(Jesus is standing on the stage. Throughout the piece, Jesus is on the same plane of the stage as the other characters, although they don't see Him. Activity enters briskly, with a great deal of energy, carrying a bag. She crosses to center and drops the bag, takes a deep breath, then speaks, outward toward the audience.)

Activity: Okay, Jesus. Hi.

Jesus: Hello.

Activity: I'm sorry, I don't have much time to talk to you today, I have a missions trip meeting at 4, Bible study at 6, and the Sunday school sleepover at 8.

Jesus: Sounds like you're busy.

Activity: Oh, and that isn't the half of it! Tomorrow I have the sleepover until 11 when the kids get picked up, then the Bible Scouts mentors training--we're getting some new group leaders--and that's going to take all afternoon, and then in the evening there's a prayer meeting for the missionaries our church sponsors, and you won't believe my schedule for Sunday...

Jesus: When do you plan to spend time with me?

Activity: I'm sorry?

Jesus: In your schedule. Where's the time we spend together?

Activity: Uh... I'm not sure what you're talking about. I'm spending time with you all day!

Jesus: You're doing things all day. Yes, they are related to me, but I want to know when you plan to sit down and spend some time with me, one-on-one.

Activity: Oh... I guess I forgot to plan for that.

Jesus: I see.

Activity: I do have some time on Monday, though, between the morning prayer walk and my Yahweh's Yoga class...

Jesus: I don't want your leftovers.

Activity: I'm sorry, I'm just so busy.

Jesus: Let me ask you something. How can you expect to minister to so many people if you aren't being fed yourself?

Activity: But I do get fed! I go to two services every Sunday, and a separate Bible study for group leaders who...

Jesus: But you don't feed yourself. You don't sit down and talk to me and read my word and listen for what I have to say to you. You may be doing all these things, but how do you know they're actually what I have planned for you if you don't take the time to ask?

Activity: But they're through church.

Jesus: That doesn't mean they're automatically part of my plan for your life. You're involved in many good things, but without me, they're just that. Good things, with no real impact.

Activity: I see. Oh, I know what can help me with this!

Jesus: What?

Activity: My friend runs a study about this very thing! I'll go call her right now! (Activity exits as Jesus says his next line)

Jesus: That's not what I had in mind.

(Anger enters, stands center, and unfolds a sign which reads: "Repent! Turn back from sin or face the flames of hell!" He holds this and begins speaking toward the audience, in his angry voice)

Anger: Repent! Turn back from sin or face the flames of hell!

Jesus: Hi.

Anger: Turn back!

Jesus: Hey...

Anger: You will burn!

Jesus: Hello?

Anger: (drops the angry voice) Hi Jesus! That's what I've been telling people all day. I made this sign myself.

Jesus: I know.

Anger: Oh, of course you do. You know everything. I'm sorry.

Jesus: So... what are you doing?

Anger: Well, I know that most of the world is living in sin, and I know you told us to speak the truth and such, and so I went out today and stood on a street corner and man, did I speak the truth! I really feel that I'm doing your work, Lord.

Jesus: Like this?

Anger: Yeah. You said to repent, and I'm sharing the message.

Jesus: I didn't tell you to yell condemnation at people.

Anger: Well, no, but its the truth, and I'm spreading it!

Jesus: How often did I stand on street corners and scream at people?

Anger: What?

Jesus: In your Bible. How often?

Anger: Well, there was the time you kicked all those people out of the temple with a whip, that was pretty cool.

Jesus: Uh-huh.

Anger: And you were always calling the Pharisees vipers and all that. I use that one too. Check this out: (angry voice) You brood of vipers! How dare you walk on God's earth? Fall down and beg for forgiveness for your many wicked deeds, or you will taste the wrath of hell!

Jesus: Good news.

Anger: (drops angry voice) Pardon me?

Jesus: I said "Go and preach the good news to everyone."

Anger: Well, yeah, but...

Jesus: I also said "Love your neighbor."

Anger: Yeah, but I don't think...

Jesus: And when was the last time you read the beatitudes?

Anger: Um...

Jesus: You're very fixated on the concept of condemnation. My message is about freedom from that. My entire purpose in coming was to offer life, not threaten death. You're not portraying me very well to other people.

Anger: Oh.

