New Clues, The Girls Are Back, The Odyssey |
|
|
|
|
J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here.
In last Saturday's newsletter, I talked about vehicle problems my wife, Lisa, had experienced with our 2015 Honda Odyssey minivan the previous night while driving home from Mayfield KY. That was NOT meant to be an appeal letter. A moment ago, I took a look at that preamble and noticed that it had a list at the bottom with things people could do to help.
That list was left over from our previous newsletter, which actually was an appeal letter. It wasn’t supposed to be tacked on to the preamble in last week’s issue, and I apologize for any confusion. Now, let me tell you something cool God did in regard to that minivan. It starts out yucky, but it has a delicious ending:
As I mentioned last week, Lisa had to get the alternator, battery, and belt replaced Saturday morning in Florence KY, 300 miles from us in Pittsburgh. What I didn’t mention was that we also had to get our alternator replaced in 2022, 2023, and 2024. I was the driver on each of those occasions. The times in 2023 and 2024 each happened just under 12 months after the previous replacement, so they were each covered (barely) by a 12-month warranty.
Last Saturday wasn’t covered under warranty, because it had been about 16 months. Worse still, the battery/alternator light came on again this week, after Lisa was home and despite all that new equipment we’d just had installed. The warning light started flashing a few times Tuesday morning while I was well on my way to Jimmy’s to record. I made it there safely but had to get AAA to tow our minivan to our regular repair shop, 40 miles away.
The repair shop was all booked up for the next two weeks, but they made an exception for us, because of the situation. Nevertheless, as they tried to test our entire system to see what could be causing the problem, they couldn’t figure it out, although they could tell it already needed a new alternator again. However, our mechanic was willing to see if he could get it covered by a warranty, despite the fact that his shop hadn’t installed it.
Thankfully, a longtime ApX fan and friend in Staten Island named Jim Larkin had been emailing me about our van, because he’d read last week’s newsletter. I told him it was back in the shop, and that this was the fourth year in a row it had needed replaced, and he took it upon himself to do some extensive research online, and he found out this nugget about 2015 Honda Odyssey minivans: |
Oil leak from the “spool valve” / oil control solenoid
A common problem is that one of the spool valves or the valve cover gasket up above the alternator leaks oil, and the oil drips/flows down onto the alternator. Over time that oil degrades the alternator components (diodes, bearings, etc.), causes shorting or insulation failure. |
At Jim’s request, I shared that info with our mechanic, A.J., who was humble enough to check it out. Sure enough, that’s what it was! He also was able to get the alternator replaced for free, even though it was installed by a shop three states away. Replacing the oil-control solenoid was significantly cheaper than replacing the alternator again would have been. Praise the Lord for good friends like Jim and for good mechanics like A.J.! |
|
Clues for 2025 Single #17 |
We hope to release our 17th single of 2025 by the end of this weekend, Lord willing.
Here are your clues. Want to really impress us? See if you can spot all of the references in both entries. We counted a total of 20.
SONG #1
Ever sin so badly that you think, “All right, I thought I was saved from my old life and I’d never be the same again. What am I supposed to believe now?” Been there, done that. It’s easy to get swept away into thinking nothing will change and to start spinning into depression. Just one look at the words of wisdom in Romans will show you otherwise.
SONG #2
We’re all looking to unlock secrets of life, like how/why it originated. Mankind reached a split decision on that. At times we do forget the Bible has the answers, and you'll keep on searching for something new till you face facts. Hold on to the truth God revealed, and keep holding on. Take it as it comes and as it is. Time is running out.
Once the new single is released, we'll announce it in our news bulletin, on our website, and on our Facebook page. |
|
The Girls Are Back in Town |
J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.
Based on everything I've heard from fans who attended the Immortal II festival three weeks ago or watched the livestream, one of the highlights of ApologetiX’s segment was when we brought my two oldest daughters, Janna and Heather, on stage for a couple songs.
We’re also planning to bring them back into the studio with us this coming Tuesday night. Janna will be singing lead vocals, and Heather will be doing backing vocals.
Janna has already sung lead on 40 ApX parodies (most recently “I Ain’t Myself, Lord, I’m Something New”) plus backing vocals on 16 others (most recently “Sudden Nudge”). Heather has sung lead on nine (most recently “Gideon Still Became an All-Star”) and backing vocals on 12 others (most recently “Sudden Nudge”).
The song they’re about to sing is the last of the 12 tracks needed for our next CD, You’re in the Eighties Now. The songs on this weekend’s single are the 9th and 10th. I sang the 11th this past Tuesday. It’s slated for a single we hope to put out on October 5.
Both girls now live with their husbands in the same big house about 15 minutes from us. They took our two younger daughters, Kelly and Natalie, to the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival last Saturday. Here’s a photo I took before they left for the event: |
|
|
ApX USBs: A New Application and a New Batch |
Here’s a funny photo and anecdote we got this week from ApX fan Cheri Hampton of Arnold MO: "I'm so tired. I was about to put this in the ignition to start the car! I don’t think that’s what they mean when they say 'flash drive.'” |
|
We know a lot of fans like to use our USB flash drives to play music while they're in their cars, but that’s an entirely new application.
Our supply of USBs ran out last weekend, but we'd foreseen that happening and were able to order more in advance. A new batch arrived on Tuesday. They include our latest CD, Louder Than Plaid, and our latest single, “Tempers / Who Gets to Win.” In fact, they contain the digital versions of all of our CDs, plus any singles, EPs, or rarities that aren’t on CD yet.
Emblazoned with the band's logo, our USBs have a storage capacity of 16 GB, and they’re write-enabled, so you can add more music to them if and when you get future ApX downloads.
They’re available for a donation of $150 or more. If you've donated for our complete library before, they're available for a donation of $50 or more. |
|
Get ApX Complete Library, USBs, Songbook |
To get the complete ApologetiX library, ApX USB thumb drives, and/or the new ApX digital songbook — or to get more info about them — just click on the item(s) you want below. |
|
Bible-Reading Plan for 2025 |
We began our latest trip through the Bible on Wednesday, April 3. Note: If you don't have a Bible handy, you can look up these passages for free on Bible Gateway. They have about 60 different English translations/versions there to choose from, plus translations in many other languages, many of which also have multiple translations/versions. |
CLICK HERE to see the reading plan for the whole year. |
|
If you'd like to donate to the ministry of ApologetiX, there are a couple ways you can do it. |
If you prefer to mail a check or money order, please make it out to "ApologetiX" and send it to:
ApologetiX
208 Charlemma Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15214-1414
Although the donations are not tax-deductible, they will be received very gratefully and used immediately. Thank you! |
|
Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” Psalm 16:1-2 |
|
|
|
P.O. Box 101705
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
USA
|
You're receiving this email because you're signed up to our mailing list. You can unsubscribe here. |
|
|
|
|
|
