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From Egypt to Tokyo Day 55 and 60 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

From Egypt to Tokyo Day 55 and 60 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood In the story of Exodus, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, longing for freedom. When their journey finally began, it was anything but easy—marked by trials, doubts, and a constant pull back toward the comforts of the past. I never imagined how deeply this story would resonate with my own life until I started Exodus 90. Before Exodus 90, I leaned on convenience and control far more than I realized—whether it was the mindless scroll of social media, the daily indulgence of a delicious bourbon or tasty snack, or the habit of filling every quiet moment with entertainment. I wasn’t enslaved in a literal Egypt, but I was definitely tied down by things I had let rule me. The journey of letting go of these comforts has been difficult, just as the Israelites struggled when they left Egypt. There were times I wanted to turn back—to reach for my phone, to complain about fasting, to let exhaustion be an ex...
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Something’s Brewing Here Day 50 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

Something’s Brewing Here Day 50 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood There’s something deeply satisfying about brewing beer.  And something even more satisfying when you are brewing with a group of men you greatly respect. The process is deliberate, demanding patience, precision, and trust in the recipe (and our brewmaster John). Every step, from selecting ingredients to the final pour, is a lesson in discipline and craftsmanship. And, of course, the best part isn’t just the beer—it’s the camaraderie, the shared effort, the sense of accomplishment when you finally taste the fruits of your labor.  Although the beer is a pretty awesome reward too.   As I reflect on my Exodus 90 journey, I can’t help but see the parallels between the discipline of brewing and the spiritual refinement of this program—especially on Day 50, when the challenge of perseverance begins to weigh heavily. THE BREW:  When you brew beer, you follow a strict process. Each ing...

We Are Perfectly Imperfect. Day 45 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

We Are Perfectly Imperfect. Day 45 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood The 90s was the greatest decade in recorded human history, and a timeline of some of the biggest moments in entertainment and culture for every individual year.  There was a hit song Tubthumping by Chumbawamba that went “I get knocked down, but I get up again,” the motto chanted during my high school when things weren’t going our way during a game was “Rock Don’t Quit,” but more importantly there seemed to be a sitcom-like concept of family togetherness and support where there appeared to be a beauty in life that helped lift up those in need as we all experienced that decade together.  Throughout all our differences, successes or failures, we were still one.  This Exodus 90 journey has been one of growth, challenges, and moments of deep reflection. While the commitment to prayer, asceticism, and discipline has been transformative, there have been a few “bumps in the road” over the pa...

The Battle For Holiness Day 40 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

The Battle For Holiness Day 40 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood Given all the “spare time” we now have, given we aren’t tied up in nonessential distractions, I have spent that time sharpening my mind by reading several books that have been sitting by my nightstand for years while also discovering the audiobook service Libby.  I am currently on book number 7.  And to be honest, it has been years since I have knocked out more than 2 or 3 books over the course of the year. But as we reach the (almost) midpoint of this Exodus 90 journey, I’ve found inspiration not only in scripture and prayer but also in the wisdom of military strategy. Great military leaders have long understood that discipline, preparation, and unity determine victory or defeat. And as we fight our own spiritual battles, these same principles hold true. We are not just individuals on a self-improvement plan—we are soldiers in the Church Militant, or perhaps a cult if you will, engaged in a ...

Strengthening My Role As A Husband And Father Day 35 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

Strengthening My Role As A Husband And Father Day 35 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood When I first committed to Exodus 90, I knew it would be a challenge—waking up early, cool showers, fasting, and cutting out distractions. But what I didn’t expect was how deeply it would impact my family dynamics, especially my relationship with my wife and three boys. While the program focuses on spiritual growth and self-discipline, it has also become a journey of transformation within the Klein Household.  .   Before Exodus 90, I’ll admit—there were nights when I’d end the workday, and the last thing I wanted was to have to be a parent or husband.  I would be exhausted, cranky and the last thing I would want to do is execute my parental duties.  I wanted a bourbon (or two), grab my phone or hop on the treadmill and zone out.  There typically would be a lot of “canned questions or answers” about how your day was, what did you do at school, anything ...

The Discipline of Fasting. Day 30 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

The Discipline of Fasting. Day 30 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood This past Sunday, while attending mass at St. Johns at Creighton University, I got to do something I haven’t done in almost five years.  Receive the Blood of Christ.  And as I was just sitting back and taking in this moment, I realized that while fasting over these past 30 days might leave our body weaker…I was reminded that our truest nourishment doesn’t come from food, but from Him. And receiving the Blood of Christ this past weekend gave me a newfound sense of grace and endurance to persevere in this Exodus 90 journey. So while my tummy grumbles, I just need to keep thinking about my end goal and how I can continue to use this journey with all of you to truly transform my life. While the journey involves a complete restructuring of daily habits—one of the most impactful disciplines for me has been fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays – and to be honest, this is one discipline I haven’t scr...

Finding Strength In The Routine Day 25 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

Finding Strength In The Routine Day 25 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood At the 25-day mark of Exodus 90, something begins to happen—you start to settle into a rhythm.  You start to fall into a routine.  The new car smell is gone, and all you see is 65 more days until the finish line.  This was one of the main topics earlier this week during my weekly check-in with my Exodus Brothers.   The initial shock of self-denial has passed, and the sacrifices that once felt overwhelming now seem more familiar. Cold showers, daily prayer, and detachment from distractions have become part of your routine. Yet, despite this newfound sense of structure, the struggle to stay focused remains. This is the point in the journey where complacency starts to creep in. The excitement of beginning something new has faded, but the finish line is still far off. The middle of any transformative process is often the most challenging. The initial motivation that propell...