Conversations with Ray Martinez

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...

This was an unexpected event while preparing to deliver a speech to a group of Gideons in Canyon City, CO.  I took a tour of the old Abbey Chapel that used to be a monk monastery many years ago, and later a Catholic High School.  While tour around the old chapel before my speech, I heard bells from heaven.  You will understand more after listening to this podcast.

What a captivating question that made me reflect, not only what I missed, but an experience while in boot camp.  I was mysteriously rescued a couple of times while training in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO

Conversations always go all over the board.  In this particular podcast, I was talking with some friends about how we used to travel to school as kids.  This gave me a chance to reflect my first "hand-made" bicycle that my Dad and Hank Chavez built from parts at the City Dump. Riding at the back of the bus was suppose to be punishment, but we found excitement out of the ordeal.

I loved my Grandma Moore.  So, I've chose to share some of my childhood memories and experience with her.  In the stillness of her life, I learned that the less I had, the more I gained with my creative side, and having a visionary mindset of what I could accomplish.

Continuing with my weekly teaching, we are talking today about giving...as one passage talks about not letting your right hand know what the left hand is doing.  Yet, we read about so many people in the bible who gave...so they were known?  Why?  It might have something to do with our motives, and that's what we are learning this week.

In this episode, I share a personal story of defeat and victory.  Coach Hal Kinard played a KEY role in my life as my coach in Junior High School.  His life lesson had an immeasurable impact on my life.  He taught me about having a strong will and being a "can do" person. When I was weak, Coach Kinard made me strong.  This is another example of, what I believe, God using other people to influence...

This is an epic story about how my first job took me to the top job in the City.  Shining shoes, shined a whole new light  on my life with a bright future and a vision that became real.  I'm thankful for the people in my life that encouraged me to be successful. I've always believed that God influenced people to influence me with  with a "can do" attitude .

This story surrounds some of our cultural values, especially with my adoptive mom.  She always wanted us to "be as equals" to everyone else.  Mom didn't want us to appear poor, but she certainly wasn't ashamed of our culture. Yet, she didn't want to give anyone cause to gossip about us either.  This story centers around tortillas that helped me become even more proud of my heritage...

While growing up in the orphanage, I learned three important values that have stuck with me all my life.  Those values helped me with decisions in life, how to treat people.  Those values kept me humble.  When I do get upset, I reflect on my early rearing at the orphanage, which gives me calm.  I share three example stories for each value.

I'm often asked what were my favorite TV shows were as a kid?  Well, I'm still a little old school, but I think you will understand why in this podcast and what some of those old television shows taught me in life.  Maybe some of those old shows helped you too.

Some of my favorite childhood toys were very simple, like the stuffed dog that my adoptive parents gave me when they picked me up from the Colorado State Orphanage for Neglected and Dependent Children.  My mother kept for many years.  I found it in her cedar chest when she passed away in 1994.  To this day, I have kept the first toy I ever owned and place it under the Christmas tree...

This teaching is what Jesus commanded us to do, and that is to love your enemies.  Nevertheless, he teaches us how to love your enemies so you are not holding any grudges or contempt.  Two major steps are explained.  I find His solution rewarding, practical, and doable

How should Christians handle disputes?  I interviewed Thaylor Iron Rope, a devote student of the bible, about this question.  He had some poignant view points and understanding of the Word.  Thaylor has published a book, The Book of Service, that can be found on Amazon, BN, and other online outlets.  Thaylor Iron Rope is a Native American from the Lakota tribe.  His ancest...