Start Sweating: It's NOT all small Stuff

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 Zadoian #29
Song: "Me and My Country" by Gor Mkhitarian
Ani’s Bubbles: Sand and Stone
Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Now on Stitcher Radio!

The Center Light is Greater than the Law & the Prophets

Next Step #164: The elements of the Transfiguration of the Lord are looked at through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy. Making sense of the water feast of Vartevar. Part 2 of 2 on the theme - understanding the CENTER figure as between Law and Prophet. (Part 1 - see NS episode #163) Seeking validity for ourselves from non-Christian sources. Summer readings and the fallacy in catch-up mentality. The Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 17 as the platform for this weekend.
Song: "Arev, Arev" by Mariam Matossian 
Ani's Bubbles "Little Wave"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Finding the Better Jesus

Next Step #155: Three statements about God:  From Harold Camping's destructive news of world’s end (5/21/2011), to Serj Tankian's criticism of organized religion (PTL/PTA) to Oprah's “Team” (and Jesus), Fr. Vazken explores the understanding of God and the Kingdom of Heaven in the context of Armenian Orthodoxy. Some comments after a pilgrimage to Yettem = Paradise is Heaven on Earth. No need to wait for future times - imagine Jesus as the LOVE equivalent today! Reject the absurdity of what is being taught.
Music "Takvor Gopke" by Inga & Anush; http://www.ingaanush.am/
Ani's Bubble - "Does it Matter?"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

Armodoxy: You Say You Want a Revolution?

Next Step #121: Defining the self within the structure of Armenian Orthodoxy as children of the 21st Century. “Validating” the new generation of Armodoxy as the last link in a chain, beginning with Time, with the center Golden Link Christ and an open end for what's to come. A tribute to John Lennon as his 70th birthday approaches- the Revolution of the Sixties and WWJS: What would Jesus sing? Avoiding the pitfalls of traditionalism by not giving too much credibility to past at the cost of discounting the present.
Globalization and the Armenian Church http://www.vimeo.com/15291175
Song: "11 11" by Rodrigo y Gabriela  http://www.rodgab.com/
Ani's Bubbles: The Golden House http://scrubsmag.com/nursing-theories-love-em-or-leave-em/
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

Grapes Invade Our Comfort Zones

Next Step #114: St. Mary's Assumption is an opportunity for Thanksgiving and reflections on motherhood, thru the lens of Armodoxy. Standing up for principles even in light of our comfort zones being violated. Questions worth asking: Why are apparitions of St. Mary so greasy? Would you say ‘yes’ to an unplanned pregnancy of Love? Is giving really better than receiving? Also: The Trump/Teresa show-down. The principles of the Mosque at Ground Zero.
Song: "Julia" by The Beatles
Ani’s Bubbles: "Who Packed Your Parachuette?"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

Solstice Celebration: Light, Love and Life

Next Step #80: Winter Solstice Edition - Celebrating Love, Light and Life - The Birth of the Son and the Birth of the Sun are looked at through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy. Children’s memorial: never letting these precious lives be forgotten, in real and concrete expressions. Shall we stop dreaming and imagining PEACE, now that Obama has given an excuse for violence? A look at Christmas shopping: WWJWFHB? And how an 8 year old changed his Christmas from getting to giving (to the homeless). This is a podcast in a series of Advent messages with a very fresh and unique flavor.
Linked info at:
Forgiveness: www.7x77.org;
Nataline Sarkisyan: http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/;
Vahagn Setian: http://vahagnfoundation.org/;
Compassionate Friends: www.compassionatefriends.org;
In His Shoes: www.InHisShoes.org
Ani's Bubble – A Child Explains God
Song: Gor Mkhitarian's "About Light"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for www.epostle.net
Sponsored by www.Pomegranateandeye.etsy.com

Hallowed Saints: Under the Masks

Next Step #73: Halloween through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy, as a challenge to find the saints around us - living with them as they live within us. Under the masks, there's a self that waits (and needs) to be discovered. A podcast filled with Tricks and Treats.
Song: Gomidas' Pontifical Wish on 10th Anniversary of Enthronement of HH Karekin II
Ani's Bubbles: Father and Son
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for Epostle.net
Sponsored by Predator Cycling - www.predatorcycling.com

