en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/uk/ Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 60 http://www.audioscrobbler.net/data/webservices http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal The Last.fm journal for Mixora. Last.fm journals are a place to talk about all things music. http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal/2012/01/16/5ahbkx_meaning_well%E2%80%94repost_from_my_facebook Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:24:55 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal/2012/01/16/5ahbkx_meaning_well%E2%80%94repost_from_my_facebook I'd like to know something. When, exactly, did "meaning well" become enough?



Christians today seem to have decided that as long as our intentions (in the vaguest meaning of the word) are pure, there is no need to do more. In essence, we seem to believe that as long as we do nothing, we have not sinned. It doesn't matter if we're only self-seeking and make poor decisions; as long as our "hearts are in the right place", we're good with God.



For the past few months, I've noticed a common theme in things I've read and seen: the four Greek (cardinal) virtues. Fortitude, justice, temperance, and prudence. While these are not specifically Christian virtues, as the philosophy on which they are based predates Christ's coming to Earth, the Church of earlier times adopted them. Certainly we can agree that these virtues are supported in the Bible. It's rare that you could find someone who would disagree with justice, courage, or moderation.



What about prudence, though? Lately, that word hasn't had the best reputation. According to Webster's, it means: "the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason; sagacity or shrewdness in the management of affairs; skill and good judgment in the use of resources; caution or circumspection as to danger or risk". We tend to only associate it with this last definition of "caution", but the word was originally used in a much broader sense.



Even I begin to feel uneasy at this. We're no longer used to thinking of prudence (that is, of ability, shrewdness, good judgment, common sense) as virtuous. Nowadays we're even a little iffy on hard work (part of another set of virtues, known as the seven heavenly virtues). These seem like worldly things, in some strange way.



Christianity is not merely a religion of the heart. We're not meant to just allow our hearts and inmost being to commune with Jesus, while the rest of us remains "our own". Just as we dedicate our bodies to God (chastity), so we must dedicate our minds to Him. Has it really been so long since Thomas Aquinas placed prudence as the very highest cardinal virtue? We need prudence to be able to perform our God-given functions rightly. Without it, how can we keep the other virtues in check?



Without common sense, how can we remain restrained, strong, and just? Why is it that we think as long as we know in our hearts that Jesus loves us that we can get away with poor decisions? That's not what He wants for us.



The last thing I want to do is to sound like I don't think faith, hope, and love are important. Naturally, they are, and I don't doubt that we all need to perfect ourselves in them. I only wonder why we find it so easy to at least profess these virtues while we reject the importance of wisdom and reason?



Solomon asked for a "wise and discerning heart" (NIV), and this was pleasing to God. Just because we're not all kings doesn't mean it isn't important for us to train ourselves in the sense and wisdom of the Bible. How many times are wisdom, understanding, and discretion mentioned in the Proverbs? Simply because we have a different sort of wisdom than the world doesn't mean that we should ignore these verses.



Yes, God wants us to be ever-loving, ever-hopeful, and ever-faithful. Reason (in the sense used in the Bible) does not conflict with this objective, for he also wants us to be effective disciples. It's not enough for us to sit around, refusing to do what we're called to do because it's too hard, or others could do it better, or we just aren't smart enough for it. The Bible feeds our minds as well as our souls. We have to do more than "mean well", we have to do well. We must produce good fruit or we will be cut down and thrown into the fire.]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal/2011/09/08/4m9n48_ohyeahhh_top_ten%28%3A Thu, 8 Sep 2011 02:40:09 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal/2011/09/08/4m9n48_ohyeahhh_top_ten%28%3A okay, so i went with past twelve months just because.

1. Relient K
I. For The Moments I Feel Faint
II. Mood Rings
III. Which to Bury, Us or the Hatchet
IV. Sadie Hawkins Dance
V. My Girl's Ex-Boyfriend

2. Backstreet Boys
I. Incomplete
II. Larger Than Life
III. Get Another Boyfriend
IV. It's Gotta Be You
V. If You Want It to Be Good Girl (Get Yourself a Bad Boy)

3. Paramore
I. All I Wanted
II. Misery Business
III. Fences
IV. Born for This
V. Brick by Boring Brick

4. Superchic[k]
I. Beauty From Pain
II. We Live
III. Stand In The Rain
IV. Wonder (If She'll Get It)
V. One Girl Revolution

5. Owl City
I. Vanilla Twilight
II. Meteor Shower
III. My Hope Is Found
IV. Tidal Wave
V. Lonely Lullaby

6. Avril Lavigne
I. Fall to Pieces
II. Complicated
III. My Happy Ending
IV. Innocence
V. I'm With You

7. Trading Yesterday
I. Love Song Requiem
II. Shattered
III. She Is The Sunlight
IV. Just a Little Girl
V. The Beauty & The Tragedy

8. Flyleaf
I. So I Thought
II. Cassie
III. Chasm
IV. I'm So Sick
V. In The Dark

9. Linkin Park
I. Papercut
II. In Between
III. Lying From You
IV. Session
V. On The Floor

10. 下村陽子
I. Dearly Beloved
II. Destiny Islands
III. Fantasia alla marcia for Piano, chorus, and orchestra
IV. Pirate's Gigue
V. Kairi]]> http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal/2011/05/29/4eq4bi_top._ten. Sun, 29 May 2011 20:42:05 +0000 http://www.last.fm/user/Mixora/journal/2011/05/29/4eq4bi_top._ten. 1. Relient K
First Heard: Gibberish
Fell In Love With: Sadie Hawkins Dance
All Time Favorite: For The Moments I Feel Faint
Current Favorite: Hoopes I Did It Again

2. Superchic[k]
First Heard: One Girl Revolution
Fell In Love With: Stand In The Rain
All Time Favorite: Beauty From Pain
Current Favorite: Suddenly

3. Family Force 5
First Heard: Love Addict
Fell In Love With: Get Your Back Off The Wall
All Time Favorite: Lose Yourself
Current Favorite: N/A

4. Paramore
First Heard: Misery Business
Fell In Love With: crushcrushcrush
All Time Favorite: That's What You Get
Current Favorite: All I Wanted

5. TobyMac
First Heard: Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)
Fell In Love With: Gone
All Time Favorite: The Slam
Current Favorite: Changed Forever

6. Avril Lavigne
First Heard: Complicated
Fell In Love With: Sk8er Boi
All Time Favorite: My Happy Ending
Current Favorite: I'm With You

7. Flyleaf
First Heard: All Around Me
Fell In Love With: Cassie
All Time Favorite: So I Thought
Current Favorite: treasured

8. Linkin Park
First Heard: Papercut
Fell In Love With: Breaking the Habit
All Time Favorite: Numb
Current Favorite: Blackout

9. Skillet
First Heard: Comatose
Fell In Love With: Falling Inside the Black
All Time Favorite: The Last Night
Current Favorite: Collide

10. Hilary Duff
First Heard: Come Clean
Fell In Love With: So Yesterday
All Time Favorite: Beat of My Heart
Current Favorite: N/A]]>