WORDPLAY

We recorded this, our thirteenth CD, at various times during the spring, summer, and fall of 2006. At the time this booklet went to print, we were on a pace to do over 130 concerts for the year, making it our busiest yet. Lord willing, we should play our 1000th concert sometime in 2007.

Wordplay is... (more)

WORDPLAY

We recorded this, our thirteenth CD, at various times during the spring, summer, and fall of 2006. At the time this booklet went to print, we were on a pace to do over 130 concerts for the year, making it our busiest yet. Lord willing, we should play our 1000th concert sometime in 2007.

Wordplay is our first full-length CD of all-new material since Adam Up was released in Fall 2003. In the meantime, we released a best of compilation with seven new tracks (New & Used Hits) in Fall 2004, a 12-song acoustic project (Apol-acoustiX) in Spring 2005, and a live album (Hits: The Road) in Fall 2005. Wordplay is also our first project to fully feature our newest member, Jimmy Vegas Tanner, who also played three tracks on Hits: The Road.

We chose the title Wordplay for a number of reasons, and not just because weve been known to engage in a bit of wordplay in our parodies.

When studied in its original languages, the Bible is full of clever plays on words in both the Old and New Testaments. One example is when the Apostle Paul writes about Philemons runaway slave, Onesimus, who had since become a Christian, in Philemon 1:11. Onesimus means useless, so Paul makes the following pun: Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

Of course, just because something is funny doesnt mean it isnt true. As weve said many times over the years in ApologetiX, we take the Bible very seriously; we just dont take ourselves very seriously.

Sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12), the Word of God is nothing to be played with. But it is something that can be played ... on musical instruments. As Psalm 33:3-4 says, Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Furthermore, many of the songs on Wordplay (and our other CDs) are miniature plays or musicals based on the Word of God. In fact, musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat were every bit as influential on our style as Weird Al Yankovic and Mad Magazine. We even mention those musicals composers, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, in Somebody Sold Me, our own treatment of Josephs story, on this CD.

So, you see, the title Wordplay is itself a play on words. And, speaking of words ...

Where are the Words?

Never fear, dear listener. In the past, when weve tried to cram the lyrics for 20 or so songs into a 16-page CD booklet, theyve always ended up being semi-microscopic. Words arent much good if you cant read them, so we decided wed make you a nice, legible, printable version available online.

ApologetiX.com/WordplayLyrics

Although over two thirds of the 500-plus parodies we've written are still waiting to be recorded, it seems we seldom venture into the vault when we're selecting songs for a fresh parody project. This CD is a prime example; we started almost totally from scratch. Consequently, we didn't know exactly what kind of theme... (more)

Although over two thirds of the 500-plus parodies we've written are still waiting to be recorded, it seems we seldom venture into the vault when we're selecting songs for a fresh parody project. This CD is a prime example; we started almost totally from scratch. Consequently, we didn't know exactly what kind of theme would develop until we had rough ideas for all of the parodies.

When the dust cleared, we noticed that two of the most powerful new songs had something (or somebody) in common Adam. One told the story of Adam and Eve and the other the story of Cain and Abel, but both were told from Adam's perspective. Those stories have been told so many times that it's easy to sleepwalk through them when you're reading Genesis, consequently missing the fact that they're true stories about real people.

But they are indeed real people. The Apostle Paul speaks about Adam as a real person and not a symbolic figure (Romans 5:14, 1 Corinthians 15:22-45 , 1 Timothy 2:13-14), as does Jude (Jude 1:14) and the Gospel of Luke traces Jesus' genealogy back to Adam and his son Seth (Luke 3:38). Paul also mentions Eve in 2 Corinthians 11:3 and 1 Timothy 2:13. Jesus Himself speaks about Abel (Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:51), as does the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews (Hebrews 11:4, 12:24), who also mentions Cain (Hebrews 11:4) as do John and Jude ( 1 John 3:12, Jude 1:11).

Having Adam give a play-by-play account of those two famous events really seemed to add something special to the songs and the entire project. With that in mind, it seemed appropriate to get Adam's name in the title. This CD features a large variety of Biblical characters from Adam up to the Apostles, in fact, everyone from Adam up to people today. All the previous ApologetiX projects have discussed both Old and New Testament characters and themes, but this is the first one that went from "Adam up," hence the name.

