I looked in Mom and Dad's fridge today and saw some Kraft cheese slices when all of a sudden I was overcome with a memory from my college days and my roommate, Brina. Brina and I would do much our shopping together, sharing the staples in a household...at the time, I drank 2% milk and she drank skim...so we compromised and to this day I think we both drink 1% milk. However, I remember shopping with her one time and we were buying cheese slices (another staple in my fridge!)...and I went for the Kraft and she told me to get the generic stuff. Well, if you have lived with me or know me, you know that there are two items on which I will never compromise...peanut butter and cheese slices. JIF Extra Crunchy all the way...and my Kraft singles. Brina was insistent that I couldn't tell the difference and I assured her that I could. Well, apparently sometime after that, she decided to test me. She had bought some generic cheese slices and put them into my Kraft wrapper without my knowledge. I remember eating those slices and making some remark about how awful they tasted and how they must have gone bad or something to that effect. It wasn't until sometime after that when she 'fessed up and told me that she had tested me...and was amazed that I could actually tell the difference. Needless to say that by the time I closed the fridge today, I was laughing pretty hard. And when I talked to Brina tonight, she got a good kick out of it and is still amazed that I could really tell the difference (but she is living it all over again with her husband now...who believes like me!)

But as I was thinking about this no compromise on cheese and peanut butter...I got to thinking about areas in life where I do compromise. And then I got to thinking about areas where I cannot compromise in my life. My faith in Jesus is one of those areas...in 1999 I made a decision to follow when ever and where ever He wanted me...and when I consider the things I struggle with, I realize that many times it would be much "easier" to live a lukewarm life of "faith"...but its not worth it...why would I want to live in the middle of the road when I know which side I need to be on and on which side gives life? John talks about life abundant in Christ...but life abundant can really only be found in a life of no compromise...a life where Jesus is my first love. Compromise is tempting sometimes...but it cheapens the grace given us...and isn't nearly so sweet. Ha, much like that cheese....looks similar and is cheaper...but tastes pretty nasty. :)