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

June 2, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Rulers

Suppose your teacher puts a chalk line on the board. She asks the class, “How long is that line?” Answers come quickly – 4 inches, 5 inches, 3 ½ inches, …

Then she holds a ruler next to the line and the class suddenly agrees – 4 3/4 inches.

My point – Without an accepted standard, there is chaos. Members of the class will pridefully argue that this or that opinion is correct, though in truth, they may be wrong. With an accepted standard, unity results.

Suppose the ruler being used as a standard is warped and another is straight. It would be unwise not to use the best ruler available. But suppose a class member refuses to accept the best ruler as a standard. That has no effect upon what is true.

America’s society is founded upon “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.” These laws have been accepted as the best standards since our founding. Not to accept them would be unwise – unless a better, more proven standard can be found. I agree in advance to accept such a standard!

For several generations, our society has drifted away from knowledge of these God-given laws. They have been replaced by lies and opinions. The doctrines of men.

We accept abortion as a valid choice rather than murder. We accept homosexuality as normal rather than sin. Now we are being asked to accept transgender as a normal lifestyle. These are examples of the chaos that results from ignorance, or rejection of a proven standard.

How do we stabilize and return to unity? We do it one person at a time, starting with ourselves. Begin by admitting the truth. We have drifted into man centered, rather than God centered reasoning. We no longer measure things by common sense and Biblical doctrine. Part of this may be that we have not studied and thought about such doctrine.

I suggest sitting yourself down and reading something from God’s word (the Bible) every day. Then forcing yourself to sit for a minute and be alone with God.

A story – Joe wanted to have a quiet time with God. The only time he could be sure not to be interrupted was from 3 to 3:15 every morning. Joe had no preconceptions about what would happen, he just wanted to be available to God.

Morning after morning for several weeks, Joe sat alone, available to God. Had we been watching, we would say, “Nothing happened.” One night, Joe became aware Christ had entered the room behind him. Joe continued to sit quietly. Joe felt hands resting upon his shoulders. Then he felt moisture.

“Lord!” said Joe, “You are crying. Why?”

“Because,” answered Christ, “I so appreciate our time together each morning.”

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

May 27, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Principles

You have no choice! You will submit to be directed, regulated, controlled, and restrained (i.e. governed)! If not by a man’s laws, then by God’s laws. If by man’s law – either by another man (slavery), — or by yourself (anarchy). Either way you will be governed by a tyrant! “… Choose you this day whom you will serve. …” [Joshua 24:15]

The only way to be free is to be governed by God’s law of liberty. That is the foundation upon which rest the “Principles of American Government:” Principles of American self-government; principles of American family-government; principles of American church-government; and principles of American civil-government.

We must make choices every day. “When we choose an action, we choose a consequence.” [Harry Conn] What is involved in our choices? From “outside” there is force and manipulation. From “within” is our own will and appetite. To be properly self-governed our will and appetite must be submitted to our reason, and our reason must be submitted to God. [see Proverbs 16:3]

How does that work in real-life practice? I believe it requires that we train-up our reasoning ability. To a great extent, it appears to me, reason has been trained-out of our present society. For more than four decades, my God-given passion has been to teach biblical principles of American government.

If someone has not studied and meditated upon principles, he only has opinions. Without sound principles, who is to say my opinion is any better than yours? If American government is ever to be salvaged, it appears to me that we must have a core of people in the future, who understand the principles upon which American government rests. That is my passion.

The next online course in “Principles of American government” (PAG) begins on June 8. There is still time to join this class. Please contact me to discuss it (see letterhead).

The course lasts for three months. Class meets at 9AM (PT) M & W for 75 minutes. Homework commitment is 4-5 hours per week. More details are on our web site (see letterhead).

"Help us, our Father, to show other nations an America to imitate… the America that loves fair play, honest dealing, straight talk, real freedom and faith in God."

[1948 U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall]

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 30, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Moral Suasion vs. Property

Let’s begin with basics:

· God gives life to man.

· Man must have liberty to sustain his life.

· To sustain life requires private property.

John Locke’s writing had a great influence upon America’s founding pastors. His reasoning was consistent with the Bible. The pastors passed that on to their flocks in sermons.

Locke points out, that what we need is given to man in common. He asks, “Must we first, get permission from everyone else, before eating an apple for nourishment?” We would all starve, waiting for permission!

