WOW! did anybody see the interveiw on sunday with Tonex the brother is going through something bad. He dressed liked Sly of Sly and the family stone. Was very open about masturbation also saying there was nothing he had done or tried. I like some of his music grief is hard praying he came come out of this soon

Good Day All, It is Friday, February 8th and, I am still thinking about Tonex and his interview with Bro. Gerard Henry that aired in Atlanta on Sunday. People of God, we need to pray for our brother Tonex and any other Christian artists who are having personal challenges, found waivering in their faith, and having difficulties in their service to God through a life of holiness. Tonex is very talented and unique in his own right and I have found some of his music - although different -- very inspiring but, I believe that at this time, HE HAS LOST HIS FOCUS and is no longer putting CHRIST FIRST! He seems to be travelling on the road of the Prodigal Son and is primarily interested in doing his own thing (perhaps in the name of Jesus). He said: "I've got to DO ME!" Which would not allow him to have a successful and honorable marriage with his [former] spouse or to truly serve God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 6:33). These are the last days and it is really (and has been for a while) time to STOP PLAYING CHURCH! (II Chronicles 7:14) Tonex is in a state of confusion and spiritual emergency and is surely not living holy before God or man. I could have done without the discussion about Tonex's personal sexual practices because, the Bible says: "For it is a shame even to speak or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret." (Ephesians 5:12 amp.) If the Spirit of God had power to raise Jesus from the dead, surely He is able to keep us (all) from falling, help us control our sexual drives, and to live a SINGLE or married life of purity and holiness unto the the Lord. The key is that, WE MUST SUBMIT our wills and desires to Him or we will be found in a cyle of yielding our members to ungodly practices and/or lifestyles to satiate our fle*73* I have always appeciated Bro Gerard Henry as the originator and host of LEV and have enjoyed the previous interviews in the past but, in this interview with Tonex, I felt that Bro. Gerard compromised his personal beliefs of what he knows to be godly and righteous by encouraging Tonex to share things that really did not have to be aired on national television. I thought that LEV had a highter purpose than airing juicy jargon and sensationalism. I thought that it was supposed to be consistently about encouragement and evangelism to win souls to Christ -- through the words and actions of those being interviewed. No matter what the interviewee says or the personal appearance, the Interviwer should stay in character and be him or herself and stay true to the character of Christ. We don't have to try to mirror the one being interviewed, we should always mirror (reflect) Christ! It does not take a 'rocket scientist' to know that no matter how young, gifted and Black Tonex might be, his appearance and speech shows that he has ventured from the street called Straight and has wandered off to Broad Street. What would it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? As children of God, we must do more than claim to be Christians, WE MUST AIM TO BE CHRISTLIKE - everyday in every way! We are to be epistles read of men and should be mindful of what we are sharing with our words and deeds. Are we sharing SELF or the SAVIOR? "Let no one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments (for these sins -sexual) for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of rebellion and disobedience." (Ephesians 5:1-17 amp.- really read entire chapter) Although, the gifts and callings of God are without repentence surely, there will be a definite change in the tone and spirit of Tonex's music because of what is in his spirit at this time. Out of the issues of the heart -- the mouth speaketh (or singeth). In closing I would like to say: "Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered or (scorned, disdained or mocked 'by mere pretentions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. For he who sows to his own flesh (lower nature, sensuality) will from the flesh reap decay and run and destruction, but he sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8 amp.) God's peace and grace be multiplied unto you, Soprano770 Atlanta, GA

First of all, I have to say that I am a HUGE Tonex fan. This is the most musically talented brother I have seen in a long time whether in the secular or gospel realm. His musically is really "Out The Box." Having said that, I must agree with the general concern about his spirituality. He tried to justify his divorce - although he admitted that his reasoning wasn't biblically supported. He also tried to justify his masturbation. I think that the problem with masturbation is twofold. First, generally a brother has to think of improper thoughts about some woman to get to the point where he could do something like that. And the Word says that a man is what he thinks about (Prov. 23:7). Also, we are commanded to think about holy and pure things (Phil. 4:8). I'm not saying that my mind doesn't wander (everyday to be honest) but you can't justify it, just call sin by it's name. Second, even if you're married, masturbation robs you of the intimacy that is reserved for your loved one. If your loved one is holding out for some reason or another, God can give you the power to resist if you truly want to. Then, when you get the opportunity to be intimate with your wife, it'l be explosive - believe me! At any rate, I love his music and love him as a brother in Christ and will continue to pray for him. I hope you will too. God speed.

wow, so it really was true? aww man. =(. God plz help us all. im tellin u. yes these r the last days & the enemy has come 2 wear out the saint. but we gotta keep the faith & not yield 2 Temptation, even tho it gets hard sumtimes but we gotta pray the word over one another. I'll keep him in prayer*