Any Michael English fans here?

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

First, how many husbands has Amy Grant had? To my knowledge, only two.

And second, I don't think she's the sweetheart of Christian music, how long has it been since she's even recorded any Christian music?

I think the problem that I have with the whole scenario is that when Amy Grant divorced her husband it was pretty much, "Oh well, these things happen" and she has never really suffered a negative impact in the public eye. She may not be making many Christian albums right now, but she definitely still has the persona of a Christian artist in the public eye.

When Michael English came forward with his original situation, he immediately voluntarily surrendered his Dove awards and never behaved (at least publicly) as if he was anything but ashamed by his actions. Yet he was blackballed by the Christian music community for a long, long time, there are still stations that wont play his music. I don't understand why there has been so much fallout for him, yet there are many other Christian artists who have had public issue with immorality (Sandi Patti springs to mind) who have suffered far less censure.

The sad thing is that I think a lot of it comes down to how open and honest a person is about their failings, it seems to be if the artist is up-front with the situation, they suffer more in the public eye.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by jaamez

I've loved his music since his first solo release back in the early 90's and have every project he's released. His early material is vocally superior, IMO, to his newer stuff, but still an awesome and powerful voice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKYoqNQs9TI

I still get chills when I hear him sing "Midnight Cry" with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

His new project, The Prodigal Comes Home, is starting to get some play on a few of the more mainstream "christian" radio stations (the "family-friendly" type that don't like the christian label). His first release, "Feels Like Redemption", is absolutely beautiful.

In response to the question in your thread title, me, me, me !!

I have been a fan through the whole ride, his final testimony is just inspiring to me. His honesty about his failings is so refreshing, it is almost uncomfortable to hear someone be that emotionally open.

I love the clip as well, one of my favorites!

[Withdrawn]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.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by jaamez

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.

What does it say in Galatians 6 about ME and anyone else who may fail?

Here's the way we often either quote it or practice it:

"Brethren, if anyone be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, kick him/her while he/she is down. Condemn him/her soundly. Tell everyone about the failure --make it as public as possible. Make sure everyone knows how you knew all along that person wasn't going to make it and what a phony they've always been. And, above all, bury that person whether they may be dead or not. Write them off. They'll never amount to much for God from now on, no matter how often and how hard they try."

no, that's not how it reads. let's read this from the KJV:
1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

[LaGirl]

here are some pics from last monday night