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Enjoy another wonderful text by Rev. Phil Smedsted, minister Emeritus of Oasis Rising Center

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Phil Smedstad's texts are one of the ways Oasis Rising Center supports members.

A Positive Path for Spiritual Living

Oasis Rising Center Spiritual Center
Oasis Rising Center 8125 West Sahara Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89125
(702) 804-8189
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“The Burning Bowl Service.” 

By Rev. Phillip Smedstad

This past Sunday was the day for our annual Burning Bowl Ceremony.  This was “audience participation” Sunday.  Because of that, our lesson was quite short, and the service included a “White Stone” ceremony as well.

In Biblical days, when someone was released, either from slavery or from prison, they were given a white stone to signify their freedom.  So on Sunday, first we put everything we wanted to release and not carry over into 2015 into the fire we had made in our Meditation Garden.  Then, having declared our freedom from these things, we had a time of meditation and asked the Holy Spirit what new name to write on our white stone.

The White Stone ceremony is based on a verse from the Bible – Revelations 2:17.  Here’s what it says:  “He who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says.  To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and on the white stone a new name written which no one knows except he who receives it.”

So, first of all, how do we develop “ears to hear?”  We practice opening our inner ears.  This is how we hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us. 

And, one very big how-to in this regard is to practice meditation, which we did a bit later in the service.

The first promise in this verse is, “To him who overcomes, I will give to eat of the hidden manna.”  Overcomes what?  Overcomes his or her ego, or false identity, the belief in his or her small self.

How do we release this false identity?  We do this by surrendering in two ways.  We surrender to our magnificence, our oneness with all that God is.  We also practice surrendering to our guidance, to the direction of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives.

The results of this surrender are two-fold.  First, surrendering to our magnificence and guidance is the only way to have true inner peace.  And, as most of us in Unity know, the only way we will ever have peace in the world is when enough of us are at peace within ourselves.

Secondly, we also receive the “hidden manna,” which means that we receive the kind of spiritual nourishment which is not available to those who don’t practice surrendering like this.

In John 4:32, Jesus said, “I have food to eat that you don’t know about.  My food is to do the will of Him who sent me.”  That same food is available to all of us, as we, too, do “the will of Him who sent us.”  As we do, we, too, are energized, revitalized, and renewed.

The second promise from Revelations 2:17 is, “I will give him a white stone, and on the white stone a new name is written”.  In Biblical days, someone’s name meant their nature or character.  So, when Saul’s nature changed, his name was changed to Paul.  Likewise, when their nature changed, Jacob became Israel, Abram became Abraham, and Sarai became Sarah.  (The added “h” represented the breath of Spirit.)

On Sunday, we each had the opportunity to receive a new name, one which represented what we want to realize or become in this New Year.  What new characteristic do you want to manifest this next year?  Even if you weren’t at our White Stone ceremony, you can ask Spirit to tell you what name to put on a white stone you find somewhere around or outside your house.  Here’s what we asked people to do in meditation on Sunday, and here’s what I would ask you to do.

I invite you to go inside and ask the Holy Spirit in you for direction on this.  Let the name come to you easily, without “trying to make it happen.”  Practice tuning in as best you can to your guidance.  It might feel like you are making this new name up, because it might seem so wonderful or so much that for which you have yearned.

This new name could come as a thought.  It might be a feeling.  It might be a picture which you can turn into a name.

It might be a title, something like “published author.”  It might be something like “clean and sober.”  It might be a word like “grateful.”  It might be something like “brilliant light.” Whatever it is, hold the idea lightly in your mind.  Don’t worry about making a mistake.  There are no mistakes.

When you have gone inside for a minute, or for ten minutes, and you have become aware of your new name for this year, go ahead and write it on your white stone.  Then, just be as grateful as you can to the Holy Spirit in you for revealing your perfect new name for this New Year.

Each morning, as you greet the day, find a way to repeat your new name.  “I am radiant health,” or “I am affluence.”  What I do is to carry my white stone in my pocket.  Every morning, as I put on my trousers, I say my new name as I put the stone in my pocket.  Then, in the evening, as I take off my clothes, I say it again.

Along with the new name comes the power and guidance to achieve this desire.  See it, decree it, and give thanks for it.  And, most of all, have a wonderful year in 2015.