Like many creative people, John David Balla enjoys analytical thinking as much as he does more pure creative exploits. But for him, his intellect often fuels his more creative side.

Case-in-point. His theological essay on the first two chapters of Genesis (Old Testament), and the creative juices that inspired his music video, “In Heaven (there ain’t no).

Until Balla found Cathedral Rock Publishing, combining these two seemingly disparate forms of expression into a single delivery platform, was all but impossible.

Today, Cathedral Rock Publishing has worked with Balla to create products of his music and essay for virtually any user. For PC and Mac users, they get the same bundle as iPad users, including…

1. “In Heaven (there ain’t no)” MP3
2. “In Heaven (there ain’t no)” music video in .M4V format, which will work for anyone who has iTunes installed on their computer.
3. “In Heaven (there ain’t no)” music video in .WMV format for Windows users who do not have iTunes.
4. “The Big Bite and the Shocking Truth About Original Sin” in PDF format for users who do not have the MultiMedia capabilities of the iPad.
5. “The Big Bite and the Shocking Truth About Original Sin” in ePub format for iPad users. While this eBook is readable on any tablet device or eReader that supports the industry standard ePub format, only the iPad inherent capabilities to support full video will actually play the video.

The benefit of the bundle for non-iPad users is that some day they very well become iPad users. And since the iPad synchronizes with the Mac and PC to get music, video, and ePub files, once a user synchs their iPad with their computer, the MP3, music video and MultiMedia ebook, will all transfer automatically in a matter of seconds. A truly forwards compatible solution.

“In Heaven (there ain’t no)”

Inspired by Bill Maher and Lou Reed, In Heaven (there ain’t no) is a satirical depiction of the afterlife, namely the Judeo-Christian view of heaven, where a junkie, addicted to prescription meds, is robbed, then murdered for his stash. An angel appears to escort him to the Pearly Gates, but the junkie insists on taking his TV with him, and unbeknownst to the angel, his meds too.

When they reach the Pearly Gates, the junkie is informed of heaven’s “no TV policy” by Saint Peter himself. Further humiliation ensues with a thorough frisking which uncovers the contraband that the entrusted saint confiscates for his own indulgence. Once inside, the junkie finds everyone in a state of melancholy because there’s nothing to do. Then God appears (presumably), dressed like a mad scientists, opens his arms, and says, “Please allow me to introduce myself.”

Balla also note that an early version of the song was helped along by KISS frontman, Paul Stanley, who suggest adding a bridge between the 2nd and 3rd versus, which Balla added to the final version.

“The Big Bite…”

Balla’s first eBook is a watershed moment in multimedia eBook applications, juxtaposing theological research with a music video interpretation of that research. (That’s right. In the eBook version for the iPad, you get both the music video and the essay all in one, one eBook, that is.)

It all started over a dinner conversation about the Book of Genesis. “I just knew that there was more to this story than the average theologian was telling us, so I decided to take a crack at it myself,” Balla recalls, who majored in sociology and psychology at Blackburn College back in the mid ‘80s.

He then went through the scripture, line-by-line, several times over until the chronology of the story and its true message came to the foreground. “This was definitely not the most difficult project I ever took on,” Balla recalls. “I think there’s a bunch of people who would arise at the same conclusions. It’s just that most people who read the bible  have preconceived ideas and beliefs about what the scripture actually says, and therefore, cannot see the truth because, quite literally, they are not seeking it, As for the others who may read with greater objectivity, they may have other interests,” he opined.