Skip to main content

Exit Strategy Day 80 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood


Exit Strategy

Day 80 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

When life becomes overwhelming—when stress, pain, or sheer exhaustion set in—we naturally seek an exit. We want an emergency escape hatch from discomfort. The world offers plenty of quick fixes: indulgence, distraction, numbing entertainment, or worse—sin. It’s easy to justify a small indulgence here or a minor compromise there. The devil whispers, "This is too much. You deserve a break."  I mean we have all felt this temptation – more so I feel in the last 20 or so days.  

Sin offers a short-term solution, but it never truly satisfies. It’s an illusion of relief, a momentary distraction that ultimately deepens the void. The real challenge is resisting the urge to break away and instead pressing deeper into the discomfort (or as we have been saying – embracing the suck), knowing that true transformation is happening within.

Every day, even though I sometimes hear “are we there yet,” coming from the back seat of my brain, I keep remembering that this Exodus Journey is a battle, an adventure, and an invitation into something far greater than ourselves.  While these past 80 days have pretty much sucked, I can’t tell you how much I have enjoyed them.  We have all embraced the suck together and become a more cohesive group of brothers.    

So what’s next? What’s our exit strategy coming out of Exodus? 

I look forward to discussing this with all of you on Sunday, but as we think about it, how do we combat boredom, distraction, and the temptation to escape moving forward? We go back to the fundamentals. Just like in football, success isn’t about flashy plays (well unless you’re running Snow Globe)—it’s about executing the basics with discipline and consistency:

  1. Prayer and Meditation – Spending quiet time with God, reflecting on His word, and silencing the noise of the world grounds us.
  2. Concrete Resolutions – Making small, specific commitments to holiness keeps us on track.
  3. Examination of Conscience – Taking time to reflect on our failures and victories ensures we continue growing.
  4. Avoiding Distractions – Identifying and removing the small temptations that pull us away from God helps us remain focused.

Over the past 80 days, the chaos has slowed. The boredom has faded. And the difficulties have become manageable.  But one of the biggest surprises of this journey has been the immense joy I’ve found in simplicity. 

It’s The Final Countdown….

10 DAYS TO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

No TV, No Snacks, No Bourbon, Oh My! Day 10 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

No TV, No Snacks, No Bourbon, Oh My!   Day 10 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood Our lives change when our habits change.  But in today’s fast-paced, convenience-driven culture, comfort is king. From heated showers and endless streaming options to the instant gratification from an indulgent snack, modern life is designed to ensure we never feel discomfort for long. Yet, the Exodus 90 program flips that concept on its head calling men to embrace cold showers, a digital detox, and the elimination of indulgences. The first few days of this journey have revealed much about the grip comfort and distraction have on our lives—and the transformative power that comes from breaking free of it.   But to be honest, the hardest part of this journey so far hasn’t been unplugging from social media, giving up TV or going cold turkey with my evening bourbon.  It has been finding an hour to pray, or even knowing what to do during this time.  That’s r...

Building Brotherhood. Day 20 of Exodus 90: A Journey Toward Freedom and Brotherhood

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...

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...