ACH Study Groups

Ben & Fran Gilmore – Cofounders

7659 Gingerblossom Drive

Citrus Heights, CA 95621

916-722-2501 histbuff@garlic.com

www.ACHStudyGroups.com

November 30, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

George Washington on harassment

This morning’s inbox held an article by Star Parker (https://patriotpost.us/opinion/52632) which I will share in full below. Here is clear wisdom!

George Washington’s Solution for Sexual Harassment

Star Parker · Nov. 29, 2017

The avalanche of sexual harassment claims, with new ones pouring forth daily, leads me to the wisdom of George Washington’s observation in his farewell address in 1796:

“Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. … And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be managed without religion.”

You may say, “There you go again, Star. Waving your Bible.”

But is there a better answer for dealing with this problem?

Society, all human life, is guided by rules. The only question before us is: What are the rules that we choose to live by?

Washington’s point is crucial. In a free society, one in which we want to minimize government and political control, we must maximize self-governance. Religion, and the morality that emerges from it, provides the rules by which free men and women govern their own behavior.

I will say further that the rules that we learn from scripture provide the framework for a society based on love, respect and creativity, as opposed to power and control.

And indeed, as we read accounts of the behavior of these men of wealth and influence, who have achieved what many Americans see as the pinnacle of American success, we read descriptions of the behavior of beasts, not men.

Sexuality, outside the framework of mutual love, commitment and respect between husband and wife, is transformed from a physical expression of intimacy and beauty to the gross and crass behavior of brutes.

That this appears to be so widespread in our society should trouble us all.

So what do we do?

I am a Christian, but I do not believe that our government was designed to mend men’s souls. It was designed to allow citizens to live free.

We cannot force citizens to do what Washington advises — learn and be guided by scripture.

What’s the alternative?

One is to forget it and let people do what they want. Let women fend for themselves when beastly predators with money and power threaten them.

Few will accept this option.

Alternatively, we can have politicians design our rules. But can this work? Without guidelines of scripture, how do we discern right and wrong, acceptable and forbidden?

This is the trend that has been going on for years. The less we self-govern through eternal Biblical truths, learned at home and at school, the more we grow government to control our lives.

In response to sexual harassment violations perpetrated by some members of congress, Congresswoman Barbara Comstock has introduced a congressional resolution requiring “all House Members, Officers, employees, including interns, detailees, and fellows, of the House of Representatives shall complete an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training program during each session of Congress.”

Surely, similar programs will be popping up across industry. So instead of our workforce developing new and better products, more of their time will be spent sitting in anti-harassment training sessions, learning rules designed by bureaucrats.

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University published a report last year on the costs to our economy of the vast growth in the regulatory state from 1977 to 2012. The study concludes that accumulated regulatory growth reduced the size of the American economy in 2012 by 25 percent — $4 trillion of what it might have been.

Aside from economic costs, what are the human costs of our lives increasingly being controlled by bureaucrats?

According to research from Stanford University, 10 percent of married couples meet at work. So much for this, as men will fear giving a woman a second glance at work, let alone saying or doing anything that might hint he’s attracted to her.

I see only one viable path to a healthy, free nation. Choose to heed the wisdom of our first president.

COPYRIGHT 2017 STAR PARKER

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 20, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Next online PAG course

Monday, January 8, 2018

We are approaching “last minute” preparations time before the next “Principles of American Government” (PAG) course. What can I write about this opportunity?

· The material covered is incredibly significant.

· The commitment (2 classes plus 4 hours personal study per week x 3 months) is never convenient!

· Things learned in this course will be used for a lifetime.

For half a century, guys like me have been singing a song no one wants to hear! (All that seems to change when the student discovers God in the subject.) We shout it from the housetops. We do everything we know to spread the word – but – few seem to respond!

It is a lot like evangelism. I asked the Lord about it. He replied, “Leave the numbers to me. You teach the ones I put in front of you!”

About the course – We use Skype as a virtual classroom. The students, usually adults and teens, can see and speak with one another.

The course title says it all. To govern is to “direct, regulate, control, and restrain,” the

“family, church, and state,” by principles that are uniquely American.

