Strip Away to Faith

Next Step #234: Did you survive Black Friday & Cyber Monday? Now engage in the art of belly-dancing - it's a strip -tease to uncover faith. The New Israel is not a place, so seek your mind on God's Kingdom first. Issues of identity and belonging in a pluralistic society are discussed. How to read the Bible: avoid the literal and find God. MLK Retreat and a vending machine that dispenses caviar and snails - all in the mix in this Next Step.
Pomegranate Seeds by Anush: The Nest: Half Empty or Half Full?
Song: Hover Chamber Choir of Armenia - "The sea of life always tosses me about"
Harry Hagopian blogs:
GAZA: http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/israel-hamas-gaza-ceasefire
MENA: http://www.catholicnews.org.uk/mena28
Compass #33 - Belonging Dilemma and the Kingdom
Caviar vending machines in Burbank
Jethro Tull 40th Anniversary TAAB
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
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Thanksgiving Thoughts from Bob to Bob

Next Step #233: On a day remembered for the Kennedy Assassination, JFK sets the tone with thoughts on Thanksgiving. But there are more thoughts - from Bob, a homeless man on the streets of LA. Fr. Vazken explores beyond the traditions and connects with the models of thanksgiving old and new. Pilgrims to Black Friday ego-feasts, laced with Saturation Point Theology - as expressed by Christ in the parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12). A plea from John Lennon to look for peace instead of the extra TV, coupled with a plea to make God real everyday - not in a Telethon Way. This is the Thanksgiving edition of the Next Step!
"Lessons from Bob" by Anush Avejic
Song: Flora Martirosian - "Dzovastghik" 
President Kennedy's 1961 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Sun Sash: http://sunsash.blogspot.com
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Now on Stitcher Radio! 

Reconciling with the senseless and the unnatural

Next Step #232: An emotional unwinding of ideas at the death of a little girl. Fr. Vazken explores this tragedy from a pastoral standpoint, bringing together Armenian Orthodox themes - Discovery of the Cross and the raising of the sleeping child (Luke 8).  The vastness of the universe and a solar eclipse point to a unique ministry to the childless - a calling NOBODY wants. Wars, genocide, health, this time the page won't turn. Other topics: The success of the Jehovah's Witness. Participating vs. observing - and selling the product. The Supermarket model of Orthodoxy and the need to specialize to survive in the global marketplace of religion. And the child who selected a (Coptic) Pope. 
Song: Paul McCartney's "Calico Skies" 
Selecting the Coptic Pope
Dr. Harry Hagopian on the new Pope
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
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Barking at Caravans

Next Step #231: Extending the concept of "undanik" to "under heaven" in understanding the family of God (Storm Sandy and walking In His Shoes). Fr. Vazken explains that Matthew 12:46-50 is not a lesson in biology as rude as it may seem. Extending Christian values and Church to Genocides and wars in Darfur and Syria as well as the death in our own backyards via In His Shoes. The Obama Victory: The silly-willy Armenian politics that bark at the caravan. "As for me," says Fr. Vazken, "I was there with Obama - no brag, just fact." Youth and the Church - the problem beyond Armenian Church. More on the crimes of the priest who was defrocked. Grandpa & FDR Democrats/Grandma' baklava for James Roosevelt - it was her thanks for the last station of the caravan.
Sermon: "Politics, God & the Kingdom"  
Song: "Caravan" by Armen Chamakian 
Obama's Acceptance Speech
Sun Sash: http://sunsash.blogspot.com
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Now on Stitcher Radio! 

Obnoxious Voices from the Ridge

Next Step #230: Nietzche's formula for cheer applied to the Armenian Church via Armodoxy. Fr. Vazken's "Protest Manual" is revealed talking about effective protest and ill-fated varieties against the establishment. Bringing about change from within and not without. The imperfect-perfect Body of Christ. Challenges to the disenfranchised members of the Armenian Church community. Unveiling of the Datev Outreach program. Celebrating Halloween the Armodoxy way.
Get Sun Sash FREE - www.SunSash.blogspot.com
Unveiling: http://DatevOutreach.org
Window article: http://acrag.wordpress.com/1991/06/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Now on Stitcher Radio!