Exodus 90 - Live Different 4+

App is great, program at its core is great. I would recommend this program to any catholic looking to deepen their faith and ultimately change their life. It is hard but sometimes we need things to be hard.

However, my biggest issue is the Fraternity aspect and how it relates to the family. Every fraternity isn’t the same and sometimes Parish’s that do it with multiple groups will randomize the fraternity members. This does make sense in the way that you’d be grouped with people you wouldn’t normally get to know. However, in our case, it was 3 young married men w/toddlers, one single, and 3 older men with kids out of the house or in college. Sometimes groups value different things and with the new idea (meaning I don’t see it in the 2017 exodus book from when I first did the program) that the fraternity relaxes a discipline together I think it simply doesn’t work. It caused some strife in our group because everyone is in a different season and everyone’s family is different and has different needs and celebrates the sabbath differently. I think a cool idea would be to include with the fraternity relaxed discipline would be to allow the family or the wife to choose one discipline for the exodus man to relax on Sunday. In addition to the fraternity one. The exodus man is still not in control plus if your family celebrates the sabbath a certain way, you are free to do so.

I would assume many people turn away or “head back to Egypt” when it’s time to pay. I also considered not paying. I compared to how much I used to spend alone on junk food and sports memorabilia that I realized that a dollar a day is close to nothing. I thank God for the people who created this program. I feel like we are indeed being programmed but that’s what sports do to us, they program u to watch on a weekly basis but if u are like me on a daily basis. Many of the disciplines are tough to do but I try my best to keep them because I know God loves that we make an effort and receive at least that inner peace in exchange. The cold showers were tough but I have noticed I’m getting used to it. I learned to pray! I used to think that the rosary was one of the only forms of prayer. I would say I can’t talk to God I’m a sinner, I feel bad even approaching. Now I’ve been talking to God everyday. Saying what’s on my mind and heart, if I’m not begging the Lord for sure I’m thanking Him for the many blessings. If u think u want to do this that is God calling, it’s a retreat that u don’t have to leave the house and your body and spirit get a great deal of exercise. You definitely will grow. I invited 12 people, only one person joined me and I was prepared to do it alone but it was just another testimony that God provides. It’s a challenge, I know many men enjoy challenges. I’m on day 19 and have felt the rewards. Peace

It seems counterintuitive, but living without all these human comforts actually opens me up to others and gives me incredible joy. I couldn’t believe how much time I actually have in a day when I’m not wasting it watching TV. It’s not easy, but it’s well worth the effort and time.

Also, starting every morning with a holy hour and ending with an Examen has brought me closer to the Lord than I’ve ever been. It’s changed the way I think and feel about people throughout the day in an enormous way. I actually notice a big difference in myself when I don’t pray in a day. God’s grace is REAL and very potent. I’ve grown deeper in my relationship with Christ through this spiritual exercise and have reaped the fruits of his love for me.

This is my second time doing it. The last time after day 91, I noticed that as much as I tried to keep the disciplines I tapered off from them over time. I recommend doing this 90 day cleanse at least once a year. I might even start doing it for Lent and Advent ever year. It’s a great way to prepare yourself to receive the Lord on great feast days! This way you “move the needle” a bit each time you do it until you’ve molded your life around Jesus permanently. Keeping the fraternity is a good idea too, but I feel like that’s easier said than done. I guess I’ll find out soon. God bless!