Archive - Transforming Words

Reclaiming Pentecost

Though I’d heard the word “Trinity” murmured in the background of my teen journey as I was struggling to understand how and why the God I’d known…

Jun 8 •

Michelle Van Loon

May 2025

The Fairy Tale Of "There's No Such Thing As A Perfect Church"

“There’s no such thing as a perfect church.

May 16 •

Michelle Van Loon

April 2025

Resurrection, Unfiltered

The pair of disciples were digesting the morning’s mind-boggling news as they walked the seven miles northeast from Jerusalem to Emmaus that same…

Apr 25 •

Michelle Van Loon

March 2025

Are You Religious But Not Spiritual?

Or maybe spiritual but not religious?

Mar 26 •

Michelle Van Loon

February 2025

About-Face, Church

If the word “repent” conjures images of 1980’s street preachers with bullhorns yelling “Turn or burn!” at passing crowds, I’d like to use a bit of…

Feb 17 •

Michelle Van Loon

December 2024

Cliques: Not Just For Middle School Anymore

This issue of my monthly-ish newsletter includes a reflection on churches that function as cliques versus cultivating true community, and not one, but…

Dec 30, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

November 2024

Two Kinds of Hiding Places

After our recent visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and now in the wake of the recent election, I’ve been reflecting on the ways in which people…

Nov 12, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

October 2024

A Mighty Fortress Is The Church?

Bill and I had an opportunity to travel up the Rhine River through western Europe to celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary.

Oct 21, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

September 2024

Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism’s Nonessentials

Sep 26, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

Dancing On Eggshells

I suspect most of us have people in our lives with whom we feel we must walk on eggshells, measuring our words carefully and avoiding hot-button topics…

Sep 23, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

August 2024

Revive us again?

If you’ve spent any time at all in Evangelical circles, you may have at one time prayed for revival.

Aug 19, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

April 2024

On Spiritual Downsizing

The empty office was a time capsule of the past, circa 2003.

Apr 3, 2024 •

Michelle Van Loon

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