Conversations with Ray Martinez

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...

Everyone has things in life they can't do with out, right?  Some of the obvious is food, water, and for other medication.  I share my personal things in life that I just cannot do away with, i.e. friends, a confidant, family, and God.  I find it difficult to not have social friends as well.  Iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

We are learning that Jesus was emphatic about not worrying about matters that He can help us with, which is everything when we think about it.  The Mayo Clinic has a list of physical side affects when it comes to worry or anxiety.  Jesus wants us to stay focused, and know that he he has  “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Don't wor...

I think most of us worried about money growing up to some degree.  My parents seemed like they were always just getting by, but yet we were happy.  I always paid my way through life, and I didn't like debt of any sort.  Jack Rauch was a car dealership in town, and he gave me my first car loan for a 1961 Cadillac DeVille ($500) on a handshake, after he talked to my dad.  Some ho...

As we continue our discussion about Jesus' sermon on the mount, we are learning about money.  Nothing wrong with money as long as it doesn't control you?  It's nice to have things, but don't let things have you.  We learn  much about why it is good to have money when it's utilized in a smart way.  The more you have the more responsibility rests on you.  Giving is equa...

I've had some great conversations with Charlie Winn, MD, about healthcare.  He stimulates some excellent thoughts to cause us to ponder.  I share some of those views from my perspective.  Everyone wants personal care, with the doctor of our choice whom we trust. We can't afford to kick the can down the road anymore.

I remember the day JFK was shot to death like it happened yesterday. While in my sixth grade class, our teacher at Putnam Elementary school, Bob Asmus, walked into our classroom with the most somber, shocked, and emotional expression I’ve ever seen.  It seemed like the whole world was watching the news anchorman, Walter Cronkite, breaking the news as it was coming in rapidly as to what happen...

We are learning how to fast and why fasting is important.  How does it add to our power of prayer?  Can it change history or the course of our country? It Happened in Britain in 1756.  John Wesley tells us in his journal of a similar kind of deliverance in 1756. The king of Britain called for a day of solemn prayer and fasting because of a threatened invasion of the French. In 1990...

Brandon Unitt was a Larimer County Ranger who lost his life on August 20, 2020, responding to a call on Horsetooth Reservior to help people that were in distress because of an existing storm.  During the course of responding, Brandon accidentally drowned, but heroically.  It was less about Brandon and more about others--that was his character.  He served in the US Marine, and as a f...

...sharing why I like Cory Gardner as our US Senator, based on facts and work completed and in progress.  I share some specific view points from my perspective.  Cory works on our economy, environment, jobs, most importantly to me is our transportation in Colorado that impacts all of these key points.

Like anything else, the more we put our faith into action, the stronger it gets.  Visualize this as a muscle--working out in the gym consistently will build stronger muscles.  I identify  five key points that impacts my life in becoming stronger.  Through this, I share a story about a blindman's lesson in life for me, which made me stronger.  What does a blindman see?

When we think of "The Lord's Prayer", we are left with the thought that Jesus was asking us to use these exact words, when in fact, He left us with a model prayer to use so we don't leave anything out that is very important to the Father.  We are to give glory to Him, and do His will like it is in heaven.  Also, to forgive others so we can be blessed, and to realize we cannot handle the...