Free Healing Here!

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Jun 072014
 

free giftI was telling the story of the ten lepers to a group of kindergarten kids recently. It’s the story of ten lepers coming to Jesus for healing. He simply sends them to the temple to be evaluated as healed by the priests. As they go, they are healed! One of the ten returns to thank Jesus for being healed. This story is traditionally used to teach the need to be thankful.

I told this story with as much drama as I could muster, striving to focus their attention on the need to grateful and to express that gratefulness and praise to God. Right in the middle of that, I was floored by a new thought. This story is not just about being thankful! Why hadn’t I seen this before? It is even more about Jesus freely healing, even when those who were healed were ungrateful!

When I do something good for someone, how often am I doing it while already anticipating the thanks or the recognition I am sure will follow? Am I counting on being noticed and appreciated for those good deeds? What is my motive? It is so- uh, human to do for others because we expect some good return.

In a busy workplace, how often have you heard, or maybe said, something like this? “I’m not helping her restock those trays. She never helps me!” “He never helps me move my patients. I’m not answering his page for help.” So human. It makes sense! Totally understandable! Logical. Reciprocal. Fair even!

What would my workplace be like if I did good, helped coworkers for free, no strings, no expectations of payment in kind? What would my home be like if I did more things for free? Doing caring acts for my wife with no expectation of a return? Even knowing that she would never do similar loving things for me.  Note to world: This would NEVER be the case in my house because I am married to the most caring woman ever! I can’t out-nice her.

Do good. Free, unreturned, good. Why? Well just for goodness’ sake! Do good because it feels good! Act with kindness just because it makes the world a better place.  Start a wave, a free good revolution. Be infectious. Do it because it makes you look like Jesus. Don’t wait for it to be deserved. Make a free gift of it to those around you.

Memorial Freedom

 bob-maclafferty  1 Response »
May 262014
 

Memorial Day freedomBeautiful and clear blue sky this morning. Birds singing. Very quiet. I’ve got a long list of to-do’s today, but it’s time to reflect a bit. It is so easy for us to take our freedom for granted. Unlike millions around the globe, I am free to work at a job I love. I am free to choose the size of my family. I am free to travel. I am free to speak about what I believe. I am free to openly worship my God in my choice of method and time.

Today, I revel in that freedom. Today I remember the heartbreaking truth. Someone had to die for me to feel that freedom. How many have died? I don’t know. Many. Freedom is very expensive. It exacts a horrible price.

It is easier to remember those who died overseas, battling an identified foe, in a famous place and time.  But that’s not enough. Remember those who will die training HARD this year to be ready. Do you think that pilots are close air support experts by spending their time cruising at 30,000 feet?  Do you think someone learns HALO online? Freedom is bought, and kept…. with blood.

While I celebrate my physical freedom, I celebrate another kind. My freedom from the penalty of my sin. I am free to do good today, not to earn my salvation, but simply because it makes my heavenly Father happy. I am free to be confident in where I am going someday because Jesus fought and died for it so many years ago. Freedom is not free. It is horribly expensive. The price is shockingly high.

My freedom as an American is measured by the lives of those who bled and died for it and those who will continue to do so even now. My freedom in Christ is measured by  the One who bled and died for it. Just One, and just once. Jesus.

 

What is in Your Hand?

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
May 172014
 

purposeDidn’t sleep much this week. That’s not normal for me. Usually I am asleep within minutes each night. I might wake up once or twice, hear an unfamiliar noise, categorize it or investigate it, go back to sleep.  But night after night this week, I saw each hour several times on my watch or phone.  This morning, up at three, stewing and stirring. The struggle and strain of the past week- to what purpose? 

Internalizing work stress is not unfamiliar for many of us,whether in leadership or not. However, I think the strain of struggling staff, reckoning with spreading responsibilities,  accepting ambiguous accountability or purpose, these things started taking their toll.

I felt myself wanting to push God- “I’m needing to do that?……Seriously?”

Moses had spent the last forty years taking an advances course of study in humility, trust, faith, listening. And yet when God came to him with is graduation assignment, carrying His message of liberation to a downtrodden and enslaved people, his response was, “You want me to do that?….seriously?”

Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand.  “This,” said the Lord, “is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you.” Exodus 4 NIV.

“What is in your hand?” God says to me. “I’ve given you talents and passions. I’ve given you My power to use them for good, for the benefit of My people all around you who are depending on you to do just that.”

What is in your hand? Do you have the ability to make sense of endless columns of data? Do you have the gift of putting hurting patients at ease while you serve them? Have you been given the joy of inspiring and uplifting those serving next to you?

God has a specific purpose for you. He has prepared you in a very unique way to face today. There are  those around you who are, knowingly or unknowingly, waiting for you. “Waiting for me to do what?” you might ask.

Waiting for you to willingly throw what’s in your hand into the life in front of you! Take the raw materials of your talents and passions and willingly pitch them forward, trusting God to transform them, using them for a purpose that only He can see.

What is in your hand?

 

Deeds and the Doer

 bob-maclafferty  4 Responses »
May 112014
 

Bob MacLaffertyI was blessed last week with the opportunity to preach. I shared the story of Hosea where God asks him to marry someone who would be unfaithful to him. After leaving him and their three children for a wayward lifestyle, she finds herself sold into slavery. Hosea buys her back and takes her home to be his wife.

This story is God’s love in action. Wholly unconditional love. Hating the bad choices, loving the person. Underlining the eternal value of one.

Since then, I’ve been thinking- what truth does this story have for the workplace? How does it apply to relationships on the job? There has to be a lesson in there somewhere, doesn’t there?

Never fear, I think there is. I find that the stories shared in the Bible powerfully teach truths about God, His relationship to us, and how He saves us. Often, I also find applications for human-to-human relationships, how we interact with each other.

A hospital laboratory is a busy, high stress environment. There’s constant opportunity for conflict, misunderstanding and critical behavior. Relationships become strained as people feel under attack or under-valued.

Often, we are so “baby with the bathwater” focused. We can’t seem to separate the actions from the actor, the deeds from the doer. How often do we start sentences with “You are so…” or “I’m mad at you…” Or even worse, “She is such a…” or “He is totally…” In every workplace, every day, we efficiently tear each other down and damage their feeling of value and purpose.

Like a deer caught in the headlights, a coworker stands with mouth hanging open, hearing a personal attack about something she’s never thought. We freely attack each other’s appearance, character and motives, often with disastrous results.

As a leader, it is part of my role to counsel coworkers when there are opportunities for growth and improvement. It’s so easy to make statements that cut- “You are so lazy. You are careless. You embarrass me. You are a liar.”

How much better would it be if we followed God’s example when He hates the sin, loves the sinner. What if we found ways to place high value on the people within our circles at work, leaving the character assassination behind?

Notice to all my laboratorians, I may show  this imperfectly and fail regularly. However, know that I value and appreciate you as part of the family at work. You have been gifted with a unique blend of talents and passions that is true of no other. You are a critical and special part of the whole! I love how all of you can work together, providing excellent care and caring for others. I promise to separate the actions needing guidance from your value as a person. Even when I fail, know that this is my goal and intention.

Father thank You for providing such a game-changing example for me. Give me the strength and the wisdom to follow.

Model is a Verb

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Apr 192014
 

Nissan_Fairlady_Z_Model_CarFacsimile. A copy. Looks just like it. Used to be that little office machine sitting on the desk- half phone, half magic curly paper. The only way to make an image move from one place to another. When was the last time you said the entire word- facsimile. Years? Now it is just the fax. A copy with the original somewhere else. A simulation of the original at a distance.

Model. A plastic toy. A replica of a favorite car. It isn’t the car. It looks like the car. It is a model, a likeness of the car. A facsimile of the car.

Last week, I had the privilege of watching a colleague speak to a group of community leaders. I saw commitment and leadership. I saw creativity and caring. At that moment, she was UVMC. Modeling and representing the best of what we want UVMC to be. A walking facsimile. A living, breathing image.

My question for you. Are you a model, the noun? a static likeness, a simulated leader? Or do you model, the verb? Letting your words, your acts, your life simulate that which others can’t see, except through you?

I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20. NIV.

