Mark H - Truth of losing connection to the 1st Step

[mattymaze]

Mark H is without a doubt living on in the lives of many recovering people thru all his tapes. I for one appreciate these every day. Thank you Mark, Thank you AA, and thank you GOD🙏

[christinejohn]

Mark is only carrying the message of the early pioneers of this life saving fellowship when recovery was 80 percent, our recovery today is less than 20 percent what mark “ preaches” takes discipline dedication hard work and helping others thank you mark for showing me how to live the 12 steps in my life

[ChristopherBesser-xjl]

40 days today, with a sponsor and putting in the work for the first time in my life.. wasted 32 years in prison because of my addiction, but once I let God in and now I'm doing the game changer

[anthonyalves]

AA doesn't keep me sober, The grace of God keeps me sober

[rwsbadabing]

By the Grace of God and the program of AA I celebrated 1 year of sobriety 6/18/24 🙏💯. Every time I listen to Mark H I hear/learn something new I can apply to my recovery!
I AM GRATEFUL!

[christinejohn]

Mark houston and his pure dedication to helping others by carrying the original message of a a from bill w and dr Bob is saving thousands of lives I lost my beautiful daughter to this illness in July leaving me two beautiful grandchildren one 19 and 3 years old I did not plan to be a mum at 72 years of age her ex partner is in prison on a murder charge a crack addict she was 6 years sober when he came into her life in recovery, they thought they were clean and sober and wanted to celebrate with a recovery baby her partner relapsed and she followed soon after their son is autistic and now social services are taking me to court to have her son adopted taking him from his loving family . No step one as mark shared it is priceless thank god for people like mark who carries a genuine message of recovery to us I spent years I n a a not drinking and going to meetings for this alcoholic there was no connection to my hp after gym first 6 months in a a I wouldn’t get honest and do the work I’m 37 years sober thanks to hearing people like mark carrying the true message of recovery

[Tanman-lkhk]

I had 18 years and relapsed a year ago..this is life and death. It's no joke!

[lolliisabusdriver.]

Yes. This is the message. I am living proof.

[Raven_Intuition]

49:00 .... You don't drink because of something that happened 15 years ago... You drink because of your current spiritual condition

[jameswarda]

Wow. After a long weekend of doubt and fear, I needed this. Thank you.

[mariad]

Mark you have put into perspective things I have been questioning for my 17 months in AA. I believe it is by no mistake I have listened to this video and I believe it will have a profound impact on how I move forward in this program. Mark you were an absolute pleasure to listen to and I appreciate you sharing wisdom that WILL help save lives. I can only hope that one day, God is gracious enough to grant me half of the wisdom that man has. Thank you Mark.

[christinaanderson]

It's on 777 just new 24 days clean hopefully learn as much as I can here good luck to everyone ❤️ God and thankful fir getting me clean and sober giving me the opportunity thankyou devine spirit

[rogerfournier]

Very spiritual message from Mark. Thank you Mark.

[jeffwermuth]

A.a. has allowed toooo many outside issues in a.a. when first introduced....I was an outside issue coming in...thank GOD for old timers that had ONE singleness of purpose...and was IN the fellowship and not AROUND the fellowship ....

[NeilD]

35:02 My mom has a spiritual malady. Has been describing the malady for years and years. She's not alcoholic. The book describes the spiritual malady as 'our human problems' on p 52, not our alcoholic problem. Nowhere does it say in the step 1 part of the book that a malady, or an obsession (OED: A recurring thought or idea which intrudes or is not easily dismissed) with alcohol that leads to the first drink. It does talk about the absence of a defense a whole lot. Mental blank spot, absence of necessary sanity, will power, memory, coupled with the inability to reason with oneself. Step 10 - We are restored to sanity IE defense now seemingly in operation (p.83 - 84).

