TODAY IN GOD:RELIGION NEWS BITES FOR YOUR SNACKING PLEASURE ____________________________________________________________________________________ Billy Graham in fair condition after recurrence of bleeding ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Evangelist Billy Graham remained in fair condition Tuesday, a day after experiencing a second episode of intestinal bleeding at a hospital near his home in the mountains of western North Carolina, a hospital spokeswoman said. Graham, 88, had “an uneventful, good night” after the Monday morning episode, and his condition was unchanged Tuesday morning, said Merrell Gregory, a... Read more

Weekly World News: An elegy in redux Editor’s Note: As many of you know, the Weekly World News is closing up shop after 28 years of mock-newsery. It’s long been one of our favourite things. We will miss its inky black-and-white presence on at the Jewel checkout counter, and are gladdened that it will live on online. As its farewell issue hits newsstands, we thought we’d resurrect one of God Girl’s finest hours, a tribute to the WWN, written on... Read more

God give me style and give me graceGod put a smile upon my face Read more

Half a world away This could be the saddest duskI’ve ever seenTurn to a miracleHigh aliveMy mind is racingAs it always willMy hands tired, my heart achesI’m half a world away And go— REM Read more

On the 30th Anniversary of the King’s Passing:‘We all will be received in Graceland’ For reasons I cannot explain There’s some part of me wants to see Graceland — Paul Simon, “Graceland” MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s one of my earliest (and admittedly oddest) memories, but I can recall exactly what I was doing when I heard Elvis Presley had died. I was 6 years old, it was the day after my father’s 47th birthday, and we were strolling through the... Read more

Lughnasadh is upon us, but … I can’t come back yet. And I know I’d promised to be back bloggerinaing it by August 1, but the book still needs all of my attention all the time. Bear with me, gentle readers. I will return as soon as I am able. Remember this writer in your prayers, if you would. This kind of soul work is exhausting and difficult. But it is also filled with joy and satisfaction when it comes... Read more

St. Francois de Sales: Patron of Writers From Catholic.org: Born in France in 1567, Francis was a patient man. He knew for thirteen years that he had a vocation to the priesthood before he mentioned it to his family. When his father said that he wanted Francis to be a soldier and sent him to Paris to study, Francis said nothing. Then when he went to Padua to get a doctorate in law, he still kept quiet, but he studied... Read more

Road Trip Report: Bouncing Into Graceland Sunset over Memphis Chicago to Memphis. Memphis to Bay St. Louis. Bay St. Louis to my best good friend Bubba’s farm in Yazoo City. Yazoo City to Graceland with Bubba, and back. The Delta to the Crescent City, where I met up with Crime Boy. And then home. An amazing, awe-inspiring journey. Here are a few snapshots from a grace-filled trip. For reasons I cannot explainThere’s some part of me wants to seeGraceland,And I... Read more

My Blue Room It’s time to go again to your blue roomGot some questions to ask of you in your blue roomThe air is clean, your skin is clearWe’ve had enough fun hanging around hereIt’s a different kind of conversation in your blue room Saw me calmly, deep insideSaw me calmly, somewhere to hide And time is a string of pearlsYour blue room(In a second )See the future just hanging thereYour blue roomA new frame, a new perspectiveLooking down on... Read more

In the wake of the storm: Forbearance, joy Went to a church called Lagniappe here in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where the eye of Katrina came ashore not quite two years ago. This was the New Testament reading: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.The Lord is near.Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.And the... Read more