A coach for coaches: John Gagliardi, the winningest coach in college football history, has died at the age of 91. Gagliardi’s daughter Gina Gagliardi Benson announced the former coach’s death Sunday morning on Facebook. “John was a winner in so many ways, but mostly in his ability to connect with others,” she wrote. “His appreciation of others ran so deep that it was the core of who John was.” Gagliardi started coaching college players in 1949 and spent six decades... Read more

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,... Read more

From BBC News: Congolese gynaecologist Denis Mukwege is known as “Doctor Miracle” for his ability to repair through reconstructive surgery the horrific damage inflicted on women who have been raped. The 63-year-old Congolese gynaecologist set up the Panzi hospital in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo city of Bukavu nearly 20 years ago – shortly after he had his first experience of treating a woman who had been raped and mutilated by armed men. Dr Mukwege recounted the horrific injury... Read more

With the Chicago Cubs postseason derailed after one game our baseball season comes to an end. We will be cheering for the Brewers and the Red Sox, with a slight advantage to the Brewers. We enter, then, into that liminal sports season between baseball and basketball, with occasional glances at football. The last four Octobers have been crazy busy in the McKnight family, so I think we’ll kick back and enjoy October another way. Spring Season kicks off in February... Read more

By Mike Glenn When I was young, I couldn’t wait until I grew up. When I grew up, I told myself, no one was going to make me do chores ever again. When I was big, I wouldn’t have to mow the grass before I went out to play, or empty the trash before meeting my friends for pizza. When I was grown and on my own, I’d never have to clean up my room or make my bed. Boy,... Read more

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. The largest portion of the Apostles’ Creed focuses on the life and death of Jesus Christ. This is not surprising as Jesus the Christ is the central element of Christian belief and is  contrasted with all others. This was true in the first century, in the early church, and is true today. Jesus is... Read more

Luke Timothy Johnson connects — with theological force and accuracy — miracles to creation. We are looking again at Luke Timothy Johnson’s new book on miracles, Miracles: God’s Presence and Power in Creation. He finds four major themes if one begins with Genesis 1-3 to sketch a creation theology that leads to Israel’s and the church’s story: First is the portrayal of God as one who speaks and by his word brings into being; the choice of the commanding word... Read more

Last Tuesday we looked at women of the Old Testament. Not commands and laws, but stories about people, what they did and how they did it. It is quite an amazing variety. Today we will look at women of the New Testament (like last week’s post, this is an edited repost from a few years ago). Like the ancient Near East and ancient Israel, first century Galilee, Judea, and the Greek and Roman world were patriarchal cultures. This culture is... Read more

From WGN: SAN DIEGO — A Goodwill employee in California found tens of thousands of dollars of cash hidden in a donation, according to KGTV. Jessee Diaz says it was just a normal day of taking donations at the San Diego facility. That was until he opened a slow cooker donated to the organization. “In the box there was tinfoil,” Diaz said, “I almost threw it in the trash.” Upon further investigation, Diaz found five envelopes containing a total of $46,000... Read more