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More Musical Reasons to Be Optimistic
Thu., Nov. 1. 2018 8:06pm EDT
J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here yet again.
Although we're in a rough patch financially, things have never been better musically and lyrically. Here are some reasons we're so excited:
RICH
Rich Mannion started playing keyboards with us in May and just recorded his 15th song with us (including four we haven't released yet). Rich has a wonderful combination of ability, availability, affability, and agreeability — he likes many styles of music and is always up for a challenge.
Rich posted a photo from his home studio on his Facebook page the other day with a caption that read, "Doing something that helps to heal the heart. Working on another ApologetiX parody. I've always wanted to play this song!"
If you were dazzled by Rich's keyboards on our last single, prepare to be even more impressed in coming months. I can't believe some of the sounds he gets, including brass bands ("Dumb Questions"), orchestras ("Everybody Burps"), and even harmonicas ("Soakin' in the Lord's Book").
TODD
Todd Waites is very busy these days with speaking engagements — he just got back from four appearances in Texas — but he's still making time to work on two other songs for us that you should be hearing fairly soon. Good things come to those who wait for Waites.
TOM M.
Alumnus guitarist Tom Milnes is preparing to play on five new songs (and sing on a couple) for us in the coming months, as his painting schedule thins out a bit for the winter (that's usually when we can coax him into the studio). In fact, he spent all day Thursday "woodshedding."
JANNA
My daughter Janna plans to do at least two songs with us during the five weeks she's home for Christmas break. One of those she specifically asked us to spoof and another I've been itching to do for 20 years — about a book of the Bible we've never covered.
We also have a new CD well in the works that we hope to have out by the end of this month, in time for Christmas shopping. I'm so excited about all these projects, I can't choose a favorite — they're all our babies.
HEZEKIAH
My enthusiasm is only dampened by the uncertainty of finances. It reminds me of Isaiah 37:3, when King Hezekiah says, "This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them."
Now, our situation hardly compares to what Hezekiah faced. The mighty pagan nation Assyria had Jerusalem under siege, and if God didn't do something, the city would fall. Of course, God did do something; he sent an angel to wipe out 185,000 Assyrian troops overnight.
But if God was willing to do something that spectacular for His people back then, is it really too much to ask of Him to provide for us now? I don't think so. Please pray that He continues to provide.
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