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2014-03-09 More thoughts upon homosex

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ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

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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 »

2014-02-14 Fools

Ben's Blog / By

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

February 14, 2014

This is a letter to our friends –

Fools

A story – My guide and I saw a shepherd following his flock down the road. I asked, “Isn’t the shepherd supposed to walk in front and lead his sheep?” My guide replied, “That isn’t the shepherd, that is the butcher.”

I am in awe of any shepherd who can hold a congregation together for 20 minutes, much less a year or two. Because of the universal depravity of human nature.1 It is like herding cats! Shepherds serve a different Master, thus I want to speak carefully.2

The fact remains – Only a small percentage of Americans who attend church have been turning out to vote in recent elections. Further – Like those who do not attend church, most American citizens are woefully ignorant of their responsibilities as citizens. They have little understanding of basic political mechanics.

Suddenly, election day is upon them and they know little of the candidates or issues on their ballot. Those who choose to vote make last-minute choices based upon mailed fliers or TV commercials (Though they are aware these are usually emotional “pitches” of marginal credibility!)

Of even greater significance — Church attending citizens have limited knowledge of the Biblical principles that so influenced the founders of our “American Christian Republic.” (Note to the reader – Please do not throw stones at the messenger! You know these things are true!)

It is fair to speculate, why this situation exists. That is – Why is the American church silent, as we are forfeiting our God-given rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Several generations of K-12 and college students have been taught that religious responsibility is separated from civil responsibility. “In proportion as Americans let go of faith in the absolute power of God, they have accepted the belief in an all powerful State.”3

Think about it – Any law that violates the, “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God” is to be considered, no law at all. Were that not so, man’s law would be above God’s law which the Bible calls idolatry.

Further – “… all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves…”4 Why? I speculate it is because of ignorance and apathy (“I don’t know, and I don’t care”). It is also “fear of man.” That is – “What will my –boss – wife – congregation – denomination think?”

The soul of America’s citizens is crying out for leaders who will lift the torch of God’s law above any other, and lead righteous armies of citizens in restoring what the hand of God has exhibited in North America.

The Perfect Quote
Some people have the vocabulary to sum up things in a way that you can quickly understand them. This quote came from the Czech Republic . Someone over there has it figured out. It was translated into English from an article in the Prague newspaper, Prager Zeitungon .

"The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

“The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who made him their President."

Please share this paper. I hope you will take the time to view this youtube link.

[youtube http://youtube.com/w/?v=dkA8JR2p_tQ]

Notes –

  1. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? [Jeremiah 17:9]
  2. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? To his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” [Romans 14:4]
  3. Verna M. Hall, “The Christian History of The Constitution Of The United States Of America” page II.
  4. From “The Declaration of Independence” (1776)

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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 – Separation of Powers

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Definitions  — [“government” is — direction, regulation, control, restraint]

 

  • First – You plan a project.
  • Second – You carry out the plan.
  • Third — You consider how the plan worked.

 

  • A football coach conceives a play and diagrams it for the team.
  • The team executes the play.
  • They judge whether it was executed according to the plan – AND – whether it worked.

 

Think about this –

 

Everything you do.  Every project – From planning the day before you get up, to brushing your teeth and getting dressed – Involves these three functions of “government”.

 

All government involves, legislative, executive, judicial functions.  These functions are represented in the departments of American civil government.

 

  • Congress legislates (makes a law).
  • The President executes the law.
  • The Supreme Court judges the law against the Constitution (the standard).

 

Each department of government is independent of the others:

  • The Congress is elected by the people.
  • The President is elected by the states (Electoral College).
  • The Supreme Court is appointed for life (i.e. independent of changing politics).

 

Our founders wanted each department to be jealous of its turf.  They called it “Separation of Powers”.

 

Note to reader – I lack the computer savvy to insert a diagram.  You do it below please.

Draw an equilateral triangle – but – DO NOT join the corners.  Label the legs, “Legislative”, “Executive”, “Judicial”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now – Pause and consider how each department functions and “checks and balances” the others.

 

Next – Pause and think about what would happen if any two departments were in one person’s hands.  Can you see how the combined departments would overrule the third.

 

When I was a boy, President Roosevelt was having trouble with the Supreme Court.  He proposed adding three more judges (would have given him a favorable majority).  Fortunately, it was not allowed.

 

Our governmental system is outstanding!  There is nothing wrong with the mechanics!  Today’s problem rests with those exercising the authority of each department.  The Legislature is gridlocked in partisan battles.  The President commits treason almost daily.  The Supreme Court Justices are twisting the intent of our Constitution.  Our unique system of government is imploding!

 

The solution to today’s problem rests in our hands.  The ONLY authority those in government have is what we give them.  The conflict between more or less power in government in unending.  It is “we the people” who have neglected and forgotten governmental principles.  It is “we the people” who have taken the lazy way out and permitted the statists to train up our children in the (unintelligent) way they should go.  It is “we the people” who are the ONLY ones, with God’s help, who can stand up and take responsibility for our actions and the means of correcting the damage.

 

By the way – “judicial”, “legislative”, “executive”, functions are Biblical concepts!

“For the Lord is out judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king, he will save us.”  [Isaiah 33:22]

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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/