Doesn't Jesus deserve Broadway?

The Christmas Play was my first project as a youth director about 8 years ago. My oldest daughter was a year old. That first play was simple and written by someone else. The practice was so terrible that I literally cried. The play was less than a day a way. The kids were not listening, didn't know their lines and all of the songs were off key.
Faye said, "Don't worry, the worst the practice goes, the better the play will be."
Every year it seems to be about the same way. The practice takes at least twice as long as the actual play. I've got at least one kid that doesn't know any of his/her lines and one kid that is completely stressed out because they have put their heart and soul into the play this year. Each year, my husband asks why I am doing it. Someone reminds me that we are not putting on a Broadway production and it is just a little Christmas play and each year Faye gives me the exact same line about the worst practice.
Just so you all know. I know the answer to those questions. I do it because no matter how much it stresses me out, I know that some people completely love the tradition. I do it because some people only come to church that one time every year. I do it because I have seen grown men cry at how the message touched them. I do it because I have heard that moment when the actors in the play realize the meaning and feel that little tug in their heart that they are sharing God's message. I do it because I loved it as a child and my girls love it now. But, mainly I do it because God gives me a message to share.
Secondly, I am very well aware that it is not Broadway. Trust me, I wouldn't cut it as a director on Broadway and some of my players couldn't make the school play let alone a Broadway audition. I don't necessarily choose my actors because they are talented. I get whatever God gives me each year to work with and I try to find the part that will have the most meaning to that actor. We don't have the money, glamour, or glitz of Broadway. All we got is a message from God and group of kids that may or may not be dedicated to performing God's message. No, I'm not Broadway style, yet I think Jesus deserves that level of effort. Yes, I think if I was in a Broadway play that I would do my absolute best. I would take the time and put the effort in it, because after all who gets to go to Broadway only the best of the best. I give it my all because it might bring me fame, fortune and more opportunity. Should I not give this play the same level of respect. After all, Jesus Christ is the best of the best of the best. He's chosen me through a series of events that I can't explain to give his message. He may not give me fame or fortune, but he has given me eternal life and he gives me opportunities all the time (sometimes whether I deserve them or not).
Yes, this is not a Broadway play, but I will give it my best effort, because God has given me his and he deserves mine. So no matter how bad that last practice is or how much I stress, I know that Faye's right. The worse the practice, the better the play because God knows much better than I do why, when and how his message will get to people.

(For those involved in the play - I have three Queries for you. First - Why are you involved in the play? Second - Are you putting as much effort as you do your school/sport events? Third - Do you understand the message that God is giving through your character?

For All have Sinned

I went to a birthday party for one of my youth a couple of years ago and had almost a comical experience that opened my eyes. When I arrived, the mother came out and promptly warned me that her family was "a little rough." I smiled and told her not to worry, my family was as well. My youth member's sister came by the door and gave me this quick warning, "My Grandpa cusses." I told her that was fine, I'd heard those words before. The father took the present that I had brought and leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Our family is not a church going kind of family. I'm sorry." I laughed and told him that not all my family was a church going kind of family either. I spent the rest of the party enjoying meeting the various members of the youth's family. As you might suspect from this introduction, some of them were covered in Tattoos, smelled of alcohol, and talked like sailors. They were also very kind to me as they made sure I had a seat, served me cake and ice cream, and commented on what a "fine" job I had done with the youth..... particularly the one youth member that we had all come to celebrate. It was a fine party and I had a wonderful time getting to know the family.
As I drove home, I reflected on the family and how they were a little rough, but nothing that I hadn't seen before. In fact had the youth's immediate family not made such a big deal about it, I would have never even thought about how "rough" around the edges that they were. I wondered why the family felt the need to "prepare" me to meet them. They obviously loved their family "rough" or not. So, why was the meeting so uncomfortable for them?
Overtime, I've had several of the same type of meeting with various members of the youth's family and/or friends. They each prepare me for the worst in the person that I am going to meet. I've come to realize it is more about how they see me rather than how they feel about the person. They love that person faults or not. They see me as someone who teaches them not to sin and to do right. Therefore, I must be without sin. ..... well, we all know that isn't true.

Romans 3:23 -"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

I have sinned. ..... a lot.... I've lied, I've cheated, I've been drunk, I've coveted, I've dishonored my parents, I've put things before God, I've stolen things, I've had impure thoughts, I've cursed, and this is probably just a small part of all the things that I have done that I continue to teach you not to do. Yes, I'm a hypocrite. ... First step is admission right?

Pat Summit is the coach for the Lady Vols basketball team. She played basketball for some college in middle Tennessee back 40 years ago. Now, she has the most wins of any coach in basketball history. She wasn't the basketball player with the most wins.... she was a coach with the most wins.

I don't know if Coach Summit could ever dunk a basketball, but she has players that can. She never played professionally, but she has players that do. Her job is not to make a bunch of "mini" Pat Summits. Her job is to make a winning basketball team.

God has given me a job. I usually feel completely unworthy to do it because I sin almost every day. Not because I don't know right from wrong. Sometimes I just make the wrong choice and justify it at the time. I realized a long time ago, it isn't my job to make all of my youth members "mini Melissa's" Its my job to make a youth program that shares God's message. I'm not perfect.

You are not perfect. Nor will you ever be perfect. You will sin. You will make the wrong decision knowing that it is the wrong decision. You will fall down. It doesn't matter.

See, It isn't about how we fall down. It is about how we get up. Coach Summit has lost games. She has made bad decisions. Yet, she has the most Wins of any Coach of Basketball History and that is how we will remember her. In the same way, I sin everyday, yet you each introduce me as your Youth Director. As someone that is in touch with God and knows right from wrong just because I still get up and come and teach you anyway. .... sins and all.

We sin. We all sin. Do we all get up or do we wallow in our sins?