just a few of the things I highlighted on my read-through:
- We begin the healing process by coming to terms with the absolute truth that we are powerless. Our problem has the upper hand, and we are incapable of breaking free on our own.
- We have surrendered our will. And so we don’t tell him [God] what to do; instead, we wait for him, moment by moment to lead the way. Because we have surrendered, he is now responsible for what happens next.
- All too often, on the inside, we’re still thinking there are some parts of our recovery we need to do on our own…. On the outside, we have surrendered, but on the inside, we’re still holding parts of ourselves in reserve.
- The more we experience the truth, the more we will experience God’s grace, and the more we will experience an attitude of humility, have a teachable heart, and feel accepted for who we are.
- If we are as sick as our secrets, we can become as healthy as our confessions.
Whether you are familiar with the Twelve Steps or not, The Book of Life Recovery is a powerful tool that will help you see how surrendering your heart and life to God can move you from misery and isolation into a place of true hopefulness for your future and healthy community along the journey.
October 10, 2012
When one hears the word ‘recovery’ alcoholic is immediately brought to mind. At least for me this was true. I’m not an alcoholic, so I didn’t think I would benefit from reading The Book of Life Recovery. What could I possibly gain from reading a bunch of stories about substance abuse? Once I dived into the book, I was able to expand my mind to welcome the wisdom and honesty of the people who opened themselves up for the world to examine. The contributors to this tome offer an honest and insightful view of what it’s like to accept their disease. Each voice is an exploration of how the writer came to their moment when they could no longer live life the way they were living and turned to God for a change.
The book is divided into twelve parts, one for each step, which is also helpful for working one step each month for a year. The steps are then presented with one to three personal testimonials, insight into the step presented, and four Bible studies. As one who struggles with my walk with the Lord, I was pleased to read that the writers each had moments when they too felt lost and confused. I used the Bible studies to further my own relationship with God, and to review behaviors that seemed to hinder me from maturing in my walk.
I think this is a great resource for anyone struggling to break free from negative behavior and learn to trust God in all aspects of their lives.
The book is divided into twelve parts, one for each step, which is also helpful for working one step each month for a year. The steps are then presented with one to three personal testimonials, insight into the step presented, and four Bible studies. As one who struggles with my walk with the Lord, I was pleased to read that the writers each had moments when they too felt lost and confused. I used the Bible studies to further my own relationship with God, and to review behaviors that seemed to hinder me from maturing in my walk.
I think this is a great resource for anyone struggling to break free from negative behavior and learn to trust God in all aspects of their lives.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews