Thought Process toward Peace

Next Step #275: Fr. Vazken takes the listeners on a thought process regarding war and peace. It's absurd to believe that violence against violence will breed peace, but it's equally as absurd to believe that love and goodness against acts of violence can even survive. Here are some thoughts and a Christian answer to the evil that destroys hope. Also in this episode, Abp. Rowan Williams' thoughts on "persecution" and "growing up." Afterthoughts to the Avon Cancer Walk.
Song: Nune's "Cka Kesi Nman" 
Links: Inside the Pomegranate
Blog: The Other South, America
Compass: Anti War Protest
Video - Cancer, the War and The Candle
Archbishop Rowan Williams on the Persecution
Engineered by Ken T. Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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The Better Candle

Next Step #274: Lighting a candle is much better than cursing the darkness. Fr. Vazken looks at two darknesses - cancer (breast) and war (Syria) in this light. He follows the light from Jesus to us, and our responsibility to be beacons of peace and love. Rev. Martin Luther King's stand on Vietnam is used as inspiration for today.
Song: Peaceful World by Lara Derbedrosian
Compass - Anti War (#39)
Team In Her Shoes
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Dreaming Beyond a Speech and into Syria

Next Step #273: 50 years after Rev. Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr's "I have a Dream Speech," Fr. Vazken shares some thoughts and offers a challenge to dream of peace - bringing about peace without the use of violence. With the imminent threat of war in Syria, a candid look at our faith - do we really believe that we can overcome evil with love? Do we believe there are non-violent alternatives to threats of death and annihilation? Also a discussion of chickens and headless existence (in the context of the Armenian Church and Armodoxy)
Song: "Dream Song" by Joan Baez
The Speech
Transcript: http://www.inhisshoes.org/documents/MLK_dream.pdf
Harry Hagopian Podcast MENA: http://www.premier.org.uk/mena
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Chezok Factor: Put Your Name on It

Next Step #260:  Personalized Coke and hate speech on Facebook - protests and financial withholding bring about change in the market, and why not the Church? Foster families and children - an epidemic in the works. Datev Outreach and the "Godparent" oath of faith, hope and love.
Song: "Spirit in the Dark" Aretha Franklin with Get Well wishes
Anush's Pomegrante Seeds: Lessons From Vegas
Reference Articles:
Companies Pull Facebook Ads Over Violent Content
Personalized Coca-Colas, But Not If Your Name Is Mohammed Or Maria
Campaigners Force Facebook Into Hate Speech
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The Third Christmas Story: Theophany

Next Step #239: Theophany: Celebrating without Categories - Erotic, Filial, Agape - come together at the Asdvadzahaydnootiun = Theophany - God is revealed in Bethlehem, the Jordan - to the Wise Men and Shepherds, but did you hear about the Third Christmas Story by St. John? Check it out in this Orthodox understanding of the Christian message of peace and harmony. Armodoxy as it unfolds. Also - Baptism with a computer? Making 2013 a Year for Dreams!
Song: "New York" by Gor Mkhitarian
Jethro Tull Christmas Album
MLK Retreat - http://inhisshoes.org/MLK/MLK2013registration.html
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Holy Matrimony with Bubbles

Next Step #227: The "Mystery" of Holy Matrimony explained by a proud godfather as Ani Bubbles gets ready to walk the aisle. Whether you're a newlywed, been married for 50 years or contemplating the plunge, this episode explains the deep meaning of love, life and unity in Christ. A meaty stew of information in this one. Kings and Queens welcome. Coming job opportunities at Epostle too.
Song: Bambir's "Two Poets" from "Armenian Scotch" 
Ani's Bubbles: Steps to Happiness 
Sun Sash
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Olympic Size Divorce

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
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Evangelizing Apples, Life and Death

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
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The Traveling Genocide