On a more humorous note, we've released so many CDs over the years, it's getting hard for our feeble minds to remember just how many we have, especially if you count the Christmas EP CD, let alone the numerous studio and "live" cassettes we released in the early 1990's that are now (and forever) out of print, even though some of our diehard fans insist on including them in discographies on their websites :)

So what number album or CD is this for us? Depends on your criteria for counting. The group Chicago cornered the market on albums named after numerals long ago. Now if somebody asks about this one, we can just say, "Add 'em up." Of course, we'll spell it "Adam Up." It won't be the first time ApologetiX spelled something differently, will it?

One of the biggest trends in the 90's was for artists to release "Unplugged" projects. Everyone from Clapton to KISS did it, except us. That's ironic, considering ApologetiX co-founders J. Jackson and Karl Messner met each other in 1990 and played a lot of acoustic stuff in their early days at Bible studies... (more)

One of the biggest trends in the 90's was for artists to release "Unplugged" projects. Everyone from Clapton to KISS did it, except us. That's ironic, considering ApologetiX co-founders J. Jackson and Karl Messner met each other in 1990 and played a lot of acoustic stuff in their early days at Bible studies before taking the name "ApologetiX" ... and at plenty of coffee houses afterward till the band started touring on a national scale in the mid-90's.

Of course, we wouldn't be too keen on releasing any of those old performances. We wish we'd known then what we know now in terms of playing, singing, songwriting and recording. Well, we can't rewrite history. However, we can rewrite, re-perform, and re-record some of those old songs (and some newer ones), being able to apply a decade and a half's worth of experience. So that's what we did on "Apol-acoustiX."

We hope you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane with us. We repaved the roads for you, so it'll be a much smoother ride.

This project was recorded in January 2005 at ApologetiX Studios in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The photos herein were taken on a recording break by Karl's sister, Z, and Karl's wife, Deb, in front of Z's shop in Dormont, PA, and at the Eat n' Park restaurant where J. & Karl christened the band "ApologetiX" 13 years earlier. Believe it or not, when we tried to get a local newspaper from the machine in front of the restaurant, the headline said "Deja vu." God has a great sense of humor. Then again, we've always believed that, and that's one of the reasons we do what we do.

Fifteen years after its foundation was laid, the mission of ApologetiX remains the same: "to reach the lost and teach the rest." Some things don't need to change, no matter how many times you revisit them.

We face a lot of deadlines in this life. Whether it's homework, bills, taxes, applications or registrations, every one of us could use a grace period now and then. This whole world is facing a deadline the return of Christ. The good news is that God has given the human race an incredibly long grace period, and the... (more)

We face a lot of deadlines in this life. Whether it's homework, bills, taxes, applications or registrations, every one of us could use a grace period now and then. This whole world is facing a deadline the return of Christ. The good news is that God has given the human race an incredibly long grace period, and the Bible explains why in 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Whether Christ returns in our lifetime or not, we each have a deadline at the end of our lives. As it says in Hebrews 9:27, "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment." Unfortunately, none of us know just how long our particular grace period is going to last, which is why the Bible urges us, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion" (Hebrews 3:15).

It's kind of ironic that a grace period is an amount of time to get something done, and yet with God, it's not really about you doing something as much as it's about accepting something that He has already done for you: "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" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

As that verse points out, we are saved by grace period.

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines grace as "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification." Both the dictionary and the Bible agree that we don't get grace because of anything we have done; it's unmerited. God didn't wait for us to save ourselves, because he knew we couldn't: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And He didn't save us because we loved Him so much either: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10).

Again and again, the Bible hammers home the point that it is grace and grace alone that saves us. This is offensive to some people, but to those who know just how truly sinful they are, this is truly Good News. Grace is a gift, and like any gift, you can accept it or refuse it. It's our hope that you will accept it.

