Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

When Everything Fell Apart: Day 65 of Exodus 90. A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood Sixty-five days. That’s how long I had been committed to Exodus 90—waking up early, praying daily, coldish showers, fasting, discipline, brotherhood. And for 56 of those days, I was locked in. I felt stronger, more present, more disciplined than ever before. And then like for many of us, Spring Break happened. I’m sure I’m not the only one who struggled this past week. Whether it was the travel and 13 hour flights, the shiny new foods, drinks and experiences, or just the routine-breaking nature of spring break where you needed to kick back and relax.  No matter what it was, the reality is that sticking to Exodus 90 when life throws distractions at you is hard, really hard. And being in Japan when you also didn’t know what day of the week it was definitely didn’t help.   The Cracks Begin to Show It started small. The first travel day was exhausting, so I skipped my reading, prayer, ma...

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...

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 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...