Disqus - Latest Comments for Joseph Cotten

Re: Being Excellent Christians

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:26:50 -0000

Wow. That link ruled, Ben. Did you notice the animated cat in the lower left of the window?
Very Monty Python-ish.

Re: Are you in a box?

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:29:11 -0000

I guess we're in good company when we are put into boxes; Jesus even said that a prophet is welcomed everywhere except in his own country. I guess there's something about boxes that keeps us from really ministering the way God made us to.

Re: Domesticated Christians?

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:32:18 -0000

Pippen says that he prefers his air conditioned cage and free kibble in his bowl.

But, then, he is a domesticated dog.

Re: Joel Osteen Bashing

Joseph Cotten — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 23:51:39 -0000

Joel's great.
Mark's great.
Ben's great.
God's great.
The end.

Re: Armchair Quarterbacks Unite!

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 19:20:34 -0000

Hmm...could comment on that..

You know, this is something that's really been bugging us lately too. It's very difficult to be edified, encouraged, or drawn toward Christ by Christian blogs. The internet has always been this strange force of de-normalization, where otherwise pleasant people do and say things that would surprise their closest friends, and it can so easily be a breeding ground for unaccountable, uncorroborated opinions.

Of course, none of that applies to us Cottens.

Re: Photo Processing

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 16:36:49 -0000

Oh, Heather. You know that Mac that KCC just got? It's got a program called iPhoto that Apple makes and includes for free on all of it's computers. It will let you organize, edit, print and share your photos. You can also have Apple print and bind books of your photos for crazy cheap using iPhoto. I'm about to order a 20 page 8.5 x 11 glossy full color, hardbound book for $30.00. They use professional printing on everything. It's also got built-in calendar making stuff.

The one bad thing about iPhoto is that it's Mac-only, so even though every Mac out there (in the last 10 years) has it, no Windows boxes have it.

Re: Circumcision and Christmas Carols

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 09:52:27 -0000

Hey Jessica, remember that you guys were the ones who took the ubiquitous "Charismatic Two-Step" and made it into the "Maranatha Two-Step," after your church name.

Good times. I also remember us singing another scripture song that night from Exodus. Yeah, I'm sure the general populace of Fuquay-Varina are intimately acquainted with the fun-to-read book of Exodus (King James Version, of course). The song went a little something like "I will sing unto the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously, the horse and rider thrown into the sea!!!" Yipee! God hates equine sports!! You have to wonder if the listeners were frightened at this point. "Who's Delores, and why did she toss a horse and a jockey into the ocean?"

The best part of that night was when some elderly lady gave me some spiked eggnog.

Re: Circumcision and Christmas Carols

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:02:10 -0000

Yeah, Dad had the "authentic" Israeli tambourine with a natural wood finish and left a dent in your thigh when you played it. That's Biblical masculinity.

Re: State of the Blog

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:23:37 -0000

I definitely like the partnering aspect of live.awake brought about by the two of you posting. It's unique, and could really set this blog apart. I think that in terms of content, every blog is an outlet for it's author(s) to speak on what they are passionate about. So, if you want to preach some, then preach. If you have a funny idea, post it! Usually, the funny posts are gonna get more interest, because a lot of people (me included) don't usually want to read a long preachy post. However, when I'm ready to read one, I can come back and read that long post!

Re: He Knows What We Need

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 11:11:31 -0000

Well I'm glad you had a good time, but you still missed out on my eggnog.

So there.

Re: He Knows What We Need

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:52:52 -0000

Where?

Re: Ralph Wiggum for President

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 15:56:42 -0000

This is especially great with the title to Heather's post right below it: Ralph Wiggum for president, "He knows what you need."

Re: Weekend Thoughts

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:38:25 -0000

Cloverfield should indeed rock. Any ideas on what the monster/thing/alien/government experiment could be? Some poeple think the movie is "Godzilla Attacks" from the humans' perspective.

Re: My First Rock Rebellion

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:23:04 -0000

Good old Bob Hartman rocking it out in 1985 and 2005 (not to mention 1975). I saw Petra at their last scheduled show ever, and it was one of my life's highlights. Although, I must say that John Schlitt can look a little funny when he does the old rocker moves, now that he's advanced in years.

"Computer brains, put garbage in
Computer brains, get garbage out
Computer brains, programing YOU
What can you do to break out, break out, break out out out..."

Re: My First Rock Rebellion

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 22:28:09 -0000

Yes, classic analogue tape effects masterfully used.

