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2014-03-09 More thoughts upon homosex

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 9, 2014

This is a letter to our friends –

More thoughts upon homosex

Thou shalt not be with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination” [Leviticus 18:22].

Today we hear much about homosex. The whole subject of gender seemed very clear to me when I was growing up. Our society today seems to be adopting a confused definition.

The Bible could not be more clear, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them.”

If you do not care to accept the, “… Laws of Nature’s God” than have a look at the, “Laws of Nature …”. All of nature recognizes gender.

Further – Everything God creates has a purpose. Fulfill that purpose and find growth and life. Rebel against that purpose and find chaos and death.

Man’s purpose is to love (i.e. unselfishly will the very best for …) God and one another. Students of history can discover God’s hand in patiently teaching us how to do that. We are very slow learners!

Those who are accepting the belief that homosex is an acceptable lifestyle are choosing to believe a lie. What appears to me to be worse – They are placing man’s word above the laws of nature and of nature’s God. That appears to me to violate the 1st Commandment, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

Some will object to my equating the “laws of nature” with “the laws of God” as apparently, was done by our nation’s founders. Since both sets of law come from the same source they will never be in conflict. However: Because natural law is discovered by man’s imperfect observation and reason, while revealed law comes by direct revelation, found only in the Holy Scriptures, revealed law has infinitely greater authority.

Since those practicing homosex don’t seem to care that they are violating divine law, perhaps they should realize that they are grieving the heart of One who loves them more than they love themselves.

2014-03-09 More thoughts upon homosex Read More »

2014-01-03 Human Nature

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

January 4, 2014

Apologies to the 210 friends who are receiving a 2nd posting. I failed to remove attachments from a previous mailing to PAG students and froze my Outlook app.

This is a mail-merge letter to our friends –

Human Nature

“The whole life of the Christian, from the beginning to the end,

is a conflict with the world and the powers of darkness,

a conflict within and without … .”

[Memorials of a Christian Life by August Neander]

Yesterday, a dear friend phoned. She was distressed over the future of our country. No doubt those reading these words share her concerns.

Human nature seems to focus upon the problem. News commentators are prospering by seeking, enhancing, and reporting ever more sensational examples of the problem(s). When we seek to stay informed, we are overwhelmed with negative events. Then, in conversation with friends, we do the same thing!

What does that produce? Awe at the size of the problem, a sense of helplessness & hopelessness, perhaps anger and frustration, often irrational actions that are counterproductive!

I would ask, “Excuse me, how big is your God?” Were God to drop by for an attitude check, I would not want to be found overwhelmed by the problem(s)! I want to be found excited about the things the Hand of God is doing in the midst of the “darkness”. I want to be found winning the “conflict within and without!”

How does one do that? By focusing upon the One who can overwhelm the problem as David and God overwhelmed Goliath. The glass is never empty. Focus upon what is left in the glass!

Will American civil-government degenerate into lawless chaos, marshal law, and tyranny? It is truly a reasonable possibility. One we would do well to consider and prepare for. Who can deny that it would illustrate the justice of God? Some Christians appear to welcome it as giving us what we deserve.

I am in another camp. Human history demonstrates that God prefers mercy over justice, when He can justify it. Would a wise judge release an unrepentant murderer? In a society, there must be corporate quality character to govern human nature. Not everyone, not even a majority, is necessary to qualify for God’s mercy over justice.

I want the world to see God’s mercy demonstrated to the world. Human nature understands justice. Justice produces bondage and death. Mercy produces liberty and faith.

Throughout this year, you are invited to join me in humbly praying, seeking God’s will over human nature, and turning from our selfish (i.e. sinful) ways. Then – Let us be informed, not only about the problems, but the Godly principles we may apply to overcome them.

Nothing confuses the enemy so much as a group of Christians rejoicing over the victory before the battle begins! Let us shun those who would join us in the battle while vigorously waving a white flag!

2014-01-03 Human Nature Read More »

2013-06-27 Come – Let us reason together

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

June 27, 2013

This is a letter to our friends –

Come – Let us reason together, saith the Lord …[Isaiah 1:8]

Earlier this month this column asked, “Is there a flag in your sanctuary?” Several answered, “Yes, there is.” Only one responded, “The [American] flag was removed.” I have observed many American sanctuaries that fail to honor our nation’s flag.

Our flag represents one nation under God. It represents an idea –

· God created and intends for men to live free. That liberty is “unalienable” (i.e. it cannot be legally or justly transferred to another).

· God created only three human organizations: family, church, civil-government. Christ summed up all of God’s law with, “Love God (vertical) and Love your neighbor (horizontal). [Mt 22:36-40 & Mk 12:29-31]

· Such men (We the people) chose to design a civil government under God for the purpose of protecting and preserving that God-granted liberty. The first in himan history!

That idea displayed in a sanctuary represents the civil-government under God that protects our liberty from tyrants. Do American pulpits and pews need desperately to understand that idea? Indeed they do! Freedom is NOT free!

By abandoning the third leg of human relationships (civil-government) the pulpit is tacitly telling the pew it not important. Thus – Offering the enemy a base from which to dominate all three!

By tacitly accepting that situation, the pew is accepting the approaching tyranny.

Remember – God said, “There is the promised land. I give it to you. – Now go fight for it!” A responsibility is attached to being “endowed by our Creator.

Many have never read through the Declaration of Independence. It is among the outstanding documents ever penned by man. I have attached a copy for someone to stand and read aloud during your 4th of July celebration next week.

2013-06-27 Come – Let us reason together Read More »

Govt 101 – Exceptionalism

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How do you answer, when someone asks, “What is so exceptional about America?

For several generations the answer has not been taught. Today, few can give a sound answer. Rather, we have emphasized that America is just another nation in the family of nations.

My previous three posts to this column have presented “Separation of Powers”, “Democracy” (should have been named “Representation”), “Federalism”. None of those forms of government are unique to America. Each had been tried before with varying results.

Our founding fathers exhibited astounding wisdom and creativity by incorporating the advantages of each – while seeking to impede the defects of each. Amont the most unique attributes of American government –

For the first time in human history –

· Separation of Powers

· Representation

· Federalism

Were incorporated into a single governmental structure.

Our Constitution creates three Departments, Executive, Legislative, Judicial. Each is intended to be independent of the other two. Separation of Powers.

Our Constitution specifically requires that National and State governments must be “republics” i.e. by representation (as opposed to “majority rule” i.e. “democracy”.) Representation.

Our Constitution creates a vertical (national) and horizontal (state) relationship among our citizens. Federalism.

Our founders understood that there will always be a conflict between individual will (I want my space – back off) and corporate will (We have to go along to get along). “Internal vs. External.” “A conflict within and without.” [Neander – 1852]

The positive results of that combination of principles speaks for itself. The exponential shift away from those results is attributable to our failure to understand what our founders understood. We have permitted the external forces for ever more centralized power to overcome individual internal liberty.

Government created by “We the People” for the purpose of protecting our individual internal and external liberty is now challenging it!

By the way – Beside being sound history and reason, these principles are also Biblical!

The bottom line

Liberty is as evangelical as it is political!!!”

[Rosalie Slater – Co-founder,

Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE)]

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Govt 101 – Exceptionalism Read More »

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Ben Gilmore 1929-2023

On March 30, 2023 Ben Gilmore, the co-founder of ACHStudyGroups (co-founded with his wife Fran), went to be with the Lord in Glory.

A Memorial: https://www.mykeeper.com/profile/BenGilmore/