Nathan Friedly

Alright, I've said most of what was on my heart, but I'll try and see if I can answer a few of your questions.

When I speak of "the word", I mean The Bible, specifically the original meaning and intent, which has been mostly preserved through it's various translations.

I've heard of the old fellowlaborers program but I don't know a lot of the details. My group lives together, guys and girls in separate homes. There are 7 of us total. We meet with the CFF staff on Thursdays and Sundays, we meet with each other almost every day. The commitment is for 11 months. We all work full time jobs during the day.

One of our recent assignments was to study instances of the spoken word in proverbs. We each took a set of chapters and studied our parts then complied it into a single document.

A current assignment is to put together a few 10 minute teachings based on the material covered in the Living in Gods Power Class, one teaching per week for the next few weeks.

waysider, I don't know of any truck stops off hand, but that's not to say there aren't any.

Rev. Wayne Clapp is now the president of CFF. I'm not certain 'president' is the correct title, but it gets the idea across.

CFF is not affiliated with TWI, hence no link.

Goey, thanks for the link! I'll consider the rest of what you said.

I'd say I respect Dr. Werwille, but to say worship him would not be accurate.

GrouchoMarxJr, thanks for the welcome. I would indeed be amazed if everyone agreed with me on everything. For the time being I'm going to pass on your class. Thanks for the offer though.

If you want, but now I see, message me with you name and I'll tell my dad you said hi.

That's all I've got time for at the moment; You guys will see me pop in every now and then, but it'll probably be pretty sporadic.

Have a great New Year everybody, God bless you all!

hey folks, sorry I disappeared for a while.. I'm kind of like that, I'll have plenty of down time one week and be completely booked the next two or three. I've been sort-of keeping up with this thread in my email, but I haven't had the time to write a decent response. I'll make some time for yall soonish. Until then Merry Christmas and God Bless you!

Where I think the problem was - was they didn't use "the word" correctly at all... not because they weren't being loving - but because they were taught wrong wrong wrong. My friend was a great example. I know she thought she was loving me by being an absolute cow and talking about my "believing" with my dad.

You are right - there were less loving people than the ones that wanted to help.

All I disliked was when people thought (they still do this btw) I have a need and bug the crap out of me about it and try to help me even there is nothing there for them to fix and I've told them so. Their Jebus-signals were telling them otherwise I guess.

Yea, I think I understand what you're saying. Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons doesn't usually work out too well because it's still the wrong thing to do.

Ah - I see. What kind of fellowship is it then? Sort of a hanging out together with no biblical teachings?

No, it's got a 15-20 minute teaching usually. We have prayer and manifestations, we sing a few songs. A lot of the songs are the same ones you remember from TWI. We take turns on who teaches. Last Tuesday, for example, I taught on renewing your mind to see yourself the way God sees you. I'll going to probably get my notes from that reaching online soon, I'll post a link then.

The impression I get is that Nathan is fellowshipping with CFF, but I could be wrong.

Yep, I do fellowship with CFF. I am in their fellowlaborers program. If you guys don't know about that, it's a "leadership training program." Kind of like a local WOW program, but not exactly the same. They're teaching us a lot of the word, giving us assignments on things to study, and giving us opportunities to teach different places.

Our home fellowship is another opportunity to teach, but the CFF staff doesn't make it out that often, and when they do, they let us know that its just to enjoy the word and the fellowship, not to critique.

We also do a lot of work, mostly helping run cff events, but also things like planting a tree and cleaning out a ladies barn/chicken coop last weekend; her husband had just recently passed away. And we love every bit of the work, both physical and studying the word.

Sorry if I sound like a billboard, I'm trying to give you guys an honest impression of what it is.

I have never thought of CFF as an offshoot of TWI, but according to your site we are. I guess we do have a lot of the old way folks in our group.

And even though I fellowship with CFF and love them just as dearly as my brothers and sisters in TWI, my allegiance is not to CFF. My allegiance is to God first and foremost.

I mostly agree with WD's comments here. If I can help someone by knowing the answer to their need, then I absolutely want to. How I know the answer might be that I just know it from past studies, or it might be that I start researching and studying it when the need comes up. Or it might just be from revelation.

