Here in the United States we celebrate Labor Day today, the first Monday of September. In other countries there are comparable holidays such as Worker’s Day, but the American holiday differs a bit in that it focuses on the labor, the work, that a person does.
In our society, that labor produces income and accumulated income brings financial rewards, which can, and does, skew our sense of true values. Money becomes a goal rather than a means to the goal.
Christ invites us to a productive life. Whether by way of his metaphor of grapes and grapevines, expressed in John 15, or by way of the Parable of the Talents, as presented in Matthew 25, where he encourages us to exploit the talents that God has given each of us. Large or small, few or many, each person has talents that need to be found. An appropriate search for the Labor Day holiday.
Today, one minute for Summertime.7
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Labor-Day-Badges-773-e1756697550933.jpg1125923Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-09-07 00:10:172026-09-06 16:25:06Labor Day Labors
On September 2, 1958, during the height of the Cold War, – an unarmed United States Air Force C-130 flying a reconnaissance mission on the Turkish/Armenian border was shot down by the Soviet Union. Seventeen United States Air Force airmen were killed in the crash in the village of Sasnashen, near the town of Talin. The Soviets did not disclose the details of the shoot-down for several years and it wasn’t until 1992 – some 34 years after the incident – that the remains of all 17 servicemen were returned to the United States for proper recognition and committal. Since that time commemorations have been taken place, including the placing of a khatchkar (cross stone) and a monument at the crash site with visits by U.S. military and government officials.
In 2018 I was invited to the Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska to deliver the keynote address at a gathering commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the shoot down of US Air Force C-130 #60528. I also prayed the requiem prayer (hokehankist) of the Armenian Church for these airmen.
The C-130 took off from an airbase in Turkey, that is, occupied Armenia. It fell in the Soviet Union, that is another corner of occupied Armenia. The plain that shot down the aircraft was a MiG-17, named after the Armenian builder of the airplane, Migoyan. And this Armenian priest promised the 200+ assembled descendants and Air Force personnel in Nebraska, that he would never forget this incident and share the story with all that came his way.
Please join me at https://epostle.net/Sasnashen for the entire story of courage, bravery, valor, cover-up, commemoration and life. For today, I leave you with the words of the inscription on the plaque that sits at the crash site in Sasnashen:
We must never forget that freedom is never really free. It is the most costly thing in the world. Freedom is never paid in a lump sum. Installments come due in every generation. All any of us can do is offer the generations that follow a chance for freedom.
A very special edition of Armodoxy for Today, a one-minute PLUS for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Sasnashen-monument.jpeg18001429Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-09-02 00:10:502026-09-01 21:32:41Crash at Sasnashen
A pious Christian will certainly jump at the chance to help, or even interact, with Christ. For many, Christ is only a person appearing in history, and so, it is safe to want come to his aid. If I were there at the time of the crucifixion, I certainly would have stood up against his accusers or torturers.
Of all the challenges Jesus offers to participate in the Kingdom, there is no invitation as clear as the one he offers when he says, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’… For inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25)
No need to time travel to meet Jesus, he’s all around us.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Homeless-Matthew-25-772.jpg11251125Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-09-01 00:10:402026-08-31 21:07:10Seeing Jesus today
God’s invitation to participate in the fullness is life is often questioned in the face of evil. The “Problem of Evil” is the question of “Why evil?” especially with the tradition of a good and omnipotent God? While religion has presented an assortment of solutions to the Problem of Evil – known as theodicies – sadly, it has also fired up people to point accusing fingers to others as the authors of evil.
A quick glance at the moon on any clear night might help in providing an answer. The moon’s pocked-marked surface is credited to its lack of an atmosphere. Space objects have hit its surface, and the result is evident. As for the Earth, we have an atmosphere protecting us from rocks and boulders that disintegrate on their way down. The price of this protection, we have to deal with atmospheric catastrophes such storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and the like. It’s all part of the deal.
Worship is often looked at as an extra bit of religiosity in the Christian experience. Implied in worship and the language of worship is often feelings of purpose, that is to please God. Much of the Old Testament contributes to this feeling that has traces of the pagan rituals to please the gods, and avoid their wrath.
