www.RobTrenckmann.com

Hi Friends,

I've moved location and started blogging again!  Please visit www.RobTrenckmann.com to follow my blog there.  It's called "Dream Different: (Youth) Ministry in a New Dimension."  My purpose is to live in away that produces greater love, develops healthier leaders, and multiplies viral believers. I write about youth ministry, cross-cultural ministry, leadership, and the Christian life. I'd love it if you'd sign up and keep reading!

Thanks!

Rob

Surprises

12-9-11


Dear Friends,


Have you ever noticed how much God seems to like surprises? There's Abraham, who is invited to, "Go . . . to the land I will show you." There's Noah, who is told to build an ark, when the people on the earth have never seen flooding. There's Peter, who steps out on the water to walk. And we experience this today: we think our lives are headed a certain direction, and—surprise!—God changes the plan. Isn't it good to know that God only operates with our best interest in mind? His surprises aren't always easy, but they're always good—because He is good.


We've got a surprise! Last week, the President of Josiah Venture asked us to pursue a new role within the organization. Instead of continuing with our plans to join the team in Croatia, he asked us to serve as Country Leader of another country within Josiah Venture. We said, "Yes!" We see God's fingerprints all over this change. Let me tell you why:

• It's a chance for us to grow in faith. Shaping the vision and leading the team for an entire country will stretch us in really good ways, and we're excited. We have an opportunity to sharpen our skills, stretch our abilities, and—most importantly—trust God more.
  
• It fits who God has designed us to be, and what God has designed us to do. We'll have the opportunity to provide leadership for a movement of God in an entire
  country. We’ll recruit, equip, and lead teammates. We’ll develop partnerships and train nationals. Those who know us best say, "This fits. This really, really, fits."
  
• It was a mutual decision. We appreciate Josiah Venture's commitment to team synergy. One of Josiah Venture's core values is Dynamic Community. We'll be working in one of the spiritually darkest places on the planet, so it's really important for our team to truly fit together. As we ministered in Croatia this summer, we all realized that our team wasn't an optimal fit. This was hard to realize, and we’ve spent the time since this summer in prayer and processing. We love Stevo and Sarah, and after months of reflection and conversation, we all agreed that it would be best for us to remain friends, and serve on different teams.
  
• It expands God's kingdom. We were so excited about ministering in Croatia. And we still deeply love the land and people of Croatia. But we see this as an opportunity for God's kingdom to expand. Three of the four countries we're considering don't currently have any Josiah Venture ministry. By stepping into a greater leadership role, we have the opportunity to take the gospel to new places in new ways. We can hardly wait to see what God will do in one of these places as He grows His kingdom. We're excited to get to be part of it!

So, what now? Well, like Abraham, we get to follow God to an unknown land. As soon as we receive our remaining support, we'll buy plane tickets and move to Europe—hopefully in January! The current plan is to set up ‘base camp’ in Romania, and do scouting trips into Macedonia, Moldova, and Bulgaria. We'll meet with national pastors, explore places to live, develop strategic relationships, and listen for God's voice. As soon as He makes our new calling clear, we'll settle in, and begin the process of partnering with nationals to reach a country for Christ. We'd like to host interns and lead evangelistic camps this summer. Please pray with us towards that end!


We know that news like this can carry many questions. If you'd like to know more about this decision—the process, our future, etc.—please contact us. We'd love to meet over coffee, talk on the phone, or reply to an email.