"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12)

Obviously, "Keep the Change" isn't a phrase we coined ourselves, although looking at the CD cover, you could say we coined ourselves on "Keep the Change." In general, "Keep the Change" is an expression people use about something that isn't worth much. On this CD, however, "Keep the... (more)

Obviously, "Keep the Change" isn't a phrase we coined ourselves, although looking at the CD cover, you could say we coined ourselves on "Keep the Change." In general, "Keep the Change" is an expression people use about something that isn't worth much. On this CD, however, "Keep the Change" connotes something that's priceless, not worthless the change that Christ makes in a person's life.

It's both an exhortation and a guarantee. The exhortation is exemplified by 2 Timothy 1:13-14 "What you have heard from me, keep as the sound pattern of teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us." We are to keep the change that Christ made in us, as it says in Romans 12:1: "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord." But the guarantee is that while we are doing our part, One who is far greater than us is doing His part to keep the change in us, as it says in 1 Corinthians 1:8 "He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Of course, in ApologetiX, we change lyrics just as Christ changes lives. And we think both changes are worth keeping. Therefore, it shouldn't be surprising that there are a plenty of lyrics on this CD about how Christ changes lives. And what a change Christ makes. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) That's a quantum leap that blows away anything the evolutionists propose. The only difference is there's no real evidence for evolution, but there's plenty of evidence for both creation and the "new creation." But we'll give you our two cents' worth about that on this CD.

And what is two cents worth, anyway? Christ says in Luke 12:6: "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." Two copper coins. That's not worth much in our society, is it? But Jesus said that a widow who gave her two copper coins into the offering box had contributed more than everybody else. You may not feel like you're worth more than odd change to anybody, but you're priceless to God. Jesus once took a coin and told the people to render unto Caesar what was Caesar's and to render unto God what was God's. The coin was made in Caesar's image. You're made in God's image. That's why He's going to keep the change.

And that's why you're going to keep the change.

When we embarked on "the quest of the best of," it was difficult to determine which criteria to use. What is "the test of the best of?" The biggest hits? Best performances? Best lyrics? Fans' favorites? Band's favorites? We decided early on to make it a two-CD set. Forty songs seemed like a nice... (more)

When we embarked on "the quest of the best of," it was difficult to determine which criteria to use. What is "the test of the best of?" The biggest hits? Best performances? Best lyrics? Fans' favorites? Band's favorites? We decided early on to make it a two-CD set. Forty songs seemed like a nice goal, too. However, with 11 tracks making their debuts on this ApologetiX album, that left only 29 songs to represent the eight ApologetiX albums already in stores (and each of those albums contained 18-22 songs).

Our goal has always been to make each album better than the one before it, yet each one has its shining moments, and we wanted this collection to represent the entire span of the band's career. We also wanted to show the scope of styles we've spoofed, including rock, pop, alternative, metal, rap, new wave, progressive, oldies, latin, adult contemporary, country, disco, etc. They're all here on this CD. Furthermore, it's always been very important to us to reach out to multiple generations, so the era of music covered on this CD stretches from the 1950's to today. No artist or group is spoofed more than once.

The mission of ApologetiX is twofold: to reach those who don't know Christ and to teach those who already do. The mission of this CD is also twofold: to give first-time listeners a sampler of ApologetiX through the years and to give long-time fans a look at ApologetiX now?with new studio tracks and new "live" versions of some old favorites. In order to start everyone on common ground, this CD begins with brand new material that will be fresh for new and old fans alike. Then we gradually look back from our newest albums to our oldest, inserting the "live" tracks in the sections that contain songs from the album on which they originally appeared, so even our oldest fans can't say they've heard it all before.

Maybe you feel you've heard it all before when it comes to the Bible?Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Noah & the Ark, Samson & Delilah, David & Goliath, Jonah & the Whale, Daniel & the Lions Den, blah, blah, blah. It is our hope that these little parodies will change your mind and make you want to read the full accounts of those true stories in the Bible and discover all the other wonderful things that await you there ... most importantly, a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

They've been asking us for years when we were going to come out with a live CD. Well, look out, because we've got a live one here!

After close to 800 shows, it's about time. Actually, the very first ApologetiX recording to hit mass circulation was a homemade live cassette called Get Your Wigs. There were... (more)

They've been asking us for years when we were going to come out with a live CD. Well, look out, because we've got a live one here!

