Conversations with Ray Martinez

Today I am sharing about what can make us miserable.  The more I talk about this, the more I realize that it is my choice in how I change the world around me.  In a cartoon, Pogo looks at himself in a mirror and says:  "I have met the enemy, and it is I."  I have to make the change in the world I live in today.

I couldn't pin down one event that I never expected would happen in my lifetime.  There are three major events in my life that are life changing for me.    Discovering my biological family in 2005, the covid-19 pandemic, and the 2020 presidential election.  You will hear my personal perspective, which isn't intended to sway anyone else.  Enjoy the conversation with me...

There is so much to be thankful for.  It's important that we know how to give thanks through our giving as well.  Thanksgiving, is giving thanks, and being thankful. In this podcast, we peruse through scriptures that teach us what we are thankful for, i.e. wisdom, circumstances, life, and peace are some examples you will hear about.

We all have our favorite cartoons that we can relate too, whether its our pets, our way of growing up, family living, or just a means of "getting away" from the tossing and turning of life today.  Some of the ones I liked were, Marmaduke, Dennis the Menace, Dick Tracy, Gravel Gertie, and the list goes on.  Humoring yourself is okay to do.  Try it.  You can also read this story...

This story was right after Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount.  A miraculous healing just took place of a diseased man, and Jesus told him not to tell anyone about it.  Well, he did tell many people and crowds surrounded him.  I think you will find this episode chalked full of take-aways and food for thought.  

It's hard to pick one story in my life of the funniest moment of my time.  So, I share a few of them that really pops to the top of my mind that made me laugh so hard, that my stomach hurt.  My adopted mother was a great story teller that always made you laugh about the old days and how they made something out of nothing.

This is a special day for Michele Campana, celebrating many years of success, happiness and endurement through a family of loving children, husband and parents.  One of the most organized moms I know that knows how to bring ecstasy and contentment to people around her.

This really is a comforting story/statement by Jesus about building our house on a firm foundation and not on the sand.  Which is likely to stand firm when a storm comes?  It's comforting to know how Jesus "has our back" when  the storms in our life come.  The cross references helps us understand why Jesus says these things for our edification.

You know how it is when you go out to coffee with friends with no particular agenda, the craziest questions pop up. So, here’s an obvious question. What are your favorite books? I have many favorite books. I enjoy reading. So I’ll just highlight some of the books at the top of my mind that I’ve really enjoyed.  I don't care for fiction, but I have read many of them.  True stories and boo...

Jesus is teaching about "self righteous people" who may claim they have done so much for God, but their true actions are not reflective of God's love for people.  Some may get to heaven making their case for entrance, but He may say, "I never knew you."  Jesus is good about "giving the bottomline" with plenty of examples to draw a clear conclusion about His message.

I think it's harder to work for your family than it is for the "other guy".  In the family business, much more perfection is required and the learning skills are fast and steep.  My dad taught me how to "hod-carry" and eventually learning how to become a bricklayer.  The school of hard-knocks is a good teaching skill that permanently impresses you to never forget.  Family value...

Jesus paints a clear picture of what a false prophet is like.  His colorful analogy of fruits, such as grapes and other fruit trees clearly illustrates what is good and what is bad with prophets.  I like His two prong test...the person prophesying must match the Word, and it must become true.  Well, that's easy enough to identify.  Nevertheless, many people are hoodwinked by fa...

I was asked to speak to young adults that were placed in a juvenile youth center.  Because of Covid-19, we couldn't be present.  I prepared a youtube video in lieu of being in person.  This is a recording of my presentation.  Sharing words of encouragement  that are peppered with real life stories and events in my life and others. If we change the way we look at things, th...

While in high school, I was involved with an adhoc committee with Student Council and I did write columns for the Silver Quill at Poudre High School.  Much of my activity in High School centered out side of school.  I was also a member of DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America).

This is an interesting study about Jesus stating that the gate is hard to enter and it is narrow...hard to travel?  Why?  What must we do?  A careful analysis of cross-referenced scriptures is enlightening and revealing of what must be done, and Jesus doesn't hesitate to "give us the bottom line" so we are not confused.

I was asked if my birth was unusual.  My story centers around where I was born, later given up for adoption and finding my biological mother in 2005, fifty-three years later. I found my birthplace, which was in a house, through Dr. Tim Foster, President of Mesa University. This was a journey.

Jesus gave us a commandment to love one another.  He also told us to do unto others as we would like done unto us.  This is about having mercy or putting yourself in someone else's shoes. We can obey all of the other commandments, but if we don't have love, we don't have anything to compel us to be obedient.

God has a unique conversation with Cain about his attitude and the killing of his brother, Able. It's clear that God provides a way out for us, if we are willing to listen, admit to wrong, and obey him.  Sometimes "we make our own bed."

I had so many people influence me as a kid growing up in Fort Collins. In this story, I focus on my Uncle Dave, who helped shape me.  He took a special interest in me in many ways.  One was to teach me how to play baseball with my cousins.  He passed away, and I do miss him a lot.  I can never forget how he treated me; he was  like a second Dad in my life.

This is a great teaching about ask and it shall be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open... Jesus is insightful about his understanding, using the analogy of parents wanting the best for their kids, but knowing when to say no.  This teaching will open your eyes.

Crazy questions come up and this one in particular usually rises to the top about music.  My favorite artists are all over the board like Bill Anderson, Bob Marley, Sam Cooke, etc.  I'm sharing why these artists move me...listen in if you have a few minutes.

We learned earlier about not judging, but in the very following verse Jesus talks about not judging others, and he gives examples of making good judgement like,  "don't throw your pearls to pigs", or "don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy". So this lesson is chalked full of great verses about using good discernment.  What does the bible say about discernment?

Growing up as a kid, I didn't know much about sports.  My first professional sports game was when the Yankees played the AAA Denver Bears in 1963 in an exhibition game. I never imagined meeting a famous person like Mickey Mantle, and shaking his hand without realizing who he was...I just thought he was a nice person.  My cousins lectured me all the way back home.

What does Jesus teach about judging others?  Nothing precludes us from judging rightly.  Even when we take some sort of test, someone is judging us if we pass or not.  Or, when kids are disciplined, are we not judging?  Facts and rumors can really make a difference on our judgement.  We explore many examples of right and wrong judgement.

I think of Latino heroes in my life growing up and how they made something out of nothing.  I'm encouraged from people like Dr. Gil Carbajal, Dr. Lupe Salazar, Sam and Consuelo Trijillo (Consuelo's drive through), the Gallegos family who started the G&S sanitation business by mowing lawns as kids, Willie Lopez who was our first Latino City Councilman and County Commissioner, and the list...