An Unexpected Passing, New CD Next Wed. |
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J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here.
I’ve waited all week to share this, and some of you have probably heard this tragic news elsewhere by now. On Sunday night, Chris Rieger, the wife of ApX alum drummer Bill “Moose” Rieger, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly after suffering cardiac arrest from a pre-existing serious heart condition that was most likely genetic. She was only 56.
I had just seen and hugged her Saturday afternoon at a well-attended spaghetti-dinner fundraiser held for Bill’s benefit at Faith Alliance Church in Saltsburg PA. She posted the following message on Facebook that night: |
Bill and I are humbled and in awe of all the support we have received. Not only today, but throughout this whole journey. To every single person who donated, volunteered, baked, cooked, served, prayed, supported in any way, shape, or form; we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To God be all the glory! |
Thursday would have been their 32nd wedding anniversary. With all of things Bill had been going through with his brain tumor, none of us saw this coming. I got to see Bill on Monday morning at a small get-together he had with his family, Chris’ family, and some close friends from their church. Considering the circumstances, he was holding together remarkably well.
Bill and Chris have three children, all of whom are married. Their two daughters and their husbands, Rebecca and Alex Smeltzer and Rachel and Kenny Biem, live nearby, as do their young grandsons, Roman and Jonah Smeltzer. Their son, Jacob, and his wife, Samantha, live in Minneapolis MN. Chris’ parents are still alive, as are her four siblings (three sisters and a brother) and their spouses.
We attended Chris’ memorial service on Wednesday evening. There was a tremendous turnout and outpouring of love. The funeral director announced that it was one of the largest, if not the largest, funerals they’d ever had. Many guests shared their remembrances of Chris, but the most powerful moment was a six-minute clip they played of Chris giving her testimony in church two years ago.
Please keep Bill and their family in your prayers. Here are some excerpts from a much longer post he shared on Facebook on Thursday morning: |
I talked to my children yesterday before everything started to prepare them for what they were about to experience. You know since Dad has all the strength. Dad has all the answers. You know because Dad has seen it all, done it all, knows it all …
So there I am yesterday, wearing my mask of invincibility that l was the only one who thought was real. I thought you didn't see the grimace. By the end of the day that mask became suffocating. It was now causing more harm than solace ...
As I run the tape of yesterday in my head I just wanted to thank you all for coming. She loved you all with cumulatively more love than anyone person could possibly be capable of, because she knew how to draw on the everlasting and supernatural volume of love available from her true great love, her savior, my savior, your savior, Jesus Christ. |
Here are two photos of Bill and Chris. The first is from September 11, 2002, when ApologetiX was in Hawaii with our wives. The second is from the benefit dinner last Saturday, May 31, 2025. |
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New CD Now Expected Wednesday (Buy 1, Get 1 Free) |
Our 78th CD, Quite Ironic, was expected to be in stock this coming, Monday June 9. Our manufacturer notified us yesterday that it will most likely be delivered to us two days later than that, Wednesday June 11. We apologize for the delay.
We’ll begin shipping shortly thereafter. It features parodies of a dozen hard-rockin' hits from the late ‘60s through the early ‘80s.
Order now, and you’ll get the MP3 download immediately. You’ll also get an extra Quite Ironic CD free with every Quite Ironic CD you buy. Or choose from 44 other titles as your free extra CD(s).
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
The earlier you order, the quicker you'll get your CD(s); we'll process them in the order in which they are received. |
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Clues for 2025 Single #10 |
We hope to release our 10th 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 22.
SONG #1
God’s love will set you free, but greed will steal your heart away and might just take your life. Don’t turn away from the sad story of Ananias and Sapphira, preserved forevermore in Acts 5. After all, the Bible says God will make sure you’ve got what you need, and it’s yours for the asking. Trouble is, many don’t ask (or ask for the wrong reasons).
SONG #2
If you’ve lived your life in full-tilt pursuit of bad fun, you may feel like a disgraced outlaw who was born to be wild. But you weren’t born into this, and you’re not too far gone to rise above it. True believers who accept God’s unconditional love experience the joy of a sweet salvation that wipes away shame and washes them white as snow.
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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Good News From Mike Doane |
We received a new update Wednesday night from longtime ApX fan and friend of the band Mike Doane, who learned in December that he had Large B-cell Lymphoma. He has been receiving chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments since early February. |
We are almost done with my Lymphoma journey. Thank you for sticking with me over these last 18 weeks. Treatment #6 was on May 19 and, as with my previous treatments, I have not had any major side effects. In fact, even the minor ones were less intense — except for the metal mouth.
I have found that my hair is growing back and I have started my goatee again. Interesting point: It is all white. I know that I am old, but it wasn't white before I started all this and lost the hair.
My weight has stabilized and is down about 15 lbs. from my December hospital visit. I cannot complain about that, as my energy level seems to be getting better. I can do more before I start to get tired. I will need to start working on some exercises to help build back some muscle, as it seems to have depleted. My last update will be next month. On July 7, I will have a third PET scan and, on July 15, I will meet with my oncologist for the results. If they are as good as the second PET scan, I should be done with my treatments and just need follow-up scans to see if anything comes back. Many thanks for all your support with prayers, emails, and texts. Much love to all and praise to God for blessing me through this entire situation, Mike |
Thanks to all of you ApX fans who have been praying for Mike. |
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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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I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Psalm 130:5-6 |
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P.O. Box 101705
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
USA
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