I will lead a life of integrity
in my own home.
Psalm 101:2b New Living Translation
How's your character? When noone else is watching, how disciplined are you? When you know you won't get caught, how do you behave?
As we see politicians lose their careers and reputations over their expenses claims, we should look at our own lives before we condemn others. We might not be able to take advantage of generous expense accounts but do we "bend the rules" in our workplaces to get what we want?
We might look bright and pure on the outside but if there was a secret camera filming us at home, how would we look?
I believe that one of the hardest tests that Christians face is their own self-discipline. To remember to spend quality time with God each day can be hard. To show the same grace and love to your family on Monday as you do from the pulpit on Sunday is not always easy.
The truth is that we can easily forget that the qualifications God looks for are not found on scrolls or diplomas but are written on our hearts (read Titus 7-9, 1 Timothy 3:1-12 etc). God is far more interested in what we do at home than He is in the show we try to put on in church.
So, whether you are at home or at work, keep working hard and remain self-disciplined. Even Paul, the most well-known of the apostles knew that, without self-discipline, we become easy targets for the enemy. He said:
"I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
(1 Corinthians 9:27 NLT)
To some of you reading this, your self-discipline could be a matter of life and death. Choosing wrongly could cost you your health, your happiness or even worse, your eternal salvation. If Paul needed to keep himself under control and disciplined so as not to be disqualified, so do we.
So, where is it you need more self-discipline? Is it in your time? Is it in how you spend your money? Is it the TV shows you watch or the websites you visit? Do you need to exercise more regularly? What about smoking? Wherever you need more discipline, it is worth it. In my next post I will look at how we can help each other with this.
Until then, stay the course!
Jonathan
Friday 26 June 2009
Friday 19 June 2009
Why you should never preach THROUGH an interpreter
But you should always preach with one!
Imagine this, you have been asked to travel abroad to speak in a church where almost no one speaks any English at all. You finish your notes and your packing and start to think about what is ahead of you.
“Great,” you think. “I’ll get to speak through an interpreter. I’ve never done that before.”
You start to speak and everything seems to be going well. People seem to be giving you their undivided attention and you are flowing really well. But suddenly, disaster strikes! In the middle of your funniest, but most touching story, the interpreter stops and tells you that they don’t understand. Now you find yourself in the middle of explaining what you meant to the interpreter as the congregation starts getting fidgety and your precious flow flies out of the window.
“Typical,” you think. “Maybe I should just stay at home next time.”
Sad to say, stories like this one are not uncommon. It is true that even the most skilfully interpreted sermon will never quite match a monolingual sermon for flow and naturalness. It is also true that even the best interpreters will find themselves lost at times and will have trouble catching what the speaker said.
However, there is still hope. We don’t need to give up on interpreting altogether. After all, with the rise in immigration and the growth of international travel, being able to speak to people whose first language is not the same as yours is becoming essential if the church is to grow.
I believe that, in this case, one small change can make a world of a difference. Change a preposition and you will see an incredible improvement in the quality, flow and even impact of your interpreted sermons. If we stop saying and thinking about “preaching through an interpreter” and instead begin to speak and think about “preaching with an interpreter,” we are sure to see amazing results.
Why should one word make such a world of a difference? Well, it’s all down to attitude. Preaching “through” an interpreter gives us the impression that interpreters are language machines – nothing more than a piece of necessary equipment to get the job done. In this view, it might even be better if they were machines. After all, being human means that we are all prone to mistakes. The idea of preaching “through” someone means that we see interpreters as a barrier between us and the congregation. It is as if language is a wall or barrier between us and the congregation and interpreters are some kind of tunnel inserted into the wall. While the “tunnel” might let sound through, it is inevitable that it will also cause echoes and distortions. The sound that “comes out” might not accurately reflect what “went in.”
This leads us to the subject of mistakes. If we start from that view that we are preaching “through” an interpreter, then any mistakes will necessarily be the fault of the interpreter. If interpreters are “language machines” then it is the fault of the machine if the interpreting goes wrong or if the wrong meaning is communicated.