After close to 800 shows, it's about time. Actually, the very first ApologetiX recording to hit mass circulation was a homemade live cassette called Get Your Wigs. There were only a few hundred copies made, so don't look for it. Seriously... don't!

Last year, when we released New & Used Hits: The Best of ApologetiX Vol. 1 & 2, we elected to include eight live tracks, because we felt our live performances were superior to the original. This new CD, ApologetiX Hits: The Road contains 20 live tracks (including three parodies that have never appeared on any ApologetiX CD), but none of the songs that appeared in live format on New & Used Hits.

ApologetiX Hits: The Road is a celebration of our busiest tour ever?the one we kicked off in support of New & Used Hits. That CD was released at two concerts at the Cup O' Joy in Green Bay WI, on November 27, 2004. We finished that tour exactly 364 days later at the same venue on November 26, 2005.

During that 365-day period, we played 102 concerts in the following 32 states:

Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia.

For the record, the live performances on ApologetiX Hits: The Road were recorded during that tour at concerts in Greenfield IN, Kewanee IL, Springfield MO, Moravia NY, Newark DE, and Green Bay WI.

If you've been to one of our concerts (or 40 of them, like some of our fans), this CD will give you a keepsake to remember the fun you had until we meet again. If you haven't been to one yet, this CD will give you a taste of what's in store for you. Make sure you pick up the companion DVD, Samson Comes Alive: An Evening with ApologetiX, featuring live footage of the first 17 songs on this CD (plus three others), interviews with the guys, and the zany stage antics during and between songs that didn't make it onto the CD.

See you soon. It's time for us to hit the road again!

Life is about choices, so they say, and this CD is no exception.

In July 2007, we gave our fans a list of unreleased parodies, and asked them to choose 10 favorites. We then performed the ones they'd chosen in front of a live audience in Lisbon, OH on August 3, 2007. In addition, we chose to rercord two previously... (more)

Life is about choices, so they say, and this CD is no exception.

In July 2007, we gave our fans a list of unreleased parodies, and asked them to choose 10 favorites. We then performed the ones they'd chosen in front of a live audience in Lisbon, OH on August 3, 2007. In addition, we chose to rercord two previously unreleased tracks, because we thought our current live versions were better. So all the songs on this CD are chosen ones.

Eternal life is all about choices, too. We have a tendency to think it's all about our choices, but the Bible says it's actually about God's choices.

In John 15:16, Jesus says, "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." Three verses later, he adds that "I have chosen you out of the world." Jesus specifically calls God's people "chosen ones" in Luke 18:7, reiterating a term used six times in the Old Testament.

Both Peter and Paul echo Christ's words. Peter says believers "have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood" (1 Peter 1:2) and are "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (1 Peter 2:9).

Paul calls believers "God's chosen people" (Colossians 3:12), elaborating in Ephesians 1:11: "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will..."

Peter and Paul are chosen ones, too, of course, and each has a song representing that on this CD -- "Get a Bite" and "Never Been to Spain (Yet)." Other chosen ones featured prominently here include a famous tax collector ("Hey Zaccheus"), Joshua and the children of Israel ("Kosmik"), and all believers worldwide ("Born-Again Child," "Two-Time Baby," and "Fly Away From Hell.")

Think about it; you chose these songs before you knew the title of the CD or the full content of the parodies. You have chosen wisely. Sounds like we all had a little help from ablove, doesn't it?

Yeah, we admit that "Biblical Graffiti" is an unlikely combination of words, but, then again, so is "Christian Rock" and "Jesus Freak."

Thirty-five years ago, Simon and Garfunkel said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls." But thousands... (more)

Yeah, we admit that "Biblical Graffiti" is an unlikely combination of words, but, then again, so is "Christian Rock" and "Jesus Freak."

Thirty-five years ago, Simon and Garfunkel said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls and tenement halls." But thousands of years ago, you can find much older biblical graffiti– way back in the book of Daniel, chapter 5, with the original "writing on the wall."

