Steps to the Spirit

Chuck Lutz
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Steps to the spirit is about my search for, discovery of, and use of the Spirit to live my life according to the wishes and plans of God. I also call them gifts from God because I believe He has given us these tools to enable us to find a closer relationship with Him. I invite you to join me in this quest that is at times both difficult and extremely fulfilling. I will try to explain how and why it became necessary to surrender, thus enabling me to begin to live according to God's plan.I will post additional info on my blog: http://www.StepsToTheSpirit.com/blog To contact me, please use: Chuck@stepstothespirit.com

  1. 2d ago

    My Spirit and God – Teenage Days (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail I said at the end of the last episode that I would be speaking about after I made the transition from grammar school to high school on what happened to my religious or spiritual beliefs. I thought about that a lot since last week and I realized that I was trying to just hang onto some kind of spiritual belief that I was not hanging on very well. By the time I started high school I was absolutely down on myself. I felt like I had nothing to offer the world, and there was nothing to offer myself.   I think today that my early education in a parochial school with the Catholic Christian Brothers of Ireland was a good thing ultimately. I say that because I considered or thought about suicide a few times and I was really serious about. I think the only thing that has ever stopped me was my spiritual education and the fact that I thought that if I committed suicide it would really mess up any future spiritual life when I die. I was afraid of doing it and that was good.   In my second year of high school, I ran away from home again. I was with another book guy from school. This time I thought I was doing it right. I had money that I say this because I was working at the grocery store after school and I also cast one of my mother's checks. We got on a plane and flew to San Juan Puerto Rico. There were a lot of sailors in the town and it was great drinking with them. There was also an army base at a place called El Morrow. So not being able to get jobs, we decided to enlist in the Army. We both gave false stories to the interviewers. Mine was exceptionally heartbreaking. We were interviewed by an FBI agent and he was almost in tears by the time I finished my story, which was of course, mostly false. The next day the guy went with came running across golf course, were the Army S work while we were waiting, and said we better get going because that FBI agent says she catches you before you leave will kick your butt although it back to New York. So at 16 my runaway days were over. I would enter the service for real by the time I was 17 and my parents signed the papers for me to go. I had it with them and they had it with me and they really thought that the service would improve me. Had none of this time today think about God!   For that little excursion to Puerto Rico, I was kicked out of the parochial school and I enlisted in a different high school called DeWitt Clinton. I only lasted there a few months and convince my parents that I wanted to be a draftsman and attend school at a place called the Delahanty Institute in downtown Manhattan. They went along with it. But I had already started drinking a lot, or I should say, is much as I could this considering the money I had.   So I did not finish a thousand our course that Delahanty. I think I did about 800 hours and left to enlist in the service and have what I thought, a new way of life. Next time Mount talked about my time in the service.

  2. Oct 25

    My Spirit and God – Teenage Days (Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode I'll continue with my spiritual growth, or should I say lack of spiritual growth. I wanted talk mostly about my teenage years and what seemed to be a complete abolishment of any spirituality that I once had, including my religion. By the time I was in the seventh or eighth grade I had completely lost in the sense of self-worth. I think the only thing that kept me from suicide was that a drum that into our heads from the first grade; if you committed suicide it was a short trip to hell. You just had no chance of any kind is salvation whatsoever. By making that choice you were telling God that you did not want him and that you knew what was best for you. Actually, I still believe that, but for reasons that are much different than I heard in the Catholic religion. So in either the seventh or eighth grade, I cannot remember which, I ran away from home. I lived in the mid-Bronx and it wasn't unusual for me to walk the two or 3 miles to school. On this particular day, myself and another kid decided to go for it. We were going to be on our own. We walked right past our school and across the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey. When we were halfway across the bridge by through all of the schoolbooks that I had been to the Hudson River. Well after we got to the other side of the bridge we realized that it was going to be a long, arduous trip in order to strike out on our own. I was determined to keep going but the kid I was with says he didn't want to go any further. So we split up and eventually I decided I did not want to do this alone. It was later in the evening when I got back home and there was a policeman outside of the apartment house where I lived. I was halfway up the front stairs when he looked at me and said,"H ey, are you Charles Lutz?" That was pretty much the end of my adventure when I was 12 years old or so. There were lots of ramifications, but I really didn't get in trouble at school. I'm not sure to this day why I didn't get kicked out of the parochial school. Anyway, during this adventure I never once thought about God. I guess you could pretty much say I was a godless human being. I was sure he didn't want anything to do with me, and I was equally sure, (well sort of), but I didn't want anything to do with Him. The only thing I was really sure of was that I was never really told anything good about myself from my family, and the Christian Brothers reinforced the fact that I was a sinner and had to depend on God in order to become a valuable person. I never participated in any kind of Catholic activities unless I was somehow cornered into going to mass or going to some kind of Catholic function like a wedding. So in my early teenage years any religion or spirituality that I had pretty much dried up. Actually the only connection I had with religion was that I still had to take the subject in grammar school. Strangely enough that was one of the subjects that I continue to get high marks in. In the next episode I will try to continue from my graduation from grammar school and beginning of high school.