What happens when we shift out perspective and talk about preaching “with” an interpreter? The first, and most obvious, change is in how we see the interpreter. “With” automatically creates a feeling of cooperation and teamwork. Instead of the interpreter being a “language machine,” they are now seen as a teammate or an ally. Instead of the previous image of a tunnel through a wall, we now might imagine interpreters more like a guide. Working as our communication partners, they allow us to stay away from the traps and enjoy the views, as well as helping the congregation to understand and explore what we preach.
What about mistakes? Well, if we truly do see ourselves as preaching “with” an interpreter, we will want to minimise mistakes by spending some time beforehand discussing the likely problems ahead. These precious ten or fifteen minutes before we stand up to preach could quite easily pay dividends later on. If mistakes do still happen, seeing the interpreter as a communication partner gives us the humility to admit that we might be at fault. No matter who might have caused the problem, preaching “with” an interpreter will lead us to work together to find a solution.
So there you have it: one word can really make a world of a difference. The next time you are invited to speak in another country or even to people in your country whose first language is not English, spend a few minutes thinking about how you can really preach “with” the interpreter. You may be surprised at the results!
Imagine this, you have been asked to travel abroad to speak in a church where almost no one speaks any English at all. You finish your notes and your packing and start to think about what is ahead of you.
“Great,” you think. “I’ll get to speak through an interpreter. I’ve never done that before.”
You start to speak and everything seems to be going well. People seem to be giving you their undivided attention and you are flowing really well. But suddenly, disaster strikes! In the middle of your funniest, but most touching story, the interpreter stops and tells you that they don’t understand. Now you find yourself in the middle of explaining what you meant to the interpreter as the congregation starts getting fidgety and your precious flow flies out of the window.
“Typical,” you think. “Maybe I should just stay at home next time.”
Sad to say, stories like this one are not uncommon. It is true that even the most skilfully interpreted sermon will never quite match a monolingual sermon for flow and naturalness. It is also true that even the best interpreters will find themselves lost at times and will have trouble catching what the speaker said.
However, there is still hope. We don’t need to give up on interpreting altogether. After all, with the rise in immigration and the growth of international travel, being able to speak to people whose first language is not the same as yours is becoming essential if the church is to grow.
I believe that, in this case, one small change can make a world of a difference. Change a preposition and you will see an incredible improvement in the quality, flow and even impact of your interpreted sermons. If we stop saying and thinking about “preaching through an interpreter” and instead begin to speak and think about “preaching with an interpreter,” we are sure to see amazing results.
Why should one word make such a world of a difference? Well, it’s all down to attitude. Preaching “through” an interpreter gives us the impression that interpreters are language machines – nothing more than a piece of necessary equipment to get the job done. In this view, it might even be better if they were machines. After all, being human means that we are all prone to mistakes. The idea of preaching “through” someone means that we see interpreters as a barrier between us and the congregation. It is as if language is a wall or barrier between us and the congregation and interpreters are some kind of tunnel inserted into the wall. While the “tunnel” might let sound through, it is inevitable that it will also cause echoes and distortions. The sound that “comes out” might not accurately reflect what “went in.”
This leads us to the subject of mistakes. If we start from that view that we are preaching “through” an interpreter, then any mistakes will necessarily be the fault of the interpreter. If interpreters are “language machines” then it is the fault of the machine if the interpreting goes wrong or if the wrong meaning is communicated.
What happens when we shift out perspective and talk about preaching “with” an interpreter? The first, and most obvious, change is in how we see the interpreter. “With” automatically creates a feeling of cooperation and teamwork. Instead of the interpreter being a “language machine,” they are now seen as a teammate or an ally. Instead of the previous image of a tunnel through a wall, we now might imagine interpreters more like a guide. Working as our communication partners, they allow us to stay away from the traps and enjoy the views, as well as helping the congregation to understand and explore what we preach.
What about mistakes? Well, if we truly do see ourselves as preaching “with” an interpreter, we will want to minimise mistakes by spending some time beforehand discussing the likely problems ahead. These precious ten or fifteen minutes before we stand up to preach could quite easily pay dividends later on. If mistakes do still happen, seeing the interpreter as a communication partner gives us the humility to admit that we might be at fault. No matter who might have caused the problem, preaching “with” an interpreter will lead us to work together to find a solution.