The first four classes are a course overview: “God” – everyone has different experiences. We establish a common understanding of who God is. “Man” – We build a common understanding of man’s relationship to God. “Law” – Nothing exists without laws to govern it. “Principles” – Our course focuses upon 7 principles by which to evaluate our choices.

The body of the course (two classes on each of 7 principles in order) is an in-depth look at the roots, history and significance of each principle. They are: individuality, self-government, quality character, private property, American form, local authority, liberty.

The last six classes focus upon how to use what you have learned.

In the process we will learn from Locke, Blackstone, Montesquieu, Bradford and others about the events and philosophy that inspired men to create America. You will learn that without Christ there would be no America!

See a detailed course syllabus on our web site www.ACHStudyGroups.com

and read student comments.

Telephone or e-mail me to enroll.

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 17, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Housekeeping and Principles

Housekeeping first –

This column (Ben’s Blog) has been produced several times monthly for several decades. Friends have added friends to the growing mailing list. Over the years that list has become significant.

In order to avoid trouble with spam filters, the list has been broken into smaller “chunks”. Over the summer we had computer problems (plus the problems generated by my shaky hands). That resulted in the loss of several “chunks”. If you enjoy these posts and go for over a month without receiving one, we would appreciate your letting us know about it. With a DB of 10K contacts, rebuilding a lost chunk is a daunting task.

Principles next –

“Meaning of law.—Law, in its 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 motion, of gravitation, of optics, or mechanics, as well as 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, “Father of the legal profession.” When American students first read this they chafe a bit at “superior” and “inferior”. Think about it – “If you live in our house, you obey our house rules!” “If you ride in our carpool you don’t smoke.”

You can live or smoke where ever you like – but – If you depend on us, you are obliged to obey our rules. Obligation is measured by the degree of dependence. Since we depend upon God for everything, even our next breath(!), we are obliged to obey His rules of action.

Rebelling is like leaving the seat up, or sneaking a smoke in the car. Rebelling against God’s rules is like thumbing your nose at the Creator of the universe! The difference between “law” and “advice” – Law comes with a consequence. You get kicked out of the house or carpool.

Fortunately, you don’t get kicked out of the universe – – yet! You do however, break the heart of the One who loves you most. He made the rules for your wellbeing. There are consequences.

Is it hard to live by God’s rules? Think about it. Is it hard to love the One who loves you? Is it hard to want the best for your neighbor? Which of the ten commandments Moses presented is hard to obey? On the other hand – When you choose to disobey consider the roadblocks you have to climb over, the “STOP” signs you ignore, the conscience you have to overcome! You have a virtual obstacle course to run in order to break the rules!

The truth is – We sin because we want to! The choice is ours as are the consequences.

The good news is that there is forgiveness waiting for us – if – we will turn around and repent. Without repentance forgiveness would be foolish. Forgiveness is possible because Jesus Christ paid the consequence in our behalf. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

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 16, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

America’s Homrtown Thanksgiving parade

If any of you are able to send out a blast to your respective email lists that the America’s Hometown Thanksgiving parade, which I will help narrate, will be live streamed this Saturday, November 18 at 10:30 AM EST. Please pray for us that it will be smooth, secure, weather will be good, and the message will be clear! You can get the link at two websites:

www.pactv.org or www.usathanksgiving.com

Thanks and may God bless you this Thanksgiving…

Dr. Paul Jehle
The New Testament Church
1120 Long Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
www.tntchurch.net

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, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Reputation

“REPUTA´TION, n. [Fr. from L reputatio.]

1. Good name; the credit, honor or character which is derived from a favorable public opinion or esteem. Reputation is a valuable species of property or right, which should never be violated. With the loss of reputation, a man and especially a woman, loses most of the enjoyments of life.

The best evidence of reputation is a man’s whole life. Ames.” [Webster’s Dictionary 1828]

We need to pray that Alabama voters will have the discernment to rebuke the political establishment’s desperate effort to destroy the reputation of Judge Roy Moore, candidate for the U.S. Senate. “The best evidence of reputation is a man’s whole life.” So many American principles are being violated. Every citizen should be furious.

· In America we are held innocent until proven guilty!

· It appears the “establishment lawmakers” fear Judge Moore’s presence among them, That dishonors the Alabama voter’s right to select their representative.