Re: Craig Ferguson on Tom Cruise

Joseph Cotten — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:13:51 -0000

HA! It's great how he works in the "I've canceled that in my area" line!

Re: At Long Last…We’re MOVING!

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:58:36 -0000

Congratumalations!! Wow, there sure is a lot going on in February of 2008.

Re: Being a Missional Christian

Joseph Cotten — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 20:08:44 -0000

You know, this goes all the way back to Abram/Abraham. God said that He would bless Abraham so that all the nations of the earth would be blessed through Abraham. We've been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ so that the world, through us may be blessed with Christ's blessings!

Re: That Stinky Thing Called PRIDE

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:01:07 -0000

Wow, Heather. You're so right about pride. Sometimes it seems like everything I do is tainted by it. Sometimes pride keeps me from both giving and receiving correction, so it seems that the biggest hinderance to Community is pride itself! Wouldn't it be awesome if we were all humble enough to have our pride exposed and dealt with? Ha! What a paradox!

Re: Weekend Thoughts

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:05:46 -0000

Ah, the incomparable genius that is Weird Al. I think "White & Nerdy" is my new favorite Weird Al song and video. Probably because I can identify with it so much.

Re: John Piper: Prosperity Gospel

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 20:24:44 -0000

I think it's harder to glorify God when things are going great than it is to glorify Him when things are hard. When you're poor, your need is in your face all the time. When life is good, I would ALMOST venture to say that it requires a greater step of faith to honor God in and with your wealth. Poverty is no blessing.

Re: A Palace Just For Me

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:04:33 -0000

Tell Mom I said "word".

Re: Checking in…

Joseph Cotten — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:41:49 -0000

It's nice to have some more Cottens in the triad!

Re: Change Change Change

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:04:20 -0000

It is pretty funny how the packing and unpacking of cardboard boxes so often correlates to the "unpacking" of our own soul's boxes.

Re: Pet Peeve #27 - Jewish Prayer Shawls and Holy Land Anointing Oil

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:27:08 -0000

Okay, from the linked "fascinating related article", check out this quote:

"The same clinical picture always emerges. It begins with general anxiety and nervousness, and then the tourist feels an imperative need to visit the holy places. First, he undertakes a series of purification rituals, like shaving all his body hair, cutting his nails and washing himself over and over before he dons white clothes. Most often, he lifts the white sheets from his hotel room. Then he begins to cry or to sing Biblical or religious songs in a very loud voice. The next step is an actual visit to the holy places, most often from the life of Jesus. The afflicted tourist begins to deliver a sermon, demanding that humanity become calmer, purer, and less materialistic.

Dr. Bar-El, says that besides their bizarre behavior, everything else about the tourists in normal"

Yeah, that's gotta be a demon. Ha! The Holy Land Demon!

Re: Stuff Christians Like

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:46:20 -0000

This has quickly become possibly my favorite web site ever. It's so hard to step back from your own quirks and see the silliness of the mundane things you do! The site has actually helped me just a little bit to not take things too seriously.

There's nothing like laughing out loud at yourself!

Re: Why I’m Mad at Miley Cyrus

Joseph Cotten — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:43:31 -0000

I agree. It's pretty ridiculous that Miley and all the people around her could somehow be innocently unaware of what was happening. Vanity Fair certainly did an aweful thing here, but what kind of weird atmosphere must that have been on the set? With all of those otherwise "reasonable" adults standing around, what kind of worldview must they all be operating in to not say anything? All it would have taken is one person saying, "Uh, isn't she 15?" I figure, if Miley Cyrus is surrounded by people who would encourage this, who knows what other, even more devious influences are being exerted upon her?

Re: Why I’m Mad at Miley Cyrus

Joseph Cotten — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 19:44:23 -0000

We don't satisfy the parameters of holiness. The best offering of worship by any human but Jesus can never satisfy the parameters of holiness. That's what's so great about the Good News! We don't have to! We are free to enjoy the non-holy things of this life..."All things are permissable for me, but not all things are profitable to me." All things are permissable, so there's no condemnation to come from God or man to us for living in our culture.

Wine in moderation is good for the heart and stomach; in excess it leads to debauchery. Television in moderation is an example of God's common grace exercising itself through technology; in excess it is a soul-poluting idolatry.