So there you have it: one word can really make a world of a difference. The next time you are invited to speak in another country or even to people in your country whose first language is not English, spend a few minutes thinking about how you can really preach “with” the interpreter. You may be surprised at the results!
Thursday 18 June 2009
First Impressions
Here’s a little experiment. Think about the first of each pair of statements for a few seconds and take note of the images that your mind conjures up. Next, read the second statement in the pair and note whether your impressions have changed. Here goes:
A. 1. During a short stay in Paris, I ate in a restaurant on the famous Champs-Elysées.
A. 2. The restaurant I visited there was McDonalds.
B. 1. On many occasions, I have left restaurants without paying for my meal.
B. 2. On all those occasions, one of my friends paid for my meal.
C. 1. During the speech, four people left the room.
C. 2. Two of them ran to the toilets and one woman left to feed her baby.
It’s very easy to make quick judgments that simply do not reflect the whole truth. We judge people based on the few hours we spend with them on Sundays. We judge people based on their job or where they stay and we judge ourselves based on our failures and successes.
The problem is that many of these quick judgments can be very damaging. Falsely judging ourselves can end in pride or low self-esteem. Wrong judgments in others can lead to subtle or not so subtle prejudice.
If we really are to break the barriers between each other and between us and God, we need to start with awareness of the wrong judgments that can so easily turn into prejudice or pride.
For the next week, take note of your first impressions when you meet people in the street or at work. How often do you tend to judge people based on very little evidence? Do you judge based on clothing, skin colour or gender? If you do, ask God to root out and deal with those things in your heart.
A. 1. During a short stay in Paris, I ate in a restaurant on the famous Champs-Elysées.
A. 2. The restaurant I visited there was McDonalds.
B. 1. On many occasions, I have left restaurants without paying for my meal.
B. 2. On all those occasions, one of my friends paid for my meal.
C. 1. During the speech, four people left the room.
C. 2. Two of them ran to the toilets and one woman left to feed her baby.
It’s very easy to make quick judgments that simply do not reflect the whole truth. We judge people based on the few hours we spend with them on Sundays. We judge people based on their job or where they stay and we judge ourselves based on our failures and successes.
The problem is that many of these quick judgments can be very damaging. Falsely judging ourselves can end in pride or low self-esteem. Wrong judgments in others can lead to subtle or not so subtle prejudice.
If we really are to break the barriers between each other and between us and God, we need to start with awareness of the wrong judgments that can so easily turn into prejudice or pride.
For the next week, take note of your first impressions when you meet people in the street or at work. How often do you tend to judge people based on very little evidence? Do you judge based on clothing, skin colour or gender? If you do, ask God to root out and deal with those things in your heart.
Friday 12 June 2009
Breaking the Barriers
I have never before been overtly political on this blog. I have done my best to keep it out of the kinds of controversy that are the usual domain of shock jocks and megaphone toting demagogues. However, the very aim of this blog has what some people might call a political edge.
But before we go there, here’s a minor segue to set the scene.
I believe that some of the greatest discoveries in life begin with a question. The question “who is Jesus?” can bring us closer to salvation. The question “does God really care?” if answered sensitively, can help to illustrate just how much God really does love us. The question “why am I here?” is the starting point for finding out that unique role that God has called us to play in the history of this planet.
On a personal level, God gave me an answer to this last question several months ago, when I was reading a book by John C Maxwell called “Your Roadmap to Success.” He made a single statement that has launched me and fired me up with more passion than I knew I could ever have. The statement was this:
Write your epitaph now or someone else will.
And so I asked God and I asked myself, “how do I want people to remember me?” There was a single phrase that came into my head. When people think of me, I want them to be able to say, “he broke down the barriers.”
What barriers? That’s a good question. The barriers I meant then and still think of now are the kinds of barriers that keep people from hearing the gospel in a language and method that speaks to their heart and stops them gathering with a group of believers who can encourage and strengthen them. So, these barriers range from the obvious barriers like those of language, culture, money and class; to the more insidious: barriers of racism, fear, hatred and suspicion.