With love,
Rob, Liz, and Caleb


PS—We have good news! As of this email, we have just $495 per month remaining in
ongoing support, and $7700 in outgoing support to raise. It’s Josiah Venture policy
that we cannot buy tickets until it’s in. So, as soon as it arrives, we'll go to Europe! If
you're already supporting us—thank you. If you'd like to send us by giving towards our monthly support or giving an end of the year special gift, please fill out and send in the attached response card. (We’ve also included an EFT form if you prefer automatic withdrawal.) Thank you for your kind generosity and partnership in this ministry/work. We’re thrilled to be so close to joining God’s movement in Eastern Europe.
PPS—We have a Europe “wish list” on Amazon! If you’re interested in buying us any of the final things we need for Europe, check it out here: http://amzn.com/w/HV46LOPI2LJY 

Lessons on a 747

One man's face showed utter disgust. It was clear that I had somehow dramatically inconvenienced him. Another showed complete annoyance. Some were muted, showing no reaction at all. And many were full of delight, complete with smiles, giggles, and exaggerated expression. Can you guess what I was doing?

 

You may have guessed it: I was walking Caleb up and down (and up and down, and up and down) the aisle of a 747 as we flew across the ocean. Traveling with a baby requires thick skin. Caleb travels very well (so far), but even the best young traveler is an inconvenience to those around. They cry out. They talk loudly. And they move. Even adults hate sitting for an entire 9-10 hour flight, but for a 13 month old full of energy, it's simply an impossibility. And so we walked. Down the aisle. Up the aisle. Part way down. Part way up. Stopping to look at stranger's faces. Hoping to evoke a reaction, a smile, a silly face . . . anything. You can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to children.

 

Little children are a strange thing. In terms of output, they're absolutely worthless. In terms of productivity, they're a net loss. In terms of improving your value in the eyes of others, they don't accomplish much. In fact, if your goal in life is to please yourself, better yourself, and climb the social/financial/whatever ladder, please don't have kids. You'll either ignore them or manipulate them, but you won't appreciate them. Because kids are nearly worthless. You can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to children.

 

I get it that some people are 'baby people' and others aren't. That's fine. Some people gravitate towards children and some don't. That's fine, too. But we learn a lot about ourselves when we relate to children. We learn a lot about ourselves when we're called to love those who have nothing to give in return. So, I suppose, not just kids. I learn a lot about myself when I'm invited to love someone who stinks so bad my stomach hurts. I learn a lot about myself when I have the opportunity to care for someone so poor that our relationship will always be 'one-way.' I learn a lot about myself when my friend with mental handicaps comes my way, and I have to decide if I'll take the time to talk with him. We learn a lot about ourselves when we relate to those who can give nothing back.

 

That's what Jesus had in mind when he rebuked His disciples for keeping the little children away. Yes, "Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world." Yes, all the stained glass images of Jesus with kids on his lap are appropriate. Yes, every children's ministries director in the world should feel good that they work with people that Jesus loves. But the message for the disciples was different than that. Bigger than that. They were keeping the kids away because they thought Jesus was too busy and important to waste time on those who had nothing to offer. But Jesus flipped the tables. He said everyone must come to Him like a child, with nothing to offer but our love. You can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to children. And Jesus welcomed children—us—into His arms for love.

 

What did the disciples learn that day? They learned that having a heart like Jesus means loving the 'unimportant.' They learned that having a heart like Jesus means loving those who have nothing to give in return. They learned that having a heart like Jesus means taking time for those whom everyone else rushes past. They learned that Jesus' kingdom is upside down. You can tell a lot about a person by how they respond to children. And how they respond to everyone else who has nothing to give in return. Jesus, give me your heart for those whom the world ignores.

