How about providing some verifiable evidence, starting with your name and the name of the band or bands you played in. If you don't want to give your name (and I understand why someone would not want to do that), provide the names of some of the band members. Or send me a PM with the info.

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The problem is that no one has been able to pinpoint or verify what in the music has good versus bad effects on the brain or body, when they do that then we can say keep this reject that with certainty. Otherwise it will just have to continue in the haphazard way most Churches do now.

It seems that if you are not the orginator of the post or dont like its content you tend to take issue with the poster rather than the post, you may want to take a kinder way that is more considerate of others.

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You want names? How about Tim Howard from Merle Haggard's band 'The Strangers' who I played with for two years, and who called me asking me to rejoin the band last night and who has been asking me to record with him again almost every month since I first quit years ago. He wants me in the band again so badly he would reschedule his tour for me.

The band I was on tour with Great White was called 'Balance & the Bridge'. We were 'alternative' before the term was even invented. We had a recording contract with Arista Records and did several live shows on syndicated college radio and sold a respectable amount of recordings before the age of internet.

The band I was on different tours with Blue Oyster Cult and Quiet Riot and Dokken was 'the Steve Olson Band' with the best guitarist in Alaska (now living in New Orleans)

I played on MTV with a band called 'Deployer' and came in second on the video talent search in 1985.

How about my manager Stacy DeMagio from Columbia records who got me connected with Judas Priest who I went on tour with for two tours as a sound engineer.

How about my very good friend Gus Zadra who is currently the lead guitarist for Denis De Young from Styx? How about Tommy Shaw who I worked with in Damn Yankees? How about Jim LaFrano my drummer for years who is cousin of the Pannozo brothers from Styx?

How about the Union I used to be a member of, IATSE the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Hand employees where I started my career as a sound engineer for the 'CATS' Broadway musical.

How about Sharon Osborne who gave me my first big break as an audio engineer when she saw me playing with my band 'Real Steel' on tour in Colorado Springs while she was managing Lita Ford. She said she 'loved our sound'.

How about the seven major Production companies I've been monitor engineer for, including 'NAFF productions', 'Top of the World Productions' and 'Power Sound' who I worked for any band I wanted to for almost two decades.

I was in the House band at "Cheap Charlies" in Fairbanks when REO Speed Wagon came into the club to jam with my band.

I was recording at Price's Metro recording studios in Minneapolis when I met Bad Finger and the guys from Bon Jovie.

I was on tour with Anvil and Paul DeAnno the original singer for Iron Maiden.

One of my best friends from High School married the drummer from Aldo Nova Danny Carmassi who is brothers with Denny Carmassi the ex-drummer from Heart and White Snake.

I was on tour with Scorpions, Ozzy, Judas Priest, Damn Yankees, Dokken, Blue Oyster Cult, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Joe Satriani, Jimmy Page, Bad Company, Quiet Riot, Green Day. Etc, Etc.

I've met, hung out with and visited the homes of most of my ex-heroes including Dusty Rhodes from ZZ Top, Billy Joe from Green Day, Paisley Park with Prince here in MN.

I was backstage at Rod Stewart and brought him to the world renowned 'Chilkoot Charlies' in Anchorage AK and the band there recognized me and asked me to join them on stage and Rod Stewart said I was a 'real talent' and his wife got into trouble trying to kiss me.

I was with Stevie Ray Vaughn on his last tour one month before he died and took him to meet my friends at their homes in Alaska. He was having a real hard time kicking the nicotine habit and I used to have to buy Nicorette gum for him after every concert. I was invited to his funeral but was booked at the time.

I lived what people call the 'dream life'. I've been friends with Joe Satriani, Davis Crosby, Ted Nugent, Jimmy Page etc. etc.

I usually don't share the bands I've played in because I don't want to glamorize the scene, but I'll give you all you want to prove the point.

What else would you like to know? You want the name of my father so you can prove that I met Janice Joplin and Chuck Berry as a child while he was riding with the Hell's Angels in the El Forsteroes? He was best friends with Dave Mann, the artist who did all the airbrush paintings for Easy Rider Magazine, my father was the honored guest for the grand opening of the Dave Mann exhibit in his home town. My dad was one of the first 1%-ers.

I have thousands of witnesses for everything I have posted here. I have organized and played in the biggest money making bands in Alaska for ten years as the highest paid bass player in that state. Club owners LOVED me because I made them money. I have tax statements to prove everything. I even played at the 'Board of Trade' in Nome Alaska living in the historic apartment that Wyatt Earp lived in with Josephine as an honored guest for over a year.

I've been noted in magazines and news papers all over America.

You want the names of ex-girl friends? How about just the ones who were in men's magazines?

When I was trying to get out of the scene and once again moved to Minnesota I have been hounded by bands for over ten years since.

I have met and hung out with every one of my childhood heroes and found they are only mortal. I have seen men worshiped and it made me sick.

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After all of that wickedness, I was in front of 5000 people as supporting act for Great White and I heard the Still small voice say "why do you kick against the pricks?".

I was shocked and went home and fasted and prayed for 7 days reading scripture as my only food. I don't know why except that it was the only place my mind was at rest.

On the seventh day of the fast I had read through the old Testament and came to Matthew chapter 12 and read "the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" and a light warmed my mind and I heard the Still small voice very loudly say "this will lead you home to me" and I was given complete victory over sinful desires and never drank alcohol again.

I have been shown how to apply this same redeeming power to all the sins in my life and I am completely different today than I was then. Thank you Heavenly Father.

Amen!

jamesonofthunder,

DISCLAIMER: This is NOT meant to be inflammatory, although I realize that it may be perceived as such by some. It is simply a statement of my position on the subject, based on experience.

I believe that a bit of history will help with the larger picture. I have been associated with this church (SDA) since my birth in the ‘50s, and for the last 20 or so years as a dedicated, participating member. (That’ll be a shock to some of you--LOL) During this time I have seen many ex-bikers/rockers/gangstas/pimps/drug runners/___/_____/_____ come and go, all claiming to have a message from God, or saying we would do well to listen to them.

John Todd, ex-High Priest of the Illuminati, Steve Marshall and David Meeker of “Grandma and the sea of Glass” fame, Ernie Knoll and his visions, recently mentioned on this forum, the visions of some woman in the ‘80’s who’s name I can’t remember, not to mention all the local “born agains” who claim God speaks to them personally.

It seems some who have come out of some great evil life-style feel that this qualifies them to instruct others who have not, and to do so without reference to any proof or documentation other than their personal conversion story. I reject this position, no offence intended.

So if I seem a bit jaded at your remarkable claims you might understand why.

Time will tell.

I know exactly what you are saying here. I am not against you telling this part of the story either.

We all know that staying a virgin is the best proof of the life of a Christian. I am never to replace that testimony.

I testify that I have come from the dregs and have been redeemed from my shame. I have seen others try to glorify my past and I withdraw from them because of the shame of my past.

But this I can claim in the name of Jesus...

Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her (Me), Thy sins are forgiven.