Let’s talk about hydration.
I know, I know.
But this will be different.
Specifically, it's my personal watering system.
Why Talk About This?
You wouldn’t pour swamp water into a Ferrari, right?
Then why are we dumping chemical soup into the temple of the Holy Spirit?
Here’s the bad news:
Most water out there is basically liquid anxiety.
Tap water?
It’s been on a longer journey than Paul’s missionary trips...
And through pipes older than some of your charter members.
Add chlorine, fluoride, and mystery metals...
... and you've got government approved poison on repeat.
(Excuse me while I adjust my tin foil cap.)
Plastic bottles?
They’re basically hormone tea.
You’re drinking microplastics and estrogen in a convenient, portable form.
So yeah, if you’ve been feeling a little “off”...
It might not be the devil.
It might be Dasani.
Hydration: The Most Ignored Commandment
We’ve all heard it.
“Drink more water!”
It’s the health world’s version of “Read your Bible.”
We know it. We believe it.
We just don’t do it.
But hydration isn’t just about not dying.
It’s about optimizing.
What Water Does To You
Proper hydration keeps your brain firing like a well-oiled machine.
It helps regulate hormones, boost metabolism, flush toxins, and deliver nutrients like Amazon Prime.
Even mild dehydration drops your energy, mood, and mental sharpness.
So if you’ve been staring blankly at your sermon outline for 45 minutes, it might not be writer’s block… it might be thirst.
(Drink up, Elijah. The ravens aren’t coming this time.)
My Water Protocol
My Go-to #1: We use a water distiller.
We've used this one for about ten years.
It boils water, catches the steam, and leaves behind the junk.
No fluoride.
No chemicals.
No plastic residue.
Just the cleanest water this side of the Jordan.
Granted, hard to get when I'm on the road... which is most weekends and many weeks.
But... my go-to at home.
Hard to get our model but here is the distiller I recommend.
My Go-to #2: I drink sparkling water—San Pellegrino or it's cousins, preferably.
It’s pure, mineral-rich, and makes me feel fancy enough to preach in Italian.
And it's served in a glass bottle.
When traveling, easy to find and purchase.
Bonus: the carbonation curbs hunger. (I call it “fasting with bubbles.”)
If you're intermittent fasting, drink up.
My Go-to #3: In restaurants, ask for club soda.
As an itinerant preacher and Bible teacher, traveling means I eat out... alot.
If you ask for water at a restaurant, you'll likely get unfiltered water.
You know it, too...
One sniff and it reminds you of a hotel lobby with an indoor pool.
Club soda, however, is filtered.
Plus it has that "bite" similar to sparkling mineral water I mentioned.
I like it.
(Sometimes, though, they fetch it from the bar...
Which feels a little weird for a Baptist.)
Transporting the Good Stuff
Now, once you’ve gone through all that trouble to purify your water, don’t pour it into a plastic bottle from the dollar store.
That’s like filtering your coffee through gold… and then serving it in a dirty boot.
Glass or stainless steel, my bro.
(Your body deserves better than BPA and melting polymers.)
Caution: "BPA free" still isn't free of microplastics.
If it clinks when you set it down, you’re doing it right.
Why I Don’t Chill My Water
I used to think ice-cold water was the mark of sophistication... like a frosty mug at a church picnic.
Though occasionally I still drink cold water...
I learned your body has to warm that glacier water up before it can use it.
So every time you chug an arctic blast, your system goes, “Well, there goes some more energy on something that didn't have to happen.”
Room temp water, on the other hand, slips right in, gets to work fast, and doesn’t shock your insides like a polar plunge.
It hydrates better, aids digestion, and keeps your metabolism humming instead of shivering.
Think of it like this: your body isn’t a Yeti cooler.
It’s more of a finely tuned greenhouse.
Keep it warm, keep it steady, keep it flowing.
Bottom Line
Here’s the thing:
When you drink clean water, you think clearer, you feel better, and your cells stop screaming for mercy.
So yeah, I take my watering system seriously.
Because when you run on pure fuel, everything (from your sermons to your sleep) gets sharper.
And if anyone asks why you’re sipping sparkling water like a European soccer coach, just tell them you upgraded from tap water to temple water.
More Resources To Help You Optimize
🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health
🎥 Sermon Shots: Repurpose Sermons Into Clips & Other Engaging Content in Minutes
💊 My (Scott's) full supplement regimen