My list of enemies

I've been making a list of my enemies. I'm tracking those who hurt me. I'm tallying those who left wounds. I'm noting those who bother me. I'm "making a list, checking it twice . . . ."
No really, I am.
I wonder if we have a wrong strategy for dealing with enemies. I'm not talking about national enemies, like countries, or enemies of state, like tyrants. I'm talking about personal enemies. Like the person who wounded you with their cutting words last week. Like the boss at work who tells lies behind your back. Like the girl at school who spreads painful rumors about you. Or even the guy who cut you off on the freeway last night. Who are your enemies?
"But those aren't enemies," you say, "They're just people who annoy me, or hurt me a little. I'd never be so unchristian as to call them enemies." And therein lies the rub. Because if they're annoyances, we can just ignore them. If they hurt us 'a little', we can just be angry 'a little.' If they do something a little hurtful, we can just gossip about them. But if they're enemies, we have to love them. And that is something altogether different.
Jesus gives two heart-tests for His followers that are especially potent to me. One is our willingness to give time to 'unimportant, unpowerful' people. (See Luke 18:15-17, or Matthew 25:34-40) We know we are beginning to share God's heart when we willingly give our time and energy to those who will not benefit us in any way. The second test that grabs me is the 'love your enemies' test. I've been memorizing that passage, and—honestly—I don't like it. But here it is:
"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27-28)
Later, He says:
"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked." (Luke 6:32-35)
Did you catch that? One way to know that we are children of the Most High is if we love and share and give and do good to our enemies. Because that's what Jesus did—and does—for His enemies. For us. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
So why am I keeping track of my enemies? Because I want to be done with merely tolerating those who hurt me. Because I want to be done with petty wars with those I dislike. Because I want to be done with bitterness in my heart. Because, according to Jesus, I either hate stuff or I love it. And I either hate people or I love them. I've got to admit who my enemies are so that I can love my enemies. I've got to admit who my enemies are so that I can actively strategize about how to do good to them. I'm learning—with baby steps—to go out of my way to serve those who have hurt me. I'm learning—again, baby steps—to bless those who curse me. I have a long way to go, but I'm 'making a list, checking it twice . . .' No, I'm not fixated on it—that would be unhealthy. But I'm trying to get honest with myself, so, as Abraham Lincoln said, I can "destroy my enemies when I make them my friends."
This isn't natural for my heart. I don't want to love my enemies. But my heart is no longer natural. Yours isn't either, if Christ has changed it. It takes a supernatural heart to love enemies. It takes the heart of God to love enemies. I want my heart to become like God's heart. Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, will you help me to identify and love my enemies—like you do?
(By the way, if you receive a kind word from me, or a card in the mail, or a gift, it doesn't necessarily mean you're my enemy . . . I try to do that for friends, too . . .) :-)

One-Trick-Pony

His tone was charged with accusation, but his lips curled with a flickering smirk. He had stood in a long line of parents, waiting to question me—the 22-year-old who was interviewing to pastor his kids. I had already fielded an hour-and-a-half of group questions, and now had worked my way through the parental line. Six weeks after marrying my high school sweetheart, and just 4 months after college graduation, I was trying to land my first full-time career job. "You just said the same thing all night" he continued. "You're just a one-trick-pony. Every question they asked you gave the same answer. It was just all about love, love, love. Do you really think that love is all there is to life? Don't you have any other ideas?"

It's a fair question. Maybe it was just the naiveté of a 22-year-old fresh out of college. Maybe as I got older, and wiser, I'd realize that love isn't trustworthy. I'd realize that Hollywood has corrupted love. I'd figure out that real Christianity is about good doctrine, or discipline, or obedience, or . . . something more measurable than 'love'. I'd discover that love isn't trustworthy because sometimes you just have to obey God even when you don't want to, and that it's ok to not like someone but still say that you love them. Maybe when I got out of the idealism of college and into the reality of 'grown-up life' I'd realize that love is just a superficial thing that mature Christians have moved beyond.

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14)

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:37-40)

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:34-35)

. . . for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)

God is love. (1 John 4:8,16)

We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

The rant continued, and I thought, He might be joking, but if he isn't—and I treat him like he is—I'm in trouble. Better take him seriously. I was starting to get nervous. But, he was right. I am a one-trick-pony. I really do think that everything—everything—ties back to love. That even judgment and wrath and truth and justice are all expressions of the love of God—of the God who is love. I really do think that God lives in perfect relationship as Father, Son, and Spirit. And I believe that perfect relationship is why He is love. Not just loving. Not just a lover. He is love. And, I really do think that everything comes back to love. I mean, isn't that what Jesus says? "All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." So yes. I am a one-trick-pony. I do tie everything back to love. And so does Jesus. That puts me in good company . . .

