Any Michael English fans here?

[Withdrawn]

I have noticed his weight gain. Having had weight issues myself, I feel for him. He must be embarrassed about it.

I agree with the overall tone of the replies here. I have more respect for him because of his transparency about his failings. I was at an ME concert in Cuyahoga Falls, OH when he was touring with First Call back in the early 90's. It was less than a month later that the scandal broke about his affair (I think because the woman in FC became pregnant). But I remember in that concert that for a few moments (seemed like a really long time) he sat down on the stage, broke away from the program, and started to talk about how he was struggling. Looking back, I know he wanted to confess right then and find reconciliation. I know he knew he was just going through a lot of empty motions and new he needed (wanted) to make it right. It's such a shame that nobody in his life was close enough, deep enough with him to have helped him through it. In a church full of three thousand people, nobody stepped forward to minister to him when it was SO OBVIOUS that he was crying out for it.

I think the overall christian community did him wrong. Instead of loving him back to right standing, we cast him out. I have WAY MORE RESPECT for someone who is open about when they have failed than for anyone who pretends they are perfect. What he did was wrong. And where he turned afterward was even more wrong. But, really, where else was there for him to go? To the body of Christ for healing and reconciliation? That sure didn't happen.

I'm so glad to see him with his life back on the right track. His battle scars will serve as a testimony to anyone else who would follow that same road. And I'm really enjoying his music again.