Exercising Exorcism “as viewed through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy”

Next Step #70: It’s not all about head-spins and vomit, as Fr. Vazken follows up on last week’s report of exorcism. The nature/nurture argument in defining evil and the devil. Where are balances of good and evil in our lives. Bulletin from the Vatican about New Media in the church. A look at spirituality in the world and rising trends. Some personal thoughts on post-Genocide walking in the shoes of others.
Ani's Bubbles: Sand and Stone
Song of the Day: Shogher Jan performed by Gor Mkhitarian written by Gomidas Vartabed and celebrating the 140th Anniversary of the monk’s birth
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for Epostle.net
Sponsored by Pomegranateandeye.etsy.com

Celebrating Life and Love

"If the world be all yours, what will you take with you? Love God, love people, and love your beloved." -- Sayat Nova

From Groundhogs Day to Candlemas and Dyarntarach; from St. Valentine to Sayat Nova, this podcast is a celebration of new beginnings and a celebration of life and love. Our Lord, Jesus Christ is Love incarnate and in Him is the manifestation of all intensities of Love. Fr. Vazken challenges the listener to look at the all encompassing nature of love, and shows us how religion and culture come together to help us understand the realities of the world.

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian looks at politics and the power of religion in society. Religion is not only a matter of personal faith but could also be a potent force of political mobilization and even revolution.

Special musical treat is a performance by Nune Yesayan singing Sayat Nova's Kamancha.

The Three "O"s

From Pythagoras to Narekatzi, from physics to religion – this podcast brings spiritual applications to physical laws… well, sort of. Fr. Vazken explores the “Three “O”-s that everyone should know – Oshagan, Ostrich and Obama - it’s a small portion of the USC lecture (2/2/09) that challenged students to find answers in ancient Armenian orthodoxy to some of the big issues confronting the world. Also – letters discussing extinction of the church, Catholic looking at Orthodox, and the parent/child songs.


Global Perspective by Hratch Tchilingirian: More on Greed (pt. 2) as reason for economic collapse. It’s a spiritual perspective too.

Bubbles by Ani Burr: A lamentation of the St. Gregory of Narek.

Musical Selection: “Blessing” from Gor Mkhitarian’s SPIRIT Album – Available for online purchase from the In His Shoes Shop

Revelations from the River to the Oven

The first broadcast of the New Year brings in a new message of revealed love. Fr. Vazken takes the listener from the River Jordan to temperatures beyond Fahrenheit. Is that Setrak or Shadrach? Misak or Meshach? Abo or Satchmo? What? Even Louis makes an appearance on this podcast, but who’s singing the Song of the Three? The oven is full of protest but hope for tomorrow. Tune in to start the new year with a revelation that comes only from above.

All Things New

The New Year’s Eve Edition of The Next Step takes a look at virtual reality as composed by the demise of a household product. Can we hit a rewind button to find out? The Advent season comes to an end with the arrival of Theophany - just in time for the new year! Listen how Christ makes all things new, through His Love! Peace is just waiting to happen as Fr. Vazken weaves the listener through the first week of the New Year.

Sun makes way for the Son

Celebrating Christmas before or after the New Year. Does it matter? To some yes, but from the Armenian Orthodox perspective, it's one of many trappings that skew us from the Truth. What about the Bible? Did it come from God? Dare we say that there are means to God beyond the Bible? And if so, what does that say about the truth of the Bible? Find out in this podcast which explains a bit more than the date of Christmas. Travel back in time to the first thoughts of religion and find out how fact and truth can end up on two different sides of the coin. And all this occurs as our planet takes a spin around the outer rim of its orbit around the Sun. Happy Solstice and a Merry Christmas to all!

Featured Songs: Carols by Joan Baez, Victory by Gor Mkhitarian

The Ox, House, and Wife on Advent

On the Great Banquet, or WWJWFHB = (What would Jesus want for his Birthday?) The answer is given in scripture and in this podcast! What were the Jesus "parents" like? We got a glimpse of them in Montrose, of all places. And what a headache they COULD have had, instead did they take the Advent prescription? Only Mary's pharmacist knows for sure? This is one of a series of podcasts following the Advent journey to Christmas. At the end of the road is the prize: A new view of Christmas - not in a stable in Bethlehem, but as the only true representation of Christ's revelation.
Music: Gor Mkhitarian plays the Lord's Prayer - a new rendition of Jesus' words. Join in for all the excitement of this Holiday cast.