I started to explain myself yet again when the flickering smirk won out over the accusatory tone. Turns out he was joking—and that he agreed. Love is the answer—always. He even titled a book after it—One Trick Pony (by Phillip E. Long). You should pick it up—it's a good read.

But the real question is—what's your 'one-trick-pony?' What driving force in your life motivates what you do? Has the love of God won your heart? He is love.

@#$%&! patience

My one-year-old son, Caleb, is not a very patient person. If I'm making him food to eat, he'll often cry, because he isn't already eating the food. If we're riding in our truck and just 5 minutes from home, he'll whine, because he wants out of his car seat now. If he's ready to go somewhere and I'm not quite ready, he'll fuss, because my timing doesn't match his timing. He has no sense of perspective. It's almost like he can't see a big enough picture to wait for just a minute. It's almost like his sense of time and perspective is so limited that he doesn't recognize the absurdity of his impatience. It's almost like waiting any amount of time is waiting too long. And yes, I'll say it before you can: he comes by it naturally.

Who's got time for patience anyway? I don't. I mean, let's be honest—patience isn't exactly a 'hot topic' around most people's dinner tables. Some of us confuse patient people with boring people (they're just 'patient' because they have nothing to live for), or we just think patient people lack motivation (sure, you're patient—that's why you never get anything done—and why I have to do it all). Patience isn't exactly breaking news (pardon the pun). We celebrate lightning fast computers, bigger faster cell networks, faster internet providers, faster news feeds . . . the list goes on and on. When was the last time you saw an ad that was marketing patience? Do you value patience?

I don't. Or at least I didn't. You know how you interview for jobs, and people ask, "What's your greatest strength, and what are your greatest weaknesses?" and then, you try to find a weakness that is really a strength? ("I admit, I really struggle with perfectionism. I just can't stop until a job is done right . . .") When I was interviewing for youth pastor positions 6 years ago, I got a Christian version of that: "Which of the fruits of the Spirit are you strongest in, and which do you struggle most with?" Of course, you remember the options: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Immediately, my mind raced, asking, What are the 'safe' answers to that question? I replied, with honesty, that I struggle with patience. I'm often too eager to see progress happen now. In both cases, they offered me the job. Can you imagine how the interview would have gone if I had picked some of the other 'fruits' of the Spirit? I really struggle with gentleness. When I get angry, I just like to hit people. Or, Self-control just isn't my thing. If something tempts me, I just do it. Or, I'm really just not a very kind person. I sort of think kindness is overrated. I'd probably still be job searching! But patience—that's kind of a safe answer. It's ok to be impatient. People think, "He's just driven." And so, patience gets swept to the side as another personality-driven virtue that only certain temperaments can be expected to have.

That's how I thought of it—at least deep down. Of course, no one is dumb enough to actually say that patience is worthless—we just live that way. We just don't pay any attention to nurturing patience or wishing for patience. It's a forgotten virtue. But that blew up in my face a month or so back. I was outlining 2 Timothy, and noticed that Paul describes himself as patient. Paul? Patient? Mr. Driven-Personality? Mr. Urgency? Mr. Accomplishment? Patient? If Paul is patient, then patience surely isn't slowness. It's not passivity. It isn't shirking responsibility in the name of 'trusting God.' It isn't absence of stress or an unwillingness to push hard. None of those things describe Paul.