Worship is your acceptance of Christ’s invitation, to participate in life. Worship in the Armenian Church, contrary to everything you may have heard or felt, is a celebration. It takes place in the presence of God and all the saints, and unites us with all others who participate in the worship throughout the world, as one Christian family. Here we lose the self and understand ourselves as part of the bigger collective, with responsibilities toward our families, communities and the world.
Armenian names traditionally end with an I-A-N (alternatively with a Y-A-N) to denote belonging. It means, “From the family of…” The last name “Petrosian” says from the family of Petros, equivalent to Peterson in English.
Jesus’ family members have the same I-A-N naming tradition. They are called Christian, that is, of the family of Christ. His family is made up of those who accept his invitation to join.
In Matthew, chapter 12 we read Jesus’ words as He “stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’” (vs. 48-50)
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Baby-dad-Van-Gogh.jpg11251125Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-26 00:10:572026-08-25 21:28:44Ian is the Family
In the game of baseball, a player may strike out either by swinging the bat and not hitting a pitched ball, or by not swinging on a good pitch. There is a punishment – a strike – on an action and on a non-action, provided there was an opportunity to hit. Yes, a strike is counted on an action that misses its goal as well as on an opportunity missed.
Christ invites us to action. To “ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7), Jesus tells us, as well as to “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the suffering” (Matthew 25). The opportunities to swing are many in our life, with despair and disease being pitched at us daily.
A Christian is called to action – to swing – by using his or her talents – those blessing that are uniquely his or hers.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/swinging-the-bat-no-strike-754-e1754330717696.jpg7601125Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-25 00:10:022026-08-23 17:34:03Two Strikes to Out
While Christianity is a religion of action, sometimes it may seem impossible to make an impact, large or small, with our words, deeds and prayers. Disease, cancer and wars are overwhelmingly scary and a single person’s prayer or contribution seems insignificant in bringing relief to the chaos that they create.
Meteorologist Edward Lorenz coined the term, “Butterfly effect” which illustrates how a seemingly insignificant event – like a butterfly flapping its wings – could theoretically influence large scale phenomena, such as the formation of a tornado weeks later. The butterfly effect serves as a powerful reminder that a gentle, almost imperceptible gesture can alter the course of much larger events.
Never get discouraged by the size of the problem. Appreciate the hidden significance of words, choices and deeds. Nothing is ever truly inconsequential. Keep in mind Jesus’ challenge, “If you have faith as a mustard seed – [the smallest of all seeds] – you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
“If anyone does not abide in Me,” says Jesus, “he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”
Jesus cautions us about a life lived without purpose. In being connected to the vine, we understand that we have purpose and meaning by bearing fruit. The dead branches cannot bear fruit. Whatever dies withers and decays. With this metaphor, Jesus adds that room is made for the productive branches by gathering and burning the barren branches.
Now a word of caution before you start looking around for withering branches. Ours is to produce. Ours is to be connected to the Vine, to Love, so that we may produce good fruit. God is the sole Caretaker – the Vinedresser – who decides which branches remain and which are pruned.
With the lessons of the week, read the John 15 passage one more time and share the joy of your connection.
Armodoxy for Today: Not to mention raisins and iron
Raisins are dried grapes. Yes, those tasty, robust and aromatically pleasing grapes that are a product of the branch connected to the Vine, will dry up and shrivel, if not consumed. The grapes that are produced have an end goal and purpose, to offer taste, nutrition and beauty to others and the world. But at the end of their life cycle, once they come off the Vine they are dead. No matter how good they look, taste or smell, they are most certainly dead.
Jesus sets up this metaphor to remind us that beauty is only skin deep. If we are not connected to the Divine, we may be basking in wealth, beauty and luxury – that is, look, take and smell great – but we are spiritually dead. Sure, raisins also have nutritional value; they are a source of iron. Think about it: Iron is cold metal. Yes, Jesus’ metaphor works as it illustrates separation from the True Vine.
Today’s one minute for Summertime.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/iron-half-cup-766-e1755732222765.jpg1125860Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2026-08-20 00:10:592026-08-19 20:19:53Iron off the vine
