Emotional stakes high in closures of facilities for people with intellectual disabilities
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Emotional stakes high in closures of facilities for people with intellectual disabilities

The story of the Unruhs and of MDC speaks to a lingering history of societal treatment of people with intellectual disabilities. It is a history that is anguished and sometimes awkward. Over its 124-year history, MDC has been called the Home for Incurables, the Manitoba School for Mentally Defective Persons and the Manitoba School for Retardates.

Q: ‘How do you know the Bible is true? It’s full of contradictions.’
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Q: ‘How do you know the Bible is true? It’s full of contradictions.’

This is the sixth question in our series on apologetics called Redemptive Windows, where Christian Reformed Campus Ministers answer faith-challenging questions sent in by CC readers. You can view earlier articles at christiancourier.ca.

Chemo brain and life stories
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Chemo brain and life stories

According to the old adage, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago or today. I think it holds true for writing life stories, too.

One Hundred years? So what?

One Hundred years? So what?

Life remains interesting if you can talk with like-minded people, and can handle and enjoy the advances made in such electronic media as TV, Internet and computers. These things bring fascinating knowledge and enjoyment, day after day.

O come, O come, Emmanuel
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O come, O come, Emmanuel

A few years ago I preached a Christmas Eve message with a newborn in my arms. I wanted to just stand there and let that tiny incarnate parable preach all by herself; eyes closed and asleep in my arms, softly breathing, a sudden shudder, then a whimper turning into a cry and her eyes slowly opening to reveal eternity.

Medium changes; message stays the same
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Medium changes; message stays the same

What began in 1939 as one radio program, in one language, broadcast on one radio station in Chicago, Illinois has grown to a multi-language, multi-media international outreach that touches millions of lives each year. (See earlier story in CC on October 13, 2014).

Who would’a thunk?
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Who would’a thunk?

Strangely enough, I don’t have to look all that far to see buildings shaped exactly like the one standing just above the visual centre of this old painting. Just down the road in Orange City, Iowa, town fathers mandated long ago that any new business had to build to a code that’s drawn up from 16th century Holland. Silly, but cute.

Next door: A True Christmas Story
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Next door: A True Christmas Story

Corktown is an old neighbourhood, one that has weathered the rises and descents of a steeltown like Hamilton. You can see century homes on the same stretch of block as faceless apartment buildings, and you can walk from one end to the other in about five minutes and 30 seconds to see the whole range of then until now. And sometimes you can guess who’s renting and who owns their small patch of this railside neighbourhood by how many mailboxes you can see or how well the gardens are tended.

Joey’s Christmas
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Joey’s Christmas

When Joey woke up, he ran across the bedroom and pushed his sleepy face against the icy window. Oh, yes! It had snowed! With all his might he had wished for snow before he fell asleep, and now the bird feeder had a mountain of snow on the roof. He jumped up and down with joy!

Discovering the gift of Christmas at City Kidz
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Discovering the gift of Christmas at City Kidz

Gifts are of no use if we keep them to ourselves; our spiritual gifts can’t be used in isolation. We need to use them to strengthen each other, to become communities bearing witness to Christ’s love. Giving is the expression of love.

China: Whither the Umbrella Revolution?
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China: Whither the Umbrella Revolution?

China may never need to arrest the Occupy Central protestors. Their international support is vastly diminished, and the majority in Hong Kong now wants the occupation to end. Beijing is not likely to agree to any compromise with the weakened protest. Beijing’s focus is clearly on continuing to strengthen China’s economic clout in the rest of the world. Occupy Central protestors may have little choice but to fold up their umbrellas and go home.

Rest for the empty handed
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Rest for the empty handed

A show of works by artist Peter Reitsma entitled “Army of the Empty Handed” recently opened to the public at Flagship Gallery in Hamilton, Ontario. The paintings “speak of love, fear, devotion, loss and hope,” in the artist’s words.