Inside the Question Mark: 2 Guys and a Bible

We were asked to lead worship for the dedication the new church at the Mcrossans Boys ranch last night.  Jeremy was home sick, literally couldn't get out of bed, and Leo busted a water pipe in his kitchen right before we were supposed to leave.  It was down to just Dave and I, 2 guys and a bible.
Go figure.

I brought a pan just in case I might need to throw up myself because my stomach was churning, and I new David wouldn't back down for a second.  That guy would bang on those electric drums even if the power gave out. No matter what, we were going.

Just before the service began we skipped downstairs and walked into the john to pick some guitar and do the most important thing we could do....give it to the Lord.

Before then, I literally was so scrambled I couldn't even remember the words to the songs I'd written, how ridiculous is that?   But after.... wow.  After!

As we were standing up to start the set Dave grabbed my arm and said, "Now remember, God did not give us a spirit of timidity!"

Everything went perfectly and God was glorified.

It reminded me of something I'd written earlier in the morning:
When accepting God's call, be prepared to live inside the question mark, in trust, in faith, in the purest of obedience.  Though tomorrow and the next second may be a question mark (?), yesterday and today will become an exclamation point (!)  Never take your eyes off of Heaven.

How long do you expect to live?!

Notice the new purpose of that question mark, then the exclamation point, at the end of that statement?
In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says to trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

When God comes first, that crooked, uncertain question mark becomes the straight-arrow Ah-Ha of an exclamation point, amen?

Here's the news story on the dedication:
Mcrossans church dedication

Rough Lumber Music Now Available

http://listn.to/RoughLumberMinistry

Our band now has all of our music available free for download.

Hope you enjoy and share it.

:)

Rough Lumber at the Living Springs Church Tonight

Just a quick note.  Tonight our band will be playing in the field at Living Springs Church in Brandon, SD after 6pm.
Bring your friends, bring your kids, eat some food, listen to some music and come home with a message, all for free.

Jesus Loves You

Jesus Loves You

Jesus love you, this I know
the bible tells you so
Little one, to Him you belong
When you're weak, He is strong!

Yes, Jesus loves you,
Yes, Jesus loves you,
Yes, Jesus loves you,
the bible tells you so. oh, oh
The bible tells you so.

Down in Haiti in another world,
top of the mountain met a little girl.
A ti fi named Oberlene
held my hand and walked with me.

Skippin along the jagged rocks.
She didn't have shoes, didn't have socks.
Just her bare feet with nothin' to lose,
But Oberlene's heard the good news.

Yes, Jesus loves you,
Yes, Jesus loves you,
Yes, Jesus loves you,
the bible tells you so. oh, oh
The bible tells you so.

How big is our God?
How big is our God?
He can reach all the way down here.
He can wipe away your tears.


Now there's a girl named Rose
She's doin' the best she knows
from the other side of the wall
Rose has still seen it all.
She sees the misery.
She sees the greatest needs.
She knows just what do
Praise the Lord, oh He Loves you.

He doesn't live far away.
He can hear everything you say.
He's right here, in this day.
He can feel all your pain.

Yes Jesus loves you
Jesus loves you.
Yes Jesus loves you
The bible tells her so.

How big is our God?
How big is our God?
He can reach all the way down here.
He can wipe away your tears.

Yes Jesus loves you
Jesus loves you.
Yes Jesus loves you
The bible tells you so.

 ~Dan Elliott 6.18.10

Already Done

Already Done

How do i change Lord?
How do i make the turn
I know I need to make?

How do I leave it here Lord
at the foot of your cross
for you to take?

I don't know how to be rid of
this sin that keeps me from your love
but I know if I wanna grow
I gotta give it to you, and let it go.

I know you say to turn away
Don't look back, just leave it lay
Keep your eyes on me and you'll be free...

but here i am in chains again
drowning in the waves of my own sin
i took my eyes off of you
and sank right back into...
sank back into me.