The original post said something about 97% of the answers to peoples questions, I might know 3% off the top of my head, but that's probably a high estimate. But I do believe that when I need to know something, God will make sure that I have the opportuinity.

On the other hand, there's a quote from (I think) Rev. John Nessle that sort of fits this context: "I'd rather love than know".

I think that was where TWI dropped the ball: loving. I still believe that TWI knows a LOT of scripture and that they, at least some times, apply it correctly. Where I think the problem is, is that they don't do it in love. At least not as much as they should.

You can speak the true and accurate word till you're blue in the face, if it's not rightly divided and it's not spoken in love then it probably won't do much good for anybody.

Matthew 4:6

And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in [their]hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Psalms 91:11-12

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in [their]hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

The DEVIL quoted scripture at Jesus Christ. Was the quotation accurate? Sort of. Was it rightly divided and spoken in love? Absolutely not.

It's worth noting how Jesus refuted that too: with accurate Word.

I guess that's not that great of an example of speaking the word in love. That's more of an example of what not to do. A better one might be the John 8 record ("He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." - http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Jhn/Jhn008.html ) but I think you get the idea I was going for.

Anyway, back to the original question, do I find that the answers are simple and easy? Usually not. Usually it takes work. But I enjoy the work. (There's plenty of verses about enjoying your work too.) And the answers are often clear after some studying. Like I said, if I need to know, I believe that God will make sure I have the opportunity.

I came across this the other day posted on http://news.ycombinator.com and thought it was a pretty interesting book. I've only read the forward and part of the first chapter, but the book seems to have some good principle.

The full book is at http://www.fourmilab.ch/etexts/www/barnum/...neygetting.html The entire book is also attached here as a zip in case the website disappears.

Here's the first few paragraphs of the forward, just to give you a taste of it:

In the United States, where we have more land than people, it is not at all difficult for persons in good health to make money. In this comparatively new field there are so many avenues of success open, so many vocations which are not crowded, that any person of either sex who is willing, at least for the time being, to engage in any respectable occupation that offers, may find lucrative employment.

Those who really desire to attain an independence, have only to set their minds upon it, and adopt the proper means, as they do in regard to any other object which they wish to accomplish, and the thing is easily done. But however easy it may be found to make money, I have no doubt many of my hearers will agree it is the most difficult thing in the world to keep it. The road to wealth is, as Dr. Franklin truly says, "as plain as the road to the mill." It consists simply in expending less than we earn; that seems to be a very simple problem. Mr. Micawber, one of those happy creations of the genial Dickens, puts the case in a strong light when he says that to have an income of twenty pounds per annum, and spend twenty pounds and sixpence, is to be the most miserable of men; whereas, to have an income of only twenty pounds, and spend but nineteen pounds and sixpence is to be the happiest of mortals. Many of my readers may say, "we understand this; this is economy, and we know economy is wealth; we know we can't eat our cake and keep it also." Yet I beg to say that perhaps more cases of failure arise from mistakes on this point than almost any other. The fact is, many people think they understand economy when they really do not.

True economy is misapprehended, and people go through life without properly comprehending what that principle is. One says, "I have an income of so much and here is my neighbor who has the same; yet every year he gets something ahead and I fall short; why is it? I know all about economy." He thinks he does, but he does not. There are many who think that economy consists in saving cheese-parings and candle-ends, in cutting off two pence from the laundress' bill and doing all sorts of little, mean, dirty things. Economy is not meanness. The misfortune is, also, that this class of persons let their economy apply in only one direction. They fancy they are so wonderfully economical in saving a half-penny where they ought to spend two pence, that they think they can afford to squander in other directions. A few years ago, before kerosene oil was discovered or thought of, one might stop overnight at almost any farmer's house in the agricultural districts and get a very good supper, but after supper he might attempt to read in the sitting-room, and would find it impossible with the inefficient light of one candle. The hostess, seeing his dilemma, would say: "It is rather difficult to read here evenings; the proverb says `you must have a ship at sea in order to be able to burn two candles at once;' we never have an extra candle except on extra occasions."

moneygetting.zip

Nathan, I just wanted to say welcome. You sound like a very mature and kindhearted young man.

