War is Over/Solstice is Here

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Next Step #289 – December 19, 2013

A Christmas special with a different type of wish. Fr. Vazken challenges us to a new understanding of the Christmas message and its possibilities to bring peace to our lives and to the world. Cease-fire arrangements made at Christmas – The “War is over if you want it.” Solstice bells ring from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern. Best wishes and prayers for your life and the coming year. A primer to the New Year. Answer to the December 25/January 6 debate and when to celebrate?
Songs & Links:
Snoopy’s Christmas by the Royal Guardsmen
Jethro Tull’s “God Rest Ye Merry Gentle Persons,” “Another Christmas Song,” and “Solstice Bells”
Chicago “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”
John Lennon’s Happy Christmas (the War is Over)
LEVON: A Wondrous Life
In His Shoes
Christmas Truce
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Big Giants is not a Redundancy

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Next Step #288 – December 12, 2013

The Armenian priest advocates for you, even unto death. Nelson Mandela’s memorial services – Dancing and singing is a celebration of life. Here is an opportunity to share the Christian message and the joy of Christianity as LIBERATOR, as FREEDOM, as VICTORY. Elevating the human spirit to timelessness by transferring the dash between the dates on the grave to the infinite. Remembering “A Saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.” (Stevenson) Pope Francis as Man of the Year. Lessons for us all in the lives of these two giants.
Obama’s reflections at the Mandela Memorial
Links – 100 Year Pilgrimage
Datev Toy Drive
Jethro Tull Christmas Album 
Jethro Tull at Oxford Cathedral
Cathia Hamparian Newsletter
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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How Much for Your Love?

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Next Step #287 – December 5, 2013

How much do you want for your love? “I’ll buy your a Cadillac… If you just give me some of your love…” say the minstrels Burdon & Aroustamian – but what about your love? Should you have an expectation for the giving-receiving-taking dynamics? Fr. Vazken asks along and challenges listeners for some candid conversation about expectations and demands from our Church. (More to come). Also – Priests stepping out at night: Gossip? or more? The minstrels as the priests of music and the arts. Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) – some early reflections as the news of passing breaks during this recording session.
Song: “Free all the People (South Africa)” by Carlos Santana
Pope at night ministering to homeless
Cadillac by Ashot Aroustamian
Nelson Mandela Quotes
Sermon on the Apostles by Fr. Vazken
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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The President, Thanksgiving & Just Doing What’s Right

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Next Step #286 – November 28, 2013

A couple of Thanksgiving stories that intersect in a special way. President Obama stands across the Armenian Church, which inspires a message of thanksgiving for Fr. Vazken, but not without a jab at the victimization process. The second story is personal, as good deeds from the past are remembered years later: Just do the good, is the Christian message of hope – Setting sights on God’s Kingdom, Jesus says, and all else will follow. Listen in to this special Thanksgiving broadcast.
Song: Anatolian Memories by Al Bardezbanian
Happy Thanksgiving Mr. President
Intro song – Danny Kaye 
In His Shoes: http://inhisshoes.org
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Kennedy & the Armenian Church

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Next Step #285 – November 21, 2013

A personal look at the Kennedy Assassination 50 years later. This is a story of Fr. Vazken in the making – the influences and the drives that formulated his world view and how Armenian Orthodoxy is being shaped today. This is about a process of being born again as a person and as an institution. Stories about a roller coaster ride with the priest on-board: Landing on the track or ready for another ride around the coaster, its pretty scary.
Song: “Too Young to Die” by David Crosby
Fr. Vazken’s blog about the week
Killing of Kennedy
Datev Outreach: http://datevoutreach.org
Engineered by Ken T. Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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100YJ – First Steps

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Next Step #284 – November 14, 2013

In preparation for the 100th annual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide, Fr. Vazken begins with some preliminary steps of definition. Can a commemoration of such an evil be also a commemoration of life? Here’s the beginnings of the “100 Year Journey”™ you’re invited to take. The change of expression becomes a means of survival and hopefully growth. After all, the Resurrection was NOT the ONLY thing that followed the Crucifixion; here then is an Armodoxy model for the route from Genocide to Life. Expressions from Rwanda to the Philippines accent this discussion.
Song: “Halo” by Beyoncé
Help Haiti Now 
Blog: http://armodoxy.blogspot.com
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Transcriptions: Family and Religion

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Next step #283 – November 7, 2013

In a world of change religion evolves with challenges for defining family. Fr. Vazken takes the listener to some uncomfortable places in this discussion. Are we ready to go there? Is it necessary to go there as part of the evolutionary process? Transcriptions in music and Christianity. Datev Outreach – domestic abuse and children.
Song: Rachmaninoff by 0lga Kern
www.Armodoxy.blogspot.com
www.DatevOutreach.org
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Succeeding in Mask Management

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Next Step #282 – October 31, 2013

The Halloween Edition of the podcast on Armodoxy. In this episode – follow up to Glendale’s restriction on free-speech – Fr. Vazken gets a call. All Saints Day and Halloween. Identity in a Global Community – delineating between ethnic and religious identity. Looking under the mask of our life and finding ourselves, looking under the mask of the church and finding Christ – the One who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. YWCA and KFC – what’s the branding all about? Great Treats in this edition!
Song: Aragil by Margar Eghiazarian
Catholicos Karekin II’s speech in Korea
Engineered by Ken T. Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Kinetic Update via Artsakh

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Next Step #281 – October 24, 2013

Fr. Vazken prepares for the annual walk against Domestic Violence through the streets of Glendale & Burbank. Hear his thoughts as organizations and political parties turn their heads from the menacing and ugly realities in the community. Next – a discussion with Gala Danilova, from Artsakh on a variety of life & death issues, violence & peace, the value of life and updating to Windows 8.1 and life beyond the iPhone. Candid & meaty discussions help make way for the Step.
Song: “New Life” by Gor Mkhitarian
Landmine Free Artsakh: http://landminefreeartsakh.com
Datev Outreach: www.datevoutreach.org
Fr. Vazken’s blog: www.armodoxy.blogspot.com
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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Fr. Vazken and Gala Danilova

Correcting the P-Correctness of “Jesus”

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Next Step #280 – October 17, 2017

When Glendale (California) Attorney tells Fr. Vazken he can’t use the name of Jesus Christ in a public forum it’s more than an annoyance of political correctness. A look at the constitutional right and freedom to free speech, the separation of the church & state. In the spirit of Niebuhr’s prayer – understand the difference between things we can change and those we can’t. The 60’s – the counter culture and the need for Sanctuary in the Body of Christ are all discussed.
Song: 49 Bye-Byes, For What It’s Worth, America’s Children – Stephen Stills
Datev Outreach Presentation to the Glendale Commission on the Status of Women, 10/14/13
More on Datev Outreach: DatevOutreach.org
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
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