I get down on my knees
and ask you Lord to make it right.
Forgive me please,
forgive me Jesus
one more time.

Hold onto me.
Pull me back and don't let go.
Rescue me!
Jesus save my soul.

'Cause here i am in chains again
drowning in the waves of my own sin
i took my eyes off of you
and sank right back into,
sank back into me....into me.

I need more of You and less of me
Cause I can't change on my own
You can set this sinner free
By Your power alone.
_______________________________________

I can do all things, through Him who gives me strength....
I can do all things, through Him who gives me strength....
______________________________________

You said it was finished
as you bowed your head and hung.
I can't change by myself
but with you...

It's already done.
Thank you Jesus,
it's already done.

~Dan Elliott 6.18.10

Lifelight 2010

It sounds like we've been given the blessing to play at Lifelight this year, on the 360 stage.  We'd appreciate your prayers, that the Glory goes to the Lord, and that the pictures, words, and sounds are a ministry to the souls that He desires to reach. 
After the great urge to throw up...comes the greater urge to represent Jesus the best we can, to be obedient to His call.  It's not in our ability. It's in our availability.  

My Networked Afterlife?

We need to remember that we're alive today. Right now. There are decisions that need to be made that will determine your eternity.  Your real-life eternity. I know it's hard to deal with, but the truth is that we don't get to magically live on through some kind of online presence.  We want to believe this distorted view that all roads lead to angels and facebook is forever... because living that lie is easier than swallowing the truth.  Facebook is nothing more than little bits of information, ones and zeros.  We'll never really live in the illusion of this online, networked eternity. 













The Networked Afterlife

i won't live on facebook when I die.
you won't find me on a myspace page.
won't be the angel in the sky
playing a harp on a cloudy stage.


my friend, make no mistake
we all will find our end
the only choice now left to make
will be where you have them send your soul....

so where do you wanna go?
cause it ain't all just a show.
I can tell you that I know,
so where do you wanna go?

looking at the obits on another cloudy day
seeing that the people think
we're all gonna find our way.
where did this new religion come from?

how did it come to be?
no more justice, no more law
just a happy fantasy.


'Smile my friend, I miss you!
Rock on and see you soon!
I know you're watching over me,
singing a happy tune!'


ain't nobody gonna live in hell.
the devil don't have no face.
when we die we all grow wings
and fly around in space.

win or lose, make no mistake
the devil wants to be your friend.
makes you think it's all just fake
and He gets you in the end.

so where do you wanna go?
cause it ain't all just a show.
I can tell you that I know,
so where do you wanna go?


do you wanna wake up on fire?
do you wanna find out too late?
you get your hearts desire
once they close the gate.

I won't be watching Youtube.
I just won't be that bored.
I'll be up with Jesus
because in life He was my Lord.

so where do you wanna go?
cause it ain't all just a show.
I can tell you that I know,
so where do you wanna go?

It won't matter if my Blog gets hits
because I won't live online.
no magic floating megabits,
no fancy web design.

wake up and see the lie.
open your eyes while you still can!
don't hold your breath for my reply,
i'm not there my friend.

Dan Elliott
4.27.10

You Know, It's Just That Important

We had lunch today with a fellow photographer in the business, and while rehashing our discussion, something burdened my heart enough to write to him. After I sent this note to him, I've decided I'm also going to send the meat of that letter out to any and all of you, because you know, it's just that important....

I feel it would be a disservice to you to not speak to you about where I stand with my business. I know where you're at with your passion in your studio, and I remember what it was like when I first came home, and how driven I was to carve out a place, provide for my family, and prove it to be good career move.

