The Narrow Path Ministries

Hey Steve,

As an avid listener to The Narrow Path, I wanted to chime in with a couple of thoughts ...

I've learned an awful lot listening to you answer the Bible questions that you get all of the time. However, I think the most benefit that I get from the show is when someone calls in with a disagreement or alternate point of view. It seems that whenever there is a clash of opposing views, and ideas are compared with one another, the learning experience is greatly increased for me. Obviously, the more articulate the caller is in sharing his or her view, the more I am able to learn and understand.

I know you are trying to balance call times, and keep callers from waiting on hold too long. However, I want you to know that I don't mind at all that you give these particular callers extra time. It may feel to you that you are going round and round with them but getting nowhere. And, if "getting somewhere" with them means you have convinced them, then that would be an accurate feeling. However, I never see that as the objective. Instead, I enjoy hearing point matched with point, and thought compared with thought. I may be sadistic, but the longer the "clash" lasts, the more I generally learn.

So ... the next time you lock horns with a caller, and you are tempted to move on, remember that there is one listener out there within the millions (hyperbole) who is really enjoying the moment, and is probably whispering, "oh, let's just keep this going a little longer..." :)

peace,

dane

Hi Dane,

Thanks for weighing in on this. As you know, I get feedback from numerous people who have the opposite sentiment.

Like yourself, I enjoy protracted discussions with an articulate person of a contrary view, and would personally ben fine with using the whole show to dialogue with one such person (maybe I need to schedule more shows just for debates).

It is hard to know how to meet the felt needs of listeners. Some want me to stop taking calls from mothers grieving over their straying children, or other such personal crises. Some want me to only take Bible questions. Some complain every time a conversation wanders into slightly political opinions (one person always rights and tells me to "stick with something you know about"). Some think conversations should be limited to 3 minutes per person. Then here are folks who feel as you do.

I agree, and disagree, with all of the above. Since I can't please everybody (and I am not sure I am supposed to try) I still allow a pretty wide range of calls of varying lengths and types. Some days, all the calls seem goofy. Other days there are mostly great calls. Most days, I think, we end up with a mix. I guess the listeners just have to be flexible.

I appreciate your feedback on this, and enjoy it when you call in.

I'm with Dane (and Steve). I like that it's all over the place, but especially like the thoughtful discussions with those who either don't agree or don't understand -- some less thoughtful repetitive ramblings -- not so much. The mix and unpredictability keeps it fresh, though.

I enjoy hearing both sides of things also, but I hate it when Steve is completely calm and collected and the other guy slowly grows more and more aggressive until he is almost yelling. At that point I anticipate Steve ending the call, especially when it is a pastor or someone who is "learned." All I can think is "come on guy, control your spirit."

Maybe its the immature side of me, but I love calls that explode into chaos!! I probably wouldn't like it if that sorta thing happened all the time, but every now and then is fine to me. In all honesty, I am surprised that TNP does not get more irate callers. The topic of religion seems to bring out the worse in a lot of people.

I vote to have Steve keep irate callers on as long as they are trying to make sense, and making their point while actually responding to the subject.
I vote to keep callers with different views or difficult questions on, as long as it is on theology or matters of God and salvation
There are mirads of other shows for people with spouse and relationship matters, grey areas like politics or drug addiction. I dont listen to TNP 'just' to get answers, it is more about how to deliver the answer, how to arrive at the answer, and how to hear the question.
I am with Brody and posters that enjoy the callers like the Buddhist, these are the conversations I seem to have also, most people around me are of other religions, everyone seems to have some religious/christian ideas (Some are really 'farout') that need to be walked through, with patience. Steve's style is a great model of this.

"...the longer the "clash" lasts, the more I generally learn"

... but what pleases me most is to have those occasional Nephalim-free broadcasts.

:)

peace,

dane

Yeah its always fun going through Genesis 6 and the book of Enoch lol

Yea hello Steve, could you explain dispensationalism, Daniel 9 and Matthew 24 to me in 30 seconds?

Sean wrote:Yea hello Steve, could you explain dispensationalism, Daniel 9 and Matthew 24 to me in 30 seconds?

*The following call some 30 seconds later..*

"Hey Steve, I'd like to know about the angels mentioned in Genesis 6?"....*Steve throws his hands up in the air and runs screaming out of the room!*