If your dad is from a town in northwest Ohio that is the peony capital of the US, then I kinda knew him, and he and Mr. Garden are from the same town.

Anyways, welcome to the fray! Be sure to come around next July when I'm serving up my ripe tomatoes, raspberry sorbet, and blackberries from the garden!

WG

I'n not sure if it's the Peony Capital or not, but it's definitely the right area. You probably did know him. And thanks for the welcome - I just might take you up on that offer!

Hey Nathan! It sounds like you really dig the whole TWI thing. Maybe you could start a fellowship in your area (I'm sure they need one) and then you can be our spy!

nah... just kiddin'... there's a card game (for money) in the back and the bar is towards the front! remember that and you can't go wrong!

carry on with the plan of the day...

haha, we already have a fellowship in my area (though not a twi one). In fact, we're doing an open house tonight! If anybody is near Troy, Ohio you'd be welcome to drop in. it's 7:30 to 9:30 tonight. gimme a call if you think you can make it:

[edit] it was recommended by a forum member that I hide my phone number. I decided to meet him half ways and only post my google grand central "home" number: 937-947-5112.

The fellowship is Tuesdays at 7, everyone is welcome to that as well. You don't even have to be a Christian to come. :)

And thank you to the other welcomes that I havn't responded to directly!

lol, alright.

I still need to get around to getting myself a copy of PFAL. Oughta put it on my christmas list....

I know we have never met, but can I buy you a Scotch?

Absolutely! I like you guys even more now!

I do not forgive them. it's just not my job. I do not love them.

I disagree with you there. Loving is a decision and it it your job. If you look at it one way, loving is your only job. (I lump loving and forgiving in together, I see them as very closely related.)

I understand that you were hurt, badly. And I sympathize with you. Myself and my family went through much of the same thing.

That was exactly what I was trying to address though. Give God a chance here. Like the old song, "He's the healer of broken hearts..." You receive the benefits of forgiving them.

Take a look at Job. He was burned. Really taken for all he was worth. He didn't deserve any of it. And to make matters worse, his friends, even his wife became miserable comforters. "This is what you did wrong" and "Curse God and die." With friends like that....

But you know when he received his healing? The turning point where he went from having nothing to having everything restored twofold? When he prayed for his miserable comforters.

Job 42:10

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Take a look at this also:

Matthew 5:43-48

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Once again, please don't take this as a personal attack. That would only serve to ruin the point.

EDIT:

This teaching by Jeff Wendling may be of interest to you: http://cffil.org/weekend11.07/Jeff.mp3

The rest of the teachings from that Weekend in the Word are right here: http://cffil.org/weekend11.07.htm

And Bumpy, I'm not sure how to take that.. No, I don't know anybody named Larry, guy or otherwise...

haha, a coke sounds good. Thanks for the warm reception.

I can't say much for how it feels from the womens side, but we studied a bit of that recently. It was just wonderful to see the true meaning of verses like in Timothy and Corinthians that are guaranteeing women the right to learn and teach Gods word, just like men. The truth of Gods word stands very clearly in contrast to what some people try to twist it into. I love how perfectly the word fits together when you study it :)

Hi folks, I just found this site while looking for the lyrics to the old kids song "Romans 10:9 and 10 I believed it once and then..." (thanks, VeganXTC); but reading around, the topic of forgiveness came to my mind, so I thought I'd share a bit with you.

Before I get started I should point out that this is meant to be loving encouragement in Gods word. If you get feeling defensive at any point, then I apologize for not writing clearly enough. My intent is not to attack anyone, so if you feel attacked then I encourage you to take a step back and try to determine why.

Ephesians 4:31-32

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11

To whom ye forgive any thing, I [forgive] also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave [it], for your sakes [forgave I it] in the person of Christ;

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

I'm no longer a member of the way, but I love them dearly. They are my brothers and sisters. Anything, ANYTHING they did wrong to me, I forgive them for. Holding a grudge does nothing to them and nothing positive to you.

1 John 4:20-21

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Romans 8:16-17

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.

These folks are your brothers and sisters too.

Philippians 2:3

[Let]nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

So that's what was on my heart, God bless you guys, you seem like a wonderful bunch of believers!

-nathan