Coming Out: The Plastic Collar & a Tattoo

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Next Step #322 – August 7, 2014 

In this episode Fr. Vazken comes out with stories from his past and today. The plastic collar… well, it’s plastic… not so with the markings of the Shaolin monk and a tattoo. A look at Theoretical and Applied Physics to Religion – it just makes sense! Sabre rattling by the Azeris – Pay attention! “Impregnation Day” is past, but still possible.
Photos
Song: “Rondo for the Oud” by John Bilezikjian
Wired Magazine about Smart Phones
I found the pearl
Guns & Earrings
Kung Fu with David Carradine
Team in Her Shoes
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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On the Georgian Clergy Assaults

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Next Step #321 – July 31, 2014

In the wake of the attack on the Armenian Church by Georgians, Fr. Vazken goes through the process of applying Armodoxy to acts of violence. This is not theoretical religious thought, in fact, he shares a recent episode of harassment at the Georgian border and moves the listener to the idea of pro-acting with members of the Faith community, to make the Body of Christ a real solution for peace. This episode builds on the last few Next Steps and promises to continue in the weeks to come.
Georgian Attack on Armenian Church
Song: “Peace” by Ravi Coltrane
“I found the Pearl”
i-ACT – Darfur Activism
Avon Walk
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Red Circles, Flies and Religion

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Next Step #320 – July 24, 2014

What are you doing with all this religion? Black, White, Red, Squares & Circles, Flying … Moving from Christianity 101 to Experimental Christianity. Fr. Vazken challenges the listener to go beyond the limits imposed by familiarity- beyond the “set up.” Going beyond the “eternal life” catch and finding A TESTED religion that brings Peace within the conflict and chaos. Apply it to the Problem of Evil in the world and even in the context of the Transfiguration and see it work. The Rich Fool at the Ararat Home.
Sermon: I Found the Pearl 
Blog: I Found the Pearl. Now I’m Going After It
Songs: Mi Pasion by Armik
Two Short Planks by Ian Anderson
Charo – http://www.charo.com/
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Dreaming after Seven

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Next Step #319 – July 17, 2014

Year 7 begins… Returning from a spiritual pilgrimage to the base of the sacred Mount Ararat, Fr. Vazken reflects about the power and energy for survival and building life. Here, he reflects on the current situation in the world, from wars in Syria, Iraq, Isreal and the Ukraine, and points to the spiritual answers that affect the self and then the world. At Akhtamar, a Turkish armed guard gives a reality check that was passed! This is the beginning of a series that will focus on the lessons of Armodoxy from the Cradle of Civilization.
Fr. Vazken’s Blog on Armodoxy: www.armodoxy.blogspot.com 
Song: Bazzini’s “Les Ronde des Lutins” performed by Maxim Vengerov
Jethro Tull’s “The Whistler” – www.JethroTull.com
Beatles, “The Inner Light”
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Equinox Balance: Ends and Means

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Next Step #318 – July 10, 2014

From the Next Step archives, “Equinox Balance: Ends and Means (#120 – originally broadcast on September 23, 2010). The Autumnal Equinox brings a balance of time and power, one expressed through the “Harvestest” moon. Can we find a balance between ends and means, primarily when it comes to soliciting donation for the church? A listener’s comments about the St. Leon Cathedral. And where is the balance of ego-inflation with the goals of the Church and religion? The Salvation Army REFUSES a donation of $100,000? Jethro Tull Plays in Armenia – a small tribute to a band with 40+ years of versatility and imagination gone wild.
Song: “Bouree” by Jethro Tull (A Little Light Music) www.jethrotull.com
Ani’s Bubbles: “Breast Cancer; Walk http://scrubsmag.com/author/AniBurr/
Dr. Harry Hagopian’s link: http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/Armenia
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Freedom to Create Through Love

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Next Step #317 – July 3, 2014

From the Next Step archives, “Freedom to Create Through Love” (#3 – originally broadcast on July 2, 2008). Independence Day is a fitting time to look at our freedoms through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy. What has been the strength of the Armenian people to survive? Where does this spirituality come from? Christ releases us of our bonds and gives us the true freedom – His Love. God has given us the most beautiful gift, the ability to create by tapping into the power of love. In this podcast Fr. Vazken explores the ideas of freedom, independence, and creativity.
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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From Numbers to Light – it’s the connection that matters

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Next Step #316 – June 26, 2014

From the Next Step archives, “From Numbers to Light – it’s the connection that matters” (#58 –originally broadcast on July 18, 2009). The Next Step begins with an interesting number theory from listener Yuri in St. Petersburg, Russia. Is it by chance that #57 had all the digits in the date stamp? If so, what about zero? Can you shed some light on that? Jesus did exactly that – with the Transfiguration. Light was not spared to tie us into the beginning of all creation and the end of time as we know it. God’s promise to open our hearts to love and the well-lit path is explored by Fr. Vazken’s expose of the feast of Transfiguration. But don’t fret the esoteric themes, there’s a serving of fish and chips in this episode. It happens to be everything you need and more. Listen in to a wild ride from numbers to light and realize that they are all connected.
Song: “Arev, Arev” by Mariam Matossian
“About Light” by Gor Mkhitarian (Spirit Album – BUY NOW)
Bubbles by Ani: Feeding the wolves;
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Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Three Funerals and an Identity

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Next Step #315: From the Next Step archives, “Three Funerals and an Identity” (#48, originally broadcast on May 6, 2009). The collective and past moments in our individual lives has contributed towards our identity. Earlier this year, Fr. Vazken’s trip to Armenia initiated a discussion at Etchmiadzin, the Holy Mother See, about identity. And this week with the passing of three people, Ankine Mouradian, Jora Markarian and Rev. Fr. Vartan Dulgarian, the line is drawn between their lives and ours. Using the metaphor of the onion, we can imagine ourselves as being composed of layers, and each layer around us there for a reason, including the hurts and the pains we’ve lived through. These are the experiences that today give us the strength to reach out to someone else now experiencing the same. What about the purity of the message? Well, time to tune in and find out how to keep it pure.
Ani’s Spiritual Bubbles talks about priorities.
Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian: World Press Freedom Day and the theme of media potential in fostering dialogue, mutual understanding, and reconciliation to focus on the moral responsibility of reporting the truth.
Musical selection is Melineh Kurdian singing “As Good as You” from her album, From Where You Are.
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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The Rock & the World Cup

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Next Step #314 – June 12, 2014 

Finishing up the sixth year of broadcasting with a two-step, one back and one forward. Topics: The Rock of Christ, The fallacy of the people-church; Technology changes from the Brick to the Smart phone.
Song: “Shalakho” by Hosharian Brothers
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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The Human Condition: Sex, Pentecost & the Church

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Next Step #313 – June 5, 2014

From the death of a young girl on the streets of Glendale, opens a discussion about domestic violence and personal sexual imaging. The Pentecost – the birth of the Christian Church – opens a candid discussion about marketing and selling the Body of Christ. Keeping the message of Christ and salvation real and accelerating the revolution. Continuing on the road to Ascension. Themes in this episode may be disturbing to listeners.
Dr. Maya Angelou: “It’s Sacred: Church”
Slut-Shaming 
One More Important part of Sex
Fr. Vazken’s Blog: http://www.armodoxy.blogspot.com/
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Now on Stitcher Radio! 

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