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A Sincere Prayer

Prayer Sincerity Jewish Stories/Humor

Source: The Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten, Page 98

Contributed By: Charles Krieg | Date Posted: 2018-09-15

Scripture: Romans 8:26 ; Matthew 6:9

Author: Charles Krieg
7

ILLUSTRATION

A Chasidic story:

"A poor man, lost in the woods, found himself at nightfall without his prayer book, so he addressed this petition to the Almighty:  “Dear God I have done a stupid thing: I do not have my prayer book. And I have such a poor memory that I cannot recite the prayers by heart. But you know all the prayers, Lord,  so I'll just recite the letters of the alphabet, and You put them together in the right way.”

And the Almighty regarded that prayer, because of its sincerity, more worthy than any of the others He heard that day."

 

APPLICATION

I like that story!  It reminds us that when we pray we can say anything. It doesn't even have to make sense. The Lord will put our words together. All we have to do is to pray "from the heart."  The Lord will know that we love him simply because we are spending time with him.

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (Romans 8:26). 

The Apology Note Generator

Apology Sincerity Reconciliation

Source: "Mark's Apology Note Generator"

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-06-01

Scripture: Psalms 51:16

Author: Illustration Exchange
2

ILLUSTRATION

Mark Robert Allen is a self-professed, carefree, take life on his own terms kind of guy. "I never go anywhere without a camera. I drink to get drunk. Comfortable with technology, but not a geek. Write for the satisfaction, not the story. Take people's advice, but careful of their opinions."

"I was a little punk when I was growing up," he admits on his website, "and was always getting into trouble here and there. Now I'm older, I'm wiser, smarter and have become better at not getting caught."

"If you're not as good at getting out of trouble and stern talkings to," he suggests, "you might want to check out the apology note generator."

From there, one could supposedly click a link to a series of form letters and drop-down menus with a variety of canned apology phrases and sentiments--a veritable plethora of fill-in-the-blank "I'm sorry" notes.

"Love, marriage and relationships can be difficult," he says. "Sometimes, all it takes is an apology. I've resorted to using this simple tool for all my butt-kissing needs." 

APPLICATION

So touching, so heartfelt, right?

Well, perhaps as testament to his fatally flawed reasoning, the link to his apology note generator no longer works. Just like Mr. Allen's approach to saying he's sorry, It's broken.

Reaching out for reconciliation with insincerity in one's heart might take the heat off the situation, but it does nothing for the soul.  So far as God is concerned, it's nothing more than a dead link.

"You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God" (Psalm 51:16-17, NLT). 

Apology Helps Cut the Cost of Medical Lawsuit Liability

Apology Justification (Positional) Sincerity

Source: "Doctors' New Tool To Fight Lawsuits: Saying 'I'm Sorry': Malpractice Insurers Find Owning Up to Errors Soothes Patient Anger" by Rachel Zimmerman, staff reporter, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, published May 18, 2004.

Link to Source: Click here to view source

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-06-01

Scripture: 1 John 1:8 ; Proverbs 28:13

Author: Rachel Zimmerman / Illustration Exchange
0

ILLUSTRATION

A misplaced needle during the administration of anesthesia turned Linda Kenney's routine ankle surgery into a fight for her life. Her heart stopped and doctors had to split her chest open to restart it. She and her family immediately pursued an aggressive law suit to "flatten" the anesthesiologist at fault.

That lawsuit never made it to court, however, due to the sincere apology of the doctor. He wrote her a letter and then met with her personally to confess his fault and to tell her how "deeply saddened" he was that she had suffered at his hand. "I found out he was a real person," Ms. Kenney says. "He made an effort to seek me out and say he was sorry I suffered." Ms. Kenney dropped the suit.

"Insurers and hospital lawyers have long discouraged doctors from apologizing to harmed patients for fear that such apologies might fuel lawsuits," reported THE WALL STREET JOURNAL (May '04):

The rule has always been "not to talk about the events to anybody," says Dr. Van Pelt. "Even a passing comment can be subpoenaed."

But with malpractice premiums soaring and a national patients' rights movement pushing for full disclosure of medical errors, the industry is rethinking the traditional approach known as "defend and deny." Stories such as Ms. Kenney's are persuading a growing number of hospitals, doctors and insurers that apologies may end up saving some of the huge sums paid out to settle disputes over medical care.

Since 2001, prominent institutions from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore have made it a policy to urge their doctors to own up to mistakes and apologize. Consultants are increasingly in demand for seminars on how best to deliver lawsuit-deflecting apologies. Two states, Colorado and Oregon, have passed laws specifically saying an apology can't be used against a doctor in court.

At some medical schools, including Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tenn., courses in communicating errors and apologizing are now mandatory for medical students and residents. …

Nothing is more effective in reducing liability than "an authentically offered apology," says Colorado surgeon Michael Woods, who teaches seminars for doctors and malpractice insurers on the importance of apologizing.

Some hospitals report that their expenses related to lawsuits and claims have declined as much as 30% since instituting a "policy of apology."

APPLICATION

There is another court of law that doesn't use our apologies against us. It's the court of Heaven where those who have sincerely confessed their guilt are then declared innocent. If those who face litigation can't afford not to own up to their mistakes and make sincere apology, so much more those who face the throne of God.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:8-9).

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).

Gettysburg Address Celebrates Its 150th Birthday

Words (Power of) Sincerity Legacy

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2014-01-04

Scripture: Proverbs 25:11

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Without Wax

Authenticity Sincerity Transparency

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2012-02-04

Author: Editor-Raymond McHenry
13

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The Battle Was Over Before It Had Begun

Truth Spiritual Warfare Sincerity

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2010-11-29

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10 ; 1 John 4:1

Author: R. Scott Richards
10

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A Gentler Kinder Easter

Easter Truth Kindness

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2024-03-21

Scripture: Acts 3:19 ; 2 Peter 3:9

Author: Illustration Exchange
8

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The Crew Behind the Counter

Community Servanthood Humility

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-11-28

Scripture: Romans 12:4 ; Philippians 2:4

Author: Illustration Exchange
8

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Even Small Acts Of Honesty Can Be Huge

Honesty Obedience Children's Lesson

Contributed By: Illustration Exchange | Date Posted: 2023-11-19

Scripture: Luke 16:10 ; Matthew 25:23

Author: Illustration Exchange
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Step Down From Your Pedestal

Confession Humility Jesus' Preeminence

Contributed By: Vince Putnam | Date Posted: 2023-03-17

Scripture: John 3:30 ; 1 Corinthians 3:4

Author: Vince Putnam
0

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