We confess that we weren't thinking about Daniel when the words "Biblical Graffiti" first came to us, although that was a confirmation. Actually, we were thinking about how this CD would have many songs encompassing many styles, so we considered spoofing some famous diverse double album from the past like the Beatles' White Album, the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street," or Pink Floyd's "The Wall" (yeah, we obviously thought about that one.)

Then, we remembered Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti." and a light bulb went on. Not only is "Biblical Graffiti" a cool title, it's got a nifty little story behind it:

When ApologetiX lyricist J. Jackson was in grade school, a bunch of kids in his grade were writing smutty graffiti on the walls and stalls of the boys' room and it bothered him. Although J. wasn't a born-again Christian yet, God was already working in his life and he started writing scripture verses and verse numbers (He didn't really know verse numbers so he made them up from what he remembered from church) next to the offensive graffiti.

Anyway, it's kind of ironic because J. didn't know the Bible very well back then but there he was back then trying to sanctify the sacrilegious by adding scripture verses and verse numbers–way back in grade school. Kind of prophetic on God's part, don't you think? All in all, it was another brick in the wall of what God was building in ApologetiX.

"Jesus Christ Morningstar" has its roots in the '60's and '70's. That's where most of its music came from, and that's when "Jesus Christ Superstar" came out. For many, "Superstar" was an introduction to Christian rock or even to the Gospel itself. Sure, the lyrics took some liberties with... (more)

"Jesus Christ Morningstar" has its roots in the '60's and '70's. That's where most of its music came from, and that's when "Jesus Christ Superstar" came out. For many, "Superstar" was an introduction to Christian rock or even to the Gospel itself. Sure, the lyrics took some liberties with the Bible, but God still used it draw people to Christ.

But Jesus was so much more than just a superstar. He called Himself many things -- the Son of Man, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth and the Life -- but the last name He uses in the Bible is "the Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16).

"Superstar" focused on the humanity of Christ. "Morningstar" focuses on His divinity. "Superstar" took us to the crucifixion. "Morningstar" takes us further ... to the resurrection, the ascension, Pentecost and beyond. "Superstar" asks Jesus, "Do you think you're who they say you are?" "Morningstar" asks the listener, "Do you think He's who He said He was?"

Of course, we can only fit 74 minutes of music on a CD. If all the things that Jesus did were described, I suppose all the CDs in the world couldn't contain them! But we've chosen some main points, and we've tried to imagine them being told from the perspective of the people who knew Him best -- His friends and disciples It is their humanity that we primarily focus on in "Morningstar" -- and that's appropriate, because it was humanity in general that was the focus of Jesus' mission:

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) (NIV)

When we embarked on "the quest of the best of," it was difficult to determine which criteria to use. What is "the test of the best of?" The biggest hits? Best performances? Best lyrics? Fans' favorites? Band's favorites? We decided early on to make it a two-CD set. Forty songs seemed like a nice... (more)

When we embarked on "the quest of the best of," it was difficult to determine which criteria to use. What is "the test of the best of?" The biggest hits? Best performances? Best lyrics? Fans' favorites? Band's favorites? We decided early on to make it a two-CD set. Forty songs seemed like a nice goal, too. However, with 11 tracks making their debuts on this ApologetiX album, that left only 29 songs to represent the eight ApologetiX albums already in stores (and each of those albums contained 18-22 songs).

Our goal has always been to make each album better than the one before it, yet each one has its shining moments, and we wanted this collection to represent the entire span of the band's career. We also wanted to show the scope of styles we've spoofed, including rock, pop, alternative, metal, rap, new wave, progressive, oldies, latin, adult contemporary, country, disco, etc. They're all here on this CD. Furthermore, it's always been very important to us to reach out to multiple generations, so the era of music covered on this CD stretches from the 1950's to today. No artist or group is spoofed more than once.

The mission of ApologetiX is twofold: to reach those who don't know Christ and to teach those who already do. The mission of this CD is also twofold: to give first-time listeners a sampler of ApologetiX through the years and to give long-time fans a look at ApologetiX now?with new studio tracks and new "live" versions of some old favorites. In order to start everyone on common ground, this CD begins with brand new material that will be fresh for new and old fans alike. Then we gradually look back from our newest albums to our oldest, inserting the "live" tracks in the sections that contain songs from the album on which they originally appeared, so even our oldest fans can't say they've heard it all before.

