Next Step #222: Hungary releases a killer/Azerbaijan rewards a killer and Justice is threatened everywhere. Fr. Vazken pushes the story outside of politics with a reminder of Dr. King's warning, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everyone." Catholicos Karekin II calls for action. Moving the clock from 24 hours to 140 characters and moving the Christian outside his/her comfort level. A "Baku style wedding" leaves everyone moved to tears as a King and Queen take their child to the altar of...
Sep 07, 2012
Next Step 221: Fundamentals of Christianity come out as we start sweating the large stuff. Following the hijacking of the Christian Church, is Orthodoxy up for a kidnapping? Misconceptions are keeping us from reaching our potential and finding Peace. Jesus and the Pussy Riots - it's about change, it's about revolution - turning over the tables of life. The Good Samaritan might have been a punk rocker or even a Turk - he was there to take us out of our comfort zone. Forget the words, listen to th...
Aug 31, 2012
Next Step 220: In this Next Step, Fr. Vazken challenges the notion that "it's all small stuff" by pointing to the disastrous consequence of such thinking: a church that has lost relevance. Abp. Shnork's example of the bridge that is too beautiful to cross is used as a metaphor for many traditional (read Orthodox) churches that have become breeding grounds quality picnics, dinners and Bingo, while losing the sense of Mission, the Gospel of Hope and the Path to Resurrection. Compass with Linda Zad...
Aug 23, 2012
Next Step 219: Why isn't juggling in the Olympics? H2O-Polo Coach Adam Krikorian on the world stage with honesty and integrity. Taking the "Next Step" beyond the words of the Bible and allowing the Gospel to live. Affecting a World with the Power of Armodoxy. Syria - a directive to help. Grapeblessing challenge. Debating Jesus' Tax Plan. Making Jesus work for your argument - it's an exercise in spinning statistics - so exercise caution! Is Paul Ryan's Budget UnChristian? Song: "Last Dance" by Ar...
Aug 17, 2012
Next Step #218: Taking off from the London Olympics, competition gets tougher in life. Talents & blessings: how much is left to chance? St. Mary - Assumption feast makes for conversation on what to do with fish! Thoughts on the Mars landing. Song: Kilikia by The Beautified Project BBC/Hagopian on Syria BBC Podcasts Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com Now on Stitcher Radio!...
Aug 09, 2012
Next Step #217: Olympic size problems are in the 100th of seconds. Winners and losers are defined by milliseconds. We're not as tolerant when it comes to divorce - "hard-heartedness" prevents us from opting for faith, hope and love. Following up on the "Divorce Comma" from last week's lectionary reading - Matthew 19. Armodoxy answering the questions we ask. Armodoxy as a logical approach to daily dilemmas. Sermon: The Divorce Comma Song: Ov Siroon Siroon, Adiss & Vatche Produced by Suzie Sha...
Aug 03, 2012
Next Step #216: Who said, greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends? No really, who said it? Colorado shooting - a world where violence solves so much - why doesn't the alternative make sense? Do you really want to be like Steve Jobs? Wired Magazine presents the puzzle - he was a Buddhist and tyrant, a genius and a jerk, his life is an inspiration and a cautionary tale - Fr. Vazken puts it together with our personal reflections. Olympic time, again. Song: "Tamara" by John...
Jul 26, 2012
Next Step 215: Armodoxy in evolution - Celebrating the Priest as the Celebrant of Life. The wisdom of vartabed/kahana structure. Hovhaness Tomanian's battle against backwardness. Transfigured trilogy - Faith, Hope and Love. Developing evangelists based on the Apple mystique. Passings: Andy Griffith, Ernest Borgnine and Fr. Peter Gilquist. Song: " Gadag Bar " Vanoush Khanamirian Coming Home Rethinking Armenian Protestantism Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net Look for The Next Step on b...
Jul 20, 2012
Next Step #214: At the Transfiguration Peter loses sight of the celebration and asks the mundane. A look at Kazantzakis' Last Temptation of Christ, and some other bothersome questions: why death? why cancer? why children die? Reconnecting with the past and finding relevance. A trip up to the Sugar Pine. More on the Higgs Boson - and not losing the point at the Transfiguration. Ani's Bubbles: Hope - http://bacheegsandlove.blogspot.com/ Song: Uzundara Thoughts on Last Temptation Why you should car...
Jul 13, 2012
Next Step #213: Looking beyond the known universe and finding pre-Big Bang evidence. The discovery of the Higgs boson God particle - St. Gregory anticipated it. Additions to the Creed - Pontius Pilate is absent but St. Gregory's Proclamation is in place in the Armenian tradition. Excerpts from the dinner conversation with Arman Satchyan, winner of the auction item. Earlier than Universe from Yerevan Higgs Boson - Discovery May Help Tell Universe's Secrets Higgs Boson cartoon Madame Kubah on Face...
