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