Honestly I have to tell you that I'm just in a very different place these days in regards to my perspective. Having come back from Haiti, and seeing the fallout from such an extreme loss of life, and now with the ministry of our band Rough Lumber, just last night speaking to 35 boys about Jesus, boys who come from abuse and neglect and poor decisions, I'm finding out that our salvation is crucial. Our time here is so very valuable.
The other 3 guys in my band are today burying a very close friend and coworker. He lived life and was loving every second, but was unexpectedly shot to death in his sleep a few nights ago.
He hadn't made a decision about Christ either, and his time was cut very short. They don't know if he was ready. And the pain of knowing that is near unbearable.
I know you are uncertain of your faith, but I would be grossly dishonest with you if I even began to pretend that I didn't hold that to a higher value than the welfare or success of your business.
I am increasingly unable to ignore or assume the integrity of the salvation of any individual in front of me. It's just too important anymore, and the rest is just passing away. My business strategy is very simple and not at all conventional, which is just my way of being completely honest with you when I say my business model is simply to trust in Christ. I know some people may not find that agreeable, so it's important to be on the table as much as possible.
My studio is currently how the Lord provides for me and my family, as well as affording time and a space for us to have a ministry for Jesus.
There is scripture on the floors of my studio, and my strategy is only to be as truthful as I can be about Him. I'm not perfect, I'm just as much a sinner as any man, but I believe Jesus hung on that cross, died and rose again for me, to pay for those sins, and it's remiss of me not to share that at the outset of any relationship. The importance of having a personal relationship with Him is over and above all else.

If you ever want to talk about Christ, if you ever have questions, I'd be happy to talk with you.

A Gift For You

We realize that we're a busy people. Since you helped to sponsor 12 kids in Haiti a month ago, it would be very easy to forget about them if you didn't have something to remember them by. For that reason, we have a gift for you.
If you gave money to help out at the benefit in March, please click on the image below. Then right click to save to your desktop. It's yours.

You can do with the image as you please. Print it, use it as a background on your computer, put it on the fridge, stick it in your bible. Wherever you like, so that you don't forget.   Thank You for your support.  Every one of these kids would sing you a song if they met you in person...except maybe Orgella. :) When I took his picture he thought my camera was somehow going to cause his demise.  Someday, if we keep supporting him, maybe he'll understand.  Maybe one of you will meet him, and be able to shake his hand, and maybe he'll be smiling then....

The Character of Haiti: March 2010

Here's the List

 Mission-Haiti Kids Sponsored to date:

1. August Laquerre-Bernadine

2. Milian Fenel - Gov.

3. Estenvil Bienel-Toussaint

4. Alabre Gaelle-Jabouin

5. Charles Monika-Gov.

6. Desir Davens-Gov.

7. Duliepre Jurardin- Jabouin

8. Lazaire Edlyn-Episcopal

9. Percy Miyranika- Episcopal

10 Orgella Nikenson- Jabouin

11. Filogene Manouchecha - Jabouin

12. Milian Cherly -Gov.

  

These are the names and schools of the 12 kids Rough Lumber Ministry is sponsoring this year. If anyone would like to write to them, you write their last name first, and then their first name last.  So, for example.  Oberline Limite would actually look like Limite Oberline if you wrote a letter.
You can drop any of the letters or supplies or gifts off at Dan Elliott Photography,  or mail them to:

Dan Elliott Photography
704 s 8th Ave
Brandon, SD 57005

Thanks!

2 more!

Just got 2 more kids sponsored thanks to your donations! Anybody else?  I could do this all day long.

The Kids YOU helped to Sponsor in Haiti!

ou came to listen to some music, to see what might happen.  Here's the fruit.  These 10 kids are now sponsored through Mission-Haiti. Yes, even the only little boy who thought my camera was going to cause his demise, Nikenson.
Want to sponsor more?  It's only $50/year for the little kids, $100/year for the high schoolers.  That's a couple of nights on the town to you.  It's school and a guaranteed meal every day for a year to one of these kids.  If you were there at the show and you put money in the bucket, this is the result.  Print this page out and put these kids on your refrigerator door.  Think about them this year, they need your prayers and the hope within you. 

Ode to Youth (Psalm 42) -

In March I left for Haiti, thinking the guys would be rehearsing our music for the Firehouse, but instead when I came back they wanted to me to hear a song that our drummer David had written for a young girl going through a rough spot in her life, and things were desperate.