Maybe you feel you've heard it all before when it comes to the Bible?Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Noah & the Ark, Samson & Delilah, David & Goliath, Jonah & the Whale, Daniel & the Lions Den, blah, blah, blah. It is our hope that these little parodies will change your mind and make you want to read the full accounts of those true stories in the Bible and discover all the other wonderful things that await you there ... most importantly, a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

When we embarked on "the quest of the best of," it was difficult to determine which criteria to use. What is "the test of the best of?" The biggest hits? Best performances? Best lyrics? Fans' favorites? Band's favorites? We decided early on to make it a two-CD set. Forty songs seemed like a nice... (more)

When we embarked on "the quest of the best of," it was difficult to determine which criteria to use. What is "the test of the best of?" The biggest hits? Best performances? Best lyrics? Fans' favorites? Band's favorites? We decided early on to make it a two-CD set. Forty songs seemed like a nice goal, too. However, with 11 tracks making their debuts on this ApologetiX album, that left only 29 songs to represent the eight ApologetiX albums already in stores (and each of those albums contained 18-22 songs).

Our goal has always been to make each album better than the one before it, yet each one has its shining moments, and we wanted this collection to represent the entire span of the band's career. We also wanted to show the scope of styles we've spoofed, including rock, pop, alternative, metal, rap, new wave, progressive, oldies, latin, adult contemporary, country, disco, etc. They're all here on this CD. Furthermore, it's always been very important to us to reach out to multiple generations, so the era of music covered on this CD stretches from the 1950's to today. No artist or group is spoofed more than once.

The mission of ApologetiX is twofold: to reach those who don't know Christ and to teach those who already do. The mission of this CD is also twofold: to give first-time listeners a sampler of ApologetiX through the years and to give long-time fans a look at ApologetiX now?with new studio tracks and new "live" versions of some old favorites. In order to start everyone on common ground, this CD begins with brand new material that will be fresh for new and old fans alike. Then we gradually look back from our newest albums to our oldest, inserting the "live" tracks in the sections that contain songs from the album on which they originally appeared, so even our oldest fans can't say they've heard it all before.

Maybe you feel you've heard it all before when it comes to the Bible?Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, Noah & the Ark, Samson & Delilah, David & Goliath, Jonah & the Whale, Daniel & the Lions Den, blah, blah, blah. It is our hope that these little parodies will change your mind and make you want to read the full accounts of those true stories in the Bible and discover all the other wonderful things that await you there ... most importantly, a personal encounter with Jesus Christ.

FUTURE TENSE

Past tense. Present tense. And if you thought they were tense, wait till you see the future:

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted... (more)

FUTURE TENSE

Past tense. Present tense. And if you thought they were tense, wait till you see the future:

"Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains. Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matt. 24:7-13)

Yet the same person who said that, Jesus Christ, also said, "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt. 6:31-34)

Similarly, the Apostle Paul painted a pretty pale picture for posterity: "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power." (2 Tim. 3:1-5a)

But he also said, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18)

A tentmaker by trade, Paul likened our bodies to tents: "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." (2 Cor. 5:1-4)

Rather than focus on a tense future, Paul preferred to focus on our future tents. And if we follow his example, we'll all be happy campers. Think of this CD as a bunch of songs to sing while we're in the woods.

HOW TO GET THE LYRICS

For a legible, printable version of the lyrics for all 12 songs on this CD, go to:

ApologetiX.com/FutureTenseLyrics

TRACK LISTING

1. Turning a Little Seasick

Parody of "Dirty Little Secret" performed by The All-American Rejects and written by Nick Wheeler & Tyson Ritter

(Matt. 8:23-27; Psalm 22:1-5, 69:1-15)

2. Land of Delusion

Parody of "Land of Confusion" performed by Disturbed and Genesis and written by Tony Banks, Phil Collins & Mike Rutherford

(2 Thess. 2:11; 2 Tim. 3:13)

3. More Than a Healing

Parody of “More Than a Feeling" performed by Boston and written by Tom Scholz & John Boylan