When does the apple become our property? It becomes ours, when we remove it from the state nature left it in. Locke wrote, “Every man has a Property in his own Person.” No one has a right to my body, my labor, the work of my hands, but myself.

The water in the stream is free to everyone. Suppose you take a bucket of stream water for your kitchen counter. Anyone drinking from that bucket without your permission is taking your property! You have mixed your labor with what was available to everyone.

The “civil-rights movement” was a good thing. The right to assemble for redress of grievances comes with God-given Liberty, and is protected by our Constitution. When civil-government discriminates between citizens, it violates, “all men are created equal.”

“Moral Suasion”. Dr. King lead peaceful marches and rallies. He brought attention to unjust civil-laws of discrimination. Human nature is such that, a little authority wants more. A line was crossed when his followers used that political power to pass laws regarding private property. They passed laws that private businesses could not discriminate.

Like the bucket of stream water, if I make a cake, it contains my labor. No one has a right to my cake without my consent. Were that not so, my God-given liberty is lost, and I become a slave. Persuade me as best you can, but do not attempt to force my free choice. If I choose not to serve you, it is my choice. I may be wrong. If you can force me to serve you, we both lose and socialism grows another step.

It was largely that, that many good people in the south were opposing. It takes time to change the mind of a free society. Persuading good people not to choose to buy from stores with bad policies, is a peaceful way to bring change while respecting private property.

Without respect for Private Property, Liberty is lost to everyone. Tyranny will grow.

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 28, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

A rare opportunity

Something positive every family can do.

A rare opportunity tomorrow night.

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 26, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Providential Speculation

What might the “3rd Great Awakening” look like.

It is fun to think outside the box now and then. We have some general parameters:

· God wants no man to be lost, but each man must choose to obey God’s will.

· All men have sinned. The atonement of Christ frees those who accept it, to love God.

· Christ condensed the whole Bible into “Love God and love others”.

· That requires a cooperative effort: Men obeying God, and God guiding men.

When that happens, we call it “revival.” It appears to me that the history of major revival movements have moved from east to west. The only one I have seen personally was the “Jesus Movement” in the late 1960’s. It originated in the Los Angeles area and had impact around the world. (See Google > “Jesus Movement”>Wikipedia)

The Old Testament documents Israel’s up and down history. Things were good. Men turned from God. Things turned very bad. Men turned to God in repentance. God worked with men to “revive” society. Sound familiar? America’s Christian history follows that pattern.

We should never forget this truth – God’s hand is always at work on our behalf, even when He punishes us. Today things appear to be very bad. Perhaps that is because we are not seeing what God’s hands are doing. For instance – I saw a report that NationalBlackRobeRegiment.com has enlisted better than 17,000 pastors who have pledged to inform their flocks of Biblical principles in every area of life, including civil government! All across our nation groups are praying 2nd Chronicles 7:14. Mini-revivals are popping up like popcorn.

Just suppose, enough American Christians prayed for mercy in place of justice, and God was satisfied that He, not human pride, would get the credit. Suppose the Holy Spirit was released to energize and guide across America. (Read some accounts of the impact of such revivals in the past. One was on the day of Pentecost after Christ’s resurrection.)

I have written about what it might look like in America. (See ACH website > Ben’s Blog tab > “2014-12-27 What might it look like”)

What might such an event in America look like to the rest of the world? What would they see? – –

They would see that the first in history experiment in Christian principles of civil self-government has not failed! Biblical principles do indeed work! There is hope for mankind to achieve liberty with God’s help.

A wave of righteousness sweeps from America’s west coast across the Pacific Islands and Indo China. Masses of people in south-east Asia exchange eastern religions for Christianity. Poverty and tyranny are replaced by prosperity and liberty.

Such a tidal wave of righteousness sweeps across the Indian sub-continent, then across the Moslem world. Hate and discord are replaced by peace. The tidal wave gains momentum and breadth as it reaches the Mediterranean Sea. It sweeps westward across Europe and Africa.

North and South America experience another wave of righteousness, as the tidal wave engulfs the globe in one last great awakening, the likes of which the world has never seen.

The “in thing” world-wide will be, to be “Christian”. Will it all be real? No, like today, there will be the real thing and there will be phonies.

NEXT – For every tidal wave, there is an ebb tide.

That appears to me to be an ideal place for the end-time scenarios to take place.

Something positive to think about.

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 21, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Corrected correction

or

I could use some help!