Is that the way it is? When I speak, are others able to hear Jesus in me? To whom do my words point the hearer?  Am I modeling Someone greater than myself? Do I make people think of the cute little rubber tires, the pop-up hood, the plastic lights of the model? Or do they envision the real thing, the fire breathing, exhaust rumbling, tire smoking hot rod?

I imitate Christ.  1 Cor 11:1. God’s Word.

I copy Christ. I facsimile Christ. I model… in my words, my actions, my life… Christ. Is that true?
What is it that I model?
To the community
To my staff
To my colleagues
To my boss.
To my family.
excerpts shared 2/24/14 Ukiah Valley Medical Center

Unsafe but Unafraid

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Apr 052014
 
Bob MacLafferty

 Derek was born with his father praying that he would be a great surfer one day. Those hopes were dashed when Derek was born blind.

[embedplusvideo height=”360″ width=”695″ editlink=”http://bit.ly/1ldthkE” standard=”http://www.youtube.com/v/lLDmrVPQd98?fs=1″ vars=”ytid=lLDmrVPQd98&width=695&height=360&start=&stop=&rs=w&hd=0&autoplay=0&react=1&chapters=&notes=” id=”ep7964″ /]

Seventeen years later, Derek determined that his father’s dream would become reality. He overcame great physical and spiritual odds and has now surfed the great waves of the world, including the Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore.

We are in one of the most difficult industries in the world- healthcare! Increasing expenses, decreasing revenues, increasing regulation, and that’s just what we know before breakfast! 2014 may prove to be one of the most challenging years in healthcare yet.
We can’t see over the waves. We can’t even see some of the waves coming! That does sound very uncertain. Yes, even unsafe!
I am a believer. What do I believe in?
I believe in Jesus and His power to save me in spite of my self.
I believe in the mission of this hospital- reflecting God’s love
I believe in you, in the ability and passion of the leaders and coworkers around me.
I believe that we can do things we’ve never done, in ways we’ve never experienced.
I believe that the future is uncertain and unsafe.
I believe that we can embrace that future unafraid.

shared  by Bob MacLafferty, March 31, 2014, Ukiah Valley Medical Center

Solid Rock Sure

 bob-maclafferty  1 Response »
Mar 292014
 

What are you sure of? Finish this sentence- “As sure as ____”

The legendary quote by Benjamin Franklin goes like this: “Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.

“As sure as the ground I’m standing on!” Well, that worked until I felt my first earthquake!

In what to we place our confidence, our assurance, our hope for the future? Let’s look at a couple of examples.

A Buddhist story, used to encourage the faithful, shows  some shocking similarities to the Christian parable of the Lost Son. Here’s some excerpts:

The father, knowing that his son’s disposition was inferior, knowing that his own lordly position had caused distress to his son, yet convinced that he was his son, tactfully did not say to others, “This is my son.”

the father noticed that his son’s ideas had gradually been enlarged, his aspirations developed, and that he despised his previous state of mind.

Today the World-honored One has caused us to ponder over and remove the dirt of all diverting discussions of inferior things. In these we have hitherto been diligent to make progress and have got, as it were, a day’s pay for our effort to reach nirvana. Obtaining this, we greatly rejoiced and were contented, saying to ourselves, “For our diligence and progress in the Buddha-law what we have received is ample”.

The real parable from Luke 15 in Jesus’ own words:

I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.  I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’  So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.  Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.  For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.

Religions are based on man striving to improve, to elevate himself…..except one. Christianity only religion based on what God has done.

The Buddhist story is truly the story of the Lost Son. Luke’s parable, spoken by Jesus, is NOT the story of the Lost Son,  it is the story of the Redeeming Father. Contrast the faltering journey of self improvement in the first story to the confidence-building acceptance in the second.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners [not after we improved], Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8 NIV.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know [not hope, or wish] that you have eternal life. –1 John 5:13 NIV.

We spend our lives hoping, thinking, wondering. Living in the Buddhist parable. Doubting our ability to do, to succeed, to elevate. Wondering about becoming acceptable. Hoping we are good enough.  And why not.. if I am focusing on my ability, my achievement, I have a lot to be worried about!

