ApologetiX in MN, TN, & PA - Plus Clues #5 and 6
Thu., May. 2. 2002 1:57pm EDT
J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) here.
Thanks to all of our friends who came out to see us in California last weekend, including Jerry and Deanna, who came from Oregon, and Mark, who came from Nevada. You guys are awesome!
1, This Saturday: Minnesota
2. Next Wednesday: Tennessee
3. Next Saturday: Pittsburgh PA
4. Our New CD, Grace Period: Clues #5 & 6
5. Feedback from the Concerts in California
6. Upcoming Concerts
1. THIS SATURDAY: MINNESOTA
Saturday, May 4 at 7 p.m.
Free Concert (Love Offering will be taken)
Lincoln High School Auditorium
300 South Graden Street
Lake City, MN
Sponsored by Red Wing Christian Concert Committee
Contact: Bob Goetz
651-388-4109
bsgoetz@redwing.net
2. NEXT WEDNESDAY: TENNESSEE
Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m.
Ticketed Event
Strawberry Festival
Cosponsored by First Baptist Church
Humboldt TN
Contact: Bill Kisner/Church office
731-784-8280
uthguy@click1.net
3. NEXT SATURDAY: PITTSBURGH PA
Saturday, May 11, 2002 at 7 p.m.
Ticketed Event
$5 advance, $8 door
Church of the Nazarene
386 Shafer Road
Coraopolis, PA
Contact: Nancy Kehoe
724-375-6464
kehoeholt@access995.com
As you may know, after these three concerts, we plan to take a much-needed break (from May 12-June 7), which will include (God willing) much time in the studio working on our upcoming CD, "Grace Period," plus the birth of little baby Jackson.
4. OUR NEW CD, GRACE PERIOD: CLUES #5 & 6
Recently, we announced the upcoming summer release of our seventh CD, "Grace Period," slated to contain 20 parodies of rock hits from yesterday and today. As we've done with previous CDs, we're giving you clues regarding the contents ó what our parody version is about and what song/artist we're spoofing. Here are clues #5 and #6:
#5 "Cornelius"
We've had this song ready to go for a number of years, and it's ironic that shortly after we decided to finally put it on CD, the Newsboys released a new CD which includes a song with the same title. But I've seen their lyrics, and theirs is more an allegory, whereas ours is dealing with the literal story of Cornelius, a Roman centurion who was the first gentile convert to Christianity (Acts 10:1-48). Before Cornelius' conversion, Christianity was a faith that seemed to be for Jews only. In fact, Acts 11, shows what a controversy it created in the early church when the Apostle Peter baptized Cornelius and his household although they were uncircumcised. But soon it became apparent that Christianity was for both Jews and gentiles. It wasn't intentional, but it's one of those little ironies that God allows into our lives that the group that did the song we're spoofing here is made up some nice Jewish boys. To add to the confusion, their first and third albums both contained traditional Christian hymns. The original song for this parody was their last Top 10 hit before they broke up in 1971, although they've reunited occasionally in the years since. It went to #4 and sold a million copies, but they also had three #1 hits, and a #3 hit that would be a perfect title for the Apostle Peter to sing.
#6 "I'm a Receiver"
This is one of those instances when we get to spoof a song that lets the oldies lovers think we're doing one of their songs and the youth think we're doing one of THEIR songs, since it was a hit in 2001, too. Like #6, it's another song written by a Jewish guy who started in the sixties and occasionally sings Christian songs on his albums. It's probably pretty obvious what song we're spoofing here, and it's hard to resist just going with the original title, but I've heard a lot of Christian parody versions of this song, and we wanted to do something different. You know, when you compare the religions of this world, you'll notice something; every other religion besides Christianity is a system of man trying to reach up to God, to make himself good enough for God or whatever godlike state of enlightenment he is trying to achieve. Christianity is the only religion that shows God reaching down to man, when man realizes he can never be good enough on his own. It isn't so much about us giving things to God (although we do give Him our heart), as it is about receiving the gift He has given. Christ has this gift available to all of us, but He can stand outside the door and knock (Rev. 3:20) all your life, and if you don't open up the door and receive the gift (Eph. 2:8-9), you're never going to get it. We've been playing this parody in concerts the last couple of weeks, and it's been getting tremendous response. The original has been covered by a number of artists, including a group that took it to #1 for seven weeks, but in college I even had a single out of it by a group called Tin Huey ó obviously not the hit version!
5. FEED BACK FROM THE CONCERTS IN CALIFORNIA
Here's an excerpt from an e-mail we received this week:
"After your ROCKIN' Hanford concert (Friday) - thank you ever so much. it was the best concert of my life. "Narrow Way" peaked my non-Christian hubby's (awesome dude)attention, and must've put the icing on the cake for him - the next Sunday he went forward with our daughter (12) - she went for Baptist, he just tagged along for courage. accepted Christ :) Your band is right on - right on the music - right on the message. Totally entertaining. funny, personable, gifted. Thank you so much."
Also, after the concert in Sacramento on Saturday, Karl was able to talk with a girl who was considering suicide, and he was able to lead her in a prayer of salvation and get her hooked up with the local church that sponsored the concert. Here's a follow-up e-mail from one of the church members:
"Hey Kim came to church today and joined in with the youth. I am praying she comes back, she said she couldn't believe someone would care enough to take the time to talk to her. Pastor Bill of course greeted her immediately it was so cool. God is so good, I have been in her place before and I know that God can only take her out of it. There was a reason for last night -- another soul for Christ. Amen."
We are blown away! God is good!
6. UPCOMING CONCERTS
Please note that, as usual, there are concerts in the works that are not yet listed below. For more details on any or all of the concerts below, please go to http://www.apologetix.com/tour.html
To inquire about booking a concert, please contact our booking agent, Kathleen Burke, at booking@apologetix.com or call 949-770-3001, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.
May 04 - Lake City/Red Wing MN May 08 - Humboldt TN May 11 - Pittsburgh PA Jun 08 - Camdenton MO Jun 21 - AtlantaFest GA Jun 27 - Paducah KY Jun 30 - Moberly MO Jul 03 - Philadelphia OH Jul 06 - Elysburg PA Jul 13 - Sonshine Fest MN Jul 03 - New Philadelphia OH Jul 13 - SonShine Fest MN Jul 14 - LiFest, WI Jul 15 - Oklahoma City OK Jul 17 - Brownwood TX Jul 20 - Spirit Fest Midwest, MN Jul 27 - Somerdale OH Aug 04 - Inside Out Soul Fest, NH Aug 07 - Kingdom Bound, NY Aug 10 - Bloomington MN Aug 15 - Cullman, AL Aug 17 - Clymer PA Aug 24 - Canton OH Aug 25 - Oakdale PA Aug 31 - Tipton PA Sep 01 - Six Flags, Jackson, NJ Sep 07 - Marion OH Sep 11-14 - Honolulu HI Sep 21 - Holland MI Oct 12 - Columbia, MO
God bless you all!
Apologetically,
J.
-- J. Jackson Lead Singer/Lyricist ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) www.apologetix.com j@apologetix.com
Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.
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