Conversations with Ray Martinez

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.