Jul 06, 2012
Next Step #212: Returning from a trip to Wisconsin, Fr. Vazken explores some of the challenges of a Virtual Church. The Importance of touch, action and empathy in the Christian equation. Interview with Fr. Nareg Keutelian , pastor of St. John the Baptist Armenian Church, on technology, the church and the phenomenon of non-ethnic Armenian Church members. Is this where Armodoxy is headed? In Milwaukee: http://milwaukeearmenians.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/one-sunday-three-priests-a-family-celebration...
Jun 29, 2012
Next Step #211: A 35 year old debt is paid back, across generations and across continents with the passing of two gracious ladies Alice & Freda. Song: Yerginkn Ambel E by Artur Sedrakian Compass: " Tit for Tat " Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com...
Jun 21, 2012
Next Step #210: 4th Anniversary Edition/Celebration. Australian Coffee - nothing down-under about it. Prove you're alive with this simple breathing experiment. The transcendence of time/space through the Church. The power of the Pentecost was the ability to transcend the temporal limitations. No need to check-in your brain to follow Armodoxy. "Etchmiadzin in Mission," said HH Karekin I, (1995-1999) - how to apply "etchmiadzin" to our daily and community life. Song: "Good morning, defeat" by Gor ...
Jun 15, 2012
Next Step #209: Poet/writer Lory Bedikian interviewed on "Book of Lamenting" - Topics: difficulties, lament, life-travels and healing. More topics discussed by Fr. Vazken on this episode - by-passing evil and "going to Hell." The Transit of Venus, on the Queen's Jubilee - Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl. "Etchmiadzin as Mission." Epostle.net at the end of Year #4 - what's done and what awaits. A visitor from Down Under. Book of Lamenting: http://www.anhinga.org/books/poet_info.cfm?poet_name=lor...
Jun 08, 2012
Next Step #208: Artificially inseminated women bringing their children for baptism? Continuing on discussions of same sex unions, the next step with the children. Finding better weapons to bring about peace. Is it possible? Here's a true story - Yvette's website. The Mormon dilemma of the evangelical right. Ani's Bubbles: Strength & Weakness Song: " As I am Alive " by Yeghish Manoukian (with Gregory Beylerian, dahm) Silent Auction: https://www.facebook.com/events/280249275402685/ Yvette's We...
May 31, 2012
Next Step #207: Beginning steps in sexual and reproductive ethics, in light of Obama's evolutionary revelation. Expressions of gay lifestyle and tolerance through the Armodox lens. Another lens points to the Eclipse of the Sun. Reflections on the Pentecost feast and the descent of the Holy Spirit. Song: "Amen. Hayr Sourp" by Vazkenian Seminarians Ani's Bubbles: How much do you make? Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com...
May 24, 2012
Next Step #206: The Feast of Ascension (Hambartzum) is celebrated as a reminder of Christ's Great Commission, to take the Gospel message to the world. The power of God within our lives. Rejecting the superstitions of the destiny via Tumanian's poem, Anush. An Ascension day experience: are pork-chops the menu-item of choice? Have you seen the little piggies...? Why is Jesus missing from the list of philosophers? Cutting the 7 knots that keep us captive. Song: Excerpt from Anush Opera, live record...
May 17, 2012
Next Step #205: Obama evolves on homosexual marriages while others evolve on the genocide recognition. Gay and Lesbian Marriages and the Armodoxy Response; "Chapter" books have the answer. More on Mary Madelyn's status update from the Holy Sepulcher. Armodoxy surfaces. Song: "Sevani Tzugnors Baru" - 1970 Personal Recording Ani's Bubbles: Touchstone Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com...
May 11, 2012
Next Step #204: The infrastructure of the Church - necessity or hindrance to its mission? More than an exploration, Fr. Vazken begins a needed discussion about the workings (and trappings) of the Church. Business is a means of actualizing the goal and in the case of the Church, profits are measured differently. The case of Fr. Barthev, brings an interesting sideline discussion about the "Mission" of the Armenian Church. Looking beyond "normalcy." Ani's Bubbles: The Dinner Letter Song: " Haneluk ...
May 04, 2012
Next Step #203: Stories from a week of commemorations. The UCSB Commemoration and the lonely Turk. Santayana and Hitler - an axiom delivered 15 years later. In a Rwandan museum and the Question "Which Genocide?" as humanity running backwards.The Misunderstood Jesus and the power of Armodoxy: Overcoming with the power of love. European education and community issues. A priests log of commemoration events - bringing it all together with solid answers for victory. Links from today's show: In His Sh...
Apr 26, 2012
Next Step #202: In a month of Resurrection we're commemorating Genocide. Puzzle? Conundrum? Changing the language of conflict and understanding victory in terms expressed by Jesus. The path of the politicians, the challenge of St. Paul and the power of Christ come into play in this "Genocide Edition" of the Next Step. Fr. Vazken brings it all together with a Christian message that is powerful, victorious and full of peace. Also -The April shower of tears won't lead to May flowers this time, but ...
