March 2018

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 26, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Subject: CA Residents: Bethel Statement on CA Bills Regarding Sexuality & Gender

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 23, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

The primary war

President Trump just signed the Omnibus spending bill. Every news outlet in the world will be discussing it this weekend. I predict there will be an all-out effort to produce conflict, anger, confusion and chaos. A political “perfect storm” is brewing. Wall street is unstable, trade war is threatening, our military is over-committed, “gun control” is demonstrating. We are hanging by a thread over global economic collapse caused by debt.

We must avoid the temptation to “go with the flow”. Keep your head when all about you are losing theirs. “Be still and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10] There will be strong efforts to stir emotion that overrules reason. Panic, anger, fear are tools to start stampedes.

The root of our danger is ignorance! We have been purposely dumbed down for at least the past 4 – 5 generations. Our society no longer has a fixed standard by which to measure right and wrong. Many give lip service to religion, but how many hate the things that God hates and honor the things that God honors.

On the other hand – Those who have made a religion out of rebelling against anything Godly are motivated and dedicated. They lie in wait for individuals who stand against ungodliness. Such a one becomes the target for vicious attack. It is a lot easier to be intimidated and sit down!

We have forgotten that our Creator-God stands with the righteous! We have not lost our faith, we have forgotten it! In the context of studying the hand of God in human history, I believe God intends to use America as a launching pad for a wave of righteousness that sweeps the south-west Pacific, the Indian sub-continent, and the Moslem world.

Further – I doubt He will allow such a thing until America is restored. Goldwater in the 1960’s then Reagan, the Bushes, bought time for an unseen army of intercessors to pray for forgiveness and restoration. Trump, I believe, is the next step in that movement.

The true source of God’s choosing mercy over justice lies in that army of intercessors. The swamp critters believe they have achieved a humbling of Trump. Perhaps so, on the other hand they may have launched an outright war to use the Primary Elections this spring to re-staff the House and Senate with lawmakers who will support righteousness. Trump has already said he intends to travel the nation supporting candidates. It cannot be done with a national movement. These are local races. Each of us has a part. Beyond that we must pray and ask that the hand of God move upon voters in countless districts!

I have been disappointed in the level of understanding that our American liberty hangs in the balance. Please recognize that most of the news sources are in unrighteous hands. Their intent is to misguide and deceive. Pray that our Lord will lead you. “If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways. Then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sin, and heal teir land!” [2^nd Chronicles 7:14]

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 11, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Aaron’s blessing

A new Christian in my late 30’s, I was attending a businessman’s breakfast. The speaker asked for our earliest memories. He pointed out that for some of us, our kids’ earliest memories might not yet have been created. That impacted me!

As Priest of my home, I began leading the family in nightly Bible reading. Everyone had an open Bible (including casual guests). There are 31 chapters in Proverbs and there are 31 days in the month. We went around the room, each reading a proverb. We joked about my son getting, “Spare the rod and spoil the child” and Fran getting the one about a nagging wife.

Later, when our third child came along I would put my hand upon her head at bedtime and pray. I chose the Aaronic Benediction, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.” [Numbers 6:24-26]

It had a profound and lasting effect. Sometimes, when I would forget, my (then) three year old would put my hand on her forehead and wait. When the girls married, I was thrilled that the blessing was included in their wedding ceremonies.

For a time, before we moved to the Sacramento area, our pastor would invite me to close the service by blessing the congregation with that prayer. I was always impressed with the change that seemed to rest upon them as I prayed.

Recently, a friend sent me a book, “The Priestly Prayer of the Blessing” by Warren M. Marcus. The book is an in-depth study of Aaron’s Benediction. In it, the author points out that this is the only prayer in the Bible, the words of which are composed directly by the Creator God. – WOW! No wonder it has a profound effect!

Bottom line – Parents – Please add something like this to your kids’ memory chest.

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 10, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Context

It is like mixing bowls. If the bowls are not nested in the proper order, the kitchen drawer will not close. Always create a context for what you are sharing. Stories begin, Long ago and far, far away.”

· Even the Bible starts with, “In the beginning…” In the beginning – what?

· “In the beginning – God …” In the beginning God – what?

· “In the beginning God created …” In the beginning God created – what?

It takes a whole bunch of verses to get down to rocks and trees and things. Think about it – Suppose He had created the cow before He created the pasture. That would be one confused cow!

If you don’t have a place to put what you are learning – confusion follows. I believe there is an intelligent Creator we call God. Anyone that takes an honest look at what is around him and tries to claim it is the result of random events in a universe without intelligence to govern it, is a fool seeking to hold under the truth as it struggles to the surface.

