March 2015

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

General MacArthur’s prayer

Dear reader – If you have not already logged onto the free mailing list for Bill Federer’s “American Minute” – I enthusiastically encourage you to do so. Every day you will receive a short history essay related to that date.

Much more significantly! You will spend one minute each day learning sound history lessons and how they relate to today’s events. Bill Federer has done more in my opinion, to make “history” relevant than most of our best history authorities.

God is interested in history. “Erect an alter (historical marker), remember to celebrate this event each year, teach your children, … …” Why? I believe it is “His-Story”. If one knows true history one can relate past events to current situations.

Save these Federer vignettes and soon you will have a searchable reference file of your own. Here is an example: Mr. Federer published a vignette on General Douglas MacArthur. In it, he excerpted a prayer the general composed about his son. That prompted me to find the whole prayer. It is a prayer to stir the heart of every father!

Douglas MacArthur

Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak; and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat and humble and gentle in victory.

Build me a son whose wishes will not take the place of deeds; a son who will know Thee — and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge.

Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here let him learn to stand up in the storm; here let him learn compassion for those who fail.

Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goal will be high, a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men, one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past.

And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, and the meekness of true strength.

Then I, his father, will dare to whisper, "I have not lived in vain!"

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

The Vote

The ability to make choices is a gift to man from God. I speculate that the sum-total of each and every choice we make, determines the condition and future of our individual soul. I am uniquely responsible – and answerable – for each choice I have, or ever will make.

Some choices have little significance – “Do you want fries with that?”

Some choices change the direction of your life, “Choose you this day, whom you will serve!”

Thus, your choices are sacred. Choosing to vote or not to vote is a choice. Once elected, a politician possesses a vote given to him by his constituents. While in office, that vote is his exclusive property. No matter how many calls and letters he receives from his constituents, his choice in casting his vote is exclusively his. He is answerable to his constituents ONLY when seeking re-election. He is answerable to God forever! Since we cannot know, in advance, about all the votes he will cast, we must consider carefully, his character and understanding of his role in safeguarding our liberty (the purpose of American government) BEFORE casting our vote for him.

Think about it – Can anyone – even God – demand that you have a given opinion, or that you choose this way or that? Your choice is your exclusive property. “Conscience is the most sacred of all property!” [James Madison] You should protect your conscience with your life.

Here is a point that judges and lawyers hate. If you are on an American jury – The jury, not the judge, is in charge. For example – Joe is accused of hate crime because he will not make a wedding cake for a same-sex wedding. The judge will “instruct” the jury members about what the law says. Then he will say, “Your purpose is to decide whether or not Joe broke the law – Is Joe guilty or innocent?”

As a jury member, your choice will determine whether or not Joe is to be punished for breaking a bad law. Your jury vote is exclusively yours. It cannot be directed or demanded. The jury is sovereign. They are voting on the quality of the law as well as upon Joe’s choices! The principle is called, Jury Nullification.

All that to say this – The Vote is indeed sacred. Use it wisely!

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Reason for Hope Conference

FACE is an acronym well known to home schoolers, familiar with the “red books” they publish.

The Foundation for American Christian Education has honored me with an invitation to participate in their annual “Reason for Hope” conference. (please see attached)

All the valuable sessions will be available, live, on the internet.

We encourage all those who can, to attend in person – else via GoToMeeting.com. (again, please see attached)

For His-Story & Government

Ben Gilmore

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Principles of American Government – Post Graduate (ACH-PG)

This course is open (complementary) to every graduate of our 3-month PAG course. We encourage PAG alums to join us once a month to discuss applications of what you have learned.

Because everyone has shifting schedules, the date and time for these events will shift according to the availability of the “core group” graduates.

The next PAG-PG class will be at 1:30 PM, Sunday, February 1st. Please mark your calendars.

In order to participate in PAG-PG classes, graduates MUST contact me to be placed upon the class call list.

For His-Story & Government –

Ben Gilmore

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Love & Concern

Definition – To “love” is to unselfishly desire the very best for the loved one. [John 3:16]

Those who join us in reading through the Bible in a year have just been through the book of Revelations. In the latter half of the book is a graphic description of the events that face those individuals who have stubbornly refused to accept the divinity of Jesus Christ. It is not a pretty picture! One must reject a mountain of evidence.

Accepting that truth (Christ’s divinity) carries with it an obligation: Love Him with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength – then – love your neighbor as yourself. Why? Because putting anything or anyone before your obligation to Christ is a form of idolatry. (That is the “legalist” answer.)

We should love (want the best for -) Christ, because He loves us and has put up with us, just as we are. He is a just God as well as merciful. We like the merciful part, but “justice” begins to frighten us! Christ had no penalty to pay – He lived without sinning. The fact that he endured a horrible death in my / your place should create obligation enough. The good news is that Christ has paid the price for our misdeeds and offers forgiveness if we will truly repent and begin obeying Him.

In the last days, we are told, men who did not repent, will be justly punished for the bad things they have done. In the midst of their suffering in the hands of a just God, they still refuse to bow. I have friends, today, who have seen the evidence of a benevolent God. In their hearts, they must know the truth, but somehow, they just can’t bring themselves to accept it. I want better for them and I am concerned for the tragedy that awaits them.