Re: Why Everyone is Mad at Microsoft

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:23:20 -0000

Wow. The Evil Empire does it again. Nice article link, Ben. Although, the writer missed quite a bit of Apple's point for iTunes. The iTunes store was never meant to turn a profit, and was not meant to be a standalone service. It was begun purely as a built-in perk for iPod owners. The only way originally to get access to the iTunes store was to buy an iPod. The store became oddly successful, so Apple's since been renegotiating it's deals with the record companies, which is why the entire iTunes store is on it's way to being free of all Digital Rights Management (DRM). What this means for Microsoft is that it's not Bill's fault that the DRM is in place on their songs either. The problem is how Bill's response to all of this is so bad, whereas Steve and Apple's response has been to push the record companies into removing the DRM from iTunes' songs.

Wow, I'm such a geek.

Re: Why Everyone is Mad at Microsoft

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 09 May 2008 10:46:57 -0000

Well, I think I clogged the conversation on this one Ben. I'm kind of like a mass of hair and soap scum in a bathtub drain.

Re: What is Your Source?

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:22:28 -0000

Awesome insight, Heather. It reminds me of when the apostle Paul spoke of the Mosaic law being our tutor before we accept Christ. It's like all through history from when the 10 commandments and Mosaic law were given until Jesus' resurrection, that code of conduct was teaching humanity about God's nature, our sin, and our inability to meet God's standard. Then Jesus comes and changes everything. So, maybe what your kids have been going through is that tutoring process of binding themselves to a law of conduct, but then eventually seeing that they really need Jesus. Who knows, maybe what you see as a failing will be part of what God uses in their lives to grow them in Him!

Re: Eye Candy Links

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:30:12 -0000

Word. Good stuff, Ben! Here's a few more, but remember everybody that these are outside links, and you can see some rather "odd" artistic creations when you go to designers' sites!

http://blog.signalnoise.com/
http://abduzeedo.com/inspiration-evoke
http://abduzeedo.com/theyhatemydesign-quick-int...
http://www.designspongeonline.com/

Re: Movies I Don’t Understand

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 29 May 2008 11:06:02 -0000

You can laugh at Tron, but it's becoming a chief source of inspiration for the graphic design of the coming decade. Those oddly glowing lights on a dark backdrop are gonna be everywhere. However, if it spawns more Tron Guy costumes, Jesus may have to come back sooner than planned to save us all.

Re: Ronald Jenkees - One Talented Dude

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 30 May 2008 23:53:50 -0000

Wow, I love this guy! Awesome beats and improvisation, and I totally was NOT expecting the southern accent!

Re: Sad News from Delirious

Joseph Cotten — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:24:55 -0000

A sad day indeed. I can't imagine a world without Delirious.

Re: Worship and Fear

Joseph Cotten — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:32:02 -0000

So would that mean that if I have a fear of failure, I'm actually afraid of the consequences of failing? So if my actions are motivated by a fear of failure, I am actually "worshiping" the positive consequences of succeeding. Or if I'm depressed because my life is terrible, I'm actually "worshiping" the idea of getting everything I want in life. Or if I have a domineering or controlling personality, maybe I'm actually just worshiping the feeling I get when things are done perfectly. Wow.

Great post, Ben.

Re: New Worship Project at KCC

Joseph Cotten — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:48:38 -0000

Thanks for all the compliments, guys. I worked long and hard on that guitar solo. Isn't that a groovy effect? We really rocked that mounty groove.

Re: Combining Dance and Killer Vocals

Joseph Cotten — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:35:06 -0000

Something about Uncle Jesse makes me think he's some creepy James Bond villain in disguise. Like, just after the clip ends he glares at the camera and says, "I don't expect your applause, Mr. Bond; I expect you to DIE! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Re: But Wait, There’s More!

Joseph Cotten — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 10:12:01 -0000

I love this guy. It's like Commander Data from Star Trek learned to play guitar and sing, but then there's these moments where James Hetfield from Metallica makes an appearance, as Commander Data growls out a word, bends his knees and does a up-strum.

Re: Baby Preacher

Joseph Cotten — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 11:01:20 -0000

Odd, fascinating, could be funny if I let it be, hard to know. Without knowing his parents and the church atmosphere, it's hard to know what to think! It could be that he's just impersonating his dad, who could be the preacher at the church. When he really gets going, he's just repeating the same sounds over and over.

Man, I don't know! I'm really hesitant to pass any negative judgment because it's certainly not causing any harm! It's not like he can preach heresy or anything. I guess if people are being blessed by God, we need to be careful that we don't speak against it.

Maybe I'm missing something?