Luke Update and a Small Rant

First, because so many people have asked ...

Yes, I've been very bad about updating. I just haven't had anything to say here of late.

Because you all care, however, I will tell you -- Luke was not involved in Tuesday morning's IED incident that killed seven of our heroes. He was back at the FOB as far as I am aware, and had actually just gotten off video chat with me. He has been able to chat via video with me now 5 or 6 times over the last few weeks. At long last the FOB got the tent with computers and phones up so now its like a Luke communication FEAST! Awesomeness.

So, that being said ... he is doing OK. Obviously it's hard loosing so many people, and it's hard on us too ... so many memorials to go to. But we are doing fine, and eagerly (EAGERLY) anticipating his return in six or so weeks (woohoo!!!).

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Now, my rant. I haven't ranted in a while and since it's my blog I get to say whatever I want. So now I shall rant about Halloween.

I HATE halloween. It bewilders and dismays me that we as Christians have accepted this as something it's ok to not only take part in but to celebrate. Let's go ahead and think about what Halloween celebrates, not so much in a historical sense but in a pop culture way: evil, death, things that are scary, ghosts, spirits, the devil. For some reason we've managed to dupe ourselves into thinking this holiday is neat and that there is nothing wrong with it - that somehow we can ignore the real point and just wear costumes and go ask neighbors for candy without taking part in the satan fun.

Wrong.

Halloween is FOUNDED on satan and evil and the spirit world. I realize some of our Christmas and Easter traditions (example: christmas tree) have pagan origins, but I've yet to meet a single person who actually celebrates those. But Halloween is FULL of people who celebrate the scariness and think it's cute to dress their kids up like the devil. It is not cute.

"But we are redeeming the holiday by ignoring the evil and making it instead about fun and costumes."

OK maybe YOU are. And maybe YOU understand the finer points of that statement. But what about your kids? Do they really understand why they aren't allowed to dress up as anything scary? Do they grasp the fine distinction between them and their friends who get to bed dead princesses? Do they really get that they are ignoring the satanic undertones of death and evil and making it all about fun costumes alone? Wouldn't it make more sense to instead teach them that we don't participate because we don't celebrate satan?

And a final point ... church harvest parties throw on October 31 to offer an alternative to halloween. ... and people still wear costumes ... and kids still get to eat their candy also make me mad.

Why, oh American church, must you feel the need to do something at all? Is there something so wrong with simply abstaining? Celebrate fall in September... or November ... but why must you do something on this day? Do you really feel that much pressure to take part that you must disguise yourself under the theme of sugary, harvest fun?

So.... no, we in Bushatz house don't celebrate halloween. We don't like satan so we are going to let him have his holiday all to himself.

End rant.