{"id":2283,"date":"2012-04-27T08:00:31","date_gmt":"2012-04-27T12:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/godonomics\/?p=2283"},"modified":"2012-04-26T15:02:21","modified_gmt":"2012-04-26T19:02:21","slug":"being-a-shining-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/2012\/04\/being-a-shining-light.html","title":{"rendered":"You Can Be a Shining Light"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I read an article recently about a business man who discovered the stone used in the city of Jerusalem and is making it available in America.<\/p>\n

Denver, Colorado \u2013 Gill Lobel loves Jerusalem and its beauty so much that he has decided to bring part of its history and mystery to the United States. Owner of a construction company in Denver, Lobel visited Jerusalem often as a child, always admiring the stone in the buildings and the legendary \u201cWailing Wall\u201d. Then on a trip a few years ago, Lobel realized that the very stone from which Jerusalem is built was an affordable and beautiful alternative to granite or marble. Now, with the uncertainty of peace in the region, he feels strongly about bringing part of Middle East history to America as his Jerusalem Stone Company offers unique stone slabs and tiles to consumers, dealers and the clergy. Jerusalem is known as \u201cThe City of Gold\u201d for its shining hues as reflections of the sun on the stone create a golden glow across the entire town. Since 2000 B.C., stone from specific quarries has been used to build the famous resilient city. Even today, the building code in Jerusalem regulates that all new buildings must use the stone in construction or at the very least, as a fa\u00e7ade in order to keep the city\u2019s historical uniformity.<\/p>\n

The composition of the stone is dolomite \u2013 a type of limestone made over millions of years of ocean water, sand, and shells coming together to create beautiful golden stone in bone, gold, grey and rose hues.<\/p>\n

This image of being a \u201ccity\u201d that sparkles with light would have been very colorful in the mind of the audience.\u00a0 Then Jesus says that the city is \u201cset\u201d on a hill. It is \u201cstrategically\u201d placed. \u00a0When cities were built, they were built in strategic places to provide the most security. The most potential for commerce or political alliance, or availability to surrounding territories. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jesus is saying that just as builders, kings, architects set cities in certain places… and just as homeowners \u201cset\u201d lights in strategic places to illuminate the whole home… So God has strategically placed you and I in specific places in life to \u201cshine light.\u00a0 Imagine what that means, if it\u2019s true.<\/p>\n