· Judge Moore is an outspoken Christian. Many will recall his refusal to remove the Ten Commandments memorial from the court house. Might the establishment be applying a religious test?

· Were Judge Moore to be declared unfit for office because of sexual impropriety, justice would require that we replace most of the legislature. “Let him that has no sin cast the first stone!”

Let me say here that I do not believe the charges against Judge Moore will be proven. On the other hand, only one man has led a sinless life! All of us are guilty of something. The point is – Christians have admitted it and accepted forgiveness!

If a man with Judge Moore’s sterling lifetime reputation can be destroyed – no one’s reputation is safe! Truth has a way of struggling to the surface. I predict those accusing Judge Moore will endure a mighty backlash.

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 12, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Regarding your property

“PROPERTY … In the former sense, a man’s land, or merchandise, or money, is called his property. In the latter sense, a man has a property in his opinions and the free communication of them. He has a property of peculiar value in his religious opinions, and in the profession and practice dictated by them. . .He has an equal property in the free use of his faculties (abilities), and the free choice of the objects on which to employ them. In a word, as a man is said to have a right to his property, he may equally be said to have a property in his rights.” [James Madison 1792]

So we may be said to have an exclusive right to our thoughts, plans, dreams, choices. All part of our private property. Madison also said, “Conscience is the most sacred of all property.”

I have heard Christians say, “I have no property. Everything belongs to God.” I disagree. If the choices I make belong to God, then He is responsible for them, and I have an excuse at the judgement seat – I am a victim! I believe I was given free will. I am answerable for how I use it, as well as for the consequences.

“When you choose an action, you choose a consequence.” [Harry Conn 1975]

Suppose I take a bucket to the stream and fill it. The water in the stream belongs to everyone in common. I carry the bucket of water to my kitchen counter. Chemically – The water in the stream and the water in the bucket is the same. But the water in the bucket is mixed with my labor (my property). Anyone drinking from the bucket without my permission is violating my property.

Unless we respect one another’s property we cannot expect our property to be respected.

There is growing news about small retailers being pressured to violate their conscience. I believe we started that ball rolling when the civil rights movement overstepped its admirable goal of equality before the law. Segregated public (tax funded) restrooms, transportation, water fountains have no place in a free society. They are our public property in common. Individual bigotry, on the other hand is an individual choice. It is the “property” of the bigot! Just as an opinion cannot be forced upon me (the power of a jury system!), neither can its source can be proven. Think about it – How can you prove the motivation of a crime. You need facts to prove something.

“Hate-crime” laws are based upon supposition not provable facts. If I put up a lemonade stand, buy the products, and make the lemonade. That lemonade is my property. I can do with it as I please. Suppose I choose to sell my lemonade only to girls. The boys come to me and say, “You must sell to us too.” If they attempt to force me, they are violating my property right. Just as though they had stolen a drink from the bucket on my counter.

How then, do we handle my lemonade bigotry and respect private property at the same time? “Moralsuasion” – Suppose the girls see the bigotry and choose to bypass my stand. I will have to change my bias or close my shop. Unless we respect and honor private property, no property is safe – liberty is replaced by slavery.

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 8, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Pilgrim Fathers

Thanksgiving is a time for reflecting and “Being still and knowing that God is God.” It is the only American Christian holiday. It is a time for family traditions. I’ll share ours.

Fran and I have three kids, each with families of their own. In the growing up years our tradition was Thanksgiving with my parents (their anniversary) and Christmas with Fran’s family. As our parents passed on and we had grandkids, we became the traditional hosts.

Our kids built family traditions of their own. Guy and Linda (our son and the world’s greatest daughter-in-law) have become Thanksgiving hosts for the family. They have expanded to in-laws and friends. Last year 50 friends and family squeezed into a number of tables for a giant meal with endless pie for desert.

During the meal we went around the tables as each person shared what they were most thankful for. There was often emotion. A tradition was born – “Who wants to reserve a place at the ‘crying table’?”

This year it appears the numbers will be smaller. Linda’s dad passed on. The California fires have stranded our daughter. They sold their lovely home to downsize – a few days before fires wiped out a large part of their town. They were planning to buy a new home there! Now half the population is doing the same! Our youngest and her family just moved from California to Montana. We are blessed to have a family that loves one another – together or apart.