Right away I thought it wouldn't be ready to put into our playlist for the show and was ready to put it aside, but the moment I heard it, I knew immediately that the Lord had a message for someone in the words and the music.

When we played the song at the show, a youth leader came up to David and told him that during the song he'd been thinking about a specific girl that had come to his youth group.

It was the same girl.

The song was written for her, it's purpose for existing is because of her, and yet while I was going through the images from Haiti, I realized that this song speaks on many levels. It is a call to the desperate.  Haiti is a desperate place.

Psalm 42 really gives us the same message.  When we're down, when we're broken, we need only to remember the size of our God.  To remember the things He's done for us in our life.  He's always with us.  He's there for us, and He cares.  He always keeps His promises.

You can see the images from Haiti while listening to the song by clicking here:

Haiti

Here are the Lyrics to the song, written by David Christensen

Ode To Youth


It feels like your heart's broken,
you know he can see you're hurtin'.
You're surrounded by darkness,
and no one seems to care.
Don't worry about tomorrow,
God's already there.


I know you want to give up,
There's got to be a better way.
Where are you friends when you need them?
When it seems there's no one to count on,
you can call on Jesus.
He's just a prayer away.


When you're hurt and scared
and all seems lost,
remember the One who died on the cross for you,
the Lord's light shining through.

When you're hurt and scared
and all seems lost,
remember the One who died on the cross for you,
the Lord's light shining through.

When it's more than you can handle...
The world's so big and you're so small...
Your heart is filled with questions...
and the future looks so dim...
Jesus is your answer.
Find your strength in Him.

When you're hurt and scared
and all seems lost,
remember the One who died on the cross for you,
the Lord's light shining through.

When you're hurt and scared
and all seems lost,
remember the One who died on the cross for you,
the Lord's light shining through.

Benefit Update

Thanks for coming out tonight everyone! We had an awesome time with you all! All totaled, we raised $503 for Mission-Haiti thanks to your donations. Praise God for your compassion. 10 kids will be sponsored for 1 full year. That's clothes, school, education, food, a backpack and shoes, for 10 children, all year long.  Thank you for your compassion for this ministry.  God smiles on your gift.

Come out Tonight to Support Mission-Haiti

Publish Post

Tonight at 8pm, at the Firehouse Underground in Sioux Falls my band will be putting on a benefit for Mission-Haiti.

Please come prepared to support this amazing ministry. I was in Haiti last week with these people, and I can attest to the fact that your support and aid gets directly to the people of Haiti that need it. There is no red tape, no politics, and no hands dipping into the pot. We physically carried the suitcases full of food, clothes, backpacks and shoes directly to the people in the villages. Hundreds of children, boys and girls, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, were blessed. I personally witnessed these people receiving these gifts. I saw the joy that it brought. It made a real difference. After tonight, after the media cameras have all but packed up and gone home, moved on to the next big story, you can still be part of the solution to this great need.

www.mission-haiti.org

Jesus Loves This Little Light

Note: We pulled this song down off the net. There's a better version, we just have to polish it.
Dan

We called it
Jesus Loves This Little Light:

gonna live like a christian should
gonna let it shine
gonna be sold out for good
gonna let it shine
gonna rock this song like Jesus would
i'm gonna let it shine
Chorus
didn't give me this light to hide
i'm gonna let it shine
for our sins He was crucified
i'm gonna let it shine
with His arms stretched open wide
i'm gonna let it shine
Chorus
on the 3rd day He left the grave
i'm gonna let it shine
by His blood our souls are saved
i'm gonna let it shine
Now you got a choice to make
Are YOU gonna let it shine?
Chorus

Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking little ones on His knee,
Saying, “Let the Children come to Me.”
Chorus
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Chorus
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
My King bled and died for me,
the day He hung on Calvary.

