Crowd shot masthead ApologetiX Logo Keith Haynie plays bassBill Hubauer plays lead guitarJ. Jackson sings leadJimmy Vegas Tanner plays drums
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03.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.25.24New CD Mailed to Fans, BOGO Ends Soon
03.22.24Fans Making Plans to Attend Our Big Show September 1
03.22.24Easter Season Playlist 2024
03.22.24How to Donate Online or by Mail
03.22.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
03.22.24Get Multiple Downloads for One Donation
03.22.24Influential Albums: 1409-1415
03.22.24This Week's Bible-Reading
03.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.20.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.20.24New Single: Top-Five Hits by Four-Man Bands
03.20.24Over 1650 Tracks for $100
03.18.24USBs Include New Single & Next CD
03.16.24Influential Albums: 1402-1408
03.16.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.12.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.09.24Influential Albums: 1395-1401
03.09.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
03.09.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
03.05.24This Week's News Bulletin
03.03.24New Single: '74 Solo Smashes
03.01.24A Serious Problem We're Trying to Address
02.29.24All About Our Next CD
02.29.24Influential Albums: 1388-1394
02.29.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.29.24Clues for 2024 Single #5
02.25.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.22.24Get Ready for Our Next CD
02.22.24Influential Albums: 1381-1387
02.22.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.22.24Wayne Is Retiring, What's Next for Him and Us?
02.22.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.19.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.19.24New Single: Billy & The Beach
02.16.24Influential Albums: 1374-1380
02.16.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.16.24Remembering ApX Friend Paul "Doc" Nigh (1956-2024)
02.16.24Clues for 2024 Single #4
02.10.24Influential Albums: 1367-1373
02.10.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.10.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
02.06.24This Week's News Bulletin
02.06.24New Single: '74 & '83
02.03.24ApX Lead Singer/Lyricist Shares His Testimony 36 Years Later
02.03.24Influential Albums: 1360-1366
02.03.24This Week's Bible Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
02.03.24Latest CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
02.02.24Clues for 2024 Single #3
01.29.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.26.24Influential Albums: 1353-1359
01.26.24How to Get the ApX Library, USBs, Multiple Downloads
01.26.24This Week's Bible-Reading and Rock Thru the Bible
01.26.24Flashback: J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2014
01.26.24J.'s Vision for ApologetiX in 2024
01.26.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.24.24Checking in With ApX Alum Drummer Fred Behanna
01.22.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.22.24New Single: '70s #1 Hits That Remade '60s Top 10 Hits
01.19.24Influential Albums: 1346-1352
01.19.24Encouraging Message from Longtime Fan in Oklahoma
01.19.24This Week's Bible-Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
01.15.24This Week's News Bulletin
01.12.24Influential Albums: 1339-1346
01.12.24The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
01.12.24Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
01.12.24New Testament Reading Started Wednesday
01.11.24New Worship Songs Available from ApX Alum Bill Rieger
01.08.24New Single: '81 & '83
01.08.24New CD BOGO Ends Sunday
01.08.24New USB Thumb Drives on the Way
01.05.24Clues for 2024 Single #1
01.05.24Influential Albums: 1332-1338
01.05.24Have You Heard About the Other Music City Miracle?
01.05.24This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible
12.29.23Influential Albums: 1325-1331
12.29.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.28.232023: A Record-Breaking Record-Making Year
12.28.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.26.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.26.23New Single: 1974 & 2008
12.23.23Influential Albums: 1318-1324
12.23.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.23.23ApologetiX Updated Christmas Playlist
12.18.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.18.23New Samson CD Mailed to Fans, New Orders Sent as They Come In
12.16.23Influential Albums: 1311-1317
12.16.23Rock Thru the Bible with ApX This Week
12.16.23New Story
12.16.23The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single
12.11.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.11.23New Single: '83 & '84
12.11.23ApX Apparel: Order by Tuesday with Express Shipping
12.07.23New ApX Apparel and More: Order Soon for Christmas
12.07.23Influential Albums: 1304-1310
12.07.23Just Reword CD Added to iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, Etc.
12.07.23Clues for 2023 Single #25
12.04.23This Week's News Bulletin
12.02.23Influential Albums: 1297-1303
12.02.23This Week's Bible Reading & Rock Thru the Bible

ApX Lead Singer to Be Featured on ESPN
Thu., Oct. 13. 2016 6:04pm EDT

J. Jackson from ApologetiX here again.

If you read our newsletters regularly or follow me on Facebook, you know I'm a sports fan. But you probably never expected to see me on ESPN. Neither did I. But it appears God may have other plans.

ESPN is producing a television feature about the relationship between football and religion which they plan to air on Super Bowl Sunday in February 2017. And somehow I got to be a part of it.

It's a long story, but one of my pastors was the chaplain for the Steelers in the 70's and 80's. He was also one of the six founders of the chapel program in the NFL. Consequently, ESPN thought he would be a good source for their feature, and he recommended me as an additional interview subject.

I was delighted, largely because it drives me crazy when people say God doesn't care about football or sports in general. God cares about everything humans do, including sports. Does He care about you and the people you affect in your job? Of course He does! Then why wouldn't He care about athletes and the people they affect in their jobs?

If not a sparrow falls without His permission and the very hairs of our heads are numbered (Matthew 10:29-31) … if the lot is cast into the lap but the outcome is from the Lord (Proverbs 16:33) … if God causes ALL things to work together for good for those who love God (Romans 8:28)… then how can we think that He shuts off the T.V. when sports comes on?

And if God says He will honor those who honor Him (1 Samuel 2:30), how can it be wrong for an athlete to give glory to God after a good game or a great play? Athletes endorse brands and products -- why can't they endorse Jesus? If they can use their platform to increase awareness of racism, sexual abuse, breast cancer and other issues, then why not use it to increase awareness of the One who has the answers to those issues?

Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying God roots for specific teams or that He only blesses players who acknowledge Him. That would be unbiblical. As Jesus said, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45).

Anyway, the producer contacted me three weeks ago and did a 45-minute phone interview. Then we continued communicating via email for the following two weeks. Then, last week, the television crews came.

ESPN filmed one-on-one interviews with our pastor, me, and another church member last Saturday. They asked tons of questions pertaining to faith, football, and our beloved Steelers. Then they came to our church's 9 a.m. service on Sunday and filmed the entire service. But if you thought that was surreal ...

Sunday after church, the producer and an ESPN crew came to my house and filmed my wife and me watching the entire first half of the Steelers-Jets game. They ordered pizzas from our local place, so we had pizza with an ESPN producer and film crew. How crazy is that?

My pastor and I are just a part of the story, and only God knows how much of the interviews or footage they'll wind up using. I just want them to get a good story. If I'm in it, that will be extra cool, but it's more important to me that the show accurately portrays the people of faith it features. Please join me in praying that God uses this faith and football feature for His glory.