446- Mark Houston and Dave F - Fellowship of the Spirit, Part 4446- Mark Houston and Dave F - Fellowship of the Spirit, Part 4
Sober Speak- Alcoholics Anonymous Recovery Interviews
Recordings from Mark Houston and Dave F focus on Step Three and Step Four, highlighting self‑will, ego, and the need for God’s power through practical tools like the “theatre of the lie” inventory. Host John M frames the session as a meeting between meetings for anyone interested in AA’s 12 steps and spiritual growth.
1:31:20•1 May 2026
Self‑Will, Stage Characters and Step Three: Mark Houston & Dave F in Fellowship of the Spirit
Episode Overview
- Alcohol is described as a symptom, with selfishness and self‑centredness identified as the core problem that must be addressed through the steps.
- Step Three is framed as a decision to stop playing God and let a higher power act as director, principal, and loving parent.
- The Third Step Prayer is taken on their knees as a concrete commitment to follow through with Steps Four to Nine.
- The “theatre of the lie” method turns inventory into a vivid, even fun exercise that exposes ego roles and conflicting inner scripts.
- Frequent inventories and amends are presented as ongoing tools to clear blocks to God and prevent resentments leading back to a drink.
“Above everything, I must be rid of this selfishness. I must, or it kills me.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This instalment of *Fellowship of the Spirit* takes that question straight into the heart of Step Three and Step Four work, using raw honesty, humour, and some seriously practical tools. Host John M sets the scene from “Studio AA in the heart of Texas”, introducing archived recordings from the late Mark Houston and his friend Dave F, captured in 2001 just after they’d worked all twelve steps together.
John frames the episode as a “meeting between meetings” and reminds newcomers that Sober Speak is about sharing “experience, strength, and hope” while speaking only for themselves, not for AA. Mark and Dave then walk through Step Three, focusing on self-will, ego, and what they call playing God. Mark reads from the Big Book in the first person to help people feel what self-will looks like in daily life: “Above everything, I must be rid of this selfishness.
I must, or it kills me.” They make it clear that alcohol is “but a symptom” and that the deeper problem is selfishness and self-centredness. Dave breaks down the Step Three decision in simple terms: letting God be the director, parent, and source of power, rather than trying to run the show alone. The pair lead a group through the Third Step Prayer on their knees, stressing that this isn’t humiliation but a demonstration of commitment.
Later, Mark introduces his “theater of the lie” approach to inventory, turning Step Four into a live exercise with stage characters like the “wife”, “Xena”, and “Miss AA” to show how ego scripts can make anyone feel like they’re fighting for their life. The tone is warm, funny, and straight-talking, aimed at anyone in AA or other 12-step fellowships who wants fresh, practical help with the steps.
If your self-will still has you worn out, could this be the nudge to pick up pen and paper and get honest about what’s really blocking you?
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