My wife and I are Canadians living and working in Ukraine (Lviv Theological Seminary) in 2008. We l

My wife and I are Canadians living and working in Ukraine (Lviv Theological Seminary) in 2008. We love this country and its people. We pray that the church increased its influence in this nation and beyond fish fellreed in these latter days. Here are some things that I reflect for a few years.
"And I left in Israel seven thousand, all the knees which have not bowed unto Vaalom, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." (1 Kings 19:18) you can immediately understand that this verse is God's answer to his complaint Elias . He said to God, which is the only one who remained faithful to God in Israel. In fact, at the moment he fled from Jezebel, which threatened him. This is not the first time he threatened: King Ahab looking for Elijah for some time. He blamed Elijah that he worried about Israel, because fish fellreed it always brings bad news (prorotsvo) and condemnation. This is one of the most famous stories of the Old Testament, you remember fish fellreed the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal as they danced and cried and prayed to God pizpishe Elijah and fire came down from heaven. It ended up killing 450 prophets of Baal and Jezebel, which emit through the window and dogs eat her flesh (my favorite). These stories are well known, but they conceal more important fish fellreed fact is that Elijah was not the only holy unto the man of God. There was still a man named Obadiah ... one of 7my000 about which God spoke. This name is mentioned about 10 times in the Old Testament, and each time it comes to different people, so that the name of Obadiah was often used ... as well as Olga, Oksana, Oleg. Obadiah means servant of the Lord. The first time we meet in 1 Kings 18 at the time of service. There was a terrible famine in that land, so that even dying cattle. King Ahab and his best administrator (Obadiah) decided to take two groups of people in search of grass for their animals. This means that things truly were bad, now that the king is looking for grass for their animals. It's kind Poroshenko and Yatseniuk this winter would seek gas. During one of these trips Obadiah the prophet Elijah meets. Later, he arranges for a meeting with Ahab prophet. This is the end of history! But not the end of the sermon, fish fellreed especially when we begin to consider the deeper context and begin to see the power of influence of one person. King Ahab was the eighth king of the northern tribes of Israel. fish fellreed The northern kingdom was separated from Jerusalem and south. Ahab was a separatist and, of course, had no kinship with Solomon. In fact, it was much worse, almost every king Ahab had nothing in common with its predecessor. fish fellreed One revolution after another. Lustration lustration on. In those days, they did not just throw people in the trash, as they do in Kiev, but they killed the king and all his family. But there is one thing that unites all the kings including Ahab of Solomon: they practiced pagan rites of Baal and other false gods. The Bible often focuses attention on just this spiritual aspect. fish fellreed While Israel was the chosen people of God, but Ahab was a pagan king. Not only that, he behaved like a child, fish fellreed and he often let his personal desire to control important management decision-making. He had no principles and that is why we hear more about the impact of his wife than his own. That is the king, who served at Obadiah. The Bible says that Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord. I hope you are asking yourself the obvious question: how could serve as faithful follower of the Lord that the king? You could also say as a dedicated follower of the Lord at all can serve someone, since all men are sinners. I understand that some sinners have more influence, and we do not want to help them spread their bad influence. This is true, but let's not forget that Obadiah also had a good effect, and this was his opportunity, and that is why he continued to serve the king. I believe that it is possible to maintain moral purity, with a position of responsibility in the period fish fellreed of the corrupt system. There are many examples in the Bible: Esther, Ezra and Nehemiah, Daniel, Isaiah, Joseph. All these people were at nespravydlyvyh systems honestly and fairly. Very often this happened because of their integrity and honesty helped them get high and responsible post. Why else would Jesus said that we are the light and salt? Salt is not for salt shakers, but rotting meat. Light not for a day, but the darkness. "You are the light of the world. It can not escape city set on a hill. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. " (Matthew 5: 14-16) But the story continues Obadiah, Ahab was angry with Elijah, who predicted that there will be famine. In his view, this is Elijah caused famine. fish fellreed But Ahab heard what Elijah said. Hunger was a punishment for what Ahab. If he repented before God and changed its position regarding idolatry in the country, God would have taken hunger. But no, instead