So, what is patience? I asked some friends for help. If you'd like to join me on my journey, here's what I'm thinking so far:

• There is 'big-picture' patience and 'in-the-moment' patience. 'Big-picture' patience has to do with major life circumstances. For me, right now, it's my desire to be in Croatia. 'In-the-moment' patience has to do with immediate circumstances. For me, those are times when I'm running late, when others are late, or when someone's behavior is difficult to deal with (like a baby crying . . .).
• Patience is about trusting the God who truly loves you. Like everything (!), patience is an element of loving God and loving others (Mt. 22). My confidence in God's love for me frees me to wait for His movement. I can rest, knowing He loves me even more than I love myself. Many friends talked about having 'faith to be at peace with God's timing' or 'trust.' ('Big picture' patience)
• Patience is about caring for the person you're waiting for. My friend says, "I think of John 21... Jesus appearing to his disciples on the lake...waiting for them by a fire...guiding Peter...wanting his "kids" to get it. This was the third time he appeared to them." My love for others causes me to be patient, even when it disrupts my plan or timeline. Another friend said, "I think patience is, one of many, acts of selflessness. So it would be a result of "love God, love people" for the purpose of putting someone else's needs (time, your attention, kind words, encouragement...) above our own, because Jesus did it first." ('In-the-moment' patience)

I'm really not very patient. Liz and Caleb can attest to that. But here are some ways that patience is working into my life:

• We are so excited to get to Croatia, and are so emotionally 'done' with support-raising! Yet, we need to be at 100% support before we leave for summer ministry. We know it's God's will for us to go. But, we don't see the timing from His perspective. My confidence in God's love for me frees me to wait for His movement—even if it doesn't match my timing.
• I'm terrible at waiting for late people. (And, of course, sometimes habitually late people need to be challenged to grow for their own good.) But remembering that 'caring for others is more valuable than my happiness or timeframe' helps me focus on the person that needs love, not my schedule.

I'm starting to think that this is the key: Patience isn't just a belief or a state of being. It's a relational force, based on who/what you most love at the time. Patience is 'loving enough to wait' for God's timing. Patience is 'loving enough to wait' for people. Patience is loving enough to wait.

How about you? How is patience working into your life? What values and beliefs can you share with the rest of us as we seek to join God's heart in this area?

(Thanks to all of you who joined the 3/2/11 conversation on Facebook—super helpful!)

Ambushed

I was ambushed. My day felt ruined. A dark cloud hung over everything, and for all my efforts, I couldn't see daylight. Down seemed up and up seemed down. My heart hurt like a loser of the 'running of the bulls', yet nothing was really wrong. I was simply dropping Bailey (our 3 year old dog) off for 'minor' surgery—a spay and a teeth cleaning. What had happened?

It was pretty simple, really, and sort of complicated all at the same time. You see, 13 months earlier I had really been ambushed. The time had come to put Josh, my dog since 8^th grade, to sleep. I knew it would be hard. I knew it wouldn't be fun. But I had no idea how much it would turn me inside out—after all, "he's just a dog, right?" Choosing when to let go ambushed me in a way that I won't soon forget. It was super hard. I felt low for days afterwards. And it was over a year ago.

So why, upon entering the same vet clinic 13 months later, did I suddenly feel like it was just yesterday I had lost a faithful friend? Why did the smells, surroundings, bandages, and wrappings all evoke an emotion in me that I haven't felt for months? Why did this outward environment affect me so much? Why? Because our hearts remember things. Our hearts store things. Our hearts are lastingly shaped by the experiences we force upon them. This world imprints our hearts.

I think we often treat our hearts as if they are made of stone—as if we can do or experience anything, and our hearts will stay the same. Of course, a heart of stone isn't anyone's goal! We want to have hearts of "flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26). But the problem with a heart of flesh is that it is imprintable. Our hearts react to the world around us. Events stick to us like dried oatmeal on a hot day. Images etch themselves into our memory and then resurface at the most inopportune times. Experiences shape us in ways that feel so natural that we don't even notice. The people we're around—they shape us. The activities we choose—they form us. The music we enjoy—it steers us. Because it imprints our hearts.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23) Above all else, guard your heart. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." (Philippians 4:8) Quite a filter!

Our hearts are fragile—and absolutely priceless! The point isn't rule-following or law-keeping. The point is freeing our hearts to love truly the One who loves us first! How do you choose to guard your heart? And, what things are shaping your heart that shouldn't be? How are you being imprinted?