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 Shoes: http://InHisShoes.org
Rwandan Genocide Blog: http://dervaz.blogspot.com/
Adam Schiff & Condoleezza Rice: http://youtu.be/OhF-y6k3AI8
April 24 in Etchmiadzin, Armenia: http://youtu.be/d1rJP2fbc38
Song: "Jesus" by Cat Stevens
Ani's Bubbles: He needed me.
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Hayoo Acher

Living Saints is Living Christ

Next Step #192:  A week of living saints - from Ghevont to Vartan and the Midwinter feast of Diaruntarch. Debut of Gor Mkhitarian's "New Life" - dedicated to the victims of domestic violence. This episode looks at domestic violence and the Christian response - it's about helping and healing. St. Joseph serves as an example of the great male lover. From monasteries to bleeding Marys, what would Christ do in the case of hurting families? Welcome to the team, Vahe.
Song: "New Life" by Gor Mkhitarian - www.gormusic.com
Ani's Bubbles: Children & Domestic Violence
Links - Tufenkian Foundation: http://www.tufenkianfoundation.org/
Globalization and the Armenian Church by Fr. Vazken: http://vimeo.com/15291175
Domestic Violence awareness event: www.inhisshoes.org
Vartan & Ghevont
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A Relevant Church does not Silently Protest

Next Step #190: When the Church turns relevant in the lives of the people it gives concrete means and ways of overcoming difficulties and tragedies. "Peace be with You" in light of terrorism - answers from the monastery. The act of love and care in the Early Church, as expressed in the book of Act. How the Einsteinian equation affects the USC-ASA. The Lost In Space Robot and imagination. Respecting the simple and rejecting the obscene. Introduction to the Presentation of the Lord (Luke 2:22) and the Rally against Domestic Violence.
Peace be with You by David Carlson
Robot Voice dies
Ani's Bubble: On Hope and Pediatric Nursing
Song: Datevik's "Ari Intz"
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Solstice Bells to Christmas Cheers

Next Step #185: Kick off the Winter Solstice with some Christmas Cheer. Unafraid and unashamed to claim the Solstice, Fr. Vazken finds the Christ Child in the Manger radiating the Love and Light that overcomes darkness. This podcast is a celebration with music, love and a message unlike any other, as Armodoxy is revealed. A very Merry Christmas to all! A Christmas/Solstice Celebration! Secrets revealed: Bob Dylan's reindeer and how Suzie got Ken to change his habits!
Ani's Christmas Bubble
Musical Links:
Jethro Tull's Christmas Album
Bob Dylan's "Christmas In the Heart"
Melanie's "Yes Santa, there is a Melanie"  
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The War is Over - Merry Christmas!

Next Step #184: News that the last of the American troops are pulling out of Iraq sets the pace for this Next Step. In the aftermath of war - an opportunity to seek lasting peace by eschewing politics and opting for a true spiritual understanding of life, humanity and the offer to love. Opting out of violence. A Merry Christmas to all! The conversion of Saul and a conversion at the Children's Memorial service. Advent "additions" in preparation for Theophany. 
Poverty hits Americans 1 in 2
John Belizekjian "What Child is This?"
Ani's Bubbles - "Are You Going to Help Me Now?" - An Armenian father & son during the earthquake.
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Occupied with the Spare Pair

Next Step #178: The Occupy Movement - temporary problem on the street? Or the true product of injustice? Protesting big business and a tie to the protest led by Jesus.The Next Step is laced with protest - and it looks like we had the spare pair, all along. Thank God for Abp. Shnork and the unknown priest in the Eastern Diocese who wrote the manners and conduct manual in the 1950s. Thank God for the life of the "God generation" and their example of love and responsibility. Is Church a hobby?
Ani's Bubbles: Grace Explained
Song: Øystein Sevåg's "Crystal Palace"
Jethro Tull's Hare Who Lost His Spectacles
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Caring for Youth: Getting Real

