Conversations with Ray Martinez

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 wh…

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 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 highe…

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…

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 w…

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 Pr…

The question asks whether these—heart, soul, strength, and mind—are distinct parts of a person according to the Bible, and if so, what the Greek words are and their specific meanings. Are These Disti…

This title reflects the central themes of the disciples being sent out with divine authority to proclaim the Kingdom of God, heal, and confront evil, while remaining dependent on God’s provision and …

Years ago, Rodney Smith, a fellow police officer with whom I served, and I attended a lecture at Colorado State University. The speaker, a woman addressing a topic that intrigued us, frequently cited…

The concept of "mysteries" in the Bible refers to truths or plans of God that were hidden or partially revealed in the past but are now disclosed, particularly through divine revelation in the New Te…

Week after week we confess our sins in church, hopefully.  I’d like to think as Christians we do it on a daily basis, maybe even on a hourly basis. There are times I catch myself asking for forgivene…

Genesis 11:1-9, often referred to as the Tower of Babel narrative, describes a time when humanity was unified by a single language and sought to build a city with a tower reaching the heavens to "mak…

Jesus prays for unity among all believers, present and future, mirroring the perfect unity between Him and the Father. This oneness is not just relational but spiritual, reflecting a shared purpose a…

In Philippi, Paul encounters Lydia, a businesswoman from Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth, a luxury good associated with wealth and status in the ancient world.  Lydia is described as a “worship…

“In a little While” is our message. Let’s also talk about the sorrow to joy and life lessons today. The transformation of sorrow into joy, a process rooted in God’s redemptive plan and sustained by H…

The Bible, particularly in the New Testament, addresses the practice of breaking bread and drinking wine, often called the Lord’s Supper or Communion. To determine whether Jesus is present among beli…

Jesus’ practice of giving his disciples names or nicknames, such as calling James and John the “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17), was deeply rooted in the cultural, spiritual, and relational dynamics of …

Our discussion today is to understand blood moons as divine signs in Scripture, their historical connection to significant events for Israel, and their relevance to the upcoming blood moons in 2025-2…