For the years we hosted, part of the event agenda included reading the late Lawrence Wagner’s poem, “Pilgrim Fathers”. It is traditional for this column to post it in November. (below) . . .

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 24, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

First love

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works;” [Revelation 2:4–5]

I believe the Lord lead Marshall Foster to open his keynote address at the “Honoring The Vision” event with a discussion of Christ’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Marshall pointed out that the Ephesian church was among the most successful churches in the Bible. – But – Christ was concerned because they had lost their first love.

Like the Ephesians we Americans have seen the Lord do many great works. American missionary efforts have dwarfed those of any other nation. American Christian principles have inspired hope throughout the world. And like the Ephesians, God has blessed us.

Nevertheless, like the Ephesian Christians, we have left our first love.

The cross represents Christ’s summary of God’s goal for humanity – Learn to love God and to love others. Love God (vertical) and love others (horizontal) – The Christian cross. We call our vertical relationship, “church”. We call the horizontal relationship, “government”.

Throughout human history every society develops a vertical relationship with some “higher power”, a god of some sort, or the God of creation. Further – The corporate quality of that vertical relationship – church – will always determine the quality of the horizontal relationship – government. Never the other way around.

“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen,” “Make America great again” would have made no sense unless the public were aware of our having “left our first love.” Every new day more corruption and just plain evil is revealed. The quality of American government has fallen way down!

If the quality of the horizontal (government) is determined by the quality of the vertical (church) – Where must we go to find root causes and lasting solutions? Were we to have divine help in electing Spirit-filled, glow in the dark Christians to every elected office, then staff those offices with equally qualified workers, I believe the nation would be in seven times worse shape in only a few election cycles.

Until we, “repent, and do the first works” and improve the quality of the “vertical” the “horizontal” will continue to degrade. All through human history God has demonstrated His love and sense of humor by raising up unlikely leaders. I have read historical sermons that touched thousands in their day. I thought to myself, “This man’s theology is out to lunch!” Then I read about the ladies who were in the basement under the pulpit praying. The preacher could have been reading the phone book out loud and as long as the ladies were praying the results would be the same!

So – What were the American churches first works? The documentation is extensive! Read the Colonial sermons. Read the Declaration. Read the original, not what someone has told you about them. The colonial church recognized that God was God and the church was responsible for the quality of the government.

Pastor and evangelist friend of mine – I believe that unless your message includes the horizontal as well as the vertical, you are only presenting half of the cross.

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 23, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

Honoring The Vision

An Historic Event

A full month has passed. Kudos have come in. It was truly a gathering of giants. A gathering of master teachers, most with a generation of service. The common threads among them: Respect for the founders of FACE, Verna Hall & Rosalie Slater; An understanding of the hand of God in the founding of America; A love for the “Principle Approach”.

Any one of the many speakers and testimonies is worth playing over and over.

Our committee believed it would be the historic event it was. We had two video cameras recording almost continuously (20+ hours of raw video). I have just finished viewing the whole set of files.

Several have asked, “What is next for the recording.”

The original raw data will be archived in the Hall & Slater Library in Virginia. It is not to be copied or excerpted. Perhaps future historians will be researching the movement and find this archive valuable.

I will hold a copy of the original ( AUDIO FILES – 7 GB &VIDEO FILES 130 GB ) until the Lord brings a team with the qualifications and sufficient love of the subject, plus the sophisticated production equipment and funding to produce a finished product worthy of the content. It is hoped the finished product will be available at cost plus shipping.

I invite all those interested in this project to join me in prayer for the right team.

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, 2017

This is a letter to our friends –

NOTE – This is a revised post, because the first post had the URL rather than a hyperlink. Many sends were returned as spam. Apologies J

“Natural Law Today …”

I first met Gary Porter at a FACE conference in Virginia. He was conducting tours of the Hall & Slater Library. My first impression – “This man’s knowledge of history, the Constitution, and law in general, is way above my pay grade!”

Subsequent years of friendship only serve to confirm that first impression! Gary just published a paper I am excited to share with those of you who are willing to turn off the TV and radio in order to pay close attention to what you are reading.

Enjoy!

These columns are archived since 12/10/09

See www.ACHStudyGroups.com

“Ben’s Blog”