In Grounded Fire, Duke Lancaster calls preachers back to a simple but urgent conviction: the text sets the agenda.

Years ago, I heard John Wimber say, “I’m just change in God’s pocket. He can spend me however He wants to.” I’ve carried that phrase with me for a long time. I find comfort in it. Not because I always agree with how He chooses to spend me. Honestly, there have been many moments when I would have preferred a different assignment, a different timing, or a different destination altogether. But there is something deeply grounding in remembering that my life ultimately belongs to

The last few weeks have been heavy. News headlines and social media feeds have carried images and stories of violence that leave us stunned, grieving, and sometimes even angry. As Christians, we cannot ignore the brokenness of our world. We weep with those who weep, and we mourn alongside families and communities devastated by bloodshed. But the question that presses on us as disciples of Jesus is this: How do we respond? What is the Bible’s Call in the Face of Persecution Je

There’s a growing sentiment in our culture that says, “I love Jesus, but I don’t need the church.” People talk about finding God in nature, in quiet moments, or in private devotion—and to be honest, I understand some of that. I’ve been in churches that felt more like obstacles than pathways to Christ. I’ve seen the pain and the politics, the hurt and the hypocrisy. But even with all that, I still say this: I love the Church. Not because it’s always perfect, but because it’s G

There’s a verse I can’t stop thinking about this Easter: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”(2 Corinthians 5:21) I’ve read it many times. Quoted it. Preached it. But lately, it’s been reading me . He became sin. Not just carried it. Not just wore it like a heavy cloak. God actually made Jesus—His sinless Son—to be sin on my behalf. That’s almost too much to wrap my head around. It wasn’t just the nails that

Marie and I had been on the road for more than eight months when we returned to Texas in early October. We love this lifestyle—the travel, the people we meet, the variety of churches we experience, and the freedom it offers. But even with all its joys, we occasionally find ourselves homesick for our friends, family, and home church. Belonging On the first Sunday back, we headed to the Houston Vineyard, our home church. It’s worth noting that this is the first church in many y

Late in 2021, Marie and I felt the Lord calling us to go on the road full-time as itinerant ministers with the mission to “encourage the churches”. I remember sharing that word with a pastor friend who astutely responded, “Whatever that means.” Exactly! We had no idea what that was supposed to look like. But we did what we knew to do… sold everything, bought a motorhome, and announced we were available. Now, over 100 events later, we are more certain of the need than when we

As we travel teaching and training on Holy Spirit ministry, we frequently encounter misunderstandings that can create unnecessary barriers for individuals learning to operate in the things of the Spirit. One prevalent misconception is the belief that people may or may not possess any spiritual gifts, or that they might have certain gifts but not others. Many spiritual gift tests available online operate on this principle, suggesting that individuals typically have one or two

April 14, 2024 Duke Lancaster Have you noticed all the buzz about the recent solar eclipse? It seems like whenever a natural phenomenon occurs, there's a flurry of talk about end times and apocalyptic scenarios. But hold on a minute—let's take a step back and consider a different perspective, one that's rooted in God’s word. Enter Jeremiah 29:4-9, a passage that speaks volumes about finding peace and purpose in the midst of uncertainty. Imagine receiving a letter from a proph

This year starts our 3rd year of Metron Ministries. It feels like we just started but we look back on specific churches, trips, and individuals and it sounds like it has been much longer. When we began we believed God was leading Marie and I (rather strongly, I might add) to stay mobile and, specifically, to live in a motorhome. We are sailors and had dreamed of life on a sailboat, but we had never had any desire or leading towards RV life. But we sold everything and, two yea

In our travels, we talk with many pastors and leaders. Several are in the last season of their careers and are contemplating retirement and transitioning from a life of full-time ministry. In conversations with these, and others I know who have already moved into retirement, I have heard some express concern over their life work, the churches or ministries they've built, and the legacy they will leave. I'm also reaching the age where I have begun to think about things like in

Nicky Gumbel This past month I visited the Vineyard Church in Urbana, IL. As I was sitting in Happy Leman’s office, I paused to take a picture of this sign on his wall. It featured Nicky Gumbel and this quote, “I’m longing to see people ordained who have been trapped by ageism. Research shows the most productive decade of your life is 60 to 70. The second is 70 to 80. And the third is 50 to 60. The Church has not adapted to this. Caleb was still as strong at 85 as he had been

Click below to download a printable pdf version of "Father's Love Letter" My Child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1 I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3 Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27 In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28 I knew you even be

I've been thinking recently about the idea that God tests us. It has been an interesting year and it has stretched Marie and I in ways that we would not have imagined just a year ago. Some of these areas of stretching could be interpreted as tests. Now some might think a test from God comes as a judgment or punishment, but I don’t think that is the case and it's certainly not what I'm talking about here. So, what does scripture say about testing? We speak as men approved by

Marie and I have been living this adventure God has invited us on for over a year. We are still amazed at how he has provided and the generosity of so many of our friends and family. We also know that it will require much more to do all that we believe he is calling us to do. Our vision is to go wherever we are invited. We have ministered in more than 50 churches and We have set foot in 10 countries over the last 15 months. We have witnessed God stirring his people in the gif

It's hard to believe it's been a year since we began Metron Ministries. We have been far busier than any of us would have imagined as we launched out on this adventure. In the last year, we have visited churches in 4 countries, on 3 continents... 37 churches in all. We have seen at least 170 people come to know Jesus. We have witnessed more healings than we can count. We have watched the power of God bring encouragement to many of his leaders through prophetic words, prayer,

Marie and I just got back from 2 weeks in Zimbabwe. We went as part of a team with Jim Taylor and The Pointe Church in Brandon, Mississippi working through Grace Methodist Church International in Zimbabwe. GMCI is aggressively planting churches in unreached parts of the nation of Zimbabwe. They will identify a region needing a church, identify and train a Pastor to plant in that region, and take a team to do preaching events in that region for a few days to gather people, pr

Marie and I have just passed one year since we began Metron Ministries and did our first event. When we started my biggest fear was, "What if we don't have enough to do and can't stay busy?" Well... that's not been a problem. This has been an exciting year... far exceeding our expectations. I don't think we've been at home for more than 2 weekends in succession since January. We've traveled just a bit over 100,000 miles (according to Google, and I think it's missed a few). an