ACH Study Groups
Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders
7659 Gingerblossom Drive
Citrus Heights, CA 95621
916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com
www.ACHStudyGroups.com
November 21, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Open the windows!

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” [Malachi 3:10]

I have a friend whose son is in his late teens. Over the past few years his mom and dad discovered he had been drifting deeper into drugs. They traced it to a girlfriend. Sound familiar?

His parents did what they could to cut him off from negative influences. More significantly – They never let up on praying for him. Recently, a friend invited him to a church youth meeting. In the midst of the meeting, their son told the group he had been on a destructive path and wanted to get things right.

His mom told me, “He came home flying higher than a kite! The change was instant! He is his old self again. He has been talking with his dad about career choices!” Yes, change can happen that fast – GIVEN – prayer and an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit!

During coffee and prayers this morning I had a thought about the giant Trump rallies. The other day a lady who had been standing in line at the rally too long, had a problem with insulin and fainted. As medics helped her the crowd spontaneously began softly singing “Amazing Grace”.

Suppose 20,000 people at such a rally were to pray 2nd Chronicles 7:14 together –
“If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, And seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
Then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land!”

Do you suppose God would honor such a prayer if prayed in unison by 20,000 Americans! Those who have studied the history of such moves by the hand of God will know it is possible. I wonder if such a move is what God wants from us.

Dear Lord let it be so.

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
November 15, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Pilgrims were not Puritans

The Pilgrims were not Puritans. This took me by surprise since the two labels seem to be used alike. Here is my understanding.

In the beginning churches that were planted by the apostles were groups of believers in a city. They were independent of a formal hierarchy though they looked to the elders for teaching and advice.

Human nature being what it is, their independence was soon brought under a hierarchy. Eventually the structure became a state church. Europe’s nations almost all had state churches associated with Rome.

English history became pretty stormy when Luther planted seeds of reformation. The King of England did not like an Italian Pope messing in English politics so he set up the “Church of England” with an English “Pope”. (How do you suppose that would go over here at home?) Those who looked to Rome were called “Papists”.

So now we have the Papists divided. Talk is growing in England about reforming the state church. Those who did not accept the state church doctrines were persecuted. In England the reformation movement was within the state church between rule of one and rule of a few. The Puritans were initially “rule of a few” within the state church. Some of them would accept what reforms they could get and wait for another opportunity to get more. Other Puritans were pushing for more radical state church reform. Civil strife built. The Presbyterian denomination was born.

The Pilgrims were distained by everybody because they left the state church and followed their consciences rather than wait for some sort of organizational reformation. The Pilgrims founded the Plymouth colony in America. They wanted no compromise with an individual Christian’s liberty to obey his conscience.

Shortly after that Massachusetts was chartered including Boston & Salem. It was a mix of Church of England (episcopal) and Puritan (pesbyterian). Puritans, upon leaving England for Massachusetts discovered a sense of relief from the state church bondage. There was a sickness in Boston and they asked the Pilgrim doctor from Plymouth to come help.

In the process they said, “You are the first Pilgrim we have met. What is it you believe?” Basically the Puritan philosophy was, “We have learned things about Christianity. Let us teach you what we know.” The Pilgrim philosophy had more liberty, “No one has all the truth, come and learn along with us.”

The seeds of Pilgrim philosophy spread through Massachusetts and changed the culture. Here is what appears to me to have caused confusion. “Separatist” and “Pilgrim” were not popular terms in those days. The preachers kept their “Puritan” name-tags. but their philosophy became Pilgrim as illustrated in their sermons.

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
November 13, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Disappointed!

Going into the mid-term elections, I was sure the righteous winning streak would continue and most candidates with an “R” by their name would win election. I was wrong.

I would rather be optimistic and disappointed,
than pessimistic and correct!

Being pessimistic may be “facing reality”, but it sure doesn’t make you feel better! Pessimism is sure defeat on the battle field! Your enemy has already won the conflict if he can make you look where he wants you to look.

The Bible has some practical advice, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” [Philippians 4:8]

I am certain (not just optimistic) that – after the last battle – Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus the Christ is Lord.

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
November 7, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Fantasy Press Conference

The President – I have an opening statement, then I will take a few questions.