More than that – I am concerned for those who have believed lies about right and wrong. Most TV shows these days depict immoral lust and homosexuality as acceptable lifestyles. Those who accept these lies are as guilty as those who know the truth and reject it.

What am I to do about my concern? On one hand, it is not pleasant to be a “Grinch”! On the other, if I do not speak out and warn them, I am tacitly consenting to their bleak future. In effect, I am making “socially correct” an idol ahead of my obligation to Christ, whose heart is broken over their sin.

The good news that Christ brings is a rich, beautiful truth. It is freely offered to every person, regardless of the bad stuff that has been done. Letting Christ help you repent of the bad stuff is a good thing!

Let us make 2015 a year of mercy above justice!

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

ACH Reminder Message

2015-01-02 PAG-PG – “Principles of American Government – Post Graduate” online course begins next Friday at 8am Pacific time. There is no charge for this course – however – it is open only to PAG graduates. Those who are interested in these monthly, first Friday refresher discussions MUST contact us to be placed on the call list.

2015-01-05 PAG – “Principles of American Government” 3-month 30-hour online course begins next Monday at 9am Pacific time. Tuition is $195. Parents are encouraged to audit the course with their home-schooled teens. Those interested in attending this interactive class MUST contact us to be placed on the call list.

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

What might it look like?

Last November “We the people” sent a strong message – STOP! Return to our roots.

To date, the impact of our message has mixed reviews. All of the House and only a third of the Senate are up for election (or re-election as may be the case) every two years. Thus – “return” is not (and should not be) overnight. Change, without chaos, takes time to take root.

Given: A sustained movement toward return to roots – What might it look like?

A move of the Holy Spirit will have swept across North America. The Administration (president) and Legislature (both houses of congress) have become advocates of individual liberty protected by separation of powers and respect for law and our Constitutional limitations upon central government.

Our newly appointed Secretary of Interior, (Sarah Palin?), has put all the undeveloped Federal land, save that reserved for military purposes, up for open auction to American citizens alone. With the land titles go all mineral and water rights. (The new President has dissolved the Environmental Protection Agency as it was defunded by Congress.) The only remaining restrictions are now in the hands of the respective states to work out.

The resulting boon to the economy by entrepreneurial enterprise toward agriculture, mineral, and grazing development has created an active job market for the thousands of recently employed federal employees.

The massive increase in income from the sale of Federal land stimulated an interest in sale of unused federal buildings as well. The national financial picture was further stimulated by the decrease in Federal payrolls as overlapping and unnecessary bureaucracies were defunded and eliminated. Mountains of hidden funds were exposed and returned to the treasury.

Elimination of the Federal Reserve Bank and a return of fiscal authority to Congress has shaken world economies to their roots. The fundamental point of worldwide fiscal stability was our commitment to purchase gold in exchange for a paper note for $100 redeemable in gold five years hence. (Were The U.S. notes immediately redeemable – what little gold remaining under Fort Knox would be sucked out.)

The world was further shaken by the public exposure of the greatest theft in human history. U.S. gold and that on deposit from other nations has been sold off over the decades. We are busted! The resulting law suits against implicated individuals and banks (for graft, bribery, and treason) has created a massive demand for Justice Department lawyers and Federal Justices. Lower level bureaucrats by the thousands have turned upon their superiors. A purging wave is taking place.

Without the EPA there is a rush to mine gold as the fastest way to apply American productivity to the return to a fixed standard. Creditor nations have a vested interest in American stability as opposed to taking advantage of our temporary weakness, especially in view of our return to a booming productive economy. As the five year redemption approaches, the market value of gold also approaches the arbitrary standard of $100/oz. That fixed standard eliminates the inflation cycles in the world and national economies and further stimulates our economy.

When human labor is combined with the resources God has provided – wealth is created. Increasing wealth produces growth. Redistribution of wealth without producing more, stagnates and degrades.

Wishing each of you a happy and prosperous New Year!

Ben & Fran Gilmore

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 4, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Electoral College

The Electoral College is the system prescribed in the U.S. Constitution for selecting the President. It is not a particularly hot topic today, but it is on my mind to write about it. Every four years, when we are electing a President, the topic arises, “Should we abolish a system that makes it possible for a President to be elected by less than a majority of the voters?”

Under the Constitution, each state selects a delegation of “electors” for the Electoral College. These electors then decide who is to be President. I suggest reading the rules for yourself from Article II of the Constitution.

Here is a thought question – What is the President’s official title?

He is, “President of the United States of America”. NOTE – He is NOT President of the people! The Congress is the representative of the people.

Were we to foolishly abandon the Electoral College and elect a Chief Executive by a majority vote of all the people – what would be the result? Those few areas of the country with high populations would dominate the majority and the rest of the nation would not be represented.

The founding fathers had to find a balance between local authority and centralized authority. Our “states” are, and should be, sovereign governments. Political power, if it is not to become tyrannical, must be spread around. Each block of authority needs to be jealous and protective of its turf.

There will be give and take. Situations change – but – our system of checks and balances has worked better than any other in human history. Let us be cautious about unintended consequences of change.

“We the People” are the ones who designed and authorized the government of the United States. That government derives its authority from us! Please – Never forget that you and I were put upon this earth to be free men and women – free to follow the dictates of our respective consciences.

The government of the “United States of America” was created for the purpose of protecting that individual liberty!