Instead of being discouraged by America's moral decline, we can take heart and preach the gospel, trusting God to save souls and make a difference, one heart at a time.
September 8, 2025
When I was 16 (and not yet a Christian), I had my first taste of coffee. Just one sip—and I hated it, even though I was drunk. Or maybe because I was drunk.
Still, I often hear people say, “I don’t feel alive until I’ve had my cup of coffee.” So, one recent evening, I decided to give it another try. I made myself a cup of instant coffee and—no surprise—I still didn’t like it.
“For the past two or three years, I had been praying that God would give me energy. Climbing stairs left me winded. After interviewing people at Huntington Beach every Saturday, I felt mentally exhausted. I even found myself falling asleep at the drop of a hat. At 75, that was discouraging—because I want to serve God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.”
I mentioned this to Emeal “E.Z.” Zwayne, president of Living Waters, and at the start of our Living Waters podcast, he presented me, on camera, a cup of hot black coffee.
I found it bitter. Then he offered me another cup—this time with hazelnut creamer. To my surprise, it wasn’t bitter at all. In fact, it was pleasant. I drank the whole thing.
Two hours later, after the podcast, I wanted another coffee, so E.Z. gave me a second cup. Not long after, I bounded up the ministry stairs and noticed something strange: I wasn’t out of breath. Even more astonishing, I felt energized.
That got me curious. I started researching the effects of coffee and could hardly believe its reported benefits, especially its ability to boost energy. In an article titled “9 Unique Benefits of Coffee” (Healthline.com), I read:
“Coffee does more than boost your energy. A few daily cups of coffee may also lower your risk of type 2 diabetes and depression, support weight management, and help you live a longer life.”
— Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, RD. Written by Rachael Ajmera, MS, RD. Updated on June 16, 2025
For the past two or three years, I had been praying that God would give me energy. Climbing stairs left me winded. After interviewing people at Huntington Beach every Saturday, I felt mentally exhausted. I even found myself falling asleep at the drop of a hat. At 75, that was discouraging—because I want to serve God with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.
Then, after 59 years without coffee, those two cups hit me like caffeinated steroids. My body was like virgin territory, and the caffeine worked wonders. Since then, my energy levels have skyrocketed. I no longer take daily naps. I pedal my electric bike more than ever. After five interviews at Huntington Beach, I still feel sharp and alert.
So, if you’re feeling a little envious and want this kind of energy boost, I have some advice: take a 59-year break from coffee. Your next cup will be out of this world.
One more thought—Mormonism might have taken over the world if the revelation had been about a golden cup of coffee instead of golden plates. But let’s keep that between us.
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