Jesus: There's a reason a lot of people have the impression that God is an angry tyrant, and in part its due to people like you. That isn't what I commanded you to do.

Anger: I'm sorry.

Jesus: You aren't preaching my message of hope, and you aren't going to get anyone who will listen to you if you keep threatening them. You need to follow me in every way, showing mercy and compassion to others.

Anger: I see. I'll work on that. (readopts angry voice) Hey! Jesus loves you! (Anger exits)

(Sinning enters, clutching a bag or small box. Crosses to center.)

Sinning: Hi, Lord.

Jesus: Hi.

Sinning: So, I've been trying to live for you, but I keep messing up.

Jesus: I know. There are things you can change in your lifestyle that will make it easier for you to hear and obey me.

Sinning: Like what?

Jesus: (indicating the bag/box) That, for instance.

Sinning: What about it?

Jesus: You spend a lot of time with it.

Sinning: Its my favorite thing to do.

Jesus: I know. You do it a lot.

Sinning: Its fun. Its relaxing. It helps me unwind after work.

Jesus: I need you to put it aside.

Sinning: Excuse me?

Jesus: Let it go. I'm asking you to surrender it to me, right here, right now.

Sinning: But I like it.

Jesus: You need to give it to me.

Sinning: I can't.

Jesus: It is taking over your life, and you need to surrender it to me.

Sinning: There's nothing wrong with it!

Jesus: There's nothing inherently wrong with it, no, but its taking your focus away from me, and that means its pulling you into sin. You need to let go.

Sinning: I don't want to.

Jesus: You need to, or you'll never be free of it, and you can't do my work until you let go of it.

Sinning: (pause) Lord, thank you for telling me its not a problem.

Jesus: I didn't say that.

Sinning: I feel all right.

Jesus: It is a problem.

Sinning: I'm going to go on with my life now.

Jesus: Wait, you need to give it up...

Sinning: Thank you for letting me keep this.

Jesus: I'm not going to force it from you, but you need to let it go!

Sinning: Bye!

Jesus: Wait!

(Sinning exits. Aesthetic enters)

Aesthetic: Lord, I am so sorry!

Jesus: Why?

Aesthetic: I ate a cookie. I was at the grocery store, and they had free samples, and before I knew what I was doing, I had eaten one. I don't know what got into me, but I confess my sin, and pray for forgiveness.

Jesus: You didn't do anything wrong.

Aesthetic: But I gave up sugar!

Jesus: You didn't have to.

Aesthetic: I know, but I've been cutting things out of my life. I don't eat sugar, I don't use the internet or watch television, I only read Christian books and listen to Christian music. I don't go out to eat or buy unnecessary things. I've been trying so hard to follow through with all of this, but I slipped up.

Jesus: Why are you doing all this?

Aesthetic: Well, you said to give everything up and follow you. And so I am. I want to be completely focused on you, so I'm eliminating all distractions from my life. No media, no sugar, nothing but you. Oh! I should stop listening to music altogether!

Jesus: This isn't the life I've called you to.

Aesthetic: But I want to live for you, and only you!

Jesus: But you don't.

Aesthetic: But... there's nothing else in my life I'm living for.

Jesus: By giving up everything, you put focus on what you're doing. You think about what you can't do rather than about me.

Aesthetic: Well, maybe sometimes... when I'm fasting I can get a bit distracted...

Jesus: Last week you spent three hours staring at the refrigerator.

Aesthetic: That was only one time, though!

Jesus: But your lack of focus is ongoing. You're so caught up in what you can eliminate next that you aren't focusing on what I've actually called you to do. Follow me.

Aesthetic: But how can I do that when there are other things in my life?

Jesus: I didn't ask you to cut yourself off from everything. Those things just need to be secondary to me. You don't have to eliminate them completely.

Aesthetic: Really?

Jesus: Yes.

Aesthetic: So, all these months, I could have been eating sugar, watching television, reading novels?

Jesus: Yes, but...

Aesthetic: Wow! (runs off)

Jesus: ... make sure they don't take over your time with me.

(Faithful enters)

Faithful: Hi, Jesus!

Jesus: Hi. How was your day?

Faithful: It was pretty good.

Jesus: I'm glad to hear that.

Faithful: I read my Bible this morning, and I've been feeling kind of challenged by the chapter. Can you help me to understand it?

Jesus: I'd be glad to. (They exit together)