Next Step #168: Interview with Linda Maxwell, co-founder of We Care for Youth and facilitator for In His Shoes Ministries. Caring for youth is a calling for Linda Maxwell. She does so with love, care and compassion. Here she discusses her work with kids, and the power of the spirit in bringing about change. She discusses her latest project  - a Day of Remembrance on the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. The "Raul Aguirre Story," - a young man slain on the streets of Glendale and the power of forgiveness in the healing progress (see - http://7x77.org)  Candid discussion about the spiritual dimension of youth care - a must-hear for anyone concerned or working with youth. Also - reflections on news of Steve Jobs leaving Apple Computer; Earthquakes and Hurricanes - take it easy! Newsweek says NO - what about you? Promo for "Compass" - coming this Fall on Epostle.net
Song: John Bilezikjian "Sevani Tzugnors Bar"
Ani's Bubbles "A Prayer for Children"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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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?"
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Office Icons Point to Love

Next Step #141: The Simpsons have the Blinky fish. The Chevy in Blythe has a Bobble-Head Jesus. Fr. Vazken’s office has some icons too – not too far off, once you get Shnorhali’s key. All icons point to Christ so long as the Shnorhali formula is in place. Armodoxy is an intelligent alternative to what’s being thrown out at you – and nothing that promotes love can be “appalling.” Wrapping up a Valentine's week with stories and song: Catholicos Karekin II builds traditions for newlyweds, but not without precedents. A look at Sam Harris’ “Letter to a Christian Nation” – don’t be afraid atheists, as long as you have love. March 6 is the kick-off for a VERY SPECIAL Easter Season.
Song "Pakhir Aydzyam" by Parik Nazarian
Ani's Bubbles: A Valentine Story
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Moving from Faith to Belief in the New Year

Next Step #134: Can we learn from big business? How about a clearance sale for the soul? Clear your inventory of everything that’s not necessary to make room for the new models – including a move from faith to belief. Explore a recap of different sorts, as Fr. Vazken talks about walking in the shoes of others during this Christmas season as a prelude to the command to love.  Moving from Faith to Belief and make love the victor in your life. Fr. Kourken at year 1 of passing. Insanity the Pelosi Way – why it’s time to stop the insanity and start the power within. More on lithium batteries. Finally, a vision for LIGHT in the New Year!
Want More? Sign up for the MLK Retreat sponsored by In His Shoes at www.InHisShoes.org
Song: "Tag Haroutian, Nor Tzaghig” by Armenian Duduk Quartet
Ani's Bubbles: "Boxcar Derby Prayer"
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

Blue Moon to Lights of Christmas

Next Step #132: Physical and emotional pain find relief in the expression of love. Keeping the dream alive after the horrific murder of Yvette Hakopian by giving children a Christmas morning miracle. Explained: the best way to fight fire – yes, you can even try it at home! Asteroids, blue moons, an eclipse and the Winter Solstice make the Christmas Season astronomically beautiful. December 25? January 6? You’ll get the answer you’re looking for whether you’re on the West or the East of the debate. Finally – a spelling of kook and it’s not coook!
Song: "Ring Out Solstice Bells" by Jethro Tull http://www.j-tull.com/news/christmasalbum.cfm;
Ani's Bubbles: "Special Olympics";
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

Fr. Vazken and Hripsig with the Toy and Blanket Drive donations

Firm, Grounded and Established in Love

Next Step #127: On Veterans Day (and the last of the binaries) - reflections on war and tears shed for a special soldier. The godfather marries off his goddaughter – lessons from scripture, from God and being “firm in faith, grounded in hope and established in love.” Godparents listen up – you’re not there to protect, but to push your child toward the ultimate Sacrament of Life. A podcast of a personal nature as Fr. Vazken heads off to niece Amanda’s wedding, here’s a special meditation for life’s transitional moments.  Additionally – taking a holistic approach to the Holy Badarak.
Song: “Harsaniki Par”by Shiraz: http://www.shirazyerk.com
Ani's Bubbles: "The Pencil"
Veteran’s Tears
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net