Jesus loves me! God's own Son
Over sin the victory won.
When I die, saved by His grace,
Gonna see Him face to face.
Chorus

By His Hands

This song is a compilation of what we originally thought were 2 songs, because David was feeling led to write at the same time as me.  Singing them at the same time didn't make sense, and so we started writing two separate songs.  It wasn't coming together, until we decided to again sing together in the same song.  Within an hour the rest of the song was written.  The next day we added the scripture verse and began laying down the tracks.

The song is about not forgetting the Power of our God, how He formed us, and what Jesus gave us. For those who've never accepted His call, recognize His gift. Just the like the thief that died on the cross next to Him.  That man's time was up.  He made the choice to accept Christ in those final moments, and there was Jesus, nails in his hands and feet, suffering the worst death known to man.... and He was encouraging the sinner.  Bringing the light.  Saving him.  Talking about paradise.  How beautiful is His love for us, that even while we were killing Him, Jesus was lifting us up?

Here are the Lyrics:

the One who pushed the mountains up

the One who filled the sea

the same hands that molded you

were nailed on Calvary.

do you think the things you've done

you think they're bigger than the Son?

He paid for every sin

and every sin there's been since then!

By His hands we're saved

He left the grave

so you and I would live forever.

Sent your only Son

to die for us.

To Your name be the Glory.

whoever calls on the name

of the Lord shall be saved

just like the man who sinned

hangin' on the cross next to Him,

with his arms stretched open wide,

talking about paradise

with the one and only Jesus Christ.

we've all sinned and fall short of

The Glory of God Above

There is not one of us

Righteous enough.

He stands at the door and knocks

do you hear His voice

break the chains, break the locks

You gotta make your choice

By His hands we're saved

He left the grave

so you and I would live forever.

Sent His only Son

to die for us.

To Your name be the Glory.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (Joh 20:30-31)

whoever calls on the name

of the Lord shall be saved

just like the man who sinned

hangin' on the cross next to Him,

with his arms stretched wide,

talking about paradise

with the one and only Jesus Christ.

    

the One who pushed the mountains up

the One who filled the sea

the hands they nailed on Calvary.....

molded you and me.

(The Romans Road, Romans 3:23, Romans 3:10, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:13, John 1:12, Rev. 3:20, Luke 23:39-43)

Rough Lumber Music Mixdown

We're putting out a request for anyone who might know someone willing to donate their time to professionally mix tracks.  We've got the music and the Adobe Audition program, but the truth is none of us went to school for mastering/mixing.  Any help would be greatly appreciated. We just want to give our best.

Firehouse

Rough Lumber will be playing at the Firehouse in Sioux Falls, Saturday, March 13th, at 8pm.
Please pray we do a good job getting the Word out.

Help out Haiti Directly!

Do you want to help in Haiti, directly? No cuts taken from your donation, no admin fees or red tape? Here's how:

Mission-Haiti now has plans in place to ship a container to Haiti as soon as it is full. They are accepting the following donations:

Cash: Donations will go towards buying supplies, shipping and getting the container out of customs, and rebuilding the orphanage.


Medical Supplies

1.Advil/Tylenol

2. Antibiotics-especially Amoxicillin

3. Multivitamins for young & old

4. Cold medicine for young & old

5. Tums

6. Iron tablets

7. Antibiotic Ointment

8. Antifungal Cream

9. Yeast Infection Medicine

10. High Blood Pressure meds

11. Antibiotics

12. Bandages/Guaze/tape

13. Hygiene Kits (washcloth, soap, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo in

a 1 gallon ziplock bag)

Any brands of the above items are fine!

Donations can be dropped off at "The Blessed Door" located at 3300 S Holly Ave. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Blessed Door is located in the Elkjer Square Strip mall, next to Incas Mexican Restaurant. Donations may be dropped off this Friday from 5-8 pm, Saturday 9-5 and Sunday 12-5 pm.

You can hear how Mission-Haiti began from the founders, Mike and Pam Plasier, by clicking here.