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 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 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 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...

Building Brotherhood. Day 20 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood Twenty days into Exodus 90 and I am beginning to realize that this journey is not just about self-discipline or sacrifice—it is about brotherhood. From the very beginning, when I committed to this challenge alongside the 11 men of our Whiskey Wednesday group, I knew that I wasn’t in this alone. However, I don’t think I fully understood the power of fraternity until now. In these past three weeks, there have been moments of struggle—times when the cold showers felt unbearable, when cravings for comfort tried to break my resolve, and when prayer felt more like an obligation than an encounter with God. Yet, every time I’ve felt weak, I’ve been reminded that I have brothers walking this path with me just across the street and around the world. One of the greatest blessings of this experience has been my anchor, Sean. His encouragement, accountability, text serving up Salmon Chowder recipes and honest conver...

Sometimes We Make A Wrong Turn Day 15 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood One of my favorite movies growing up was Cannonball Run. It’s a wild story about eccentric competitors in an illegal cross-country road race, each willing to do whatever it takes to win. My two favorite drivers were Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, who posed as Catholic priests driving a red Ferrari 308 GTS. What made them even more memorable? They had a secret weapon—God was their co-pilot. Now, what does this have to do with Exodus 90? Well, much like those two drivers, I started this journey thinking I had everything mapped out. With God as my co-pilot, I assumed I was on the straight road to spiritual growth, discipline, and transformation. But here’s the truth: sometimes, even with God in the passenger seat, I’ve still made a wrong turn, especially this past Saturday when I feel like I failed across each discipline.  I had a snack, had a brownie that Brendan was dangling in front of me...