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ApologetiX in MN, PA, AL, NC, WV
Thu., Aug. 8. 2002 1:40pm EDT
J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) here.
Thanks to all of you who came out to see us at the Inside Out Soul Festival (NH) and Kingdom Bound (NY). It really is an honor to have so many of you show up when we play. We were surprised to find ourselves on the main stage at Inside Out this year. One group of fans drove the whole way from Austin TX to New Hampshire to see us! You guys blow our minds!
August is a busy month for us. This Saturday will be our fourth concert this week, and we have five more concerts next week. It sure has been nice getting to play in front of so many of you and to meet you after the concerts. You're the best!
1.Concert in Minnesota This Saturday
2.Concerts in PA (2), AL, NC and WV Next Week
3.Grace Period Update
4.Grace Period Clues #17 and 18
5.Life Restored at #4
6.Upcoming Concerts
7.Prayer Request
1. CONCERT IN MINNESOTA THIS SATURDAY
Saturday, August 10 at 4 pm
FREE event but
Reserved Tickets are needed
BRING a food donation for the "Food Shelf"
Staring Lake Amphitheater
Sponsored by SHAKOPEE JAYCEES
14800 Pioneer Trail
Eden Prairie, MN 55347
Contact: Tom Joyal
952-844-4102
Email: TomJoyal@mn.rr.com
www.tlcompuservice.com/apologetix_in_concert.html
2. CONCERTS IN PA (2), AL, NC and WV NEXT WEEK
Wednesday, August 14 at 8 pm
Free event
MEMORIAL PARK -
Sponsored by Christ Community Fellowship
Stevenson Blvd.
New Kensington, PA 15068
Contact: Shawn Fenner/Youth Leader
724-334-7172
Thursday, August 15 at 7 pm
Free but reservations required
WALLACE STATE COLLEGE/Auditorium -
Sponsored by YouthNet
801 Main Street
NW Hanceville, AL 35077
Contact; Jeff Daniel/
256-734-8717, or
campus ministries
256-352-8166
Email: jdaniel@cullmanchurch.com
Friday, August 16 at 7 pm
Ticketed event
Perquimans High School -
Sponsored by STEP OF FAITH MINISTRIES
305 Edinton Road St.
Hertford, NC 27944
Contact; Darryl Stallings
252-297-2135 OR
252-202-4877
Saturday, August 17 at 7 pm
$5 advance $7 door
CLYMER PARK PAVILLION -
Sponsored by Clymer Christian Missionary Alliance
Clymer, PA 15728
Contacts: Ashley Dixon or
Howard Darr
724-254-0615
Sunday, August 18 at 6 pm
Tickets $10 advance, $12 door
RESTORATION BLDG (Old Mike Dimaria bldg)
Route 19 South
Clarksburg, West Virginia 26301
Contact: Susan Ford
304-842-3740 or
email SOON2VANISH@aol.com
3. GRACE PERIOD UPDATE
Radio stations all over the world are starting to receive and play their pre-release copies of our seventh CD, "Grace Period." We're getting a great response. If you're a radio DJ/PD and you want to reserve your pre-release copy, please send us an e-mail with your name, station call letters, and mailing address. Please send it to j@apologetix.com and put "DJ Pre-release Copy" in the subject line. No fake radio stations or DJs, please! :)
We still do not know the official date the CDs will be in your store. Although the finished master has been at the duplicators for over a week, the printer has had some bindery problems which have delayed the CD booklet's completion. As soon as we have the info, we will let you know.
We're as eager as you are to see the final product. But you can hear the songs on your local Christian radio station if they have the CD. You can also hear the first single for Christian rock stations (mainstream and adult contemporary will have a different single), "Smooth Grandmama," our parody of Alien Ant Farm's cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," at apologetix.com.
Starting, Monday, August 12, Christian rock stations will begin monitoring requests for "Smooth Grandmama." If you have a local Christian rock station and want to see more national attention for ApologetiX, call your local station and ask them to play it. If your station leans more toward pop and adult contemporary, stay tuned, and we'll let you know soon what the first single is for them..
4. GRACE PERIOD CLUES #17 & 18
#17 Lemonade
We've all heard the old expression, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." If you can't make it yourself, God has a splendid recipe: The Bible says, "Where sin abounded, grace abounded more" (Romans 5:20). In other words, the more lemons we give God, the more lemonade He makes.
And we have the promise of Romans 8:28 that God causes ALL things to work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.