Fran’s corrected correct e-dress for Latin is – Get it right Ben! –

MizLatin@gmail.com

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 21, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Correction

My special computer!

Always does exactly what I tell it to do.

At the close of my last blog post I typo’ed Fran’s e-mail. It should be –

MizLatin@garlic.com

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 21, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Why study Latin?

An unapologetic commercial!

It was 1945, George Washington high school, northern Manhattan, New York City. I was a sophomore student in Mrs. O’Rourke’s Latin class. To this day, things I learned about grammar in that class, come to mind!

Fran and I attended a homeschool lecture, way before homeschooling was popular. Fran met Mary Harrington and shared what she was learning. At the time, (early 1980’s) Fran had organized a one room school, “Parent Educators Resource Center” (PERC). She invited Mary to teach Latin in her school.

That was the beginning of a close friendship. In the process Mary and her friend, Gail Busby, published a Latin curriculum for homeschoolers, “Latin in the Christian Trivium”. Over the years, it has grown. Mary invited Fran to join her course as an online teacher.

Using Skype as a virtual classroom for interactive classes twice a week, Fran teaches Latin to homeschoolers all across the nation. The course follows a story line of a Roman centurion and his family, as they travel the middle-east. Students learn history and bible as they learn Latin. Often they befriend other students and visit on vacation trips.

I just viewed Hillsdale College’s online course, “Why study Latin”. Good viewing for homeschool moms!

If you are interested in Latin and Christian teachers, contact Mary Harrington, LatinDr3@gmail.com, or Fran Gilmore, MizLatin@garlic.com.

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 18, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Back to basics “A rule of action”

“OF THE NATURE OF LAWS IN GENERAL. Meaning of law. – Law, in the most general and comprehensive sense, signifies a rule of action; and is applied indiscriminately to all kinds of action, whether animate or inanimate, rational or irrational. Thus we say, the laws of nature and of nations. And it is that rule of action, which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey.”

So wrote Sir William Blackstone (1723 – 1780), in “The Commentaries”. Blackstone is known as, “The father of the legal profession.”

Can you think of anything that exists without a set of laws to govern it? Now, suppose that which is so governed steps outside those “rules of action” – chaos! Americans don’t care for the part – “And it is that rule of action, which is prescribed by some superior, and which the inferior is bound to obey.” We don’t think in terms like “superior” and “inferior”.

How about, “In our car-pool you don’t smoke.” or, “If you live in our house, you obey our house rules.”

Later on, Sir William continues –

“A being independent of any other, has no rule to pursue, but such as he prescribes to himself; but a state of dependence will inevitably oblige the inferior to take the will of him, on whom he depends, as the rule of his conduct; not indeed in every particular, but in all those points wherein his dependence consists.”

“You are welcome to smoke, but not while riding in our car-pool”. “You can move out, but while you live here you obey house rules.”

Then the “Father of the legal profession” nails it down! –

“This principle, therefore, has more or less extent and effect, in proportion as the superiority of the one and the dependence of the other is greater or less, absolute or limited. And consequently, as man depends absolutely upon his Maker for everything, it is necessary that he should in all parts conform to his Maker’s will.”

How independent are you? How independent does God want you to be? Either you will be governed by God’s will – or – You will be governed by rules of action prescribed by a man, yourself or someone else. You will be governed by God’s law of liberty, or you will be governed by a tyrant (slavery). Note – In anarchy, no rules but your own, you become your own tyrant!

John Locke (1631 – 1704), “The philosopher of American liberty” described man under God’s law of liberty.

“To understand political Power, right, and derive it from its Original, we must consider, what State all Men are naturally in, and that is, a State of perfect Freedom to order their Actions, and dispose of their Possessions, and Persons as they think fit, within the bounds of the Law of Nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the Will of any other Man.” [“Of Civil Government” – Chapter X – Of the State of Nature]

Man in a “State of perfect Freedom” is still governed by God’s Law of Nature. He cannot fly, he must eat, etc. If you were the only person on earth, everything necessary to sustain you is provided. You are at peace – until – you defy the law of gravity and try to fly off a cliff.

Natural laws are discovered by observation and reason. Locke said reason is a gift from God. Suppose now, there are two of you alone on earth. Reason tells you that your State of perfect Freedom must not violate the other’s State of perfect Freedom. The “Golden Rule.”

