Lindsay Lohan's Father Has a Spiritual Awakening

Ex-con Michael Lohan, Lindsay Lohan's father, has apparently had a spiritual awakening. After his prison release in March of this year, he entered a Christian based rehabilitation center in West Babylon, New York. Speaking of his experience there, he stated, "I made a commitment when I was in there, to God and myself, that when I got out, I was going to do God's work, and I was going to share with other people what I've been through and how God changed my life."

Michael Lohan served almost 2 years in prison for drunken driving and other charges. He is now a spokesman for GodMen, a Christian group of men who gather to share their lives honestly and openly, with the hope of encouraging each other to live Godly lives. He has also done work with Teen Challenge, an excellent, highly effective evangelical Christian alcohol and drug recovery program. He said that he isn't bothered by those who are skeptical about his new found faith. He realizes that he will have to prove himself over time. Feeling that he has had such a negative impact on his daughter and family, he now desires to show them through example, that he has turned his life around for the better. In the late 1980's, Michael also spent much of Lindsay's childhood years in prison for securities fraud. Because of his time in prison, he was not a present father figure for Lindsay.

In an interview with AP television news, he admitted that he was to blame for many of his daughter's problems. In an article in New York News and Features, he claimed to have supported his family all his life, and later became frustrated when he was not allowed to be a prominent part of his children's lives. This started a downward spiral of "acting out" which landed him in the press again and again, and caused further estrangement from his children. He has declared that he hates getting press, though it is reported that he keeps all his article clippings.

In an earlier interview, he speculated that many of Lindsay's problems are caused by the company she keeps. "I believe the people, that my daughter is hanging around with, are the wrong people," her dad stated. "Lindsay has to find hope in God and put her family first, not listen to what other people say, and listen to her heart." At an earlier time, he blamed his wife, Dina, for Lindsay's drug and alcohol problems. He claimed that Dina drinks in front of Lindsay, and that Dina had a past drinking problem, and may still have. He wanted Dina to submit to drug and alcohol testing, but she was reluctant. At that time, Michael Lohan was working with Teen Challenge. "I am now clean and sober. I submit to drug and alcohol counseling 3 times a week, because I am on parole, and because I now work as a drug counselor with teenagers. I am willing to be tested by the court all day, every day of the week. I know I will come up clean," he stated.

Michael was reunited with his daughter, Lindsay, after a 3 1/2 year estrangement, and Lindsay's third stent in rehab. When the television show Extra caught up with him recently, he said Lindsay was doing well. "She's in the right place in her heart and mind and soul," he stated. "I feel blessed by being back in her life."

Lindsay apparently found more than recovery in rehab. She also met her new boyfriend, Riley. How healthy they will be for each other is debatable, but Lindsay's father reported, "He is a good kid. He comes from a good family. I don't think anyone has a right to judge Riley. He and Lindsay keep each other in line. They go to meetings with one another." In an interview with People magazine, Lindsay's dad remarked, "He's a great, great kid. If you met him, you'd like him."

Lindsay has acknowledged that things had gotten totally out of hand. "I hit rock bottom. Everything in my life came to a point where I had to make a decision...I plan on returning to Utah (after shooting her new movie, Dare To Love Me) so I can stay focused and avoid other distractions. I'm here to stay. My talent is a gift and I'm going to use it." She wants to quickly exit the continual partying of Hollywood for awhile, saying, "Temptation is always there, but now I'll avoid it the right way."

Lindsay will have a "sober companion", who has been trained to be with people overcoming addictions, according to People magazine. Describing her helper, Michael Lohan said, "Lindsay's companion is really, really tough, and she's really nice. She's an amazing lady, a great influence on Lindsay's life." Lindsay will receive continued counseling, and attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings as well.

Only time will tell if the relationship with Lindsay and her father will endure, but hopefully, they are both back on track, and headed in the right direction.

Sources: http://www.newsmax.com/entertainment/people_michael_lohan/2007/10/25/43875.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Lohan
http://www.socialitelife.com/2007/05/29/michael_lohan_spoke_about_lindsay_lohans_dui.php
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20152191,00.html
http://www.styleikon.com/daddy-blames-mommy-for-lindsay%e2%80%99s-troubled-life.htm#more-1188
http://www.feedsyndicate.com/articles/7008944435