We don't always understand why certain things happen the way they do, and I'm sure there are lots of questions that will remain unanswered until we get to the other side. But let's face it; none of us get the kind of punishment our sins deserve. God takes some of the crummiest things ever done and turns them into beautiful things. He took Joseph's enslavement and used it to eventually save both Israel and Egypt. He took David and Bathsheba and eventually gave them Solomon for a son and the royal line of Judah for descendents. And the greatest example of all: He took the crucifixion of His holy, sinless Son, and turned it into salvation for all who call upon His name (Romans 10:13, Acts 2:21).
The original version of this song was about a person awaiting punishment for breaking the law. Our parody is sung by a person who has been freed from the fear of the punishment that comes from breaking God's laws (Romans 10:4, Galatians 3:24-25). The five-member group that performed the original had their first Top 10 hit in the mid ë70s, and it was actually re-done by a famous Christian group a decade and a half later. Their #3 final comeback hit in the ë90s talked about praying and hoping there was a Heaven. In between, they scored a bunch of hit singles and albums, including a #1 album with a title similar to the name of the place where ApologetiX played its very first concert. The late ë70s and early ë80s were the best of times for this Midwest-based American band, although some critics thought they had too much time on their hands.
#18 Smells Like Thirtysomething Spirit
OK, depending on your age, that title will either elicit a "duh!" or a "huh?" (insert Tim Allen "Home Improvement" voice here). Simply put, the original version of this song totally changed pop music and pop culture at the threshold of the 1990's. Whatever your feelings for this song, it was the death knell for the ë80s hair bands, the New Kids on the Block and Vanilla Ice and a jump start for the alternative rock, the flannel shirt industry and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.
We've already commented on the tragic death of this band's lead singer in "Young As You Are" on our "Ticked" CD. This parody isn't meant to put down his life or his work but rather to comment on people who deliberately choose to use this type of music as a soundtrack for a perpetually pessimistic lifestyle. The older you get, the older THAT gets. One of the other members of that band moved on to further fame in another band, and every time I see him on TV, he's got a grin on his face. It would be nice to see more of the band's fans follow suit.
The Bible tells us "this is the day that the Lord has made" and that we should rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). Sometimes, that's easier said than done. But the interesting thing is that as you say it (thank and praise God), it does become easier to do it (change your attitude and begin to appreciate the good things even in the midst of a trying day). It's summed up with these autobiographical lyrics from our parody's second verse "Now, worship's not what I do best; it's hardest if I feel depressed; but when I do exalt His name, it always helps to kill the pain."
5. LIFE RESTORED AT #4
Our retail sales guy, Tim Hetchler of Wesscott Marketing, informs us of the following news from "Christian Radio Weekly," a national reporting service:
"Life Restored," our parody of Papa Roach's "Last Resort" (from the "Keep the Change" CD), was just listed as having the fourth most increased spins (times played) by a Christian rock song.
6. UPCOMING CONCERTS
To schedule a concert with ApologetiX, please contact Burke Communications at 949-770-3001 (9 a.m. To 5 p.m. PST) or booking@apologetix.com
Aug 04 - Inside Out Soul Fest NH Aug 07 - Kingdom Bound NY Aug 10 - Bloomington MN Aug 14 - New Kensington PA Aug 15 - Hanceville AL Aug 16 - Hertford NC Aug 17 - Clymer PA Aug 18 - Clarksburg WV Aug 21 - Elizabethtown PA Aug 24 - Canton OH Aug 25 - Oakdale PA Aug 29 - Lake Forest CA Aug 30 - Fairfield CA Aug 31 - Tipton PA Sep 01 - Six Flags, Jackson NJ Sep 06 - Endicott NY Sep 07 - Marion OH Sep 11-15 - Honolulu HI Sep 20 - St Paul MN Sep 21 - Holland MI Sep 28 - Huntington Station NY Sep 29 - Cincinnati OH Oct 05 - Phoenix AZ Oct 06 - Phoenix AZ Oct 12 - Columbia MO Oct 19 - Aurora CO Oct 26 - Rockford IL Oct 31 - White Hall AR Nov 09 - Green Bay WI
7. PRAYER REQUEST: BILL'S MOTHER
Our drummer Bill's mother's condition continues to worsen. "She's so sick right now that her body can't even take the cure," says Bill. "It's down to just her and God vs. the cancer. She's still in wonderful spirits; she still has an incredible spirit about the whole thing. God is just surrounding this time with miracles and wonderful things. Her attitude has been the same as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that she knows God can deliver her from this if He wants to, but if even if He chooses not to, that will not lessen her faith in him." Please pray for Bill's mother, Bill and the rest of the family. If you'd like to email Bill, his email address is bill@apologetix.com.
Apologetically,
J.
-- J. Jackson Lead Singer/Lyricist ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) www.apologetix.com j@apologetix.com
John 20:28
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
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