Order of Saint Luke

What is the Order of St. Luke (OSL)?
by Beth Dugan 

OSL is the ecumenical healing ministry that we participate in at Good Samaritan. It consists of men and women who have been trained and ordained to offer relief from physical or emotional distress by face-to-face prayer and/or the laying-on of hands.

Jesus strongly urged his followers to go and heal as he had healed, and to believe in their power to do so. Each one of us, as part of "the body of Christ", is a temple to that same Holy Spirit that does the healing.  The Christ came to dwell among us to remind us that God wanted man and woman to share His creation, to dwell with Him in paradise. Illness and suffering were not God's intention then, are not now, and never will be. Essential to every individual healer's balance, perspective, humility and support is participation in community with others who feel called to serve as healers. Therefore the OSL leaders provide speakers at monthly meetings and in larger conferences nationally and internationally to provide ongoing training.

On March 9 Josh Acton, a minister and OSL member, spoke at the La Jolla Presbyterian Church to an audience including OSL members and others who are interested in doing healing or who simply came to seek healing. Josh, formerly an Episcopal priest and now in ministry with the Vineyard Church in both San Diego and in Hemet, spoke about the doubt that assails him as a healer. Josh identified doubt as the attempt of the Satan to interfere with the work of Jesus Christ.  Having felt such doubt even during his act of the laying-on of hands, Josh has learned to trust in the possibility of the smallest "mustard-seed moment" when he feels the presence of the real healer, the Spirit, even despite his own doubt. Josh's experience has been that it takes only such an instant to allow for a complete healing experience for the one he has touched. Josh also spoke about the embarrassment he has felt in offering services when he has felt the "shove of the Dove," describing a time in a cafe when he felt everybody must be looking at him as he placed his hands on a woman's eyes.  However, that healing success then became evident to all around them as her eyes that were swollen shut with infection and pain were opened and free. After Josh finished speaking, instead of offering a period for questions and answers, he invited anybody who wished to be healed to work individually with OSL members during a period of prayer and/or hands-on service time.  Clearly participation in this experience would be the most valid possible answer to every possible question.  There is nothing intellectual required in the exercise of faith.

The Saving of Bob and Bette Keith, part two

(Part Two of a two part series. Part one was posted last Thursday).

by Bob Keith

Starting church services

Soon after starting the healing services, we knew it was time to try the Sunday morning church service. We had never before been to an Episcopal service, but couldn’t imagine not trying it.

We have never looked back.

We became regular attendees, joined Bible study groups and met so many more of you. Bette continued with her Wednesday morning healing services. then we took communion in this Episcopal Church and have been regulars ever since.

The main point in this is we each became re-established with God, and, probably, in a much more meaningful way than at any other time in our lives. I do not know how either of us could have survived the last few years without it.

And it all started in a therapy pool when Bob Tuggey invited Bette to try a healing service, and she said “YES”.

After that initial start, the whole Good Sam team was involved and helped us through these many years. We are grateful to everyone, to say the least.

Approaching the end of life

As Bette approached the end of life this past spring, she assured me time and time again she was not fearing it. She told me, and I knew it would be so, she would be comfortable knowing she would be in good hands.

As always, she was concerned for me, however. But I assured her I was in good hands too, and knowing that, I would be just fine. I reminded her of Father Chris’ end-of-the-service message that God is all around us, and with us, and will be supporting me.

A final note along these lines that really speaks to her inner character. In the final few days, she said to me, several times, “the nurses all know I am ready to accept the end, but please, please, keep reminding them not to hurry it -- a little bit longer would be just fine!”

I think of those conversations often and have confidence that all will be well.

Thank you, Good Sam

My endless thanks to all of you, especially Bob Tuggey, who started us.

The Saving of Bette and Bob Keith

(This is Part One of a Two-Part Series. The second part will be posted on Tuesday.)

by Bob Keith

My story is about Good Sam and its saving of Bette and Bob Keith, and it begins with the healing service.

We moved to San Diego 12 years ago as very healthy people. A year later Bette began an 11-year struggle with several medical problems that came out of nowhere and never left, especially her ever-increasing pain from shingles.

Another problem developed, too, and it became more important than we realized. We had tried several Presbyterian churches in the first years -- that had been our church back east -- but we never sensed any sort of welcoming.

Soon, we didn’t go to church much. That led to not talking with God much, even though we were beginning to get worn down and discouraged by the unsolvable medical issues.

Our big break

About 6-7 years ago, Bette was using a warm water therapy pool and so was a fellow named Bob Tuggey. They soon knew of each other’s problems. One day he suggested she join him at his “Good Sam Healing Service”. Bette thought what in the world is “Good Sam”? What is a healing service?

But at the same time, she never hesitated and quickly said “Yes”. And that did it. After the first session, she asked me if I could bring her to the next Wednesday session. I did, and some of you know the rest.

This is the point where our lives -- both of us -- began to get better. She had new friends at healing, she was soon smiling again and gaining a new outlook on her life and problems.

The yellow room

It wasn’t long before Bette started to refer to the healing service room, that is, the Chapel, as the Yellow Room. At her memorial service this spring, Father Chris described how this was an important reference term for her, as he knew from conducting the many healing services.

There is a good reason for her using those words: when the sun broke through the clouds mid-morning, it shined through the yellow colors in the glass window in the room, and gave a yellow glow to the room. That is the most obvious explanation for the Yellow Room term.

But in my talks with her, I learned there may be more to it than that. When in that room, she was sensing a comforting, mysterious tranquility that was coming from the healing process itself. The appearance of the yellow sunlight did help the good feeling but she probably used the “Yellow Room” reference because it was an easier thing to explain.

(This is Part One of a Two-Part Series. The second part will be posted on Tuesday.)