Dreaming Fathers for Peace

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Next Step #55 – June 24, 2009

Fathers Dreaming of Peace – A look at Fatherhood through St. Joseph’s lens. In this podcast, Fr. Vazken explores parenting by looking at an individual’s relationship with God – in our ability to dream of the impossible and allow others to do the same. What happens when Jon leaves Kate? And what about the eight? You’ll find this podcast with a formula for real peace, whether in your life or in our world. Darfuri children make a phone call to President Obama – are you listening Mr. Obama?
Music: Our Father from the Focused Vision CD. And preview of a new theme song? (You’ll have to listen for this one.)
Ani with her Bubbles and much more.

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Hripsime & Gayane in Iran and Korea

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Next Step #54 – June 17, 2009

If words turn into wars then simple acts of understanding and respect can turn into peace. With saber-rattling in Korea and political unrest in Iran, fear takes away thoughts of peace. But if peace is the ultimate equilibrium point, how is it achieved? In my life? On earth? In this podcast Fr. Vazken takes a look at two pioneering women of the early church, St. Hripsime and St. Gayane. Unwilling to compromise their principles, they made a difference in the life and quality of that life for generations to come. The H&G story is the prelude to “Etchmiadzin” – the place where Christ descends. In this podcast Fr. Vazken also challenges the listener to place respect as a condition and foundation to love through the “in his shoes” philosophy. News items: Iran, Korea, Holocaust Museum, KFI and Armenian bashing. It’s all here.
Bubbles from Ani: the Philosophy of Peanuts
Music: Katmandu by Cat Stevens

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A Look Back at Year One

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Next Step #53 – June 10, 2009

Wrapping up the first year of the Next Step Podcast, Fr. Vazken gives a moving account of a young cancer victim and the “Last Temptation of Christ.” What are the real questions that need to be asked? A look back on the year – from Darfur, to Obama, to new spiritual music, to messages of hope – Year ONE of the Next Step is only a step to year TWO coming up.
Guest William Archila reads from “The Art of Exile”
Music – John Bilezikjian rendition of Malanguena from the Neo Classical Oud album.

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No Spirit in Exile

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Next Step #52 – June 3, 2009

Focus on the spirit this Pentecost, while the Spirit allows us to focus on life and love. A powerful message of finding the tie that binds all of our dreams and hopes. It’s the power of the Holy Spirit and it’s unleashed when body, soul and mind work together. Unity of spirit is a chance to bring senses and extra-sensory experiences together to form our understanding of life. A bit esoteric, but Fr. Vazken goes through the steps with the listener.
Guest: William Archila discusses his new book “The Art of Exile” and offers a few readings bringing the flavor of El Salvador to this week’s podcast.
Music: Hover “The Spirit of God” and John Coltrane “Out of this world”

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Potential to Reality: Ascension to Pentecost

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Next Step #51 – May 27, 2009

Caught between the 40th and 50th days after Easter, a look at dreams turning into life. What is life without dreams? When hope is gone, can there even be a glimmer of life? This next step examines the tragedy of children being tried as adults. Community, or CHURCH, becomes a means to maximizing our potention to love.
Poet William Archila reads from the “Art of Exile”
Song: “Vijag” by Zulal

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“Circular Breathing”

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Next Step #50 – May 20, 2009

Can the discipline of inhaling while exhaling have applications Moutside of music? The Armenian duduk and the Scottish bagpipe meet each other on common ground. But when Obama goes to Notre Dame, or the Pope goes to Jerusalem, can there be “common ground?” It’s all about the drone that keeps a monotone unchanging intonation throughout a song, a hymn, a chant or the sound of the universe. Today’s message ends with the story of Jesus’ Ascension. While Matthew 28 records the last words of Jesus on Earth, just before Ascending, the call to preach is better defined by His first words, as recorded in Mark 1.
Music: Gor Mkhitarian’s “Yeraz” (Dream)
Ani’s Bubles: “Stone Soup”

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Sacramental Mothering: A New Understanding of the Oldest Parent

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Next Step #49 – May 13, 2009

Forget the clichés. Forget motherhood and apple pie? In this post-Mothers’ Day tribute, Fr. Vazken doesn’t fill the Hallmark prescription for the day, instead he reveals a new understanding of the sacraments. Is it a roadmap for parenting? Definitely, it is a means of living in the orthodox tradition. “Sacramental Mothering” is yet another key to Armenian orthodoxy as it continues to pave the road for spiritual wholeness. This episode is must-listen in the continuing evolution of the oldest faith tradition.
Remembrance of Vahagn Setian
Featured song: “Panama Freighter” by Ian Anderson in honor of Jethro Tull’s performance in Armenia.
Ani’s Bubbles: Three Guests for Dinner

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Three Funerals and an Identity

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Next Step #48 – 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.

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After a Famine/After a Genocide: A Shift in Perspective

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Next Step #47 – April 29, 2009

April is filled with remembrances of Genocide, from the Armenian to the Jewish to the Rwandan and now Darfur; the In His Shoes Ministries finishes a fast for world hunger. $28,000 later, a group of Genocide survivor-descendants prove that the power of love and good can overcome evil. It’s a lesson and inspiration for life. Whether to overcome personal difficulties or global calamities, there’s a message of victory- a switch of perspective, to believe crucifixions are preludes to resurrections.

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian: Green Bible and Creation Care

Ani’s Bubbles: A different perspective

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Spiritual Warfare against Genocide

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Next Step #46 – April 22, 2009

Rape is discussed as one of the absolutes – there’s no justification or rationalization whether we destroy the planet, human life or the gene pool. The topic is a big one and Fr. Vazken takes the route of spiritual warfare – using themes of fasting and prayer – he calls on a generation to opt for love in battling the great menace of Genocide. Is it possible? Listen as even a spiritual bubble gives clues to making our efforts matter.

Spiritual Bubble by Ani: Does it Really Matter?

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian: Armenians in Turkey Today, another part of the story.

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