  3. Oct 18

    My Spirit and God – Early Days (Part 2)

    Send us Fan Mail Wherever you are, sitting at your desktop or laptop, going from your daily run, or just sitting in the place where you like to be quiet or left,  alone; God is with you. I don't remember where, when, or reset it to me, but I remember hearing it. I believe it was sometime when I first began grammar school, but I'm not sure that I heard it there. The grammar school I attended was a parochial school and I was taught by the Christian Brothers of Ireland. I was five years and nine months old when I started grammar school. They made an exception for me because I would have otherwise been well over six years old when I started school. Remember the whole rigmarole to get me registered, and right up to the first class. I was as scared as a rabbit! I forgot that God is was in me. I forgot it for many, many years. I was fascinated by the Christian Brothers and I immediately wanted to be one. It was a few years before we had outside order come in and I think that person was a Benedictine priest. I like their robes, and to tell you the truth, that was my main reason for wanting to join any order. I like the way they looked. Of course, as soon as I found out God was a punishing God and that I had certain standards to uphold, well, I was out of there. At least as far as religion went. I still like it because my best marks in grammar school were always in religion. The problem was that I soon, because of home problems and school problems, couldn't see myself and God being on the same page. I will go more into this in the next episode.

  4. Oct 11

    My Spirit and God – Early Days(Part 1)

    Send us Fan Mail For six years now I have tried to keep all of these podcast episodes on the subject of the 12 step program. Of course, it has been more than that. It has not been just about the 12-steps. It has been about viewing the 12 step program through the eyes of our Spirit. I have mentioned the psychological way of doing the 12 steps. In other words, one could leave out the idea of God or Spirit and just do those steps that would psychologically make us better humans. However, it has always been my contention that doing these 12 steps in that manner is not the way they were meant to be done. I believe this is a God-given spiritually based system to bring us to a new way of life. I'm sure that the only way to do this is to pay less attention to the words on the paper, and more attention to the words in our hearts. If you have been following this podcast for any great time, you will know that it took me, personally, along while to grasp the meaning of this program. When I finally did there were two things that help me. Although I had tried the program a few times without sincerity, I accidentally got to know what the program was all about. So, when I was ready (at the end of my rope) I had sort of a leg up at the start. I knew many of the things that I needed to do, such as realizing my unmanageability and to start to look for God in my life. In some ways this was easy, but in others it was excruciatingly painful. Then came the action steps. I had of course done fourth and fifth steps, some being beautiful works of art. Now, I had to do something a little bit different; I had to reach into my chest and take my heart apart in order to find what it was really made of. I found a lot of garbage when I honestly looked at my shortcomings and character defects. Honestly, however, I actually found a few good and shining sparks within me. One of those sparks was a hint of my spirit. I grabbed it and ran. With it and I haven't looked back since. I was ready. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I was ready to invite God into my life to help me. If this turned out to be the best thing I could ever have done this is why I want to do this series of podcasts. I believe that somehow we all know just how important is spiritual life is for our recovery, no matter what our problem might be. I believe a lot of the time in meeting with other 12-steppers, it is like the elephant in the room. We just don't talk about it and it is a shame, because it is the most important subject we could have. In this series of podcasts I would like to talk about my introduction to the spirit and how my life went with and without it. I certainly hope that it interests you.

  5. Oct 4

    The 12 Step Program - Step 12 (Part 6)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode I want to speak about the final phrase in step 12 which is, in all our affairs. To be consistent, here is the step with the underlined phrase that we will be speaking about: Having had a spiritual experience as a result of this course of action, we try to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Basically, what we are saying is that this step does not have an on/off switch The step suggests that not just when possible, or when we feel like it, that we carry the message,or practice these principles. From the time I wake up in the morning, until I go to bed at night, I am working this 12th step and see if my life depended on it. Basically, I am talking about a new way of life.   NOTE: This episode, for some reason, did not get posted. It is part number six of the 12 step. I was in a quandary as to what to do. I decided to post it after part number seven because it really will stand on its own. In the next episode I will start a series about my spiritual jo during my experience with the 12 steps. Thank you! You may ask, “When did I decide on this new way of life?” Well, if you have been doing these steps, you made that decision in the third step. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God. Once again, in this decision, I have not made any reservations that say I will turn things over to God when it’s convenient for me. It doesn’t say that if I am making a business deal that may not be best for all of my employees, I can turn off this 12th step mandate until the deal is over. Then I can turn it back on for lunch and the afternoon schedule. That night I can work with my buddy rationalization,, and tell myself how well I am working the program. Sorry, it just does not work like that. What this program is telling me is that I cannot use it only when it is convenient for me. It is definitely a way of life, and I must fit my former lifestyle into the template forms by these 12 steps.

