New CD BOGO & Backstory, Moose Update, New Clues |
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J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here.
I’m sure many of you have been wondering what’s been going on with ApX alum drummer Bill “Moose” Rieger. Well, I have an update for you:
As we’ve mentioned multiple times this year, Bill is dealing with an inoperable brain tumor (glioma). In early May, he completed an intense six-week regimen of radiation therapy. He started chemo about a week and a half ago.
On top of all that, his wife, Chris, passed away unexpectedly on June 1. He posted the following last Friday, September 10: |
Today, Chris would have been 57. It brings joy to every fiber of me to know that she is with her Jesus. All pain, all depression, all fear, all gone. I can't imagine people going through this with no belief in or reliance on Jesus. My broken heart breaks for them even more.
Had I not the personal experience of God's hand with me through this year so far, I don't know if I would have made it.
If you haven't yet, please turn back to Him. It's what Chris wanted more than anything else in the whole world for you. I also want that for you. Please reach out to me if I can help you through what ever is holding you back. If you loved Chris, at least try. Please turn back to Him. |
This morning, Bill texted me the following: |
I posted on Facebook about a great experience I had and I wanted to say thank you to you, the ApologetiX family, friends and fans. I am evidence that God hears the petitions of those who love Him. I'll never be able to actually express how truly thankful I am to all for this blessing. |
Here’s what the Facebook post he is referring to said: |
It's very late in the day/early in the morning. I've been playing piano for hours worshiping with my favorite songs when it dawned on me.... I'VE BEEN PLAYING PIANO FOR HOURS … WORSHIPING.
It's like wading into a river up to your shoulders before you realize you're wet. The beginning of the other side of things? Maybe. An answer to the prayers of literally tens of thousands of people? Definitely!
I hope to praise Jesus like this for the rest of my life, looking forward the entire time to being reunited in love and worship. I wish this joy for all of you! |
Bill just started playing keyboards in April this year! As ApX fans know, he has played both drums and occasional guitars for us in the past. He's been playing guitar as the worship leader at his church for years now and also knows how to play bass. In June, he debuted on keyboards for the worship team.
Here’s a photo from February 2020 of Bill with his childhood hero, drummer Stewart Copeland of The Police. To quote a song from that group, “When the world is running down, you make the best of what’s still around.” It seems to me that Bill is doing just that, through the grace of God. Praise the Lord! |
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New CD in Stock, BOGO (Choose From 47 Titles) |
Our 80th CD, You’re in the Eighties Now, is expected to be in stock by November 7. We’ll begin shipping shortly thereafter. It features parodies of a dozen hits from 1980-81. |
Order now, and you’ll get the MP3 download immediately. You’ll also get an extra You’re in the Eighties Now CD free with every You’re in the Eighties Now CD you buy. Or choose from 46 other titles as your free extra CD(s).
The free CD(s) won't appear in your shopping cart but will be mailed with your order.
If you'd prefer to get a different CD as your free CD, choose from the titles on the list below and write it in the “Notes” field at checkout. If no CDs are listed in the “Notes” at checkout, we'll send You’re in the Eighties Now as your free CD(s). Only the titles on the list are available. |
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Louder Than Plaid Quite Ironic ApologetiX ‘77 X-Tract Zedekiah, Hezekiah, Jeroboam & Other Guys ApologetiX ‘74 Unchained Medley Play It Again, Samson Just Reword Septuagint Eclectic Vision Gets Clearer as We Get Closer Kinda Stuffy Rock's in Their Heads Come See, Come Saw Apolog80s: Back from the Future Never Before, but Then Again Get Rich Quick Overdue Books Decent Alternative Braggadocious Alien Invasion Prehysterical
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For every copy of You’re in the Eighties Now you order, you can select one title from the list above. For example, if you order five copies of You’re in the Eighties Now, you can select five different titles (or five of the same title) from that list. |
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The Story Behind Our New CD |
Here’s the story behind our new CD:
In August 2023, we released our 70th LP, and that seemed pretty significant at the time. By August 2025, we'd just put out our 79th and were already working on our 80th. The 70s went by so quickly ... we can't believe we're in the 80s now! As we stand on the threshold of that momentous occasion, we remember the music that moved us at the dawn of the decade of the '80s. Every selection spoofed on this album was a Top 10 smash in 1980-81. Seven of them hit the Top 10 on the U.S. pop chart, four others reached the Top 10 on the U.S. rock chart, and the remaining one made the Top 10 on the U.K. pop chart. Like our ApologetiX '74 and ApologetiX '77 LPs, all the parodies on this project are presented in chronological order of when the original song we spoofed reached its peak position on the Billboard Hot 100. |
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We look back on the early '80s with nostalgia now, but there were ample reasons for anxiety at the time: the advent of AIDS, the Iran Hostage Crisis, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the murder of a Beatle, assassination attempts on the President and the Pope, the ongoing Cold War, economic recession, etc. It's wise to remember that when we're tempted to panic at today's headlines. God is in control (Romans 8:28), and Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). |
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Cool Correspondence From Oklahoma, California & Quebec |
Our e-mailbox contained some pretty cool correspondence this week. Here are three of our favorites, from Oklahoma, California, and Quebec: |
My grandson has asked me to leave my entire ApologetiX collection to him.
Now, I may not be the first, but, it seems I will be passing down my ApologetiX collection to him. "Bequeath" is the word I'm looking for, correct?
So, ApologetiX is going to be identified in my will to be given to my grandson when I pass. Although, he has full access to it now and has three CDs that he is listening to at this time.
My grandson, Jonah, was baptized into the Body of Christ on the last Sunday of July this year. On his birthday now, he will remember the day of his baptism without effort! lol!
Jimmy Edwards Wellston OK |
I've been listening to your stuff since high school. I love your work. I think it's great how you not only praise the Lord in your parodies, but also include the actual scripture!
So many Christian bands water down their message. Meanwhile, here's ApologetiX, mentioning the literal chapter and verses of the Scripture.
I graduated in 2003, so I think I started listening around 2001. First song I ever heard was "Hotel Can't Afford Ya" on the local Christian radio station, KWAVE, around Christmas time. So that's about 24 years as fan!
Keep up the great work. You guys are really doing God's work. God bless! My whole family loves your work!
Michael Crandall Santa Ana CA |
I have shared your parodies with fellow church members. We can't thank you enough for the very unique work that y'all have done in Christ's body thru the years.
While I have been a fan since 2008, our teens have recently discovered your work and are so very appreciative!
It was actually their idea for us to purchase the USB key, which is a really great format by the way (in addition to the CD and online platforms).
Adrew Barquin Témiscaming QC Canada |
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Clues for 2025 Single #19 |
We hope to release our 19th 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 11.
SONG #1
Moses got the Law while up on the mountain, and things were already bad by the time he was back on the way to the bottom. Surveying the scene, he was blown away and felt his anger rising; the people were morally bankrupt. This would be a little bit more difficult than he'd thought. God later gave a new covenant. Pity the fool who rejects it.
SONG #2
If you’re in love with the Lord as a youth, you never know where He’ll take you. How did it feel for Timothy to join Paul on a missionary journey in Acts 16? Only the young disciple himself would know for sure, but we can learn more about him in two never-to-be-forgotten epistles Paul wrote which ensured his name would not fade away.
Once the new single is released, we'll announce it in our news bulletin, on our website, and on our Facebook page. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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! |
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(All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) Luke 7:29-30 |
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P.O. Box 101705
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
USA
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