What do I mean by breaking these barriers? Do I mean that I want to somehow “break” language or culture? No! But these things should no longer be able to hold people back from hearing a relevant, heart-changing gospel and living it out every day. The more insidious barriers will indeed need to be broken and rendered powerless. The more obvious ones will require time, effort and more than anything else, groups of people who care enough to lay their lives on the line to help people find God and relate to each other.
And so, of course, this is political. There is simply no way to talk about breaking down these barriers without talking about issues like people trafficking, immigration, racism, civil and human rights and what the Bible has to say about all these things. No matter how we feel about immigration, the Bible tells us strongly to take care of the foreigner residing in our land. No matter where we stand on the asylum debate, the Bible reminds us that we too dwell in this world as temporary residents. So who are we to do anything but offer the hand of friendship and a caring word or deed?
One way or another that is what this blog is about. This is why I will write articles on translation and interpreting: because they are the quickest means to begin to break through the barriers of language. This is why I will talk about purpose, discipline and using your talents: because it is only by bringing these three areas together that we can all break down the barriers that separate us from the things God has for us. This is why I will talk time and time again about what the Word of God has to say on a range of issues: because it is the Word that has the power to stimulate people to action and turn families, cities and even entire nations to God.
So, that’s why I started this blog. At times, things might get a little heated but it is heat that has the power to soften us enough for God to reshape us. At times, the things I write might seem uncomfortably close to home. Well, all the better for all of us. We all need God to shine a light in the dark places of our heart so that the barriers that have kept us back can be dismantled and we can live in glorious, spacious freedom in Him.
But before we go there, here’s a minor segue to set the scene.
I believe that some of the greatest discoveries in life begin with a question. The question “who is Jesus?” can bring us closer to salvation. The question “does God really care?” if answered sensitively, can help to illustrate just how much God really does love us. The question “why am I here?” is the starting point for finding out that unique role that God has called us to play in the history of this planet.
On a personal level, God gave me an answer to this last question several months ago, when I was reading a book by John C Maxwell called “Your Roadmap to Success.” He made a single statement that has launched me and fired me up with more passion than I knew I could ever have. The statement was this:
Write your epitaph now or someone else will.
And so I asked God and I asked myself, “how do I want people to remember me?” There was a single phrase that came into my head. When people think of me, I want them to be able to say, “he broke down the barriers.”
What barriers? That’s a good question. The barriers I meant then and still think of now are the kinds of barriers that keep people from hearing the gospel in a language and method that speaks to their heart and stops them gathering with a group of believers who can encourage and strengthen them. So, these barriers range from the obvious barriers like those of language, culture, money and class; to the more insidious: barriers of racism, fear, hatred and suspicion.
What do I mean by breaking these barriers? Do I mean that I want to somehow “break” language or culture? No! But these things should no longer be able to hold people back from hearing a relevant, heart-changing gospel and living it out every day. The more insidious barriers will indeed need to be broken and rendered powerless. The more obvious ones will require time, effort and more than anything else, groups of people who care enough to lay their lives on the line to help people find God and relate to each other.
And so, of course, this is political. There is simply no way to talk about breaking down these barriers without talking about issues like people trafficking, immigration, racism, civil and human rights and what the Bible has to say about all these things. No matter how we feel about immigration, the Bible tells us strongly to take care of the foreigner residing in our land. No matter where we stand on the asylum debate, the Bible reminds us that we too dwell in this world as temporary residents. So who are we to do anything but offer the hand of friendship and a caring word or deed?
One way or another that is what this blog is about. This is why I will write articles on translation and interpreting: because they are the quickest means to begin to break through the barriers of language. This is why I will talk about purpose, discipline and using your talents: because it is only by bringing these three areas together that we can all break down the barriers that separate us from the things God has for us. This is why I will talk time and time again about what the Word of God has to say on a range of issues: because it is the Word that has the power to stimulate people to action and turn families, cities and even entire nations to God.
So, that’s why I started this blog. At times, things might get a little heated but it is heat that has the power to soften us enough for God to reshape us. At times, the things I write might seem uncomfortably close to home. Well, all the better for all of us. We all need God to shine a light in the dark places of our heart so that the barriers that have kept us back can be dismantled and we can live in glorious, spacious freedom in Him.
