Conversations with Ray Martinez

“Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover, and grow stronger in the face of adversity, challenges, or setbacks, often involving mental, emotional, or spiritual toughness to bounce back from difficulties.” In the Bible, resilience is closely tied to themes of perseverance, endurance, and steadfast faith in God during trials.  Listen in as we take a deeper dive into resilience.

No matter what we’re facing today, we can trust that God holds our future—both on earth and in heaven—in His mighty hands. Perhaps then we can sleep in peace more easily. What worries keep you awake at night?  How can you learn to surrender them to God and hold on to His promises? Let’s keep in mind that Peter “was sleeping” the “night before Herod was to bring him to trial” (Acts 12:6).  Listen i...

The Bible teaches that Satan was created in perfection and given a prominent position in heaven ( Ezekiel 28:11–15 ).  He was “full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” (verse 12). God appointed him the highest-ranking angel. From his place of great privilege, Satan led possibly one third of heaven’s angels in a rebellion against God. Listen in as we take a deep dive into, how did angels sin if heaven...

Psalm 35 is a powerful psalm attributed to David, often classified as an imprecatory psalm (one that calls on God to judge or defeat enemies).  It vividly expresses pleas for divine intervention against unjust opposition, making it highly relevant to spiritual struggles—those internal and external battles involving temptation, oppression, fear, demonic influences, or persecution that believers fac...

Tradition says that Francis of Assisi created the very first Christmas nativity scene in AD 1223 after a trip to the Holy Land and Christ’s birthplace. So began a new tradition that took root in many Western countries. Yes, Saint Nicholas was a real historical person, and he is one of the key historical roots of the modern Christmas figure Santa Claus. Who was the real St. Nicholas? Listen in as w...

This is one of the strangest and most sobering stories in the Old Testament. God sends a young prophet (he is unnamed in the text; often called “the man of God from Judah”) to Bethel to prophesy against King Jeroboam’s false altar. An old prophet who lives in Bethel hears about it, catches up with the young prophet, and lies to him, saying, “An angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘B...

We don’t know who wrote Psalm 118, and it is not attributed to David in the Bible itself. It is an anonymous psalm, most likely composed several hundred years after David lived. It is a declaration of praise and gratitude, recognizing that every day is a gift from God and an opportunity to rejoice, regardless of circumstances. Let's take a deeper dive into the full meaning of this great verse.

The Bible does not address healthcare directly and of course says nothing about socialized medicine or other political issues related to modern healthcare. But the Bible is definitely pro-health and encourages us to take care of our bodies. Our bodies are creations of God and, for the believer, temples of the Holy Spirit. Listen in for bodily living for Christ.

The Bible teaches that our eternal future will not be as disembodied spirits floating in some ethereal heaven, but as fully physical human beings with resurrected bodies, living on a renewed, physical New Earth.  Jesus Himself, after His resurrection, had a real, tangible body—He walked with His disciples on the road to Emmaus, spoke with them behind locked doors, invited Thomas to touch His wound...

True discipleship is proven not by an emotional moment but by continual abiding (Greek menō, “dwell”) in His word, just as He later teaches that anyone who does not remain in Him is thrown away like a useless branch and withers, while those whose lives are intertwined with His words may ask anything and receive it (John 15:6-7); such endurance is the evidence of authentic belonging, for those who...

Psalm 46:10 is a divine whisper to our hurried hearts, a radiant call to pause, breathe, and anchor ourselves in the unshakable truth of God’s sovereignty. To "be still" is not just to stop moving—it’s an invitation to release our burdens, silence our fears, and surrender our need to control life’s storms.  Listen in for more insight for living.

Psalm 51 is widely regarded as one of the most heartfelt chapters in the Book of Psalms, known for its raw, emotional plea for mercy, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal. It is a psalm of David, regarding the time Nathan the prophet came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. Listen in so we can understand how this applies to us in today's world.