Denying the existence of a Creator-God guarantees that confusion will follow. On the other hand – Recognizing His existence is the beginning of wisdom. That is precisely the reason rebellious men seek to deny what is obvious truth.

When Moses asked God for His name, God replied, My name is “I Am”. It occurs to me that “I” in that name is “God”. “Am” is the verb “to be” another form of which is “is”. So “I Am” might also mean “God Is”!

Once we establish that, we can build upon it. Without that foundation anything else is floating in meaningless space. It will have no context – a cow without a pasture.

By observing what has been created, we can learn things about the creator. A product demands a producer. The product will reveal attributes of the producer. The plastic cap of my Bic Pen is a “product”. Observing and reasoning I conclude the producer knew about plastic injection molding. He was concerned that ink not get on my shirt pocket. He wanted me to know the color of ink in the pen.

The sky is a product. Its Creator must be very big or very fast! He appreciates order, system, and color. He has access to a great amount of power.

Intelligent design is discovered in the tiniest objects we can find.

Our own bodies demand respect for the Designer. Given: air, fuel, and water – our bodies propel themselves, repair themselves, and regulate themselves. There is a wholesome means of fulfillment for every need. I conclude that the Creator is concerned for my well-being.

Further – If the “product” has free will, the Producer must have free will. If the “product” can make choices, the Producer can make choices. Nothing exists without a set of rules to govern it.

I conclude the Producer has a purpose for everything He creates. Trees produce fruit. You can cut them up and make boards for houses ,,, If the Producer has given us life and everything we need to sustain that life, I conclude that He loves (unselfishly wants the best for-) us and has a purpose for creating us.

That purpose, according to the Bible, is for us to learn to love Him and to learn to love one another. We don’t need the Bible to teach us that. It is just common sense!

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

March 6, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Basics and Manipulation

For the benefit of inexperienced patriots – some political basics.

America will hold a “General Election” next November 6th, a Tuesday. The date for counting the votes, November 6, is the same for the whole country. Each state makes its own rules about early voting, absentee voting, voting by mail, and the like. City, county, state, and national candidates will be up for election or re-election.

Generally there are candidates from each of the major political parties on the November ballot. The winners in the General Election will be in authority until their term is up (2, 4, 6 years). At issue here, is which party will have a majority. You may not like your party’s candidate, but his election may provide a majority that puts your party and what it stands for in power. By the time November rolls around you have no say about who is on the ballot.

This spring (now through mid-summer) the states will be holding “Primary Elections”. Primary Election dates are set by each state. This is the time when those on the November General Election ballot are determined. The General Election decides who will be in power. The Primary Election offers you a choice of political philosophies. They are very important!

Anyone who meets the qualifications may file with the county or state registrar of voters and have his name on the Primary Ballot. This is the time you can make your vote count for philosophy. The power brokers want to manipulate your vote. They will seek to downplay the Primary Vote importance, or discourage you from voting. Trump was nominated by voters who ignored the power brokers and voted for principle in the Primary Election.

If you have not been involved in political things, but want to make your vote count for your beliefs there are a few simple things you can do.

Recognizing that evil is deeply rooted in our civil system, begin listening to news sources you can trust. I have found radio’s Rush Limbaugh to be the most reliable. Among the least compromised TV News sources is FOX News. If you share philosophy with a politically active friend, that should be a source for guidance.

If you are willing to leave your comfort zone, attend local rallies and evaluate candidates for yourself. Your Registrar of Voters will give you a list of Primary candidates. Most of them are hungry for exposure. Phone or write the one(s) in which you are interested. Ask them about their philosophy. If you like their answers ask for their recommendations.

Every candidate needs money! I recommend making political contributions directly to candidates you support. Let others support the political groups.

There are three questions to ask candidates to determine their goal: i.e. are they running on sound principles, or just seeking power.

· What is your position on same sex marriage?

· What is your position on abortion?

· What is your position on the 2nd amendment (gun control)?

A candidate who equivocates on any of these cannot be trusted to vote wisely.

You must register to vote. Post offices and fire stations usually have a supply of registration forms.

Corruption is rampant in today’s politics. That is why you MUST exercise your right to vote. The bad guys will lie, cheat, and steal to manipulate your vote, or keep you from voting in the Primary Election. They are well funded and far more experienced. But – you have the advantage of choice in what are still reasonably honest elections. You also have a vital advantage in being able to pray for the hand of God to guide and direct the results.

Bottom line – After you have done what you can – Pray, pray, pray!!!

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”