On the Plateau part 3 - The End
Double post today - first off, we will finish the series on plateaus then later the reason behind the name of this blog will be revealed.
On the Plateau part 3
God-made Plateaus
So you've read all the posts on this so far and you don't quite fit what I've written. Your relationship with God seems good, you are diving deeply into the Word and your enthusiasm is still sky-high. However, the results still don't seem to line up. What's wrong?
This must have been the question that went through Joseph's mind (see Genesis chapters 37 and 39-45). Born in his father's old age, he knew from his teens that God had something special for him. In his youth he dreamed of having a position of honour and esteem. He enjoyed his father's favour and his mother's love.
He grew up as a hard worker and an honest man. He would report back to his parents when his brothers were doing wrong. His brothers threw him into a pit for his trouble. As a slave in Egypt, he became known for his hard work and intelligence, he ended up in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Even when in jail, he was known as someone who was trustworthy. But he still languished there for years. It seemed like in every stage of his life, he would gain favour and rise near to the top, only to either be dumped unceremoniously somewhere else or to sit on a level that was far lower than the place God had called him to live on.
So, what was the problem? The Bible doesn't tell us the reason for every plateau, perhaps we don't actually need to know. What it does tell us is that even in these times, God's hand was still on Joseph's life. When it seemed like progress had slowed and Joseph was going nowhere, God was still in control.
At the end of it all, Joseph was able to understand that although he had taken an unusual route to the top, God had led him there. Listen to what he says to his brothers when they have come to buy grain in Egypt. Remember, these are the same brothers who threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery.
Genesis 45:5 (New Living Translation)
5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.
Joseph understood this principle: no matter the plateau, God has a plan. You see, without this knowledge we can easily mistake plateaus for brick walls. We must have a personal relationship with God and the assurance that He is behind the scenes working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8: 28).
So what do we do in God-made plateaus? Seek Him. Give our lives back to Him once again and delve even deeper into the Word. As I said earlier, no plateau is forever. Until it is time to climb again, we can trust God to lead us and guide us and rest on the knowledge that He will never leave or forsake us.
On the Plateau part 3
God-made Plateaus
So you've read all the posts on this so far and you don't quite fit what I've written. Your relationship with God seems good, you are diving deeply into the Word and your enthusiasm is still sky-high. However, the results still don't seem to line up. What's wrong?
This must have been the question that went through Joseph's mind (see Genesis chapters 37 and 39-45). Born in his father's old age, he knew from his teens that God had something special for him. In his youth he dreamed of having a position of honour and esteem. He enjoyed his father's favour and his mother's love.
He grew up as a hard worker and an honest man. He would report back to his parents when his brothers were doing wrong. His brothers threw him into a pit for his trouble. As a slave in Egypt, he became known for his hard work and intelligence, he ended up in jail for a crime he didn't commit. Even when in jail, he was known as someone who was trustworthy. But he still languished there for years. It seemed like in every stage of his life, he would gain favour and rise near to the top, only to either be dumped unceremoniously somewhere else or to sit on a level that was far lower than the place God had called him to live on.
So, what was the problem? The Bible doesn't tell us the reason for every plateau, perhaps we don't actually need to know. What it does tell us is that even in these times, God's hand was still on Joseph's life. When it seemed like progress had slowed and Joseph was going nowhere, God was still in control.
At the end of it all, Joseph was able to understand that although he had taken an unusual route to the top, God had led him there. Listen to what he says to his brothers when they have come to buy grain in Egypt. Remember, these are the same brothers who threw him in a pit and sold him into slavery.
Genesis 45:5 (New Living Translation)
5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.
Joseph understood this principle: no matter the plateau, God has a plan. You see, without this knowledge we can easily mistake plateaus for brick walls. We must have a personal relationship with God and the assurance that He is behind the scenes working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8: 28).
So what do we do in God-made plateaus? Seek Him. Give our lives back to Him once again and delve even deeper into the Word. As I said earlier, no plateau is forever. Until it is time to climb again, we can trust God to lead us and guide us and rest on the knowledge that He will never leave or forsake us.
