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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Arise from the Dark into the Light

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Next Step #45 – April 15, 2009

The Easter message continues as Resurrection finds its way out of Jerusalem to each heart. Warren Goodman is granted parole and a new Gregory Beylerian artwork gets a “Rise” in the midst of our doubt. April 15 – Tax Day in the US, but no matter where you’re listening, those taxes are bothersome, until you get a new look at a familiar problem. No need to juggle God and money, your checkbook is probably the only thing that requires these acrobatics. Jew, Christian and Muslim – where does faith intersect for them? Hratch’s Global Perspective will surprise you. And a crackpot for the Bubbles from Ani.

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Next Step Easter Message 2009

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Special Edition – Next Step with Fr. Vazken #44 – April 11, 2009

Easter Message. Where do we look for Jesus after the resurrection? Jesus died for me, is that it? Anything else? Here’s a very special message with a call to action and responsibility in the Christian life. God is not wound up only on Sundays. Jesus is not at the grave. Listen in to this 18 minute clip with some great tunes as well.
Vazkenian Seminary students sing “Govya Yerousaghem”
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for Epostle.net

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Holy Week 2009 – 99¢ Store Miracle

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Next Step #43 – April 8, 2009

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the focal point of Holy Week. And during this period, we don’t just remember the events of Holy Week, but we actually live them through our services. In this podcast Fr. Vazken leads us through an experience at the 99¢ store worth a million dollar miracle. Tune in to make the miracle your own. Overcome your crosses by understanding Jesus’ desire to walk in our shoes. Here’s a last minute sprint to the Resurrection.

Spiritual Bubbles with Ani Burr reading an excerpt from a meditation on the Resurrection called “Condemned to Immortality” by Abbot Father Justin Popovic.

Global Perspective with Hratch Tchilingirian turns his attention towards the UN’s Alliance on Civilizations, which this week held its Second Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, and aimed at advancing intercultural understanding.

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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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