Second Coming: It’s No April Fool’s Joke

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Next Step #42 – April 1, 2009

Which way do you look to see Jesus’ second coming? East? West? And how far? 2 years? 20 years? 2000 years? The answer might surprise some and even irritate others, but to the Next Stepper, it’s one more way that Armenian orthodoxy gives a practical answer to life’s imponderables. What happens at the end? Are the sheep the only Curly ones? Or is Curly sheepish today? Check out this last-of-Lent podcast for many more answers!

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian discusses major world gatherings including NATOs annual meeting and the Arab League Summit, with particular attention on Omar al Bashir and the Arab League’s rejection of the ICC.

Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr completes the final 4 verses of Nerses Shnorhali’s Havadov Khosdovanimk.

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Darfur Genocide Escalates

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Next Step #40 – March 18, 2009

As the Genocide escalates in Darfur, the In His Shoes mission turned its focus to more creative means of activism. This podcast is uniquely dedicated to the Darfur Genocide, but much more, it is about the faith and hope in the power of good. Here, Fr. Vazken guides the listener through an exercise in spiritual and moral warfare against evil. Complacency and indifference are constants that keep us from peace and harmony in our lives as well as on our planet. Martin King equates silence over crime with cooperation of evil, laying the groundwork for the moral-imperative Christians must find in life. This podcast will challenge the listener to move to action in various parts of his or her life. What does a mother pray as she watches her child raped or killed? The outrage over young girls being raped in Darfur, continues as an outrage against our own apathy. This is must listening for everyone who wants to “walk in the shoes of others.”

Global Perspective: Hratch Tchilingirian gives a briefing about Darfur, with historical and analytical angles.

Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr: St. Nersess Shnorhali’s “I Confess with Faith” continues (verse 13-16)

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Free Will and Responsibility

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Next Step #38 – March 4, 2009

Building on the themes presented last week, the Lenten Journey continues with a look at Free Will and Responsibility. An Armenian Orthodox look at God presents metaphysical concepts which scrape the surface of space-time as understood in the concept of Love. This is some of the ground work necessary to understand the broader concepts of love and relationship building that will be coming out in subsequent podcasts. The prodigal, steward and judge are stored away for next week’s continuation of the Lenten Journey. Also, an invitation to participate in the annual In His Shoes ‘Famine’ aiding world hunger.

Spiritual Bubbles by Ani Burr: The Prayers of St. Nersess Shnorhali (coDntinued)

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian: Discusses Christian minorities in the Middle East today with a particular focus on the Armenian communities and issues of identity with a look at school, church, and media. (Part 2/3)

Song: “Orhnyal eh Asdvadz” by the Students of the Vazkenian Seminary, Sevan, Armenia

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Armenia to Bedrock – A Lenten Journey

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Next Step #37 – February 25, 2009

Back from Armenia, Fr. Vazken reflects on the sacredness of the first Christian nation as we take a next step into the Lenten journey. Preparing for Easter requires a regimen of prayer, fasting, and alms-giving. Armenian Orthodoxy writes the prescription for healthy living, including body, mind, and soul. Now, find out if Adam was Fred Flintstone and Eve, Wilma? And what about Adam and Steve as Fr. Vazken bashes religious gay bashers as well as most stereotypes. A great way to start off lent.

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian looks at the Christian communities spread throughout the Middle East and their mass exodus from this region due to a host of dire internal and external issues.

Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr – Part 1 of 6 from St. Nerses Shnorhali’s Havadov Khosdovanim (I Confess With Faith)

Musical selection: “Etchmiadzin ee Hore” from the album, Orhnial eh Asdvadz, sung by the seminarians at the Vazkenian Theological Academy of Lake Sevan.

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Prelude to Lent

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Next Step #36 – February 18, 2009

As we approach the Lenten journey, this podcast turns our attention towards Lent. Questions abound. What is it? How do we prepare for it? Why is the curtain around the altar drawn? Why can’t we receive communion? And so on… Fr. Vazken answers all of these questions and gives us an explanation of the services that take place during this period. He also touches on the Feast of Ghevontianz and Vartan Mamigonian, but just enough to get our minds thinking… So much more on this next week!