Shaking Christmas Vampires

You’ll find this episode filled with “Happy Holiday” cheer, and here’s a hint: it’s not because Fr. Vazken wants to be politically correct! Christmas is coming and with the season of Advent, you’re invited to look within and at how the Christ child is being born around you and then within.

Also, in this episode we look at Vampires and the undead. As crowds line up to watch “Twilight” and emotions heat up, we compare it with the undead in the church, namely the saints, both those with a capital and a small ‘S’. The last segment of the podcast is dedicated to the 20^th Anniversary of the earthquake in Armenia (December 7, 1988) and the formation of Armenian electronic multimedia through sain.org and the foundation for In His Shoes Ministries.

Featured song: “About Light” by Gor Mkhitarian

Giving a Thanks Blessing

Stuffed Turkey, dressing and… Mother Goose? Not quite, but there is so much more to the holiday than the culinary delights that have … how do you say? Given us that je ne sais quoi satisfaction of the the salivary glands. It's certainly not the addition of pilaf to the Thanksgiving menu that makes Thanksgiving come alive in the Armenian Orthodox tradition. Just like other feasts on our church calendar that give us opportunities to live out the message of Christ, Thanksgiving allows us to acknowledge that there’s something greater than ourselves. Fr. Vazken take the next step toward defining the richness of the Thanksgiving experience by poking at the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18) and challenging listeners to give a thanks-blessing.

Featured songs: Mariam Matossian’s “Arev Arev” from In the Light album and Gor Mkitarian’s "Blessing" (Orhnutyun) from the not-yet-released Spirit album. On December 18, In His Shoes will proudly present Gor’s “Spirit” CD Release Concert at Zipper Hall with opening performance by Mariam Matossian. Tickets available online: ItsMySeat.com

Beneath the Halloween Mask of Life

Boo! This podcast in not designed to scare you, only to make you think. Here's an opportunity to examine the masks we all wear in life. Fr. Vazken carefully removes the layers that guard and protect us and beneath are no monsters but a pure heart given by God. A unique exposé on the Obama/McCain campaigns in light of the faith vote. Armenian Orthodoxy extends to this discussion of Halloween, masks, and fear.

The Poor, the Prisoners, and the Blind

In the Gospel of Luke Jesus says,
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”
This week Fr. Vazken explores finding peace in our lives and understanding Christ’s mission. Poverty does not equate having empty pockets, prisoners are not those in jail cells, the blind are not those without eyeballs in their sockets. This is a podcast that sets the cornerstone for all others because it describes the mission of the Christian church and the work of Christians in this world. Take a journey with Fr. Vazken as he reveals the special place this passage holds in his ministry.

Allowing Spiritual Blessings to Dispel Our Fears

Market meltdowns and financial difficulties put us in crisis mode and throw us into a state of fear. How do we get a handle on this fear? How do we cope with the anxiety caused by the current economic crisis? The challenge is to take the emphasis off of the physical, material world, and direct our sights on the spiritual happiness that can be obtained in our lives. Also in this episode is a new prayer celebrating the newly blessed miuron (holy chrism) just delivered to us. The holy miuron allows us to enlighten our senses to touch the Face of God. It’s an opportunity for us to renew our faith and mission. It allows us to connect to something that goes back 2000 years, that is the essence of God, Jesus Christ. We’re called to be a part of this Living Tradition.

Cross Section Too

There’s a difference between the crosses that we must bear and tolerate – the crosses we’re given – and the crosses that Jesus talks about, the ones He tells us to pick up and follow. The way of this cross is the cross of sacrifice and humility. And in picking up this cross, we accept the responsibility towards our family, our community, and our world. Fr. Vazken takes up and probes this dimension of the cross; the meaning in our lives comes from a life lived for others. What is the power and importance of the cross in our lives?

Musical selection is “Emmanuel Calling” from Credo’s album, The Rock Opera of the Greatest Story.