Michelle Van Loon

This exchange between Jesus and the disciples, found in Mark 8:27-33 grabbed my attention tonight. In this era when “ministry” often consists of platform-building and brand-creating, I noticed how Jesus chose to respond during one of those time-stands-still moments when…

At first glance, you might think that Carol Rottman’s All Nature Sings: A Spiritual Journey of Place (Credo House, 2010) is a pretty coffee table book. Leaf through the 160 pages, and you’ll see dozens of arresting images of the…

When I was in sixth grade, a teacher divided the three or four classes by gender. One of the teachers came into the girls’ room and gave us a talk about our changing bodies and a sample box of mattress-sized…

My dad Harry Marks, circa mid-1950’s or so, with his mom (my grandma), Leah Marks. She was generous and loved my sister and I with an intensity I understand now that I’m a grandma. The last time I saw her…

I hadn’t seen her in about fifteen years, but last Saturday morning, we picked up right where we’d left off. Our family’s departure from the church we’d both attended and our subsequent move to WI pushed our once-active friendship into…

Has something like this ever happened to you? – My Bible reading plan just started me reading the Gospel of Mark.– They’ve just begun preaching through the Gospel of Mark at church.– I’ve just begun a freelance writing assignment that…