In light of Darwin’s 200th birthday anniversary celebration, the Global Perspective segment with Hratch Tchilingirian discusses several points that put both evolution and creation into focus.

Musical selection is “Ghapama” by Zulal, from the Armenian A Cappella Trio’s self-titled album.

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Celebrating Life and Love

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Next Step #35 – February 11, 2009

“If the world be all yours, what will you take with you? Love God, love people, and love your beloved.” — Sayat Nova

From Groundhogs Day to Candlemas and Dyarntarach; from St. Valentine to Sayat Nova, this podcast is a celebration of new beginnings and a celebration of life and love. Our Lord, Jesus Christ is Love incarnate and in Him is the manifestation of all intensities of Love. Fr. Vazken challenges the listener to look at the all encompassing nature of love, and shows us how religion and culture come together to help us understand the realities of the world.

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian looks at politics and the power of religion in society. Religion is not only a matter of personal faith but could also be a potent force of political mobilization and even revolution.

Special musical treat is a performance by Nune Yesayan singing Sayat Nova’s Kamancha.

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The Three “O”s

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Next Step #34 – February 4, 2009

From Pythagoras to Narekatzi, from physics to religion – this podcast brings spiritual applications to physical laws… well, sort of. Fr. Vazken explores the “Three “O”-s that everyone should know – Oshagan, Ostrich and Obama – it’s a small portion of the USC lecture (2/2/09) that challenged students to find answers in ancient Armenian orthodoxy to some of the big issues confronting the world. Also – letters discussing extinction of the church, Catholic looking at Orthodox, and the parent/child songs.

Global Perspective by Hratch Tchilingirian: More on Greed (pt. 2) as reason for economic collapse. It’s a spiritual perspective too.

Bubbles by Ani Burr: A lamentation of the St. Gregory of Narek.

Musical Selection: “Blessing” from Gor Mkhitarian’s SPIRIT Album – Available for online purchase from the In His Shoes Shop

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Playing at the Blackberry Bowl

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Next Step #33 – January 29, 2009

What’s really important in life? It’s easy to lose focus and pop the drug of irrelevancy. In this podcast, Fr. Vazken takes the listener on a run through topics that weave the question of relevancy. Superbowl is this weekend, Acadamy Award nominations are in and a father shoots his children, wife and self because he’s at the edge of hopelessness. How do we reconcile all of these events? Pope Benedict uses Youtube and revokes excommunication on four bishops. In a globalized world and economy, find the necessary word that sets you apart – you are the BEST as a child of God. “Sev Toot” is coined today!

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian: Is the economic crisis based on greed? (part 1)
Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr: Wisdom, Faith, Hope and Love
Music: World debut of Arax’s Crossing CD – “Vasbouragan”

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A New Era of Hope

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Next Step #32 – January 22, 2009

A fitting end to the Martin Luther King tribute, this podcast commemorates one of Dr. King’s children who was “judged by the content of his character.” Barack Obama becomes the 44th president of the United States; hope is defined as believing in a dream come true. Fr. Vazken discusses the prayers at inauguration and isn’t it a “no duh” that Jesus’ name would come up? Rev. J. Lowery’s poetic benediction is highlighted here. PREMIER installment of Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian looks at Gaza and innocence lost.

 

Spiritual Bubbles topic: Obama’s Address on Hope

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Two Kindred Spirits Separated By Millennia

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Next Step #31 – January 14, 2009

John the Baptist and Martin Lurther King Jr. are two giants – one a Biblical figure, the other contemporary, yet they serve the same God and the same Lord. What is the legacy left by these ushers of the Way? Fr. Vazken brings together the work and mission that has driven these people to point the way to Christ. They stood up courageously against the power structure, urging peace, justice, and love, even unto death, and thus became martyrs for their unwavering preaching of the Kingdom of God.

Also, a look at the life and ministry of Fr. Mesrob Sarafian, an archpriest of the Armenian Church who went to his eternal rest this week. Notes from Oakland California, including an emotive reading from his funeral rite.

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