I drink a Japanese tea called hojicha which is like a very low caffeinated oolong tea. I recently found guava leaf tea to be pretty good too. Give them a try. I am sure you can find hojicha easily at any Asian market. I used to easily get it in Lexington when I was there.

I also don’t think this is just a personal issue–caffeine figures prominently into our collective decision-making process as Christians. Consider, for example, the business of caffeine and its recent proliferation in our Christian church lobbies, schools, agencies, etc. If pressed, would we would be able to explain how it all really fits into our mission?

I am thankful for this post though and planning to “happen across” it when my diet-coke drinking husband comes home :)

Thank you for sharing this….I too went off caffeine a few years ago. Our son that we adopted from the Philippines has multiple disabilities, and I would have to drive a bit of distance for his medical appointments…I soon found myself saying “I can’t do this without some caffeine!” God quickly corrected me. His Spirit spoke to my heart “You depend on Me and not caffeine, you are finished with caffeine.” What a blessing it has been, and I applaud you for recognizing the effect it was having in your life and removing it. I agree with you completely, caffeine is not the problem, it is the sin in our hearts. Mine was dependence on something other than Christ…so glad that He showed me the truth.

While on the topic of caffeine and coffee, a strange fact I ran across recently is this: the darker your brew (coffee) the less caffeine it contains. In other words, your nice ‘breakfast blend’ has more caffeine in it than an espresso. I just thought that was odd enough to share. :)

In regards to the original article, good for you Dr. Moore! It’s always difficult to recognize and choose to change a behavior that isn’t inherently sinful, but is a stumbling block. May God bless your desire to be faithful.

Didn’t Johnny Cash have a song called Cup of Coffee?

I have often wanted to encourage other leaders I know in their health and making good food choices, mainly because I want some of our great christian leaders to be around as long as possible, and I think we often “brush off” the idea of our health because we think we have more important things to deal with.

And since you already know I like to tell people about health stuff - my next soapbox for you would be to consider taking Cod Liver Oil to improve your vitamin D levels. Vitamin D affects so much in your body, energy, depression, brain function, etc etc. Study after study has shown that kids and adults in the US are deficient at astonishing rates. Instead of supplementing with synthetic vitamin D, which doctors and pediatricians are doing, its best to get it from natural sources, like Cod liver oil. I recommend Green Pastures Fermented Cod Liver Oil in cinnamon flavor in case you and Maria ever consider getting it!!! : )

On a related note, considering the amount of sodium that’s in the average American diet today, our bodies might not need to be embalmed even after they stop twitching!

Thank you for sharing this insight into your personal sanctification. After reading your testimony regarding coffee / caffeine - it causes me to look more closely at myself to see if I am guilty of anything similar.

I wonder, could the bodily twitches and irritability have been caused by your choice of music? Maybe it was Merle rather than the caffeine! :)

I find that my afternoons are much more productive because I’m thinking more clearly.