  6. Sep 27

    The 12 Step Program - Step 12 (Part 7)

    Send us Fan Mail For this episode, I'm not going to be putting much here in the way of description. This is mostly because this episode is going to be a rehash and overall talk about step number 12. This part seven (I can't believe I'm writing that) of step number 12. I never thought I would be doing 12 I never thought I would be doing seven parts to anything, no less one of the steps. However, the more I think about the 12th step the more I realize how important it is. As a matter of fact, I think I've told you that I am in the process of writing another book. This book is a redo of a book I wrote a few years ago and totally mucked it up. This new book, also called, Steps to the Spirit, will have three chapters devoted to one step. You guessed it, step 12!   All of the other steps in the book are split into two chapters each, except for steps six and seven. Only step 12 is three chapters long. So, this episode will and this series on the 12 steps. I will redo the 12 steps at some point because, after all, they are the main theme of what this podcast is all about. Even when I podcast about other things like the Oxford Group or the Promises of the serenity Prayer, it is still about the 12 step program.   I've been trying to think about the next podcast or group of podcasts and what they will be about. I would like to do a series on my spiritual preferences, and how they jive with my 12-step program. so, that’s how we will start episode number 40. See you then.

  7. Sep 13

    The 12 Step Program - Step 12 (Part 5)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode I will continue to speak about the 12th  step. This is the fifth part or episode about the 12th step and there will be one more part. I have never done six parts to any topic in the past, so I am thinking that this 12th step has become very important to me. The part of the step I am referring to is underlined below: Having had a spiritual experience as a result of this course of action, we try to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. As you can see, I will be talking about these principles. Now, I do not often do this, but I thought it would be helpful to get some definitions from Gemini AI and Google. This first definition is an overview of what these principles are.          The principles referred to in the 12th step of a 12-step program are the spiritual and moral values embodied throughout all the preceding eleven steps. Each of the twelve steps corresponds to a core spiritual principle or virtue. When Step 12 mentions practicing "these principles," it refers to the entire cumulative set in my book, Gifts Fom God, I used similar attributes to each step, although not the same. However, these are the core principles that we have, (hopefully), both learned and absorbed into our personality. This is how those gifts are described by Google’s Gemini: •  Step 1: Honesty •  Step 2: Hope •  Step 3: Faith / Surrender • Step 4: Courage •  Step 5: Integrity •  Step 6: Willingness •  Step 7: Humility •  Step 8: Brotherly Love / Self-discipline •  Step 9: Justice / Love •  Step 10: Perseverance •  Step 11: Spiritual Awareness / Meditation •  Step 12: Service  Although these are not quite the same as my list of gifts, they are close enough. One thing I would like to remind you about is that both of the lists are really directly related to the Oxford Group’s spiritual principles.   I really think there is not much more to say other than suggest that you look at this list and think about how you are living your life according to it. Personally, I seem to fall short of these high ideals a lot of the time. That doesn’t matter! The point is that I’m really trying my best to apply them to my life. This 12th step, when we really understand what it means, certainly gives us high goals and standards by which to live our lives. However, they are also spiritual goals that, when achieved, (and even then as we are working on them), leads us to our way of life that is second to none.

  8. Sep 6

    The 12 Step Program - Step 12 (Part 4)

    Send us Fan Mail In this fourth part of my discussion about step number 12, I would like to focus on the phrase “to others”. As a reminder step number 12: Having had a spiritual experience as a result of this course of action, we try to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. For the moment, if you happen to be in an open meeting, and do not suffer from a problem with alcohol, I would like to forget the phrase in the 12 step, to alcoholics. New strips were originally written by Bill W., 12th step said, “to others”. I believe that God, when he ensured his steps would reach the ears of ordinary people, meant for them to reach the ears of all people. Much of these 12 steps was taken directly from the words and ideas of the Oxford Group. And, the Oxford Group, (although they were primarily concerned with the Christian faith), would never have differentiated amongst alcoholics, over users, substance abusers, etc. All would have been welcomed. All would have had the same goal which, in simple terms, which have been to get right with God. However, when Bill Wilson broke from the Oxford Group, he did it because he knew alcoholics. He knew that a particular religion, or even some religious thinking, could not be forced upon, nor accepted by, alcoholics. So he decided, in this case, to go the easier, softer way. He wanted the alcoholic to not feel pressure in any particular discipline. He hoped that they would be concerned mostly with the 12-Step program, and include God, (whatever they conceived God to be), in their program. I’m sure that many of the other 12-step members felt the same way. Hence, this change in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps from “others” to “alcoholics”. So, if you have problems in any area of your life other than or even including, alcohol, I urge you to ignore the word alcoholics in the current 12 steps and remember that the original 12 step said “others”. This means everyone, and that to the 12 step program applies to, everyone!

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About

Steps to the spirit is about my search for, discovery of, and use of the Spirit to live my life according to the wishes and plans of God. I also call them gifts from God because I believe He has given us these tools to enable us to find a closer relationship with Him. I invite you to join me in this quest that is at times both difficult and extremely fulfilling. I will try to explain how and why it became necessary to surrender, thus enabling me to begin to live according to God's plan.I will post additional info on my blog: http://www.StepsToTheSpirit.com/blog To contact me, please use: Chuck@stepstothespirit.com

Information

  • Creator
    Chuck Lutz
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    287
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 C. F. Lutz (steps To The Spirit}
  • Show Website
    Steps to the Spirit