But it’s not about me, It’s about Who God is. Whenever He looks at us, He sees flashbacks of His Son bleeding and dying on the cross for us. How can He not love us… for whom His Son died?

Becoming Buddha’s son is dependent on elevating one’s self to higher plane, striving to achieve a higher state of mind. Exhausting and futile.

Becoming God’s son, now that’s a solid. Why? because it is based solely, entirely, completely on Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

Listen to this now-classic rendition of a famous gospel hymn.

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My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground, all other religions, all other life plans, all other gods… are sinking sand.

Friends, if you are not feeling solid about your future this morning, if your salvation is doubtful, stop looking at your own failings and count on something Solid.

excerpted from sunrise sermon Ukiah, March 22, 2014

Focus on the Few

 bob-maclafferty  No Responses »
Feb 222014
 

Mass media. Mass Marketing. Mass emails. Bulk snail mails. Viral YouTube videos. It seems that so much of pop culture is focused on getting the attention of the masses. We devote significant energy and time to sharing a small, often trivial and insignificant message to a large audience, most of whom is unknown to us.

In the workplace, we insert information on time clocks, send email to companyname-everyone, and post to intranet sites. Often, non-personal email gets deleted out of hand. Eyes glaze over after seeing the same post or picture day in, day out.

At church, we give a bulletin to everyone that breathes, including dozens of line items and multiple inserts. Bulletin boards are so full of flyers and notes that the information becomes little more than a busy background.

Is there value in sharing information in bulk? Maybe. Certainly. Most of us need to hear or see something multiple times for the information to sink in. I wonder, though, if we actually think that we have successfully delegated our responsibility for sharing information when we shape it into a mass message.

They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were,  because he was teaching his disciples. Mark 9:30,31 NIV.

What did Jesus do? While He did engage in regular public speaking, He spent much focused energy and time sharing information with His disciples, the twelve who were most engaged with His mission.

How can I copy Him? By deliberately search out opportunities to communicate with individuals and small groups face to face. Finding the individuals most in need of encouragement and direction. Looking for the few individuals passionate about an issue and generating momentum through them.

As a leader, maybe I haven’t done my job until I have interacted personally with the individuals with the most need. Or the individuals with the highest degree of interest. I know that finding a handful of people for a short discussion about a work related issue can be very effective. 

Should our web presence be our primary method of making statements of priority? Whether sharing faith or workplace issues, let’s not forget the value of focusing on the few that we can reach face to face.

Related posts: My leadership vibe and leading by my values

WordPress.org, here I come

 bob-maclafferty, Online Presence  No Responses »
Feb 082014
 

Bludgeoned my way through the manual process of installing WordPress to my Hostgator-hosted site. Awkward due to ignorance on my part. Hostgator chat support was awesome!

Chose Suffusion theme.

Migrated my WordPress.com blog to my WordPress.org installation. Worked as advertised. I had it export everything, including pages. I had to repair one video link.

Cradle Proof

 bob-maclafferty, christmas  No Responses »
Dec 272013
 

If you have once again struggled to find the meaning in this Christmas, know this- the blood oath made by Jesus Christ more than a millenium before, became real that night…

The prosecutor hurled his accusations:
“You are not who you say you are.”
“Your rules are not fair!”
Finally, the Defendant on the throne said,
“I have no more words, I will show you.”

The Son stepped from beside the throne and became Joseph’s son. (Luke 2)
and with one simple substitution,
God for man,
Faith became fact,
and a 33 year proof began.

Humble beginning in the stable,
Violent victory at the cross!
Firmly and forever crowned-
Lion of Judah,
Lamb of God,
Son of Man.

The proof of the most challenged equation of all time was complete.

God = love

Mathematical equality.
Everlasting synonyms.
John’s summary statement. (1 John 4.16)

and every year at this time we celebrate the lowly beginning of a crashing victory.
A victory proving the Father’s right to save me by grace.
A victory started as a tiny baby,
finished as grown man who jumped to his death on the cross.

Jesus, you are the living Word.
The Living Voice,
the walking message identifying your Father.
We praise your Name!
We celebrate You showing us the Father in Your birth,
Your life,
Your death.
Send Your Spirit to fill this heart and this house.
Amen.

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