столовеIf you regularly read the Times Union, an Albany newspaper, you may have read an article about my search for a copy of the City Code of the city in which I live, Schenectady.  I was pretty shocked when I received an official notice back from my local government denying my request for an electronic copy of the code, particularly because I had been to City Hall and had asked them for advice as to how I could view or obtain a copy of the code and I followed their recommended course.  The reason for denial, “Materials requested are copyrighted and proprietary…”  I was going to file my appeal, but upon speaking with my father, he recommended writing a letter to the editor of the Times Union.  So I did.

The Times Union sent Cathy Woodruff, known as The Advocate, to my door to interview me along with a photographer and videographer.  That was fun, I have to admit.  My article was published on November 12th along with an online article and video.  The article was also published to Cathy Woodruff’s Times Union blog where it received some comments (http://blog.timesunion.com/advocate/quest-for-copy-of-schenectady-city-code-proves-elusive/2012/).

My father has told me that several people have tried to contact me at his home.  Presumably because my grandfather by the same name is living there.  Anyway, when I found the blog page I saw the name Michael Brockbank.  This man used to be the Corporation Council, the officer responsible for deciding whether or not to honor my FOIL (Freedom Of Information Law) request.  Mr. Brockbank said that he used to freely distribute the very thing I was asking for during his years of service and that there was no such copyright of the law and that such a copyright would be illegal if it did exist.  He also forwarded me a copy of the City Code in .PDF format.  Interestingly enough, Mr. Brockbank served under a Republican administration.  The current administration is Democratic.

I have filed my appeal with the Mayor, Brian U. Stratton (famous last name around here.)  When I receive a response I will post here again.  Mr. Brockbank suggests that I take this to court if I don’t receive my free copy of the Code.  I’m not sure if I’m interested in the hassle and expense of that, but who knows?  If anyone would like a copy of the .PDF Mr. Brockbank sent me, I’d be happy to supply it by email.  Just submit a comment here and I’ll send it to you.

I removed this post in order to prevent self-incrimination, as it now appears that the complaints are continuing.

Many Christians today do not like to talk about world events.  They do not like to hear about how the New World Order is taking shape and what it has to do with Biblical prophecy.  Yet Christ himself warned us to be on our guard and not be found sleeping (Matt 24:42).  He even told us to be aware of the signs of His coming (Matt24:28).

Still I am frequently told that we shouldn’t be worried about the end times, that we shouldn’t be worried about the progression of the world toward it’s ultimate inevitable destruction at the hands of the Almighty.  I’m so often told by good-meaning Christians that it’s not important to pay attention to such things or to obsess about them.  I’m told that Christ will come back and rescue the Church, so it’s not important for us to study the progression of events, or to concern ourselves with the fulfillment of John’s Revelation.  After all, it’s written and cannot be stopped.  There is no use in chasing after the wind or kicking against the pricks.  We can no more prevent the dominion of satan over the world as prophecy predicts than we can stop the sun from rising.  So conceded.

Then why should we be concerned with the end times prophecies?  Why does God tell us these things in advance if there is nothing we can do to prevent them?  The answer is simple and lies in the book of the prophet Isaiah.

When people think of the prophet Isaiah, most people don’t think of end times prophecy.  Certainly Daniel is more well know for end times prophecy.  However, consider Isaiah chapter 49.  In the interest of saving space I will excerpt a few passages below and leave it to the reader to look up the rest.

vv4-6, “For I knew how stubborn you were; the sinews of your neck were iron, your forehead was bronze.  Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could no say ‘My idols did them; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.’”

v9 “For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off.”

Consider how these passages can be related to the end times prophecies.  In verses 4 through 6 God tells us one reason why He has chosen to foretell his plan, that man could not attribute the acts of God to their own hands or the hands of their idols.  In verse 9 God tells us the ultimate reason: “For my own name’s sake…”  But notice the very last part of the verse, “… so as not to cut you off.”

God is telling us that His prophecies and their fulfillment have a very special purpose.  That the purpose is for His glory, and to save men from damnation.  And this makes plenty of sense.  It is one of the powerful weapons in God’s arsenal to prove His existence and His power to all mankind.

Those of us who take an interest in the fulfillment of end times prophecy are not just obsessed conspiracy nuts.  We have a God ordained purpose which is to expose God’s glory and win souls to Christ by putting world events into their proper Biblical context for the eyes of the world to see.

If you have a desire to be informed and informative about God’s end times prophecies coming to fruition, do not be abashed, God has ordained this.  He has told us to go out and proclaim the Gospel, and the end times prophecies are part fo that gospel.  So be encouraged that your role in the Church of God is not meaningless and is not inherently rebellious.  Just keep your focus on Christ and bringing souls to Him.

And if you are one of those with an aversion to end times prophecies, please understand that we are not being rebellious, and we are not necessarily being obesessive.  God has a purpose to work out through the fulfillment of scriptural prophecy.  Rather come by us in love and support as we bring Glory to God together.