Most people read, "The Lord is my shepherd" and think it's just a nice, comforting verse. But when you understand what a shepherd actually did in biblical times, everything changes. Shepherds weren't gentle caretakers sitting in meadows. They were warriors, professional protectors armed with clubs and slings, ready to fight off lions, bears, and thieves.  Listen in as we take a d...

I’m thrilled to share the latest episode to shine a spotlight on Ron Lautzenheiser, owner of Big O Tires and the distinguished recipient of the 2025 Tire Dealer Humanitarian Award! In this episode, we celebrate Ron’s incredible journey from corporate leadership to impactful philanthropy, showcasing his unwavering dedication to community development and humanitarian causes. Tune in to discover how...

Matthew 18:1-11, particularly verse 10, connects God’s holy angels to humanity by emphasizing their protective and intercessory role.  Jesus warns against despising or looking down on "these little ones" (referring to children or humble believers), stating, "For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of my heavenly Father" (NLT). This suggests that an...

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a comprehensive peace plan for the Middle East, focusing on ending the conflict with Hamas and creating a path to stability in Gaza. 

What does it mean that Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor” (Isaiah 9:6)? When Isaiah wrote his prediction of the coming of the “Wonderful Counselor” ( Isaiah 9:6 ), he was spurring Israel to remember their Messiah was indeed coming to establish His Kingdom ( Isaiah 9:7 ).  Isaiah was writing nearly 800 years before Christ. This period of history was tumultuous as the Assyrians were on the march, ta...

Jesus seeks those who are wayward, even those who don’t realize they’re lost. This is the essence of amazing grace, as the hymn so beautifully captures: “I once was lost, but now am found.”  Every one of us, by nature, is like that wayward sheep, wandering far from the fold until Christ, the Good Shepherd, comes to find us (John 10:11). Listen so we can take a deep dive into the lost and found.

Global tribulation—remains a highly debated topic in Christian theology. It is not a settled doctrine but an interpretive framework based on biblical exegesis, historical analysis, and theological reasoning.  There is no empirical "scientific" evidence, as the rapture is an eschatological (end-times) belief rooted in scripture. Instead, "research" here refers to scholarly books...

The debate over the rapture—whether there will be a literal event where believers are taken up to meet Christ before a period of tribulation—has been a point of contention among Christians.  Those who deny the rapture, or question its common evangelical interpretation (often tied to dispensational premillennialism), typically argue from theological, historical, and scriptural perspectives. Last we...

We will explore the concept of the rapture and whether it is true. This is a three-part series on the rapture. In this episode, we discuss why the rapture may be real. The next episode will examine why the rapture may not occur. In our third episode, we will weigh the evidence to determine which case holds more validity. This promises to be an exciting series you won’t want to miss! Listen in as w...

These are unsettling words. Jesus, whom we often associate with peace, declares He came to bring division. This seems to contradict the angelic proclamation in Luke 2:14 (NLT): “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Yet, Jesus’ mission is not to broker a superficial peace but to ignite a refining, illuminating fire—a fire that demands a response, ev...

The contrast between "weeping" and "joy" reflects the transient nature of hardship compared to the lasting hope and restoration found in God’s faithfulness. To unpack this verse and weave its meaning with parallel scriptures and biblical stories, let’s explore its themes of temporary sorrow, divine restoration, and the promise of joy, supported by examples from Scripture. Liste...

The distinction between God’s presence and God’s power in Christian theology reflects different aspects of God’s nature and interaction with humanity. While closely related, they emphasize distinct ways God reveals Himself and works in the world.  Listen in for a deeper dive into the differences.

Luke 11:5-13 is a passage where Jesus teaches about the persistence and boldness required in prayer, emphasizing God’s willingness to respond to those who seek Him. This section follows the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4) and expands on the nature of prayer through a parable and direct teaching. The passage highlights several key theological and practical points. One of those is to "keep on knock...