Locke puts it this way:

“The State of Nature has a Law of Nature to govern it, which obliges everyone: And Reason, which is that Law, teaches all Mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his Life, Health, Liberty, or Possessions.

The problem is that man’s observation and man’s reason is imperfect. Once man reasoned that the earth was flat! Blackstone writes that God in His benevolence, gave us His laws by direct (inspired) revelation.

“The doctrines thus delivered we call the revealed or divine law, and they are to be found only in the Holy Scriptures. These precepts, when revealed, are found upon comparison to really be a part of the original law of nature, as they tend in all their consequences to man’s felicity.” [felicity is man’s happiness, prosperity, blessing]

Blackstone continues to point out that revealed law is infinitely more authoritative than natural law. Because, he says, revealed law (Bible) is given by direct revelation from God, while natural law, though from the same source, is discovered by man’s imperfect observation and reason.

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”[Matthew 22:37–40]

ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

April 14, 2015

This is a letter to our friends –

Morals & Stuff

While in college, I worked in the illustrations department of an aircraft plant. There was a room filled with drafting boards, each with an artist/draftsman. On the restroom stall walls were numerous “anonymous” drawings and comments. Anyone familiar with the department staff’s work could easily identify the author after the first few marks. “The product reveals the attributes of the producer.” In the same way, one can know the difference between a Rembrandt and a Picasso.

These blog posts have discussed the things we can learn about God, by studying the products created and made by God – His attributes.

When teaching this subject – “Morals & Stuff” – I have the class make a list of all the words they can think of that describe God. I rule out “titles” like Lord, Savior, King. Once they get the idea the list grows quickly. – loving, just, all-knowing, eternal, …, . YWAM groups seem to make the longest lists. The several seminary groups I have addressed were disappointing.

The late engineer/philosopher, Gordon C. Olson, I am told, had a five minute radio show that ran for several years. Each day, Brother Olson featured a new one of God’s attributes! He never repeated an attribute.

Why not pause now and see what sort of list you can make. Then we will play with it a little.

n Pause — pause – pause –

Consider this —

Some attributes come in pairs: good / bad; just / unjust; … .

Some attributes have no counter-concept: eternal; all-present; … .

Now – consider this – If an attribute is part of a pair, who is going to deny God the ability to choose which will be His?

Let us make two columns and divide our list into “non-choice” (i.e. no pair) and “choice” (i.e. part of a pair).

On the “non-choice” list –

eternal

(ß & à)

all-present

all-powerful

all-knowing

uncreated

…

We call these, “Natural Attributes of God”. He can’t help it! He did not choose these attributes. This list describes “The Being of God”. The “stuff” of God.

On the “choice” list –

loving

just

forgiving

faithful

kind

peaceful

wrathful

creative

intimate

…

We call these the “Moral Attributes of God”. Note – the words “moral” & “choice” are interchangeable. This list describes “The Personality of God”.

Think about it. The “moral” list has a counter list – unloving, unjust, unforgiving, … . Had God chosen the counter personality, because of His natural attributes, He would still be God! (And we would all have been turned into frogs!)

There is more to be learned from these lists.

First consider “communication”. A mentor, Edward Hunter, taught me, “Use any word you please. If I understand your definition, we are communicating.” That requires mutual experience and mutual agreement. I illustrate this by having the class close their eyes and count to three then open them. All of us see a red rectangle at the same time (common experience). All of us agree to name that color “red” (common agreement). Then I leave the room and say, “I see something red.” The class members understand.

Will we ever, even in Heaven, understand “omniscience”? No, there is no common experience. However: We can precisely understand “loving, just, forgiving, …, .” There is common experience and common agreement. I find no difference in defining my forgiveness for my neighbor and God’s forgiveness of me. Granted: A vast difference in significance, but the words and concepts are identical.

That, I think is why God uses things like lambs, rainbows, and planting to teach us about Him.

Further – Men also have “natural” & “moral” attributes. I invite Jack and Jill to come before the class. Jack is to describe Jill’s natural attributes. “Well, she has two eyes, she is a girl, she is blond …”. Someone says, “That could be a choice!” Then, Jill describes Jack’s moral attributes, “He dresses neatly, he is an athlete, he is polite…”.

Note that there is a great gulf between man’s natural attributes (finite) and God’s natural attributes (infinite). There is no common experience.

Note further – When Christ says to be like Him, we have the ability to copy His moral attributes exactly.

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” [1^st Peter 1:15-16]