Wednesday 3 June 2009
On the Plateau part 2
On the Plateau part 2: Man-made Plateaus
A couple of weeks ago we talked about how plateaus are a natural part of life. We talked about how important it was to acknowledge this so that we can change the way we walk accordingly.
Today we are going to look at man-made plateaus. What are man-made plateaus? Well, to put is simply, man-made plateaus are when our drop in enthusiasm and lack of progress is directly caused by our own actions. For instance, if we suddenly stop reading the Word of God and praying, we will end up on a plateau in our relationship with God. If we stop practising a skill that God has given us, eventually our improvement will slow down and we will find ourselves on a plateau.
That was the case in the book of Ezra. Some of the people of Israel had returned from exile and had begun to build the temple (Ezra 1-3). However, after opposition from their neighbours (Ezra 4:4-5a) they had become discouraged and stopped work.
They had the foundations of the temple laid but nothing built on top of it. They were on a plateau. What was God's response? Did He sympathise with their plight? After all, they had only stopped because of opposition. It wasn't really their fault.
Haggai 1: 2-3, 8 NLT
2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”
3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?
8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
God's response is not to accept the people's excuses, however valid they might seem to us. His response is to encourage them to get up on their feet and get back to work.
We need to understand that there will always be excuses and reasons why we can't get back to work. It will always be more tempting to give up than to keep going. When you don't see results, or worse, face outright opposition, it will always take a push to get back up. But that is not a reason to stay on the plateau.
I believe that plateaus reveal the real reasons behind what we are doing. If we are only doing something for public praise or an ego boost, plateaus will soon make us turn back. If all we want is a quick thrill, we will stop when our effort seems to outweigh our reward.
So what is God's response when you seem to have worked yourself into a plateau? Get up and get working! Maybe, like the people in Ezra, you have made the mistake of putting your own interest before God's Kingdom and the rewards seem to have dried up (see Haggai 1). Maybe you have lost enthusiasm because you aren't improving fast enough. Whatever it is, the key is to keep going. Don't give up now. Do the things that helped you progress before. One day, you will reach the end of the plateau and begin to climb again.
A couple of weeks ago we talked about how plateaus are a natural part of life. We talked about how important it was to acknowledge this so that we can change the way we walk accordingly.
Today we are going to look at man-made plateaus. What are man-made plateaus? Well, to put is simply, man-made plateaus are when our drop in enthusiasm and lack of progress is directly caused by our own actions. For instance, if we suddenly stop reading the Word of God and praying, we will end up on a plateau in our relationship with God. If we stop practising a skill that God has given us, eventually our improvement will slow down and we will find ourselves on a plateau.
That was the case in the book of Ezra. Some of the people of Israel had returned from exile and had begun to build the temple (Ezra 1-3). However, after opposition from their neighbours (Ezra 4:4-5a) they had become discouraged and stopped work.
They had the foundations of the temple laid but nothing built on top of it. They were on a plateau. What was God's response? Did He sympathise with their plight? After all, they had only stopped because of opposition. It wasn't really their fault.
Haggai 1: 2-3, 8 NLT
2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”
3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins?
8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord.
God's response is not to accept the people's excuses, however valid they might seem to us. His response is to encourage them to get up on their feet and get back to work.
We need to understand that there will always be excuses and reasons why we can't get back to work. It will always be more tempting to give up than to keep going. When you don't see results, or worse, face outright opposition, it will always take a push to get back up. But that is not a reason to stay on the plateau.
I believe that plateaus reveal the real reasons behind what we are doing. If we are only doing something for public praise or an ego boost, plateaus will soon make us turn back. If all we want is a quick thrill, we will stop when our effort seems to outweigh our reward.
So what is God's response when you seem to have worked yourself into a plateau? Get up and get working! Maybe, like the people in Ezra, you have made the mistake of putting your own interest before God's Kingdom and the rewards seem to have dried up (see Haggai 1). Maybe you have lost enthusiasm because you aren't improving fast enough. Whatever it is, the key is to keep going. Don't give up now. Do the things that helped you progress before. One day, you will reach the end of the plateau and begin to climb again.
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