这是“跟elisha一起念英文”系列的第三篇。我的本意是同大家一起分享我在读的一些小文章。我现在有个计划：就是找些短文章，学习英文。对这样的文章，应该怎么去学习呢？大家有不同的方法，我是这样做的。首先这些都是我喜欢的文章，我会去品味其中的意思。二来我要去学习我不会使用的单词因为单词是写作的材料。三来我要去看文章句子之间的衔接和写作的方式。一篇要这么看个十几遍，潜移默化就成了自己的了，“熟读唐诗三百首，不会作诗也会吟”嘛。

在选择文章的时候，我也有些迟疑。我看到有很多很好的文章，写作的STYLE非常好，但是与基督无关。因我也希望在这里既有激励大家读英文，也有传福音的目的，所以肯就找些福音性质却文章STYLE并不非常出色的，但是保证是很流畅有意思的文章。我有时会发点议论，做个引子之类，我都会注明：Elisha L.

A misleading atmosphere sometimes permeates here，especially when we talked about the suffering in life, the hardship in following Jesus many times in this forum. All those are good, but they are only one facet of this new life. As Christians, we are also to know that the life with Jesus is a bright one with blessings, hope, happiness, and success. The following passage indicates that our effort in seeking for success is congruent to God's will if we do everything in Him. __Elisha L.

“Should a man like me run away? I will not.” Nehemiah 6:11

Want to be a success?

If you’re serious about success, study the life og Nehemiah. Jerusalem lies in ruins; that’s when he enters the picture. He rallies, organizes and motivates the people. Fifty-two days later they wash off their trowels, stow their gear and walk away from a newly finished wall. How did he do it?

(1) He had passion! He couldn’t sleep at night for picturing the problem and seeing himself solving it (Neh 4:13). That’s what it takes!

(2) He could motivate others! What good is your vision if you can’t involve others in it? (Neh 4:17).

(3) He’d confidence in God! He may have doubted his own ability but he never doubted God’s. His book is full of prayers – silent ones, short ones, specific ones (Neh 4:11).

(4) He refused to give up! From when he started mixing the mortar until he hung the last gate, his critics never let up. But he took it, sarcasm, suspicion, threats, you name it, nothing moved him (Neh 6:11).

(5) He was realistic! He had some workers building the wall while others stood guard against attack (Neh 4:16). He acted without over-reacting; he was gracious but unbending. You may have your head in the heavenlies, but you’ve got to keep your feet on the ground.

(6) He’d the discipline to finish the job! Successful people are finishers. (See Neh 6:15). When the job loses its luster they don’t go somewhere else; they stay at it “in season and out.”

Still want to be a success? Incorporate these principles into your daily life.