Short stuff

The Muslim–Christian Peacemaking Committee in Solo, Indonesia is publishing, in Indonesian, a book by Badru D. Kateregga and David W. Shenk entitled, A Muslim and A Christian in Dialogue. Kateregga, a Ugandan Sunni Muslim, and Shenk, an American Mennonite Christian, share their faith perspectives and respond to each other’s questions. The Christian church in Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim nation, is growing rapidly and is also committed to peacemaking.

—Mennonite World Conference

Canadian Bible Society recently launched BibleKids.ca, an interactive website for children, with Bible adventure stories, kid-friendly music, animation, and games that even pre-readers can navigate. It also contains tips and tools for parents.

The Word Guild’s premiere Canadian Writing Awards Gala, held June 14 at World Vision Canada in Mississauga, Ont., recognized the best writing published last year by Canadian writers who are Christian. The 18th annual Leslie K. Tarr Award for outstanding career achievement went to two recently retired Ottawa journalists, Lloyd Mackey and Bob Harvey. Among the awards for books were several to Mennonite Brethren writers: Paul H. Boge, Winnipeg, won in the general readership category for Father to the Fatherless: The Charles Mulli Story (BayRidge Books) and Elaine Froese, Boissevain, Man., won in the independently-published nonfiction category for Planting the Seed of Hope: A Celebration of Prairie Life. Former MB Herald columnist Susan Fish received an award of merit in the historical fiction category for Seeker of Stars (Winding Trail Press). See The Word Guild for a full list of winners.

Video games are more realistic, interactive, and racy than ever, and sales are skyrocketing. “Video games . . . are becoming the most essential new cultural force of our time,” says Steve Schnur, of Electronic Arts. Total sales were a record $10.5 billion in the U.S. last year. Evidence also continues to mount that the games’ content, especially violence, significantly affects players.

—Plugged In