Fred, Jim - Quote: 'No thought of drinking' ... But 'Suddenly the thought arose' for Jim. 'The end of a perfect day' for Fred. Even if an 'obsession' is present or not, it still falls to the absence of a defence which ultimately determines the drink. It's also my experience that those who suffer from an obsession can, 'at certain times', get through it until it passes. I see many real alcoholics fall for the first drink after a period of sobriety because they are holding a vigilance for 'the obsession' but then drink 'as carelessly as if it were ginger ale' (like Bill) in the mental blank spots described in chap.3. How could there be the presence of an obsession during a blank spot (the absence of sanity)? Just an idea to consider if like me, you drank because you were busy with the great life in recovery and were neglecting 10, 11, 12 - therefore losing connection with step 1.

We treat the malady because the mind of the alcoholic is ineffective, and the body has an allergy (according to Silkworth and his mentor). We only have one option to recover if we are alcoholic, spiritual growth, and then by step 10, (11, 12), we have indeed straightened out physically and mentally. 'Recovered from a hopeless state of mind and body'. The book does describe an obsession to 'beat the game', but far as I can make out, that is talking about an alcoholic still in his cups who is using strategies to keep on drinking without experiencing the 'terrific consequences', or 'this time (I have a drink) it'll be different, and here's how'.

I post this only as it may be helpful to someone, not to be in any way contentious.

[LetGoLetGod]

Helped me alot. Big thanks :)


Step 1 Wrap Up Questions, ca 1:10 h in.


1, Can you or could you control the amount you drink once you started to drink?
2, Do you believe the physical craving would occur if you took a drink today?
3, Could you take two drinks a day for 30 days no more no less (Marty Mann test)?
4, Does your experience lead abundantly confirm, that once you put alcohol into your system something happens in the body and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for you to stop?
5, Did you ever drink when you didn't want to even after swearing drinking off forever?
6, Do you believe that personal knowledge is of no use with respect to your drinking?
7, Do you believe that you'll be unable to stop drinking on the basis of self-knowledge?
8, Do you believe that you have lost the power of choice and drink?
9, Do you believe that you have only two choices today live spiritually or to die in alcoholic death?
10, Do you believe you have a spiritual malody which creates unmanageability in your life?
11, Do you believe that lack of power is your is your dilemma?
12, Do you believe that a time may come where you have no effective mental defense against the first drink?
13, Do you believe that your defense must come from a higher power?
14, Do you believe that you have to find a power greater than yourself which will solve your problem?


The 12 steps is not a self help program. It is a God help program.

[rubenesquivel]

I just relapse for myself I was going on 3 years sober January 3rd today's day one I started over jump right back into it it lasted 3 days all I could say is I prayed to God for now answered give me the power to stop so I stopped

[katlyncoyl]

Mark and Joe hawk (and my sponsor at the time who shared the message of AA) completely made my experience with the steps just that a true experience and not just knowledge or a conception or a theory or an idea they made the gut level experience fruition well in reality god gave that experience to me. So grateful for men and women who carry the message that there is a solution and it's not human including sponsors kids meetings the steps or sponsoring other women but those are things that lead me to having a relationship and an experience with god.

[sumautomation]

Yup.... from 1976 to today AA has saved millions of Alcoholics. Mark H has truly help my understanding of the 12 steps that have truly save my life beyond anything that I deserved. Truly an amazing experience and way to live life.
If your drinking yourself to death and want it to stop. Make the call for help, good Sponsorship is hard to find at times but don't you ever give up. Keep looking and going forward with the 12 steps! Don't worry about what any one has to say, YOUR INSTALLATION ARE IN THE BOOK! ... and YOU can't go wrong. I have never seen anyone wish they didn't complete the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous
Yes the are truly the happiest people in life and in the room of AA. That I've ever seen....

Thanks for sharing
Good message it is, thanks for the fellowship!

[kevingreaves]

Wow I'm just over 2 half years and this has just blown me away fit spiritual condition more meditation more plugging in more connection I love having that quiet time jus peace in my head quiet time love AA thankyou Bill thankyou everyone who is carrying the message ❤️ 🙏🇬🇧