(2 Cor. 4:18; Eph. 1:18; Prov. 22:6; Rom. 11:29)

4. Stupid's Stronghold/Reckless in America

Parody of "Cupid's Chokehold/Breakfast in America" performed by Gym Class Heroes and written by Roger Hodgson & Rick Davies

(2 Tim. 3:1-5)

5. Miss Martha

Parody of "Miss Murder" performed by AFI and written by Davey Havok, Jade Puget, Hunter Burgan & Adam Carson

(Luke 10:38-42)

6. Iraq & Iran

Parody of "Jack & Diane" performed and written by John Cougar Mellencamp

(Daniel 2:36-45, 4:17, 5:18-31, 7:17-27, 8:19-26, 11:1-45; Rev. 11:15)

7. The Tablecloth (Peter's Vision)

Parody of "Over My Head (Cable Car)" performed by The Fray and written by Isaac Slade & Joe King

(Acts 10:1-11:18; Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 1:8)

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8. Transplants

Parody of "Dance, Dance" performed by Fall Out Boy and written by Andy Hurley, Joe Trohman, Patrick Stump & Peter Wentz

(Ezek. 18:31, 36:26-27; Jer. 17:9; Psalm 51:10; Rom. 3:10, 23)

9. Bethlehem's Boy

Parody of “Best Friend's Girl" performed by The Cars and written by Ric Ocasek

(Luke 2:8-18; Micah 5:2)

10. Tip from an Angel

Parody of "Lips of an Angel" performed by Hinder and Jack Ingram and written by Brian Howes, Ross Hanson, Lloyd Garvey, Michael Rodden, Mark King & Austin Winkler

(Psalm 23; Luke 2:8-18; Prov. 27:23)

11. Try Micah

Parody of “Drive My Car" performed by The Beatles and written by John Lennon & Paul McCartney

(Matt. 2:1-12; Micah 5:2; Num. 24:17)

12. Animals I Have Begun

Parody of "Animal I Have Become" performed by Three Days Grace and written by Neil Sanderson, Adam Gontier, Brad Walst, Gavin Brown & Barry Stock

(Genesis 2:18-25)

APOLOGETIX IS:

J. Jackson

Lead Vocals, Lyrics

Bill Hubauer

Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals

Keith Haynie

Bass

Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner

Drums, Percussion

WHO DID WHAT?

All parody lyrics by J. John Jackson © 1992-2008

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Bill Hubauer

Engineered by Jim Haydon at Complex One in Indiana PA

Album artwork and design by Gerard Dominick

Photos by Cheri Herron and Randy Hyde

Jimmy "Vegas" Tanner uses Truth drums, Alchemy cymbals, and Trick Percussion pedals.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Our wives (Lisa Jackson, Bonnie Hubauer, Krista Haynie, and Eve Tanner), our kids (Janna, Heather, Kelly & Natalie Jackson; Aaron, Nathan, Sarah & Jonah Hubauer; Sam, Sarah & Abby Haynie; and Julie & Jimmy Tanner); and our parents (Frank & Pattie Jackson; Donna Reynolds: and Jim & Jan Tanner).

Our sound and light crew: Micah "Crazy Dane" Clausen and Charlie "Batman" Freed.

Our tech-support guy and occasional fill-in bassist: John "P.J." Taylor.

Our bus drivers: Rich "Aquaman" Polick, "Super Dave" Johnson, Dana "DJ Clint" Brown, "Danger" Dan Uber, Dave "Ripper" Rippon, Alan Strobel, Randy Starbucks, and Jerry Nichols.

Our concert volunteers: Marie Polick, Jenn "Superchick" Kipp, Nathan Jones, The Brothers Gross (Brandon & Evan/Ethan), Greg & Heidi Micher, Randy & Mandy Hyde, Ruth Hanawalt, Heather Delaney, Larry Davis, Audra Knatcal, Chris Bailey, and many others.

Most importantly, thanks to God -- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit -- for working all things together for our good, even when the future seems tense (Romans 8:28).

This album is dedicated to the memory of Keith's mom, "Bonnie" Fay Haynie, and his brother, David Haynie, who both passed away in January 2008.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

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