For some years America has been losing respect in the world community, and in some circles here at home. America is much more than the individuals that come and go as spokesmen. America is an idea. An experiment to show that self-governed freemen are capable of sustaining a lasting society.

That idea deserves respect. Not doing so dishonors our founders – men of whom the world was not worthy! The office of President and other elected offices also deserve respect in honor of the states and voters they represent.

When we permit disrespect for the office – regardless of who may occupy it – we encourage others to lose respect for the office. These press conferences have become very disrespectful and rude.

Therefore, I am setting new rules of conduct. Representatives of the media are here by invitation. Any individual who is disrespectful or rude, will be removed from the press conference. His employer will be invited to send another, better behaved, representative.

Regarding the open office of Attorney General – I have appointed a lawman from the Midwest who has never been to Washington. He has a team of Midwest lawyers anxious to drain the swamp. They are interested in rooting out lawbreakers and reestablishing law and justice. Their orders are to start at the top and work down.

I will take questions now.

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
November 4, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Thanksgiving traditions

One of my mentors, the late Verna Hall, cofounder of Foundation for American Christian Education (FACE), was a compulsive teacher of history and biblical principles. She used the chamomile by the door, the style of furniture, the chinaware pattern. Everything was an object lesson. To be in her presence was to learn!

Americans have a rich Christian heritage. Thanksgiving is the only American Christian holiday. Our families need to know more about it. One way is to have someone at the table read a beautiful ballad by the late Lawrence Wagner.
(Please see the next page)
Enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving.
The Gilmore’s
 

Pilgrim Fathers
By Larry Wagner November 1984

The second harvest gathered since they crossed Atlantic waters,
A feast of thankfulness was set by grateful Pilgrim Fathers:
So great the providence of God, so blest with fruit their labors,
So sweet the bond among their band, such peace with Indian neighbors.

But most among the feasting crowd could count harsh years of toil.
Of wand’ring for their faith in God, of want on alien soil,
Of flagging hopes and faith, bad health, of chills that hell could send.
Of half their number that had died before first winter’s end.

Of hunger pangs that second year in their New Plymouth home,
Of weeks when all they ate a day was five small grains of corn.
A few remembered treasures lost, titles cast aside,
But all could measure conscience cost in tears and trampled pride.

Oh, at this feast could they foresee their blessed future years?
That nevermore would they know want, nor run from any fears!
Then after prayers of gratitude, before the feast was set,
Each plate was served five grains of corn, lest anyone forget!

A noble band in hardship born, rejected by their own,
A rock flung o’re the ocean, they were laid a corner stone.
By them God stamped His pattern for a nation on the land,
And seeds for freedom under God were planted by their hand.

Oh, pray their heirs would ever know how dear was freedom’s cost,
And know to hold their faith and freedom dear, or see them lost,
And praise the Providence that brought those Pilgrims to this shore,
And eat the grains of memory, or pay the price once more.

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
October 30, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Press in

Good morning –

Each morning Fran and I begin our day over coffee and chat. Then we read to one another –
Through the Bible in a year – and pray.

This morning as I was praying I had a strong impression to go immediately and type this blog post, “Press in”.

I believe “evil” is on the ropes and fighting for its life! He will be doing everything possible to take our focus off of the battle at hand. This is a time to reject doubt – believe! – our Lord can win this battle. Do not look where the enemy wants you to look. It is a diversion.

Press in in prayer – double strength! Again I say, “Do not be discouraged or diverted – PRAY!”

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
October 28, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

We have been hacked

The other day Fran and I received (on each of our computers- same router) extortion letters sent from our own computer and quoting our password(s).

I believe the best way to handle this is to shine light on it. (via this post)

If histbuff@ garlic.com and mzhstbuf@ garlic.com should go offline it will be because the extortionist has followed through on is threat.

Most of those on this mailing list are friends or close associates. We use this blog as a way to stay in touch since we cannot write individual letters to almost a thousand people.

Should you fail to receive a blog post at least once in a month – we have lost our mailing list. I hope you will contact us by snail mail or phone

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
October 10, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Red wave predicted

I can feel it in my bones! The years of prayer by unseen individuals and prayer groups all across our nation are about to be rewarded with a wave of good stuff.

