Tag Archive for: Jesus Christ

Freedom to Weed it Out

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Next Step #108 – July 1, 2010

Matthew Chapter 13 gets a special pruning, as the weeds are pulled from the grass. You won’t find a theodicy here, instead, it’s a meditation on true freedom from within. Blasting away the bonds of hatred and animosity. A most fitting reflection on this pre-Independence Day Celebration. It’s all here, even if you only hear “leb” along with a Fathers’ Day wish.  Now? Here’s a theory of why things happen at epostle.net. Drugs in Glendale: http://araratmagazine.org/2010/06/lost-kids-arm-america-1/ 
Music: “About God” by Gor Mkhitarian; Purchase SPIRIT album
Ani’s Bubbles: Ice Cream; (http://scrubsmag.com/author/aniburr/)
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

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Identity via Something Bigger than Self

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Next Step #107 – June 24, 2010

Remember when “Rolling Stone” was counter-culture and war was unpopular? Developing identity in a changing world – (see The Atlantic Magazine article). The World Cup, Wimbledon and the Lakers – lessons on bringing peace and love to Kyrgyzstan and Darfur and rejecting bad-religion. Thoughts from inside the funeral procession: continuing to build the Virtual Church.
Song: “Shalakho” by Datevik http://www.naregatsi.org/Datevik/
Ani’s Bubbles: May the Budgie of Happiness Sit on Your Head, http://scrubsmag.com/author/aniburr
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for Epostle.net

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Coloring Jesus with a Happy Face

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Next Step #102 – May 20, 2010

An atheist visits the Armenian Church and makes us think about Jesus. What is our perception of Jesus? How is it colored by the circumstances that surround our life? A look at the Kent State (Ohio) Massacres 40 years later – Vietnam comes home and affects Armodoxy. Religion doesn’t exit in a vacuum and so it must be relevant to the times and withstand the “test.” Exit-interview with Mariam Torgomyan, burn victim after 5 surgeries and 10 months of therapy. How faith and a church community help this girl heal. Pentecost and the Holy Spirit are coming!
Music: “Yes Achk” by Gor Mkhitaryan (http://www.gormusic.com/)
Ani’s Bubbles: Loving Kindness
Sponsored by Prof. Nicholas & Janine Economides (http://dailyexegesis.blogspot.com/)
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net

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Fresh Air from Buenos Aires

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Next Step #97 – April 15, 2010

From beautiful Argentina, the Next Step comes with some fresh air – dropping the In His Shoes seeds in a new generation. Taking responsibility for Genocide as children of Genocide, Fr. Vazken expounds on the philosophy of the Next Step. Here is a primer for our ministry laced with examples and stories from a short visit to the South American community in Buenos Aires.  Is there an “answer” to Genocide? And what is the “next step” – all in this remote podcast.
Music: “Amen Hayr Sourp” played by Gagik Gasparyan (www.rgsmusic.com.ar) and Astor Piazzolla “Suite Troileana” as background;
Ani’s bubbles: “Simple Truths of Service”;
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net;
Episode Sponsored by Janet Kinosian;
Special thanks to Jorge Tossounian in Argentina.

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Cheerleading with the Evangelists

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Next Step #86 – January 28, 2010

Cheerleading may offer hope, but the church and the Christian have the added challenge of adding faith and love to the mixture. Haiti, Conan and Leno, Obama’s State of the Union, are all in this one, as they lead the discussion to the bigger question of evangelization. Fr. Vazken traces the history of proclaiming the Good News, from Apostolic speeches to the printed Bible to New Media. Even some comments from “The Tech Guy” Leo Laporte and a drive-by by Agent 86, Max Smart.
Music: “Today is the Feast of Nativity” by the Junior Choir of the Sts. Sahag & Mesrob Church;
Ani’s Bubbles – The Carpenter’s Glasses;
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for ePostle.net

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The End is Just a Challenge

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Next Step #69 – September 30, 2009

(viewed through the lens of Armenian Orthodoxy) Discussion on absolute morals in light of Roman Polanski’s arrest in Zurich. Overlooking rape? How about Genocide? A quick look at end-time “fright” theology and how it alienates people from some of the true strengths of religious thought. Is Jesus the only way? Here’s an explanation that gives Armodoxy its unique flavor. All these topics and some updates on the growth of the In His Shoes movement and the “epostle” ministry.
Song of the Day: Khorhoort Khorin, Gomidas Vartabed, Strings of Armenia
Ani’s Bubble: The Rose Within
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan
Sponsored by Pomegranate & Eye. Mention The Next Step podcast and receive a 15% discount – which will be donated to our ministry.

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Can’t Avoid that Cross

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Next Step #66 – September 9, 2009

In the aftermath of making history with another electronic next step – streaming the Armenian Orthodox perspective. New models for living- finding the central point of our lives and the programming that is fed us. A letter about the prosperity gospel – watch out for the wolves in sheep’s skin! This podcast begins a three part series about the symbol of the Holy Cross – It’s not something you can avoid! (nor should you want to avoid it!). Really? Who needs suffering? Part 1 (of 3) on the Armenian Orthodox significance of the Holy Cross.
Ani’s Bubbles: “Three Trees”
Song of the Day: “Two Short Planks” by Ian Anderson.
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan

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Between a Rock and a Soft Place

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Next Step #56 – July 1, 2009

When Jesus was asked for a “sign” he offered nothing new. He only pointed to something that was “greater than” the signs. Here’s a casual look at symbols. In the wake of Michael Jackson’s death, Fr. Vazken looks into the ways information was processed, news was gathered, and the tools of technology to make our spirits come alive. The power of music – as expressed through Jackson and a surprisingly similar sound coming from Iran in the quest for freedom. The podcast ends with a special wish to America and the freedom it enjoys on this 233rd anniversary of Independence. Welcome back Gabriel from the Chad desert!

Songs: Sari Siroon Yar by Element Band; Miracles by Gor Mkhitarian
Bubbles with Ani – “The 1000 Mirrors”
The Next Step Theme Song is unveiled (composed and performed by Varoujan Movsesian)

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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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