Apr 19, 2012
Next Step #201: The message of resurrection after the celebration of Easter reverberates, but under what conditions? A look at the altar dynamics and the recreation of the "Badarak" as a sacrificial expression of friendship. Guest Linda Zadoian (from Compass ) discusses the evolution of the means by which evangelization takes place. Grass roots change to the Armenian Church. WWMMT: What would Mary Magdalen tweet? "I went to the tomb, it was empty!" Wouldn't it have been a shame if her tweet was ...
Apr 12, 2012
Next Step #200 : A reading of the Resurrection narrative according to Matthew - fear and joy exist together in anticipation of victory. Tracing the message of the Empty Tomb, courtesy of Thad & Bart, through Armenia and history. Arriving today-getting real with the resurrection in your life, discovering the joy of Mystery - fear and joy existing together - deep in life. Ani's Bubbles - The Poor Rich Family Daily messages for Holy Week Song: " Govya Yerusaghem " Lusine Zakarian "Khorhoort Kho...
Apr 06, 2012
Next Step #199: Revisiting the disenfranchised community (and we're NOT talking about those who don't attend church.) Targeting Armodoxy to the "three groups." The Church and its relevancy to the multitalented/multidimensional individual. HH Vazken I of Blessed Memory (1955-1994), guiding the Armenian Church from Cold War to Independence: the Working of the Holy Spirit; Remembering the "Thief on the Cross" and then remembering ourselves. The "Opportunity Clause" used by Christians to rationalize...
Mar 29, 2012
Next Step #198: EXCLUSIVE: Reflections on the Passing of HH Pope Shenouda III, connecting with the Middle East and Armenians by Harry Hagopian. On the positive side of Lent - the power of Prayer, as expressed in physics and singularity. Black Hole Events to Killing Cancer. A first look at Holy Week with more to come... Ani's Bubbles: Animal Crackers Song: Cross of Gold by Darrell Grant on " Truth & Reconciliation " Links: Pope Shenouda's passing: http://youtu.be/b5CyiwnvW9A Pope Shenouda Tri...
Mar 22, 2012
Next Step #197: An interview with Linda Maxwell, co-founder of We Care for Youth and from Bliss Unlimited. Linda has spent her life inspiring and motivating people, primarily young people, in a path of responsibility and action, all motivated by her deep seated belief and faith in the good. Listen in on this conversation about meaning and purpose, as Linda discusses her recent retreat in India as well as her life and her work. This is a coffee-break within a coffee-break. Part 1 of this Conversa...
Mar 16, 2012
Next Step #196: The true story of the Sun and the Moon is offered on this day of the full moon and solar flares. The story of the Dishonest Steward (Luke 16) sets the tone for a discussion of straddling two worlds - the physical and the spiritual, as Fr. Vazken opens a personal vortex into his ministry. This is a brief look at his own Lenten reflection and introspection. Loneliness and Joni Mitchell's concert? Song: Dele Yaman from the Raven CD I Confess with Faith: www.armenianorthodoxy.org/I_c...
Mar 09, 2012
Next Step #195: The day after Leap Day, we're syncing with the universe. The transforming power of Christ during the Lenten Season. A chance to reflect on the power of Abp. Vatche's Interview. Are Armenians Orthodox - on the heresy card, played by Orthodox, Catholics and Protestants. An inward look at the sin of the Church in reference to homosexuality. Digitizing LP's, Davey Jones' (Monkees) passing. Song: Kapama by the Armenian Song & Dance Ensemble Ani's Bubbles: "Great Love" Archbishop V...
Mar 02, 2012
Next Step #194: Quick! Word problem time - subtract the number of days of Lent from the total number of days in a year. Grab your calculator and press the RESET button on life. Find what is necessary in life and who's responsible for the challenges all around you. Adam and Eve have nothing on the Twinkie defense on this Expulsion Sunday. Vartan's battle continues with a Vatche, Zaven and Karekin in this new chapter of an old story. On the problems of crying and strength. Song: Lilit Danielyan "I...
Feb 24, 2012
Next Step #193: What makes St. Vartan "brave"? Another episode "from the desert" with analysis of courage and faith. On the fundamentalists and the rejection of literal translations of the Bible. Followup on the Domestic Violence Walk in Glendale. From Tempe Arizona. Song: "Yegeghetzin Haygagan" by the Students of the Vazkenian Seminary, Lake Sevan, Armenia Translation: http://zohrabcenter.wordpress.com/2010/03/24/cultural-tidbits-part-3-vahan-tekeyan-prince-of-poetry/ Ani's Bubbles: "The Rose W...
Feb 17, 2012