The most vulnerable times are just after victories. It is a good thing to rejoice and be glad. It is not a good thing to believe we won the victory all by ourselves. For example – President Trump has turned out to be an extraordinary leader. He did not do it alone. He did it with the authority given him by the delegates in the Electoral College.

By the way – Think about it — He is NOT the “President of the people”. He is the President of the United States of America. He was elected by representatives of the fifty states. “Unity with diversity.”

Further – Those delegates were appointed by candidates you and I, and others, elected in our respective states. All that, I believe, under the providential hand of a benevolent God who loves mercy over justice whenever it can be justified. It doesn’t take a majority. It takes the persistent fervent prayers of a sufficient number of intercessors to move the heart of God.

Thus – I say – “To God be the Glory!” To God be the glory for what I believe is about to happen. We have been approaching a tipping point. Demonic evil has been exposed to light. Those who vote have seen it! I believe they understand (at least a little) that “issues” are usually settled in the primary elections and who is in charge is settled in the November elections.

This is a time to vote for any candidate with “Republican” behind his/her name.

I believe Republican candidates up and down the ballot are going to wake up the morning after election day and discover they won their campaigns! “Swamps” all over America will still be there. They do not dry up by themselves! I think we will say, “The swamp has gone from soaking wet to muddy.”

Perhaps, in another two years, we can begin planting fruit tees where the swamp used to be!

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

September 24, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

Hold steady – keep the faith

Those who have made a religion out of opposing God and His law of liberty have enjoyed unchallenged growth in the civil sphere for decades. It has been decades since our public schools promoted prayer and Bible authority. American culture, history, even the flag are absent in most classrooms.

We can label that “religion” humanism. The constitutionally protected free press has been dominated by humanists for several generations. Step by step, our ties to Godly roots have been eroded. We have reached such an open rebellion against all that is good and true that even the most dumbed down among us is beginning to sense it.

It is becoming the popular thing for good men to cynically say it is hopeless, only God can save America. –And why should He? Our nation has turned its back on God and then spit in His face! It is hard to fathom the depth of corruption in the Washington swamp.

I will tell you why. Because of what He (God) has created and invested in North America.

Just because America’s Christian roots are unknown today has not made them go away. Truth never stops struggling to the surface. Today’s true American heroes are the individuals and groups that are called to intercession. The history of God’s dealing with man (The Holy Bible) clearly teaches that God prefers mercy over justice. But mercy requires a reason, else the value of justice is lost.

Prayer works! It doesn’t take a majority! It takes true heart-felt praise and supplication to touch the heart of God. I believe such prayers by an unseen army of intercessors is daily protecting the lives of the good people draining the swamp.

Think about it. What would the humanist want from you? He would want you to lose faith in God and His love for you and His works. He would want you ignorant of God’s laws. He would want you to allow humanists a free hand in training up the next generation.

The easy thing is to do nothing, Just go with the flow. That is what put us where we are! Else hold steady, trust that God is at work, and pray. I don’t for a minute believe what the Philistine newspapers and polls tell us.

I believe the giant majority of voting Americans can’t wait to get to the polls in November and vote for anything that says “Republican”. They understand it is a numbers game about who is in charge. Keep the faith and trust in God!

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

August 26, 2018

This is a letter to our friends –

The Ten Commandments

Tomorrow is my 89th birthday. As I look back along that long path, many thoughts come to mind. I think of the incredible individuals that God has brought across my path to inspire and guide me. I recall the many times that the hand of God has moved to save my life. (Those are just the ones of which I am aware!) I think of the blessed life-partner He has given me and the family that has resulted, over 65 years. And I conclude that life is a wonderful adventure.

Something important that I learned along my life-path – Life has boundaries. Stay within those boundaries and discover peace and growth. Step outside them – chaos! When I was young I thought the chaos was fun. Now that I can look back over the years and see it in the context of what might have been – I want to climb to the rooftop and shout – THERE IS A BETTER WAY!

Anyone who is honest with himself knows there is a Creator God. Further – That that God loves and cares for each of us way beyond what we deserve! He has given us simple rules to live by. Rebelling against those rules is insanity! Modern culture has ignored them.

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”